THE EDITOR, Sir:TODAY I would like us to look at entertainment and religion. It would seem to me that all pagan religions did have some measure of performance at their worship. As history records, there were dancing girls, and male and female prostitutes at the various temples.
So, the church temple catered for a great many human need. Then you had a level of commerce, a sort of marketplace within the temples. This was so even in Jerusalem.
The existing activities which involved buying, selling and money exchange attracted many persons. This to me signifies entertainment purposes. Most certainly Jesus of Nazareth would have been a Herodian in the political party of King Herod.
From the writings one can assume that Herod considered the miracles of Jesus to be simple magical tricks to entertain the crowds, and hence the reason people followed Him. The crowd being held spellbound.
There is a famous saying "All the world's a stage." So in considering the relationship between Jesus, the crowd, his 'followers' and Herod, it seems His life was spent acting upon the world's stage.
But Jesus was not an entertainer, but rather He was for a noble cause. God cannot die 'He lay down His life to take it up again' -- at will. Not in sport or jest but rather in deadly seriousness.
Let the churches stop the clowning around. Put an end to priesthoods masquerading under a mask, that so resembles the pagan priesthoods of ancient Egypt. Even the unlearned ones are parading and beating drums in large white braided gowns with 'turban-like' headgear.
Did the record show where Jesus disguised Himself in any special robe? Did He look like the high priest whom He came to replace? We need no special 'looks' or dress to worship God. Of course not more than a loincloth.
We choose fabric. God gave us skin to cover our nakedness.
I am, etc
CESAR R. LEWIS
