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Penn & Teller ridicule Christ's crucifixion
WorldNet Daily ^
| 2003-01-20
Posted on 07/31/2003 8:11:20 AM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: comedy
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
"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." He cant be this dumb can he?
2
posted on
07/31/2003 8:13:22 AM PDT
by
smith288
('This time I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not like Clinton.' - Uday Hussein)
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
How, exactly, does an atheist "practice"?
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
And what did Christianity have to do with the WTC? Cheez, that guy is a real turkey. Maybe he can make himself disappear! Jerk.
4
posted on
07/31/2003 8:14:03 AM PDT
by
Marysecretary
(GOD is still in control!)
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
Amazing Jonathan
Penn & Teller
some two-bit magician I've never heard of, named Lance Burton
5
posted on
07/31/2003 8:14:59 AM PDT
by
wimpycat
(Down with Kooks and Kookery!)
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
Peen and Teller are professed atheists, and they have that right-, but this crosses the line of humor
6
posted on
07/31/2003 8:16:48 AM PDT
by
Mr. K
(some mornings there is just not enough coffee)
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
"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." It boggles the mind...
Working at a job to earn money can be dangerous. Look at criminals. They steal in the name of getting money.
Idiot...
To: smith288
Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion." It is dangerous to stand next to a Christian that Satan own it trying to kill. This does not make the religion dangerous.
8
posted on
07/31/2003 8:17:35 AM PDT
by
bmwcyle
(Here's to Hillary's book sinking like the Clinton 2000 economy)
To: lady lawyer
How, exactly, does an atheist "practice"? Penn just showed you.
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
"Penn & Teller are my dear friends and I would take a bullet for them, and you can write that."
Careful what you wish for, Lance-baby. A wise old Chinese philospher warns us that when you roll around in a pig sty, you invariably end up covered in $#!t.
I doubt that the Savior shares the sense of humor sported by you and your sodomite friends, Sir Lance. You'll all find out when it's far too late, I expect.....
10
posted on
07/31/2003 8:19:51 AM PDT
by
tracer
(/b>)
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
"It was a roast"
Perhaps, but it was not billed as a roast of Jesus.
Penn and Teller are off my list of performers worth seeing.
11
posted on
07/31/2003 8:20:22 AM PDT
by
MEGoody
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
Why people pay to see these guys is something I will never understand.
12
posted on
07/31/2003 8:20:56 AM PDT
by
GWfan
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode; Cultural Jihad
This wasn't very
bright, Mr. Jillette.
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
This happened months ago and was discussed in endless detail at the time.
So9
To: lady lawyer
That's what I thinking. I once saw Penn give a tour of his home on TV and he has a whole library devoted to atheism. I don't understand how someone who doesn't believe in a higher power can be so rabid and zealous about their non-belief.
To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
Penn & Teller has performed a stunt parodying the crucifixion of Jesus ChristAgain? I guess they just want to keep angering people. I'd like to see someone try to parody the life of gays, or Muslims, or some minority group. That act wouldn't last long.
16
posted on
07/31/2003 8:23:36 AM PDT
by
al_c
In getting ready to film the last scene of 'Life of Brian', what had been non-stop sunny weather suddenly turned cloudy. Python were worried they had finally crossed a line.
The filming went on without incident and added to the drama/humor of the scene.
Which leads to my question: Does God have a sense of humor?
*awaits flaming*
17
posted on
07/31/2003 8:23:53 AM PDT
by
dyed_in_the_wool
(Leave Sid alone. -- John Lydon)
To: MEGoody
Penn and Teller are off my list of performers worth seeing. They were never on mine. Never funny, always angry/bitchy sounding. This stunt however, is really beyond the pale.
To: al_c
No not again. The story is from January. Some apparently just wanted to stir a pot.
19
posted on
07/31/2003 8:25:12 AM PDT
by
discostu
(the train that won't stop going, no way to slow down)
To: Servant of the Nine
I was going to post the same thing. Look at the date on the article.
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