From: "U. G. Barad" <[email protected]>
Fr. Ivo while concluding his posting on subject titled "Why controversy?"
(Goanet Digest, Vol 5, Issue 863, Message: 11, dated: Mon, 16 Aug 2010)
wrote: "I do admire him. An apology is required. Such an artist,
musicologist, theologian, indologist, polyglot does not deserve such an
ill-treatment".
My response: Fr. Ivo paying his respect to Prof. Jose Pereira is quite
appreciating. It would have been nice if Fr. Ivo was to specify from whom
he
expects/expected apology rather than just writing "An apology is
required".
***Dear Dr.U.G.Barad, You are requesting a wrong person to do a wrong thing.
I am not a police man nor a law and order authority. You said some time
back that
the government will set aright all the social evils. Now it is up to the law
and order authorities
to capture the culprits and punish them. If they have conscience, let them
apologize to our good Friend,
Prof.Dr.José Pereira, whom they have threatened to kill by decapitation...
The spokeswoman said that
she had no connection with those who came up with threats to the members of
the Xavier Historical Centre.
Who knows it? I found her a simpleton, when she spoke publicly: "I am not
learned, but from the LITTLE that
I read of the Scriptures I can say that your interpretation is TOTALLY
WRONG!"... Was it wrong? She was
challenging a man of authority in Hindu Scriptures. Therefore, whoever has
insulted Prof.José Pereira should apologize.
If you have any connection with them, you can help the law and order
authorities.
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
Fr. Ivo's above high-lightened write-up forced me to ask his views on the
painting displayed at:
http://www.newsofap.com/newsofap-6248-25-jesus-christ-with-cigarette-beer-ne
w-delhi-school-testbooks-show-newsofap.html
***I could not get the painting from the server. But my answer would be as
follows: What is the purpose of painting Jesus with cigaretter and beer (I
do not know what else is there)? Jesus was drinking wine together with other
Jews, but he was not smoking cigarette (no mention at all). The question is:
What is the intent of the artist? Is it to insult him? It is not historical.
Or is it to show him as a revolutionary? Jesus was dining with people of all
kinds, even sinners (tax-collectors), for Jesus came to save all sinners. He
was a revolutionary in his ways, and therefore, if it is to show that Jesus
was human (though he is the Son of God), and was mingling with the people,
yet distancing from them, I would have no problem...
As I said, art is to be interpreted. But if it is to show him as a
"drunkard", that would not be historically accurate. We know from the
Gospels, in the parable of the children in the market place, that he was
called a "drunkard and a glutton" (cf. Lk 7:34: "The Son of Man has come
eating and drinking; and you say, `Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a
friend of tax collectors and sinners"; see Mt 11:16-19), because Jesus was
behaving normally with the people as a normal man, yet people could see in
him Master, Messiah and God. He was questioned, when he said: "The Father
and I are one." Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus
said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one
are you going to stone me?" They replied, "We're stoning you not for any
good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God." (cf.John
8:12). Yes, he was really God.
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
