Rev. Father A. Maximiadis
Recently I viewed Chris Butler’s Video Show titled ‘Jagud Guru Speaks: Is God Really Lovable?’ (Oleo Public Access TV, 2004). This highly controversial video could be viewed at www.cultofbutler.com web site until the site was force to close. Butler appeared on the show with a meagrely audience, presumably his ultra-accommodating inner circle of followers. If it had not been for the seriousness of the subject matters in question, viz., God and Christians, Butler could very well have been mistaken for a comedian guffing on the ‘Comedy channel’. He revelled with his audience at the expense of both God, and Christians. At the end of each ridicule, and sarcasm, Butler made against God (and of course, his favourite ‘so-called Christians’ scoffs), his obsequious inner circle provided timely feigned laughter. Butler’s ostentatious performance was beyond ridiculous.
He flippantly asked questions, and provided his answers about God: “… what’s he look like? He provided a response: “faceless big dude! (he and his audience laughed). He then said: God is as ”cold as ice OK! and is as “hard as concrete”. He also suggested that “God likes to sit there and throw people in the fire like a sadist”. Butler’s satirizing, and characterizing God as a “cold, sadist[ic], big dude” was unadulterated profanity at its worst.
Butler’s relentless ongoing anti-Christian campaign, against what he tediously designates: “so-called Christians”, is a violation of the most quintessential aspect of human conscience, and purposeful assault against all Christians. Butler, in his Video Show, crossed the boundary from the natural, preternatural into the realm of the Supernatural, by virtue of his denigratory glib rhetoric against God. He is now treading on the precarious thin ice of blasphemy. This is loathsome, contemptuous, and morally reprehensible. Butler is, in my opinion, demonstrating recklessness, and irresponsibility towards those of his followers who have entrusted their souls to his care.
In a pluralistic society, anyone is free to establish legally a group to follow whatever beliefs or traditions they wish. I believe in the democratic principle that any group, particularly minority groups, are entitled to grow and prosper within the laws of the prevailing trends, and opinions of the particular society in which they exist. However, I do not believe that any group is entitled to disregard other’s jurisdictions by poaching. Any group has the right to grow, but not at the expense, or vilification, of other groups.