feeding the pythons to the Christians...

[Too Few Lions]

They reshowed this on BBC4 last night. I dunno if anyone else in the UK caught it, or remembers it from first time around! It's a TV debate that accompanied 'The Life of Brian's release in 1979, in which two Christians, one a rather camp bishop, get to review the film, then debate with John Cleese and Michael Palin.

It's quite funny and well worth watching. The Christians are quite aggressive and snidey (as you might expect!), and the Pythons are surprisingly restrained given the garbage the two believers come out with. Stuff like 'what would Mother Teresa think if she saw it' and 'all of Western civilization is built on Christianity'  

I was quite surprised that the Pythons didn't tear the Christians apart for all the rubbish they came out with. At times, it almost looks like the two Python's decided to turn the other cheek! John Cleese makes a particularly salient point when he points out that Jesus was supposedly crucified for blasphemy, given all the cries of blasphemy from Christians regarding the film at the time;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016bgt2/Friday_Night_Saturday_Morning/

Not sure if people outside the UK are able to view this, apologies if not. Blame the BBC not me!

[Tank]

The literally 'Holier than though' thing going on here is exactly the sort of arrogant theistic behaviour that was acceptable in those days, which is why the Python's put up with it. Fortunately Christians wouldn't get quite such a free ride today! 

[Too Few Lions]

The literally 'Holier than though' thing going on here is exactly the sort of arrogant theistic behaviour that was acceptable in those days, which is why the Python's put up with it. Fortunately Christians wouldn't get quite such a free ride today! 

Amen to that! 

[Recusant]

The BBC iplayer is not available for people in the US. I can't speak for anybody else. I've seen a couple of clips of the debate, and remember how Mervyn Stockwood, the Bishop of Southwark, continually fondled the rather gaudy cross he had on a chain around his neck. Maybe it was the editing of the clips that I've seen but I would say that he and Muggeridge come off like a pair of twits. There is a Channel 4 documentary (or parts of it) about the controversy over the film available on youtube, which I recall includes some clips of the debate. Also, a brief sketch from "Not the Nine O'Clock News" which parodies the debate.

[Tank]

Here you are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoM46jRJnHM