I notice all corners of the Catholic blogosphere are upset over the playacting of a black mass for “experienc(ing) the history of different cultural practices.”
Our purpose is not to denigrate any religion or faith, which would be repugnant to our educational purposes …
Typical modern avoidance along the lines of “If anyone was offended …” Lots of people have a “good” purpose in mind when they do imprudent things.
I’m not sure why it wouldn’t be more educational to avoid the hermeneutic of subtraction, and just perform some non-satanic pagan worship. Aside from the flirtation with the supernatural, there’s not much good that can come from this. But maybe non-Christians have other ideas.
I would be surprised if students across the street here were to concoct such an event, and right now, I’m not sure what our best approach might be.
If one’s belief systems are mocked in this way, does it fit to take the absolute high road and protest, but otherwise decline to provoke?
Is humor appropriate? Does one ridicule or satirize evil? Like this? Or does that have the potential to escalate to things best left alone? It would be tempting, I must admit, to apply some devastating wit to make a mockery of the whole event.
One of my early spiritual directors, a priest I trust implicitly, once said that even engaging evil directly is dangerous. Focus instead on one’s own sin, culpability, and strive for virtue. Don’t pay attention to others. But at what point does one stand up for people who are understandably upset and harmed by such an event?
What do you readers think? What else are you reading and hearing in other parts of the wide world?