S&M for Jesus: So you endured Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," but what kind of man are you really? (I ask that question of you women, too.) Every year in the Philippines, they re-enact the crucifixion (the Associated Press and Reuters photos above were taken today), actually nailing volunteers to crosses, although, of course, the re-enactors aren't left up there to die. (Pussies.) One of my friends used to live on a U.S. military base in the Philippines and she told me that this sick practice is one of the many things that made her an atheist. Reuters notes that "The Roman Catholic church frowns on the gory spectacle held in the Philippines every Good Friday but it does not deter the faithful from emulating the suffering of Christ and taking a painful route to penitence." The Associated Press notes that "Scores of devout Catholics, mostly males, are nailed to the cross and thousands more do self-flagellation to atone for their sins and to liken the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday." Many of these volunteers for the cross volunteer year after year, Reuters and the AP note. I suspect that Jesus would be happy if his so-called "followers" would just actually follow his teachings. (Reuters and Associated Press photos)
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