AHH yes, the Olympics! First recorded in 776 BC, originally a Greek celebration to pay tribute to the God Zeus. The empires foremost athletes took part in competitions of strength and endurance, revelry abound, and of course there was a human sacrifice or two… got to keep Zeus’s cup filled with the good stuff.
Today, the Olympics are that same celebration of athletic excellence minus the worship of Greek Gods and Goddess, and human sacrifice.
The games represent a time of global unity. A period where we forget we hate each other. We cheer for other countries, we celebrate together, we support one another regardless of race, culture or religion. It is a rare global event that celebrates our best and encourages diversity and inclusivity.
This year, however, the Olympic opening ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly (the name!) decided to reinterpret “diversity and inclusivity” and in doing so excluded/insulted those of the Christian faith.
Jolly, created a scene extremely familiar to Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” Da Vinci’s work has long been held as scared by Christians. It depicts the solemn moment when Jesus Christ revealed to his Apostles that one of them (the slimy rat Judas) would betray him and he would be subject to torture, which would end in his death.
Jolly filled the table with pagan God and Goddesses of old, ravers, displays of excess and everything that would make a nun clutch her rosary and faint. This naturally did not go down well. The criticism from the global Christian community has been fast and furious.
The Paris Olympic Committee put out a statement clarifying it meant no disrespect and Jolly argued the scene was an interpretation of Greek mythology and the Feast of Dionysus, paying homage to the games Greek origins. But people weren’t buying it.
The New York Post ran an article on July 30 when an Olympic spokesperson admitted Jolly had been inspired by the Da Vinci piece and it was indeed a parody of The Last Super.
I am Catholic. Not the greatest one, I ask too many questions and guarantee you I would have been burned at the stake for heresy during the Spanish Inquisition or the European Witch Trials.
Despite my short falls, I love being a Catholic. Jesus is my homeboy, my family prays together every night, I pray the rosary regularly, I follow the message of kindness, not to judge and practice tolerance.
Accept all no matter their beliefs, sexual orientation, etc. it does not matter to me. Jesus hugged leapers and hung out with prostitutes, everyone deserves acceptance and to be treated kindly.
These lessons of love and kindness I work to instill in my children. Because to me that is what God, Jesus, Mary, all the Angels and Saints are, love and compassion.
I felt conflicted about the usage of The Last Supper in the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Has the image been used/parodied before? Yes, from the Simpsons to Etsy artists recreating the last supper with dogs. So why was this upsetting?
For me, it had nothing to do with the drag queens or the LGBTQ Community, I am an ally, I believe God loves all. It had nothing to do with the incorporation of non-biblical figures, or depictions of excess.
What upset me and what I think upset a lot of people, was the Olympic games have always remained neutral when it comes to religion. It goes with their mandate of inclusivity. So, when we see religious iconography used to create “shock factor” on a global stage it is hurtful and disrespectful.
The Christians have always been an easy target. Jolly would not have dared do used Muslim, Hindu or Jewish iconography, because the uproar would have been deafening. I do not think he thought the Christians would be as upset as they are.
Christianity is not perfect. Historically our leaders either supported or stayed silent on numerous atrocities. But that does not give the right to mock. No religions hands are clean. Personally, I was not overly insulted because it does not alter or affect my faith.
I am more bothered that religion has entered a safe space for all. A space where all are seen as equal. The modern Olympics have always remained secular, and Jolly crossed a line by bringing religion or what people can interpret as a symbol of their respective faith into a global arena that has long been religiously neutral in a way that can be argued as mockery.
If the athletes want to wear their religious grab or symbols that is fine, that is their personal right.
But on a whole, the Olympic Committee should keep religion out of its events, which are meant to be a celebration of all and built on respect for one another.
And lastly, if you are a Christian who upset about it, it is your right. If you are not upset about it, then you have respect the fact that others are and fighting them down, does nothing but cause further discord among us.
Last Supper at Olympics 2024
AZP News Commentary
AHH yes, the Olympics! First recorded in 776 BC, originally a Greek celebration to pay tribute to the God Zeus. The empires foremost athletes took part in competitions of strength and endurance, revelry abound, and of course there was a human sacrifice or two… got to keep Zeus’s cup filled with the good stuff.
Today, the Olympics are that same celebration of athletic excellence minus the worship of Greek Gods and Goddess, and human sacrifice.
The games represent a time of global unity. A period where we forget we hate each other. We cheer for other countries, we celebrate together, we support one another regardless of race, culture or religion. It is a rare global event that celebrates our best and encourages diversity and inclusivity.
This year, however, the Olympic opening ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly (the name!) decided to reinterpret “diversity and inclusivity” and in doing so excluded/insulted those of the Christian faith.
Jolly, created a scene extremely familiar to Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” Da Vinci’s work has long been held as scared by Christians. It depicts the solemn moment when Jesus Christ revealed to his Apostles that one of them (the slimy rat Judas) would betray him and he would be subject to torture, which would end in his death.
Jolly filled the table with pagan God and Goddesses of old, ravers, displays of excess and everything that would make a nun clutch her rosary and faint. This naturally did not go down well. The criticism from the global Christian community has been fast and furious.
The Paris Olympic Committee put out a statement clarifying it meant no disrespect and Jolly argued the scene was an interpretation of Greek mythology and the Feast of Dionysus, paying homage to the games Greek origins. But people weren’t buying it.
The New York Post ran an article on July 30 when an Olympic spokesperson admitted Jolly had been inspired by the Da Vinci piece and it was indeed a parody of The Last Super.
I am Catholic. Not the greatest one, I ask too many questions and guarantee you I would have been burned at the stake for heresy during the Spanish Inquisition or the European Witch Trials.
Despite my short falls, I love being a Catholic. Jesus is my homeboy, my family prays together every night, I pray the rosary regularly, I follow the message of kindness, not to judge and practice tolerance.
Accept all no matter their beliefs, sexual orientation, etc. it does not matter to me. Jesus hugged leapers and hung out with prostitutes, everyone deserves acceptance and to be treated kindly.
These lessons of love and kindness I work to instill in my children. Because to me that is what God, Jesus, Mary, all the Angels and Saints are, love and compassion.
I felt conflicted about the usage of The Last Supper in the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Has the image been used/parodied before? Yes, from the Simpsons to Etsy artists recreating the last supper with dogs. So why was this upsetting?
For me, it had nothing to do with the drag queens or the LGBTQ Community, I am an ally, I believe God loves all. It had nothing to do with the incorporation of non-biblical figures, or depictions of excess.
What upset me and what I think upset a lot of people, was the Olympic games have always remained neutral when it comes to religion. It goes with their mandate of inclusivity. So, when we see religious iconography used to create “shock factor” on a global stage it is hurtful and disrespectful.
The Christians have always been an easy target. Jolly would not have dared do used Muslim, Hindu or Jewish iconography, because the uproar would have been deafening. I do not think he thought the Christians would be as upset as they are.
Christianity is not perfect. Historically our leaders either supported or stayed silent on numerous atrocities. But that does not give the right to mock. No religions hands are clean. Personally, I was not overly insulted because it does not alter or affect my faith.
I am more bothered that religion has entered a safe space for all. A space where all are seen as equal. The modern Olympics have always remained secular, and Jolly crossed a line by bringing religion or what people can interpret as a symbol of their respective faith into a global arena that has long been religiously neutral in a way that can be argued as mockery.
If the athletes want to wear their religious grab or symbols that is fine, that is their personal right.
But on a whole, the Olympic Committee should keep religion out of its events, which are meant
to be a celebration of all and built on respect for one another.
And lastly, if you are a Christian who upset about it, it is your right. If you are not upset about it, then you have respect the fact that others are and fighting them down, does nothing but cause further discord among us.