Models For Christ

It seems I can't avoid the Jesus this week and no, its not because I've been watching the Big Lebowski. I'm referring to the Jesus from the Mel Gibson movie. Now I'm not a believer in any form of Christ or organized religion for that matter, but I do find the subject both fascinating and maddening. That said there are days in this America where one cannot avoid Jebus and his pals, whether it be in jest, in studies, or in the news. In the last 24 hours I've taken with a short walk with Christ.

First, against my better judgement, I watched my second episode of 8th and Ocean and was treated to a highly entertaining moment where the innocent midwest girl Britt, attends a Models for Christ meeting. You must see this for the high entertainment value, ( plus the show as I predicted improved a great deal this time around by focusing on Britt and MTV's newest reality star Vinci, the devilishly handsome male model who lives life his way) . Its always fun to see a model try to balance Jesus' role in her life (she say's he's her husband) as she poses sans bra on a chicken farm.

Anyway, I was later confronted by Jesus on the Daily Show. America's favorite Oscar host sat down with author Bart Ehrman to talk about his new book "Misquoting Jesus." I've never read the bible in full but I do find its history fascinating. Ehrman's book dissects the text and how parts of the bible were added centuries after Christ with no basis. I've read this before but when a born again Catholic writes a book on it one takes notice. Now a cynic like myself would use ideas like these to dismiss the Bible as pure propoganda and discount it completely but Jon Stewart once again showed why he's more evolved then keyboard thumpers like myself when he said, "That makes this book ever more spiritual. Its a living document." Well said Jon well said.

But the man with bleeding hands was not done with me. As I perused my Newsweek today I came across a review of yet another book on Jesus by Garry Wills called "What Jesus Meant." The book comes across as a rather frank portrayal of Jesus that will offend those in organized religion. Yet I must say after reading the review and an excerpt on line I can't think of a better pro Jesus book, in that it truly defines Jesus as a just and right man. Sadly I'm sure the book will face more criticsm than praise as it does question how organized religion has turned Christ into a mascot they bring out to get their social and political agendas advanced.

To top it off Jesus is on the cover of the new NOFX EP I just got off iTunes. Something tells me I won't be hearing a lot of preaching on this...at least not a lot of preaching about Christ. That's more than enough Christ for one day. I wonder if I turn on Comedy Central if the Buddy Christ is on...hmmmm.