Life of Brian Interview

[The Good Michael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ni559bHXDg&feature=related

You just have to watch this. It's in 4 parts. These religious heads are absolutely nuts. They are so self-righteous that they can't hear a word the Pythons are saying and are exactly like Python characters. It's almost as if this whole show was a sketch. These men are morons, plain and simple. A product of religious education without any education in reality.


Mike

[Rubyretro]

I was glued to it all -the Bishop was hilarious. I loved his objection to the cruxifiction scene " just imagine Mother Theresa watching this ". Also, 'when I
am on my death bed I know that I would rather be taken into the arms of Christand not (Brian)'. I'm pretty sure that if I were dying, I would be thrilled to be received by Monty Python -it would be far more fun and stimulating than having to be well behaved for eternity.

I should have liked to have seen Malcolm Muggeridge debating with Fisherman and Lechmere -Malcolm was odious, and for such a clever man he had no argument at all. The Pythons were far to nice to him in the teeth of his stream of insults.

It was great telly though.

[The Good Michael]

Ruby,

The bishop was a Python character. Really, was he a bishop or an entertainer.

I agree that the Pythons were too kind, and had they encountered the Cleese of today, they wouldn't be so smug. They kept repeating the same stuff over and over: The Bishop about the sadness of the crucifixion and the other dolt about the incarnation. He must have said that 10 times.

Good stuff.

[Rubyretro]

I loved John Cleese's story about taking the Bible to Tibet as well...

I've got a good (true) story. There is a church near me called 'Notre Dame des Miracles' (Our Lady of the Miracles). Tradition has it that if you light a candle to her (a plaster statue in the crypt), she will grant you a miracle.

There was an appeal on to repair the church roof which was falling in, and they needed a large amount of money to fix it and were still a long way off the target.

I bought a lottery ticket for Euromillions and lit her a candle, and solemnly promised her that, if she gave me a massive win, then I'd split the proceeds 50/50 with her and she could get the roof repaired in one fell swoop, and have some left over for 'good works' in the Parish, and for inviting childless old widows over to the Curate's place for tea and cakes so that he could inveigle them to make a will leaving everything to the Church.

If all the Church's story were true, how could she turn me down ? it was an excellent deal !

I didn't win. I can't understand it.

[jason_c]

I have a lot of respect for Malcolm Muggeridge, he was one of the first to recognize Stalinism for what it really was. Its unfortunate this debate is probably what he is best known for today.

[Bailey]

This is of course a bit of Python legend - thanks so much for the link, as it was wonderful to see it in its entirety for the first time after only ever catching anecdotes and the odd snippet. It's really interesting to watch.

Obviously I fall down on the Python side, but I love Muggeridge's obvious passion and faith, and I believe from a Christian point of view (which, to be clear, I don't have, but can understand, since I'm a devil's advocate kinda guy at times) how trivialising the crucifixion must be quite abhorrent. I don't believe that's what the lads were doing, but I can certainly see how as someone raised with faith, with that image and what it means to the faithful playing such a huge part in your life and your makeup, that it could be upsetting to see the central moment of your faith turned into a (delighfully) silly musical number.

On the other hand, the whole thing reminds me of the wonderful doco series Monty Python: Almost The Truth and that I should probably pull it off the shelf and watch it again. If any Python fans haven't seen it, you absolutely must, for it is wonderful and as comprehensive a history of Python as you could wish for. I purchased the 8 episode set when it was released and ended up doing the whole thing almost in one sitting, it was so brilliant.