CITY SEEKS ANSWER TO “WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?”
Colorado Springs Gazette, 5-1-08
Things are
calm in Colorado Springs, but we’re in
the eye of a hurricane. Next week will
end a “Perfect Storm” of events at the intersection of religion, art, and
public life.
Last Friday
saw the release of “Expelled”. A few
days later, Focus on the Family held a debate on “One Nation Under God”. UCCS
Theaterworks is doing “Playboy of the Western World”. Next week, “Constantine’s Sword”
premieres. Whew!
I’ll
probably have seen “Expelled” by the time you read this. It was a tough call, I hate giving money to
anything having to do with ID. But even
though I hope the film dies a horrible death at the box office, I can’t tell
people to stay away, lest I be accused of membership in the evil “big science”
conspiracy. Plus if I don’t see it, I can’t talk about it from a truly informed
perspective. So I’ll go.
If you’re
thinking about going, could I ask a favor?
Before you go, invest half an hour of your time with the “Expelled
Exposed” web site: www.expelledexposed.com. It’s run by the National Center for Science
Education. After all, you didn’t take
“Fahrenheit 9/11” at face value. Don’t
take “Expelled” that way either.
I was at
Focus’s “Under God” debate, ably moderated by the Gazette’s Jeff Thomas. I’m ashamed to admit that toward the end, I
booed the Focus representative. I’d like
to apologize for that, particularly to the nice young lady who had the
misfortune to sit next to me. I was a guest in Focus’s house, and I should’ve
behaved better.
But when
the speaker said he wanted ID taught alongside evolution, I just lost it. Doesn’t
he read my column? How could he
have resisted my awe-inspiring acumen and artful argument, the persuasive power
of my perspicacious prose? Sigh.
Speaking of
bad audience behavior, Synge’s “Playboy of the Western World” started a riot
when it premiered a century ago. Synge
gave up Christianity after reading Darwin, so it takes guts to perform
“Playboy” in Colorado Springs. I haven’t
seen it yet, but hope to go tonight.
Come check out the UCCS Theaterworks student production. Last show is May 3rd.
As if a
pro-ID documentary, a Focus debate, and one of the most blasphemous plays of
the 20th century weren’t enough, “Constantine’s Sword” is coming to
town May 9th. That’s a month earlier than originally scheduled,
probably because of all the buzz it’s been getting.
(Full
disclosure: Parts of the raw footage for
“Constantine’s Sword” were filmed at my home.
From the pre-release clips, it looks like I appear in it for approximately
.27 seconds. This should help the film
gross another $5-$10 at the box office).
“Sword” is
based on the best-selling book by James Carroll, a former priest whose
investigations into the roots of Christian anti-Semitism led him to leave the calling. It’s really his story. The director, Oren
Jacoby, has already been nominated for an Oscar for his film celebrating the
courage of Sister Rose Thiering.
The film is
a profound meditation on religion and war.
Much of the action takes place at locations around town. Ted Haggard is interviewed (pre-Mike Jones),
and of course the ubiquitous Mikey Weinstein figures prominently.
Some have
accused “Sword” of anti-Catholic bias.
Given that Carroll is Catholic, and that religious leaders of all
dominations have praised the film, I think that’s a highly dubious charge. But see it and judge for yourself. It opens at Kimball’s next Friday.
What does
this all mean? Why so many Big Events
dealing with Big Issues in our little town?
Like it or
not, Colorado Springs is a microcosm for larger battles being waged in our
society as a whole. What is Truth? What is science? Which religion is the One True Faith? What is the proper relationship between
church and state? How do we discern
right and wrong? Does God exist? What, ultimately, is America all about?
Colorado
Springs wrestles with these and other Big Questions are every day: In our schools, in our theaters, in our homes
and on these pages. We’re a little town
that likes Big Ideas. I wouldn’t have it
any other way.