Picard in the Garden

[Ros Calverley]

Subject:
Re: Picard in the Garden
Date:
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 22:25:24 +0000
From:
Ros Calverley <rainbow...@dial.pipex.com>
Organization:
UUNET WorldCom server (post doesn't reflect views of UUNET WorldCom)
To:

alt-startrek-creati...@moderated.newsgroup.relay.mail.pipex.net
Newsgroups:
alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated

Subject:
Re: Picard in the Garden
Date:
Sun, 17 Jan 1999 16:00:35 -0600
From:
SAMK <sa...@inil.com>
To:
ASCEM <as...@earthlink.net>

(delurk)

>Others have wondered how an actual Christian would react to this story.
>As previously admitted, I am a practicing Catholic, and I have to say, >I
>did not like this story that well. Now, I am not offended by it. If I
>were, I would not have read it. However, I felt that it made light >of
>Jesus, the message he taught, and especially the particular angst of
>Gethsemane. Even allowing for the whole concept of how could the >writers
>of the gospels know what happened when he was alone, I thought Askem's
>Jesus was a little too trite about his coming ordeal.

As a formerly practising Catholic, who still retains certain beliefs, I
have to disagree with you. To me, the coming ordeal of Jesus came over
as absolutely real, and I found Picard's intervention all the more
moving for that. The story recounted a hiatus, a pause to reflect, amid
the agony and the anticipation of what was to come; and it filled in the
gap mighty well, IMO.

It didn't reflect my beliefs in any way, I should add. I have absolutely
no problem with the notion that Jesus had a sex life - I'm sure he did,
and its only orthodox to believe that he was a normal human being in
every way - but I don't happen to believe that he was gay or bi. Despite
this, I found the story moving and sufficiently serious in its treatment
of what must have been an extremely traumatic and emotional night.

>I also felt the use
>of Jesus is a telepath was a bit too much like slight of hand.

Duhh...But it's very much Star Trek, isn't it? ;-)

>For the
>culture Jesus came from, he would have to be either convinced it was >the
>voice of God, or demons, if he heard others' thoughts. He would not be
>quite so offhand about announcing it. It was anachronistic.

I dunno. If you heard others' thoughts for long enough, and verifiably
enough, you might become convinced that they really were the thoughts of
others, rather than something demonological. As St. Paul said, the way
to distinguish between good and evil 'spirits' is to listen to what they
have to say.

>Finally, telepath or not, I'm not sure what Askem had in mind to >explain
>the "miracle" of Jesus' death and resurrection, but unless it was all >some
>mass illusion, I did not feel that the prospect of dying slowly and
>painfully was really treated with the proper respect.

I don't understand why you think this. My impression was that Jesus in
the story knew exactly what was to come, and saw no wrong in accepting
human comfort when it was offered.

>Anyway, I thought it was an interesting concept, and I felt that Picard
>was the right choice for the encounter.

Absolutely. Picard _would_ do this. That's what came over to me most
strongly - it was entirely in character. One could hear Jean-Luc
speaking, and see him acting. He would do this, if it was required of
him. That's all.

> I do not object to the sex of the
>matter, but I really think that Askem could have gotten there with a
>little more emotion.

On the contrary, I thought it was extremely emotional. It actually made
me cry, with sorrow for the forgotten implications of Christ's human
incarnation, and with pity for him, as a man, faced with the dreadful
fate he knew he had to suffer.

>So. Just my opinion.

And just mine, of course.

Ros

(relurk)

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