Penn & Teller ridicule Christ's crucifixion

WorldNetDaily ^ | Posted: January 20, 2003 | unknown

[Houmatt]

The magic-comedy team of Penn & Teller has performed a stunt parodying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, offending some attendees of a major magicians' convention, reports columnist Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review.

The skit, performed last week in Las Vegas, included Teller, dressed as Christ on a full-size cross, entering the room on a cart. According to the column, a midget dressed as an angel "performed a simulated sex act on the near-naked Teller." Penn, in a Roman gladiator costume, unveiled the scene by pulling away a "Shroud of Turin" that covered the cross.

A group of people attending the event, billed as a roast of magician Amazing Johnathan, walked out in protest, says Clarke.

According to Rick Neiswonger, a longtime magician and marketing executive, said "the majority" of the 400 who attended the roast were offended.

"They (organizers) warned everybody that something offensive was going to happen, but my God, where do you draw the line? … This was beyond bad taste," Neiswonger told the Review.

One magician, Lance Burton, defended the stunt in an address at the finale luncheon of the conference.

"I told them, 'You were warned ahead of time.' It was a roast; it was held late at night (midnight)," he said, according to the Review column. "Penn & Teller are my dear friends and I would take a bullet for them, and you can write that."

Amazing Johnathan told the Review he was aware that a number of what he called "gospel magicians" walked out of the performance.

"This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion."

Clarke said in his column that Penn & Teller declined comment.

[Houmatt]

"I told them, 'You were warned ahead of time.' It was a roast; it was held late at night (midnight)," he (Lance Burton)said.

Yes, of the Amazing Jonathan. Not of Jesus Christ.

This is outright blasphemy. I will never watch Penn and Teller, or any of their supporters, again.

[PaulJ]

...and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center.

The trade center was bombed by Christians? Or did he mean Islam can be dangerous?

[Radix]

They are aholes and they always have been.

There are a lot more out there too!

This is why I love FR.com

We can know each other.

They will fight us!

They will cheat too!

They want to win more than we do!

It seems so!

[WilliamWallace1999]

Add them to my growing list of performers that can piss off and die before I ever watch them again.

[hardhead]

Watch me offend someone - who cares! The World Trade Towers were not destroyed in the name of Jesus, but in the name of Mohammed and 72 virgins!

[Servant of the Nine]

The trade center was bombed by Christians? Or did he mean Islam can be dangerous?

I think he meant hyper-religious loons can be dangerous.

So9

[Undivided Heart]

That's the line that got me. Gee, perhaps it would be fitting to just say Penn scares the hell out of me. After all, look at the 20th century. What an idiotic thing for him to say.

I have lost respect for Penn and Teller and The Amazing Jonathan.

[yendu bwam]

I will never watch Penn and Teller, or any of their supporters, again.

Nor I. Really, really horrible and gross and vomitous. Adieu, Penn & Teller. Go back to your hellish visions.

[Caipirabob]

"This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion."

"It was a roast..."

Methinks he has yet to see a roast.

[yendu bwam]

"I told them, 'You were warned ahead of time.' It was a roast; it was held late at night (midnight)," he said, according to the Review column. "Penn & Teller are my dear friends and I would take a bullet for them, and you can write that."

Hey Lance, you hang out with religious perverts.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"I know that Penn is a practicing atheist

What kind of practicing do you do as an atheist?

[arly]

Thanks for the post My wife and I were planning on catching a Lance Burton show on our next trip to Vegas this spring now I can log some more time in the casino instead!

[Asclepius]

I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion

Yeah, OK, but doctrinaire atheists are far more dangerous than any quasi-holy religionoid ever dared to be. Look at the Soviet terror famine of '33 or the Cold War or Pol Pot's Cambodia or the annexatin of Tibet. The Inquisition and the Crusades and the War of the Roses and the reformation and the counter-reformation all pale in comparison.

[Bobby777]

I know that Penn is a practicing atheist

is Penn the tall one with the long hair? ... if so, he's always ridiculing Christianity ... I've seen him do it on TV at least 3 separate times ...

but what a spectacle ... amazing ... poor taste ... very poor taste ...

[ErnBatavia]

And to think Penn was sort of praised here not long ago:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/818286/posts

[clintonh8r]

Hey, Lance, you hang out with religious perverts.

Sexual perverts, too. Teller's a homo and I have an idea that Penn is omnisexual...

[Rainbow Rising]

"This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion."

During the late 80's and early 90's FOX TV had a weekly comedy show called "Comic Strip Live." It aired on Saturday nights and would feature four or five standup comics. This cretin Amazing Jonathan would pop up every couple of months or so, and he did the same lame tricks over and over: pretending to shove the cigarette up his nose and pull it out of his ear, pretending to pull a string of bloody razor blades out of his mouth, and so on. When the emcee announced him, that was my cue to go to the kitchen and get a sandwich. He was always a talentless hack, and I'm stunned that he's still in the business. Are clubs that hard up for acts that they still hire this boob?

And now with those comments he also reveals himself to be utterly stupid (big surprise). I've already got him on my "Don't Watch" list, but now Penn & Teller are on there as well.

[okie01]

"I think he meant hyper-religious loons can be dangerous."

That may be what he meant. Only he knows for sure.

But it sure as hell isn't what he said.

[Inspectorette]

Let's keep this one bumped.

[yendu bwam]

Sexual perverts, too. Teller's a homo and I have an idea that Penn is omnisexual...

They're very close to their tigers...

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

"This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center.

Atheism can be dangerous. Look at the Soviet Union.

[Paul_B]

I guess they have to right to do such a skit. But a big bravo to the decent people who walked out, and who now will boycott these jerks. Bless the Lord.

[Hodar]

What other word for 'STUPID' is there? It's like a Hollywood star blabbering about a political story; by virtue of opening your mouth, you just alienate half of your audience. By insulting Christians, they have just alienated about 80% of their audience.

They had it all, money, fame and people waiting in lines to buy tickets to see them. But like Sheanad O'Connor (tore up the Pope's picture on SNL), they drove thier fan base away. I hope their career prospers like Shenad's did (sp?)

[demkicker]

"Add them to my growing list of performers that can piss off and die before I ever watch them again."

I like the way you express yourself. My sentiments exactly!

[Houmatt]

Yes. He is the only one who talks of the duo.

Which, at this point, has to be a good mixed blessing for Teller.

[Bobby777]

volley-bump ...

I would invite all Christians to pray for Penn and Teller ... first of all, it would be better to see them get Saved ... secondly it will really drive them nuts if they remain uninterested ... perhaps God will open their eyes to the real meaning of the Crucifixion (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4) ... FWIW ...

[Bobby777]

thanks for the info ...

[Alex Murphy]

...I have an idea that Penn is omnisexual...

I take it that means "with anything - animal, vegetable, or mineral"?

[dasboot]

I saw a show in which Penn gave a tour of his home. In one room he, keeps several jars of deformed, stillborm fetuses/babies. This guy is not only irreverent, he's diabolically twisted.

Where demand for his acknowledged talent runs thin, irreverence is his commodity. No doubt he'll follow up with sick outragiousness when the rest catch up with him. He'll probably lead the profession into the basement...where it lodged itself in past centuries.....and engender the scorn of civilized persons who eschew perversity.

His salvation would bear great witness for Christ. Pray for him.

[CyberCowboy777]

And it certainly is not the message Penn & Teller wanted to pass along.

Anti-Christian rhetoric and actions are born and fueled by hatred and ignorance just as with anti-Semitism and racism.

[renosathug]

They're very close to their tigers...

You are confusing them with Siegfried and Roy.

[jlogajan]

Anti-Christian rhetoric and actions are born and fueled by hatred and ignorance

How about anti-atheistic rhetoric and actions?

[ClancyJ]

I guess the lovers of darkness feel the devil has free reign at midnight.

Don't know how any Christians could stay and watch the performance after Christ suffered and died on that cross for their sins. Such an insult. I would hate to be standing in the performers shoes. Hope they enjoy their mocking today - they won't in eternity.

[RichInOC]

Dear Penn and Teller:

Boys, I realize you like to play cruel tricks on dear friends, but even for you guys, there are some things that fall under the category entitled "that's just wrong."

[ClancyJ]

Watch me offend someone - who cares!

Agree!!!

No comments from the politically correct police? Oh, excuse me - it is only AGAINST Christianity. But, but, someone may feel uncomfortable seeing their Savior mocked?

Oh, it is only the Muslims and athesists and non-Christians that receive the politically correct protection. Christians have no feelings, no worth, no rights.

[Free ThinkerNY]

PENN AND TELLER

[sinclair]

Religious fanaticism can be excessive intolerance of opposing views no matter what religion you follow.

[CyberCowboy777]

Yep.

You let me know when you hear of

any hit pieces in the NY Times or other "news"papers

any "art" defaming or making fun of or desiring pain from Atheist

exposes of "corrupt" Atheist on the "magazine" news programs

[WOSG]

This was performance art," said Johnathan. "I know that Penn is a practicing atheist, and I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion."

----


NO, if you want to be offensive ... THAT is a way to be offensive. Comparing the devout Christian to (Islamic) terrorists is beyond offensive. Evil???

[yendu bwam]

Whoops! My apologies to Siegfried & Roy.

[jlogajan]

You let me know when you hear of any hit pieces in the NY Times or other "news"papers any "art" defaming or making fun of or desiring pain from Atheist exposes of "corrupt" Atheist on the "magazine" news programs

Not sure why you are limiting it to the New York Times or other similar outlets. Atheists are condemned all the time from the pulpits across the US and around the world.

Why should atheists not return fire????

[Red Jones]

don't go watch any magicians at all. These two magicians were allowed to do this at a magician convention. So, boycott them all. Don't make distinctions. Also, stay away from Vegas, this occurred in Vegas. Seriously.

[Pablo64]

""I know that Penn is a practicing atheist,..."

He's so bad at it that he has to practice??? Just how hard is it not to believe in God??? {/sarcasm}

[VetoBill]

Look at the Trade Center. That was done in the name of religion

Religions could be banned and still people would find ways to harm each other. Conservatives vs Leftists, Communist vs. Capitalist, almost any sport activity, etc... almost all have elements that slur, libel, and would, if they could, beat the holy $hit out of each other.

Religion isn't the only thing people latch onto to express their emotions. Removing religion will not decrease intense emotions, it will merely transfer it to something that could be very much worse.

[hardhead]

We may have no rights, but we have Truth.

[sarasmom]

As one who has known several deeply faithfull Christians, I would expect a number of people would sincerely have your attitude

I, OTOH, feel perfectly free to damn them for a grossly innapropriate and dissgusting display of contempt for Christianity.

But before I spend any additional time in joining or advocating a boycott,is there a separate source of corroberation for this?

[nickcarraway]

I agree with him that Christianity can be dangerous. Look at the Trade Center.

Wow

[clintonh8r]

Animal, mineral, vegetable or inanimate, probably....

[nickcarraway]

How would you know?