In my opinion, the best commentary so far on Madonna’s crucifixion stunt in her “Confessions” tour comes from that important 21st-century theologian Manolo the Shoeblogger: “Ecce Ho!” Because, frankly, the image of Ms. Ciccone Penn Richie standing with her arms outstretched in slings on that glitter-ball cross isn’t so much blasphemous as ridiculous. Or rather, if any blasphemy has been committed, it is blasphemy against standards of taste, creativity, and most of all, artistic inventiveness.
If Madonna had wanted to do something truly “subversive and outrageous”–I’m quoting my fellow Idol Chatter blogger Donna here–that would stand up for “the right for a woman to image Christ” (Donna’s words again), why didn’t she go the whole “Christa” hog: bare her breasts (or perhaps display them clad only in one of her famous nuclear-warhead cone brassieres), have her hands actually nailed to the cross instead of stuck in those dumb-looking braces, and assume the twisted, agonized posture of an actual victim of crucifixion, one of the most painful methods of execution ever invented?
Now, of course Madonna just celebrated her 48th birthday, she’s a mother of two, and even though she’s in great shape for a gal her age, she’s still a gal her age, on whom a loincloth and nothing else is not the most flattering costume. So Madonna is fully clothed for her crucifixion, in silk blouse, dark skirt or gaucho pants, high-heeled pirate boots, and crown of thorns color-coordinated to match the boots. This is supposed to “image Christ”? It may all be in a good cause–the point of the crucifixion act is to highlight the plight of impoverished sub-Saharan Africans–but Madonna looks just plain silly. I know she’s supposed to be the “Material Girl,” but I don’t think Jesus got nailed up there on Calvary just to show off his designer footwear. Madonna looks as though her next stop after the crucifixion isn’t the tomb but martinis at the Royalton.
So if I’d been Pope Benedict XVI, I would have called off the Vatican denunciators, poured myself a stein of wheat beer, and ignored Madonna’s entire cross-and-pony show. I would have also dropped strong hints for German authorities not even to think about prosecuting her. Still, the fact that many Christians have regarded Madonna’s staged crucifixion as offensive, rather than simply laughed it off, suggests exactly what is wrong with it. It’s not, contrary to what Donna suggests, that having Madonna, as a woman, “image the divine” undercuts our notion of what God is like and thus undermines our belief in Jesus’ divinity. It’s that such an image, whether it be Madonna or “Christa” or your favorite feminist theologian up there on the cross, undermines our belief in Jesus’ humanity–our belief that Jesus was actually one of us.
Jesus came to earth in Christian belief not as an abstract symbol of humanity, a symbol that could be imagined as either male or female, or maybe even as sexless, but as a specific human being with a specific gender. He was a man. To depict him as a man, whether in a Greek icon or an African folk-art crucifix, is to recognize his incarnation–his taking on human flesh via his human mother–as the central event of Christian salvation history. God became a human being so that human beings could become like God. To depict Jesus as a woman, any woman, is to suggest that this event was no more than a vague metaphor for some other process that was vaguer still. It is not surprising, then, that many Christians have concluded that Madonna hasn’t simply made a fool of herself by pretending to be Jesus but has belittled their very reason for believing in him as their savior.
posted August 22, 2006 at 12:00 am
I WISH I could say “I could have said it better myself”, but that would be a lie. Great job, Charlotte. You got it exactly right.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 1:29 am
Does anyone really believe that Madonna, with her history of trashing Christianity (specifically Catholic Christianity) really is trying to pay homage to the faith. Sorry, no. This is another tired stunt from an old perfomer who wants her 15 minutes of fame. It will be interesting to see what Jesus will make of her stunts when she meets him.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 1:36 am
Or rather, if any blasphemy has been committed, it is blasphemy against standards of taste, creativity, and most of all, artistic inventiveness. Coming from members of the same faith party that brought us the Inquisition, Bingo Halls, Madonna of the Grilled Cheese, Madonna of the Oil Slick, and now Madonna of the Chocolate Drippings. Taste is subjective to the individual.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 2:29 am
I am not a Christian and I found the act over the top. I wish the entertainment industry would just stay away from religion. Is it so hard to ask for one thing not be commercialized or sold? It’s sooo hard to find anything real and moving in this world anymore and I think Madonna just had come along and cheapen the whole thing with a stupid stunt. And I agree with the author, it is less blasphemous and way more ridiculous.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 5:40 am
I find it completely and utterly brave. You have no right to down someone else’s self-expression like that. I think it was brilliant. A lot of people are complaining just because it’s a woman taking up a temporary image or Christ. Have you thought for a second what the point of the stunt really was? Think about what’s whowing behind her and think about the point before you go off on someone — the ends justify the means if it helps bring attention to such a serious problem.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 7:23 am
This woman has had her 15 minutes of fame. Its time she left the stage. She cannot rely on talent, because she lacks it…she had to have prop and whatever will turn a buck she will do….sad huh !!>
posted August 22, 2006 at 7:26 am
As I keep commenting everywhere. She’s old. She’s done. She’ll do whatever to try to stay in the limelight. Why are we still so shocked?>
posted August 22, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Romans 6:6 reads “Knowing this, that our own man(ie flesh/body)is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed…” As Christains we ARE crucified with Christ,none of us have endured any of the brutal torture that Jesus willingly suffered. As far as the act itself, all of us have done some rather dumb things that we’d rather not remember. I would rather look at her heart, what was the point she was trying to make? Was she saying that if Jesus died on the cross to give mankind freedom, why is there still suffering? With freedom comes responsibility, with responsibility comes decision making, with decision making comes-benefits or consequences.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Luke 23:34″Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” For all my Christian brothers & sisters, how is the log in your own eye? Every time a Christian uses “Jesus” as a cuss word,does not love the unlovable, takes what is not theirs,or denies Gods capability to defend Himself- they have commited an offense to God. How many stopped to pray forgiveness or salvation for Madonna? Father, I know it is Your desire that none should perish. I lift up Madonna to Your Throne- Heavenly Father love her today.Amen>
posted August 22, 2006 at 4:34 pm
To depict Jesus as a woman, any woman, is to suggest that this event was no more than a vague metaphor for some other process that was vaguer still.” How about depicting Jesus as a lamb, or fish, of a grapevine, or a piece of bread? Why is Christians can accept Jesus as a non-human animal, a plant, or an inanimate object but as a woman, that’s beyond the pale?>
posted August 22, 2006 at 4:43 pm
The incarnation has very little to do with Christ’ “maleness”. Following this writter’s logic, salvation would then include becoming male. I don’t think the point of Madonna’s actions here was to highlight the feminine side of God. But, the discussion is an interesting sidenote and a very interesting discussion.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 6:30 pm
“A lot of people are complaining just because it’s a woman taking up a temporary image or Christ. Have you thought for a second what the point of the stunt really was? Think about what’s whowing behind her and think about the point before you go off on someone — the ends justify the means if it helps bring attention to such a serious problem.” Except that it doesn’t, if you’re referring to African poverty. If anything, it distracts people from that. I don’t have a problem with a female Christ image, I do have a problem with Madonna comparing her own suffering to Christ’s.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 7:24 pm
Also, do you think Madonna would “pay tribute” to Muslims by imitating anything with their religion? Or does she realize that she would not live out her tour if she did that? Come on, Madonna is spitting on Catholicism like she always has. This woman is a real piece of work.>
posted August 22, 2006 at 11:27 pm
The whole sexism issue is a distraction. A red herring. It’s silly to equate Madonna’s cheezball publicity stunt as imaging some feminine divinity. She’s imaging her “own” divinity, and she’s making a parody of the crucifixion to make money and to get attention. She is glorifying herself. Not Christ.>
posted August 23, 2006 at 12:36 am
Madonna has been going downhill for a while now!!! People seriously need to keep their money and their pockets and stop encouraging her to act foolish. Now she is talking about Magic tonic water? CRAZY!!!!!! “>http://worldofwonder.net/archives/2006/Aug/22/water_you_talking_about.wow>
posted August 23, 2006 at 6:19 am
Can’t she just make decent music and stop with the childish “Hey, look at me antics!”?>
posted August 24, 2006 at 4:06 am
MADONNA IS SO DISGUSTING THAT IT ISN’T EVEN FUNNY. FOR ONE THING SHE IS TO “OLD” TO ACT LIKE SHE IS SWEET 21 AND NEVER BEEN HAD, GROW UP IDIOT, AND THE FACT THAT SHE IS A SO-CALLED “MOTHER” IS THE JOKE OF THE CENTURY!!! SURE SHE FEELS CLOSER TO CHRIST – WHERE WHEN SHE IS IN BED WITH SOME ONE? TALK ABOUT DUMB BLONDES – SHE IS #1 – GET YOUR TEETH FIXED HAG.>
posted August 24, 2006 at 4:15 am
Wow Carl, people like you need to get a life. Madonna does bring up interesting topics and why can’t people just look at both sides before showing so much hatred. I’m sorry your life is so miserable.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 4:59 am
Revenge is mine sayth THE LORD: May Madonna burn in the deepest, hottest HELL side by side with the one she sold her SOUL to,that LIAR,& Deciever Satan,& for her mockery of OUR LORD & Savior JESUS CHRIST’S suffering,& pain on the cross to save this world, YOU REEP WHAT YOU SOW.>
posted September 6, 2006 at 11:49 pm
I think Madonna needs to give it a rest. It is obvious she has run out of ideas to entertain people and actually believes she doing something great, you expect this sort of behavior from her. I personally wouldn’t waist my money on her show. Our society today is spiralling down a path of distruction and seeing Madonna pull her little stunt just goes to show you she down there in the muk with the best of them who thought her show was just great…>
posted September 12, 2006 at 3:10 pm
I resent Madonna (it’s hard to put her name in print. I wouldn’t put one penny in her hand. She is truly worthless!>