Uplifting Christian symbol
DARK MOFO CROSSES
DEAR David Walsh, Brian Ritchie, Hobart City aldermen and all Mofo organisers, I want to congratulate you on the festival’s and Hobart’s open expression of support for Christianity with the very large Saint Peter’s crosses mounted on pedestals around the waterfront. Not only is this a great uplifting Christian symbol, you have even gone to the trouble to have them painted blood red in the colour of life and the blood of the martyrs. St Peter was chosen by our saviour Jesus Christ as “the rock” upon which the Christian church would be built. When condemned to death by crucifixion by the despotic Emperor Nero, St Peter declared he was not worthy to be crucified in the same manner of Christ our saviour, but that he should be crucified upside down, which is how he was martyred between 64 and 68AD. St Peter was the first Vicar of Christ, which is why the Papal symbol features St Peter’s cross. Nero died on June 9, 68AD and perhaps fittingly the cause of this evil emperor’s death was assisted suicide.
By 323AD Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire and the rest is history, with Christianity spreading to all corners of the globe and providing the foundations upon which western civilisation and our wonderful democracy of Australia was built. As for a dark mass and other sinister events on the Mofo program obviously designed to shock …. Really? Isn’t it time you grew out of this rather immature attention-seeking approach and embrace the light and all that is good and wholesome? In the meantime, take care: if you play with fire expect to be burned and if you play around with stuff that is dangerous expect to be dangerously hurt.
Dark and dangerous
I AM disappointed with David Walsh for using Dark Mofo to feature the world of the occult. There is no doubt his achievement in establishing Mona and Dark Mofo is part of the reason that Tasmania is regarded as an exciting and interesting place, which of course does him credit. But the inverted cross is a symbol from a dark and dangerous supernatural world and should not be displayed for fun. It’s worth noting, I think, that the city of Hobart is not really anyone’s private playground.
Shows God’s love
THE erection of the upside down crosses is an attempt to belittle and scorn the symbol of the cross for Christians. But Christians should rejoice, as the cross was a symbol of shame; like the gallows, the most cruel death the Romans could devise for their worst criminals. The cross shows God loved us so much he came as a man, as Jesus Christ, to not only show us how we should live with our fellow citizens, but A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. that through his death on the cross, as an innocent victim, we could be restored to a loving friendship with him. Jesus’s resurrection, which followed, was the foretaste of what all believers can expect. Satan may be using Dark Mofo to distract us from that message of hope; in erecting those crosses he is, in effect, preaching the good news of God’s love.
Celebrate great saint
I SAW the inverted cross the other day and laughed. Mona was trying to be offensive. When I saw it, I saw the Cross of St Peter and realised how literally deficient the organisers were. Other critics should read a bit more too and embrace the celebration of the great saint.
Dialogue undermined
WHY does the Left continue to feel compelled to antagonise Christianity under the veil of free speech and art? Haven’t you already proved God is dead? Surely your love for self and all things modern provides sufficient inspiration for art to adorn your winter party. Maybe it’s the shocked and often confused reaction of us Christians that you are really after, much like setting fire to a barn merely to witness the milieu that ensues. I know, I know … it’s all about starting a dialogue, right? Sadly, any claim of seeking to create religious dialogue is greatly undermined by the lack of any anti-Islamic art, which always seems to be the case in such settings.
Save handfish habitat
KANGAROO Bay is home to one of the rarest animals on Earth, the spotted handfish. The bay also contains highly contaminated sediments. Disturbing the fish or the sediments can cause permanent harm. We all have a shared responsibility for ensuring these charming little creatures, their habitat and breeding sites are not lost forever.
Advice on advisers
RAISING the politician numbers in parliament means more advisers to assist the politicians. Perhaps it would be better if the advisers run for parliament and do away with the already elected members. This way we would save lots of money by not having the politicians who need the advisers to solve Tasmania’s problems they cannot fix. More money means better health and education facilities.
Better parents
PRESSURE is mounting on the government to better protect Tasmania’s at-risk children. I guess that’s a whole lot easier than trying to put pressure on adults to become better parents.
Anti-Christian
ONLY a few months ago Tasmanians were shouting loud and clear for tolerance and equality and yet now the city of Hobart has three anti-Christian symbols erected in a public space. If this was offensive to the Aboriginal community or any other religion it would never have even gone up. Very disappointing but not surprising.