One of my favorite Jesuses is in Caravaggio's "The Taking of Christ" (1598), which hangs rather improbably in the National Gallery of Ireland, on indefinite loan by some rich Jesuits. I lived in Dublin briefly as a student and would frequently visit the museum just to see this painting. It jumps out at you with tremendous force -- fresh as if painted just yesterday -- set off all the more by several galleries of rather dun, second-rate Renaissance paintings before and after.

This is the moment of Judas's betrayal. He leans in to plant the damning kiss on Jesus's cheek while centurions dressed in black, lustrous armor prepare to make their move. Jesus's face is sad and seemingly resigned to fate. He interlaces his fingers, offering his wrists to be chained. But: directly to his left, practically erupting from the back of his head, Peter cries out in alarm, hair blurring the distinction between their two bodies. Jesus is simultaneously silent and screaming, hands simultaneously lowered and raised, and Peter's cape billows out to form a canopy above the poisonous kiss. Caravaggio captures Jesus's contradictions by making him two-headed and four-armed. I never got over this.

I remember I was very impressed by
Pieta by Michelangelo when I saw its picture somewhere in a book about 10 years ago. I
recalled that recently, found an image on the web and somehow failed to get that impression that has stayed with me for so long and that I have been associating with this work. I felt the same when I saw it on your blog and it made me wonder once again why "the magic" is gone. I think my first impression came with that particlur photograph I had seen, that had Maria's face zoomed in at some angle that made it so live and so full of feelings, from tenderness to sorrow, and it was so
moving, while now as I'm looking at a high-quality
digital snap of it, all I see is a sculpture, beautiful but somehow not moving, that just doesn't draw me in. I'm wondering if seeing such works of art "live" makes a huge difference, if seeing different images of them makes a difference? To complete my experiment I would need to see the Pieta in Vatican.

I'm particularly fond of revolutionary Jesus, the one who said that no wealthy man could go to Heaven so long as some were still in poverty.

Bob Miller (vanrijngo) is in a rambling mood,... and one who could care less if anyone who reads his writings believes anything what he has to say,... because as most know already,... ones who thinks that they know him, believes he is so full of it,.... just as the days are long. Well,... if time is irreverent as Einstein says,.. this must not be true or hold water at all. Just more myths and lies to go down into our history books to become some peoples truths who want to believe in something.

He believe people who writes books on atheism and on the history of atheism are only interested in the monetary aspects and the return while only creating other forms of beliefs, only as competitors to the rest of the written down beliefs. It has been acknowledged God said that no rich man will enter the gates of heaven as long as there are poor. People in general just cannot see this the way that our societies are built up and what was taught them from very young ages. Education and money will buy you the better things in life along with happiness. Don't you think that some of this has gotten just a little out of hand?

vanrijngo

Oh yeah, the way to make money is to write about atheism. That and the desire to start your own belief system (religion) are Mitch's only motivations.

It has been acknowledged that the universe was created in 6 days. It has been acknowledged that God is an immaculate fornicator. Everything has been acknowledged by someone.

I have heard that vanringo was placed in a running washing machine when he was 3 days old? Is that true?

Mitch is getting rich! Woopie! And all the while pissing through the eye of a needle!

Hey Jay,
I think that's the washing machine I almost drowned in on your web page under contruction.
Cheers!
vanrijngo