During the early 1990s there was controversy over federal funding for obscene and even blasphemous art through the National Endowment for the Arts. One federally subsidized photo showed the Crucifix dipped in urine. Another performance involved a toilet altar with Jesus on the lid. When funding ended by U.S. Congressional act, requiring that federally subsidized art not violate “general standards of decency,” one artist sued, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against her.
The more recent Olympic games controversy over a drag queen parody of the Last Supper, evolving into a Feast of Dionysus, raised similar questions. But the Paris-based Olympic opening ceremony was viewed by hundreds of millions and hosted by an international body. In response to the condemnation, there have been partial apologies.
Also relevant is the 2015 mass shooting of a French satirical magazine staff by Algerian Muslims enraged by the publication of derisive cartoons about Muhammad. The irreverent magazine had also published cartoons lampooning Christianity. Typically, media that mock Christianity avoid mocking Islam either from political correctness or outright fear of physical violence.
It’s a safe bet that no enraged, deranged, Christians will get violent over the Olympic ceremony. Modern Christianity does not expect the physical or legal suppression of blasphemy against its faith as much as Islam does. Christianity sees itself as a voluntary faith, chosen by individuals, not imposed by a society. Regardless of parody or mockery, Christians believe that God is sovereign, Christ is Lord, His Word endures forever, and the church is built upon a rock. Drag queen satires detract from none of God’s power or righteousness.
But the Olympic Last Supper parody cannot be easily dismissed. Perhaps it was intended only to spoof an iconic painting by Leonardo da Vinci. But millions of Christian watchers saw it as mocking their faith, which of course the Olympic organizers knew, but they proceeded anyway. Why? Mocking traditional faith for some conveys courage, independence, and irreverence, they like to think. But mocking Christianity in France, where church attendance is about 8 percent, and where secularism is strong, is hardly brave or unique.
And the vast majority of viewers were not French but international. Most of the world outside the West is religious. About one third of the world professes to be Christian, or about 2.4 billion people, most of them in the Global South. France’s Catholic bishops, in their critique of the Olympics ceremony, thanked support from other denominations, and expressed concern for Christians globally who were watching. Doubtless millions of other Christians around the world were surprised and distressed by the parody of the Last Supper. Some perhaps who live as minorities in majority Muslim societies, like Egypt’s Coptic Church, which condemned the ceremony, felt more vulnerable because of it.
There are nearly 2 billion Muslims in the world, and they also honor Jesus in their faith. Much of Islam, and much of the world, views the West as ungodly and hostile to faith. The Olympic ceremony only confirmed that supposition. Unsurprisingly, a Russian church official condemned the Paris Olympic ceremony as “demonic,” and showing “disdain for European civilization and Christianity as its foundation.” The Russian Orthodox Church functions as an arm of Putin’s dictatorship and is anxious to critique the democratic West in contrast with “Holy Russia.” This Olympic parody of the Last Supper gave them rich ammo.
But the Russian official had a point about Christianity as the foundation of Western Civilization and of France. Would the French-hosted Olympics have considered imagery that favorably reflected Christianity’s historically decisive role in France and the West? If not, why?
Of course, it is Christianity’s high regard for the individual that has bequeathed to the West its commitment to freedom of speech, which includes the freedom to critique, mock and think independently. But it’s one thing for an independent magazine like Charlie Hebdo to publish irreverent, even blasphemous, cartoons. It’s quite another thing when a major international body, as part of a global civic pageant, mocks a religion without consideration of consequences.
During the controversy over federal funding of blasphemous art 35 years ago, there was a meeting of upset religious leaders with President George H.W. Bush. He declared his opposition to censorship. An official from the National Association of Evangelicals responded that at issue was not censorship but government subsidy.
The International Olympic Committee is independent and privately funded. Doubtless the French government has spent a fortune to facilitate this year’s Olympic games. But more importantly, the Olympics are a public collaboration of nearly all nations. It honors sports but it also honors the best of the participating nations and especially the host nation. A drag queen caricature of The Last Supper does not exemplify the best of France. Instead, it conveyed disrespect and unseriousness. The Olympics entail discipline, focus, respect, diligence, honor, and good sportsmanship. The opening ceremony, in contrast, conveyed arrogance and decadence.
Free societies vigorously protect free speech. But healthy free societies do not celebrate insults. Nor should a society deeply shaped by Christianity be ungrateful for its inheritance. Hopefully, future Olympic ceremonies will be more thankful and respectful.
Comment by Tim Ware on July 31, 2024 at 7:54 pm
In a healthy society, all athletes who are Christians would have immediately left Paris and refused to participate in the Olympics, as would all members of other faiths because they would realize it is only a matter of time before their faiths also become a target.
But of course that didn’t happen, and the people who planned that freak show knew it wouldn’t happen. Why didn’t it happen? Because people today are unwilling to pay a price to stand on principles. As long as people are unwilling to sacrifice to stand on principles but are only willing to run their mouths (which costs them nothing), common decency will continue to be trampled on until, eventually, civilized society will no longer exist.
The people who put on that display knew very well they were shoving *** in Christians’ faces, and they were gleeful about it. They knew, though, they could get by with it, all that would happen would be some people running their mouths…but in the long run, people would shrug it off ond move on.
Until people are willing to pay a price for standing on principles, expect more of the same. So whose fault is it, really? The people who put it on, or the people who have no principles they are willing to sacrifice for?
Comment by John on July 31, 2024 at 8:12 pm
Are we sure this was an intentional parody of The Last Supper? The choreographer who planned the performance denied this. I’ve looked at both the snapshot circulating over the internet alongside the painting and can’t really say I saw an immediate likeness. And this was after a day’s worth of news stories and coverage in which my mind would have been predisposed to seeing it. First, there’s too many performers in the shot to match the 13 in the painting and most of them are not grouped together or matching the stances of the originals at all. If was meant as an immitation of The Last Supper, it wasn’t a very good one. Are we just going to assume any image of people behind a long table is meant to mimic da Vinci’s painting?
Comment by Td on July 31, 2024 at 8:52 pm
John- come on, of course it was a way for perverts to voice their disdain for jesus, the eucharist, men, and christianity in general. Satan is powerfully at work- and it comes directly on the heels of the US Catholic church holding its first eucharistic congress in 80 years. It is well beyond time for Christians to wake up to the devil’s work to separate us from God and make us his subjects in hell.
Comment by David on July 31, 2024 at 8:54 pm
The event was more likely based on another painting showing pagan gods.
https://musee-magnin.fr/collection/objet/le-festin-des-dieux
The Da Vinci painting does lend itself to emulation. When the Radio City Music Hall had an Easter show, the Rockettes would slink about the stage in white “angel gowns” while carrying a sprays of artificial Easter lilies. At the climax, they would mass together so the flowers formed a cross. An additional feature that was dropped early on was the Last Supper rising out of the orchestra pit with likely women in wigs and false beards portraying the apostles.
Comment by Tim Ware on July 31, 2024 at 9:00 pm
https://www.thewrap.com/paris-olympics-producers-last-supper-inspired-opening-ceremony/
Read it before it gets scrubbed
Comment by John on July 31, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Td,
It sounds like you saw what you wanted to see. That’s okay. Art is meant to be interpreted.
Comment by Randy on July 31, 2024 at 11:53 pm
Y’all realize DaVinci was gay, right?
Comment by John Edmund Reuter on August 1, 2024 at 7:38 am
Randy. Seriously? Rumor, innuendo, scurrilous hearsay, cheap theater and deceit.
Comment by David S. on August 1, 2024 at 7:58 am
Nice try David, except as usual, you miss the mark in your desire to serve as an apologist for the secular left and so-called progressive Christianity.
The picture linked to in question is not the picture that the Olympics thing was mimicking, despite any purported similarities to The Last Supper, which are at best, marginal. The arrangement of the individuals was more akin to that of The Last Supper than the picture that you rather weakly refer to. More importantly, the program, while attempting a play on words using French homonyms, originally included “The Last Supper” in the title. The Paris Organizing Committee in its apology implied as much as well that it was a take on “The Last Supper”. The program director also noted that it did resembled the picture, and essentially shrugged his shoulders, saying the proverbial, “So what?” in the process.
And Randy, what does Da Vinci purportedly being gay have anything to do with this? Even if true, that does not negate Da Vinci’s religious-themed works. Ralph Vaughn Williams was an atheist and later an agnostic, yet he composed some of the most beloved hymns and choral arrangements from the 20th Century, still used in the English-speaking church, 70 to 120 years later. Therefore, Da Vinci purportedly being gay necessarily mean anything in relation to this as there are LGBT people, who claim to be Christ’s own and were offended, as well as those who are not Christians, who were offended. Notably, Jillian Michaels, who implied that she is not a Christian, publicly criticized it on social media. So, your comment’s “DaVinci was gay” very much follows an offensive, stereotypical trope that all GLBT individuals are given to overt hedonism and debauchery, while most really just want to do like the rest of us by living unassuming lives in solitude and peace with their fellow man.
Comment by David on August 1, 2024 at 8:33 am
The Feast of the Gods painting has Dionysis in front of the table just like the Olympic event. I do not recall Dionysis attending the Last Supper. It is a shame some people cannot discuss things without making personal insults.
Comment by Mary L. Flett on August 1, 2024 at 11:44 am
An interesting, but, IMHO flawed interpretation of a piece of theatre. What strikes me most in your article, is the blinding hubris that assumes offense taken is based on faith. At best, it seems to be arising from ignorance and being perpetuated by righteousness. If faith is that vulnerable, then Christianity is in deep merde.
Comment by David on August 1, 2024 at 11:50 am
Before I am called out on it, I accidentally press “i” instead of the adjacent “o” and it should be “Dionysos.”
Comment by Chet Klinger on August 1, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Excellent article, on the Mark, as usual, nice background and some helpful history. Your description of modern Christianity, as complex as it has become, is not as innocent, given the schisms we are seeing today. “Christianity sees itself as a voluntary faith, chosen by individuals, not imposed by a society.” Public schools funded by governments are not afraid to lift up those times when churches and popes waged wars against heathens, Protestants, and Muslims. And Theocratic explorers somewhat forcefully converted indigent natives of conquered Islands and countries to Christianity. Kings in Europe used the cross to retaliate against invading hoards. The Spanish inquisition sought out sinners to pay their penance or face the burning stakes. With democracy and freedom, and royal civilities and turning power of the government over to the people, and the spread of protestant churches throughout the land of the free, and focusing on abolishing tyranny, slavery, and poverty, the more tolerant brand of nonconfrontational Christianity fits your description well. Unfortunately this brand of Christianity is today becoming frayed by the irresponsible indisciplined freedoms that have emerged since the 1960’s.
Comment by Claude on August 1, 2024 at 12:42 pm
“Hopefully, future Olympic ceremonies will be more thankful and respectful.”
There may not be many more Olympic ceremonies. The number of countries interested in hosting the Olympics is in decline. The Olympics on television isn’t the ratings juggernaut it once was. Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 Olympics without competition. In the past, the International Olympic Committee would select five cities as finalists before choosing a host. Having five qualified finalists would be absurdly optimistic now.
Decisions about the opening ceremony or any other aspect of the Olympics should be in the hands of people who care about the future of the Olympic movement and want to broaden its appeal. Instead, decisions are being made by vulgar, transgressive people who enjoy offending others, because offending people is popular in their niche. Being popular in their niche is the only thing they care about.
Comment by Dick on August 1, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Just some clarification Mr. Tooley, no, the koran does not honor Jesus, nor does it pay respect to the patriarchs in the Hebrew scriptures. The names are in in the koran but not their significance. Adam is not the basis of original sin; YHWH enters no covenants with Abraham and Jesus is born of a 14-year-old knocked up Jewish girl under a palm tree.
It is also interesting that in desecrating Christ and Christianity in tandem is the mockery and degrading of woman. That is what drag is all about, in addition to trans ideology. You can’t DEFINE what a woman is. Just saw the clip of an Algerian man pummel an Italian woman in women’s boxing. She lasted 46 seconds and crumbled in tears. Remember Ladies there is no Sati or Taharrush in Christianity.
The true nature of Christianity is “Boyfriend and girlfriend” The Church is the bride to the Bridegroom. Both are being desecrated.
Comment by Tom on August 1, 2024 at 3:36 pm
John –
Of course it was meant to represent The Last Supper. Anyone with eyes could see that. Or in southern parlance: “don’t piss down my leg and tell me it’s raining.”
Comment by John on August 1, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Dick,
Imane Khelif is not a biological male. She was born and raised as a female and has competed as such in boxing matches for years. She does not identify as transgender, nor could she legally in Algeria where she is from. During World Boxing Championship in 2023 Khelif failed a medical qualification test, allegedly because of elevated testosterone in her blood. The test was administered by the IBA. The IOC has different methods from the IBA for testing athletes. Khelif passed the IOC tests, qualifying her to compete the Olympics in women’s boxing. Algeria does not allow gender reassignment surgery, hormone treatments, or puberty blockers. They also do not allow citizens to change the gender they were assigned at birth for any reason. Khelif was likely born intersex (meaning she has characteristics of both genders), but she and her family assumed she was female. Thus the test results were due to natural occuring conditions beyond her control. Since Algeria outlaws virtually all forms of gender care, there was nothing she could due about it. Proof that overly draconian laws around these issues will leave some people (who aren’t even transgender) in impossible situations. I know the very existence of people like Khelif challenges the black-and-white ideology of gender many on here have been brought up in, but this not a simple or clear cut situation.
Comment by David on August 1, 2024 at 3:57 pm
“Among the major world religions, Islam is the only non-Christian faith that recognizes the person of Jesus (“Isa”). Qur’an talks a great amount about Jesus. However, Jesus Christ is the most controversial personality in Islam. In the Qur’an, Jesus is referred to in over ninety verses in fifteen surahs. Islam corroborates that Jesus was born to a virgin, was sinless, performed miracles, and was superior to other prophets. Yet, Islam teaches that Jesus was no more than a prophet. It denies the central message of Christianity by denying Jesus’ divinity, crucifixion, and resurrection.”
https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/a-comprehensive-listing-of-references-to-jesus-isa-in-the-qur-an/
Comment by Dan on August 1, 2024 at 4:53 pm
I’m moving to imprecatory prayer as my new avenue of combating heresy and blasphemy such as this. If it was good enough for King David, it’s good enough for me.
Comment by John on August 1, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Tom,
Then why wasn’t it better chirographed to match the scene? Why were their more people in the photo than in the painting? Why are their heads and gestures completely different? Like I said, you saw what you wanted to see.
Comment by Drw1 on August 1, 2024 at 5:27 pm
The opening ceremony is meant to highlight the host nation’s contributions to the world. I guess the French wanted to highlight the secularism and post modernism in their society and celebrate that “anything goes.” So be it. God’s most common form of judgment is not fire and brimstone, it is giving people over to their own perversions. And we got to witness it on an international stage.
Comment by Another Tom on August 1, 2024 at 6:08 pm
X/Twitter posting of a screen shot from the Instagram account of the performer at center. It is understood that the Instagram posting was later deleted. This central performer was quite aware that the Last Supper was being represented.
https://x.com/RaiseYrVoiceKy/status/1817391995247063216
Overall, very sad.
Comment by Jon Lindgren on August 1, 2024 at 10:13 pm
DaVinci’s painting seems like parody in and of itself. A real meal would not have had everyone on the same side. Parody about Christianity is everywhere. In “The Music Man” a pool room is “the Devil’s playground.” “How are we going to keep the young ones moral after school? ” This parody is OK apparently because it does not involve the great sin of cross dressing. Men in drag seem to be the greatest threat to society the world has ever known. No wonder Christianity is subjected to parody.
Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on August 2, 2024 at 4:41 am
No Jon it’s way more than men in drag. Maybe it’s about the destruction of Western society. See trans agenda,ect.
Comment by Frederick on August 2, 2024 at 6:08 pm
So Putin is a dictator. OK. The problem with American democracy is we don’t know who is really making the decisions. It is France who got rid of monarchies. Now we have a system which provides the US to use the process as a sleeve to control the elections behind the scenes. What democracy are we really talking about? Seems that the western view of democracy is a bit like belief in Santa Claus.
Comment by David Gingrich on August 3, 2024 at 5:33 am
If you are now lying about this event, and running away from the fact that it was aimed at Christianity, you need to ask yourself why.
Comment by Skipper on August 3, 2024 at 8:11 am
In a word, it was disgusting.
Comment by Pam on August 3, 2024 at 9:20 am
Very good article and spot on, Mark.
Thank you for pointing out the obvious.
Others see what they want to see as mentioned by one reader…God will be the ultimate critic of this.
Comment by Katherine on August 3, 2024 at 5:05 pm
For those who maintain this was not a spoof of the Last Supper, take a look at the still photo of the obese woman with the halo headdress making a heart sign with her hands. Sacred heart of Jesus, get it? Catholics get it, Protestants probably not so much. This was a deliberate parody, with paganism (Dionysus) thrown in for good measure. They had fun, and the organizers are shocked that anyone still cares enough about Christianity to take offense.
Comment by Thomas on August 5, 2024 at 11:18 am
The opening ceremony, in his wokeness and LGBT propaganda was an insult to the Olympic Games and its chart, that bans all sort of religious, political and ideological propaganda. All responsible for that shame should resign.