the 07/21/2008

Dunce caps for everyone in communion wafer prank

The headline words were enough to make any Internet news-cruiserstop and gawk -- words like "hostage" and "holy heck."

According to a feature article posted on the MinneapolisStar-Tribune's Web site, a Florida college student briefly took acommunion wafer "hostage" during a church ceremony.

The idiotic perpetrator used the all-purpose cop-out that'ssupposed to excuse every act, no matter how offensive it might be:"It was just a joke."

But, some who heard about the so-called joke didn't stop withcalling the perpetrator an insensitive, rude jerk. Some threatenedhis life. At least one group, the Catholic League, called his pranka "hate crime."

To add to the frenzy, there's Paul Myers, a University ofMinnesota-Morris biology instructor and an avowed atheist, whowrites on his blog that, if anyone would send him a communionwafer, he'd do much worse to it than hold it hostage.

The blog's headline: "It's a frackin' cracker!"

In a story like this, it's hard to know who's earned the biggestdunce cap -- the prankster who had to know his "joke" would beviewed as blasphemy, the professor who threatened more of the sameor the zealots who call for holy war, complete with real bodilyharm, against both of them.

When it comes to dunce caps, I'd say one size fits all.

In an increasingly jaded society, it's getting harder and harder toshock people, which is why pranksters like the Florida collegestudent might view it as a challenge -- and, if a number of peoplerespond with shock or anger, a victory.

In a society that's experiencing backlash from the efforts of theReligious Right to dominate the culture's discourse (not just itsgovernment), there are bound to be atheists like Paul Myers who aremore open in their contempt for anything that, to them, smacks of"superstition."

In a society where everybody feels entitled to be considered avictim, anything that's offensive could be interpreted by some as a"hate crime" punishable by death.

Everybody in this "holy heck" drama, and on its fringes, needs tostep back and take a deep breath.

College student: Count me among those who were offended by your"joke." I believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharisticwafer, and to treat it with anything but reverence is not funny,but appalling.

To the professor: When you're ready to converse like a grown-up,you and I can talk about our theological differences, and perhapswe could learn from each other. But your "frackin' cracker" commentshows that you are dismissive of any views other than your own.And, until you can be as open to a faith-based perspective as I amto a secular perspective, you're not part of the solution to ourculture's lack of civility -- but part of the problem.

And, to all who would wage the Christian equivalent of jihad inthis case: In making death threats, are you glorifying the Lord ofLove and Prince of Peace who is truly present in the Eucharisticbread? In focusing on this ridiculous situation, are you missingreal acts of persecution, acts that don't just offend but threatenlife and livelihood?

Just asking.

Jerde's e-mail address is lyncjerde@juno.com.