Penn & Teller ridicule Christ's crucifixion

WorldNet Daily ^ | 2003-01-20

[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

The magic-comedy team of Penn & Teller has performed a stunt parodying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, offending some attendees of a major magicians' convention, reports columnist Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review.

The skit, performed last week in Las Vegas, included Teller, dressed as Christ on a full-size cross, entering the room on a cart. According to the column, a midget dressed as an angel "performed a simulated sex act on the near-naked Teller." Penn, in a Roman gladiator costume, unveiled the scene by pulling away a "Shroud of Turin" that covered the cross.

A group of people attending the event, billed as a roast of magician Amazing Johnathan, walked out in protest, says Clarke.

According to Rick Neiswonger, a longtime magician and marketing executive, said "the majority" of the 400 who attended the roast were offended.

"They (organizers) warned everybody that something offensive was going to happen, but my God, where do you draw the line? ? This was beyond bad taste," Neiswonger told the Review.

One magician, Lance Burton, defended the stunt in an address at the finale luncheon of the conference.

"I told them, 'You were warned ahead of time.' It was a roast; it was held late at night (midnight)," he said, according to the Review column. "Penn & Teller are my dear friends and I would take a bullet for them, and you can write that."

Amazing Johnathan told the Review he was aware that a number of what he called "gospel magicians" walked out of the performance.

"This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion."

Clarke said in his column that Penn & Teller declined comment.

[LiteKeeper]

"This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion."

When will atheists get it through their heads that Christianity is not the same as Islam? Oh yeah, never!

[RoughDobermann]

Does God have a sense of humor?

Let's see: duck-billed platypus, Democrats, Great Horny Toad... Yeah, I think he does.

[Verax]

"If there were no God then there would be no Athiests" -GK Chesterton

[al_c]

I thought it sounded familiar.

[Betteboop]

I never could stand Penn and Teller, but I liked the Amazing Jonathon. Now I have to add him to my fecal list!

[Fiddlstix]

I'm speechless.......
(Well, I'm really not quite speechless. I just can't print what I'm thinking right about now)

Ping to mhking
(Surely this belongs on the "Just Damn" list)

[RoughDobermann]

I don't understand how someone who doesn't believe in a higher power can be so rabid and zealous about their non-belief.

I'm not sure, but perhaps he believes so much in his own infallibility that he doesn't need to believe in a higher power?

[catonsville]

This happened months ago and I was suprised the media just let it go.

Penn ( the fat one) is a very odd guy, has a dungeon in his Nevada home.

Actions have consequences, in this lifetime and afterwards.

[Phantom Lord]

Why are we posting a 7 month old article that was posted several times when it was new?

And as a magician, a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.), and a fan of Penn & Teller I have no problem with their act. They do lots of crazy things, and things that really upset many in the magic fraternity (such as exposure).

If you have a problem with what they did then by all means do not attend their show the next time you are in Vegas.

Freedom Baby!

[.45MAN]

Just like the article states, ridiculing Christ's crucifixion...

[Phantom Lord]

Oh, and as a side note, many Christians consider "magic" to be evil and those that practice it to be in league with the devil.

Ya, me and my deck of cards and sponge balls are gonna burn in hell. And my US Currency I use for various effects. Wonder how Satan is going to react when my "In God We Trust" coins and paper money arrive.

[MineralMan]

"How, exactly, does an atheist "practice"?"

In the same way they believe, i.e: not at all.

[ConfusedAndLovingIt]

'Life of Brian' is one of the funniest movies ever made. I never thought it made fun of religion or Christianity, but it expertly skewers the misunderstanding of religion by fanatics, and the misuse of religion by charlatans.

Now you've got me laughing here just thinking about the "Biggus Dickus" scene.

[onedoug]

'Never liked 'em. Too fruity.

[Dialup Llama]

>Peen and Teller are professed atheists, and they have that right-, but this crosses the line of humor

Peen and Teller are cowards. Do the same skit with Mohammed you jerks.

[boomop1]

Evil is running ramped in Hollywood and the media, the devil is winning more souls then the Lord, pity on them.

[Question_Assumptions]

Look at the 100 million victims of atheist communists. Look at the harm that atheism can do.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Penn & Teller are my dear friends and I would take a bullet for them, and you can write that."

I'll pull the trigger, Lance. And I won't use just one. You can write that.

[Question_Assumptions]

How, exactly, does an atheist "practice"?

By being intollerant and showing their hatred of Christianity in an offensive manner?

[Huck]

What's so funny about Biggus Dickus?