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An Encounter With Rich Brooks
by Jack Young
17 March 2004
I've noticed, especially with the recent opening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," that there has been an ongoing and often acrimonious debate about Christianity and religious issues on VNN. Being a Latter-day Saint, commonly referred to as a "Mormon," I think I can provide a somewhat unique perspective on this "who killed Christ?" question. First of all, I am not a Christian in the eyes of many who would claim that label. We may say we believe in Jesus Christ, these "reborns" say, but it is not the same Jesus as theirs and we have books other than the Bible that we regard as Holy Scripture. So be it; I've never cared much about labels anyway and I'm not here to debate or defend my personal religious beliefs.
Anyway, I was thinking about these things as I was in Wal-Mart the other day, when, quite coincidentally, I ran into Rich Brooks. Now I understand Rich has written a couple accounts of our chance meetings recently, but this time I thought I would beat him to the punch and write my version first.
"Hey, Rich," I called out to my apostate friend as I spotted him in one of the pet-supply aisles. Rich often has a slightly distracted or disengaged look about him and doesn't always appear to be entirely focused on his present surroundings.
"What's up, Jack? Seen any good movies lately?" he cheerfully called back.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I finally did go see Mel Gibson's 'Passion' the other day, but quite frankly I think the movie sucks. Emma had to close her eyes most of the time and all of the bloody gore almost even made me physically sick. It had all the drama of watching someone beat a dead horse, which is more or less what it looked like the Romans were doing to Jesus in the film," I declared. "Furthermore, as I've told you before, most of these commentators, from the ADL to VNN and everyone in between, just don't understand the whole concept of the Savior's atonement."
"Wow, strong words. 'It sucks' is pretty spicy language for a Latter-day Saint," Rich teasingly admonished me.
"That's exactly what one of his fellow sportscasters said to Steve Young one time when he used the very same descriptive words, and on the air yet! I figure if he can get away with it, so can I," I cleverly retorted.
"Fine, but didn't you think the movie was an accurate portrayal of Jesus' suffering and also how corrupt the jews of his day were?"
"OK, so you obviously want my long review, don't you?" I answered wearily. "The Gibson film started out on the right foot by focusing on the Garden of Gethsemane and the mental agony the Savior went through there. You should remember that Mormon doctrine teaches that the biggest part of His atonement took place in that garden and not when He was nailed to the cross. Perhaps that's one of the reasons you'll never see a cross in or on top of any LDS church."
"Yup," Rich shot in. "I know it's always either a spire or a gold statue of the angel Moroni, in the case of temples."
"So," I continued, "as I've told you before, our Savior's atonement -- his physical and mental suffering at the hands of the jews -- was something foreordained from the beginning of time as part of God's plan for the salvation of all mankind. Most of this suffering was actually mental as He 'bled from every pore' in Gethsemane even before any Roman soldier had laid a finger on him. That is why I think Gibson misses the point entirely by concentrating most of his movie on the brutal flogging."
"You have a definite point," agreed Rich. "I don't think any mortal could withstand the beatings depicted on screen and even remain alive, much less still fully conscious. Maybe Gibson meant to show that Jesus was superhuman, but I don't really think so. Actually I thought his Jesus was much too passive and stoic under the circumstances for my taste. But then, isn't that what Christianity teaches, love your enemy, turn the other cheek and all that passive bullshit which is destroying our race's will to survive?"
I told Rich that I understood why he had left the Church and that I remained a member primarily because I have a new wife and a baby on the way and that the LDS Church offers perhaps the best support system for raising a family with White values in this jew-controlled culture.
"But is it true?" asked Rich. "I understand what you're saying, and in fact Alex Linder said practically the same thing in just about the same words a while back. I, for one, however, would not want to raise a family on a foundation of lies, no matter how useful they were in scaring children into good behavior. Eventually your smarter kids will grow up and see through these lies and hold you in contempt for promulgating them. In fact what did your Jesus himself supposedly say about building a house on a foundation of sand? Anyway, I'm reading Simpson's Which Way Western Man and he has a very different interpretation of Jesus. In fact, what with working on my website and other things, I still have 700 pages to go, but eventually I'll get through it and write a review. By the way, how are your fellow Mormons reacting to 'Passion'? Are they going in spite of the 'R' rating?"
"You would have to bring that up," I replied. "It really does point out the hypocrisy involved in letting Hollywood jews determine which movies Mormons should be allowed to see. The reaction in our ward is very mixed. There are some who will not see any 'R' rated movie period, even something like 'Swindler's List.' or a movie about Jesus, but then there are others who invoke the spirit over the letter of the rule. Of those who've seen it, I think most of them, like, me are a little uncomfortable with the violence and the overall Gibson portrayal."
"Well," Rich asserted, "I'll have to say I agree with those who wouldn't go see 'Swindler's List.' Ha, can you believe that Kikeberg is coming out with a special anniversary DVD for that pack of lies? That's one DVD that won't be reviewed on White Alert, that's for sure!"
"Hey, your 'White Alert' is looking pretty cool. I really like your 'letters' section and especially the way you put down that jew who sent you the hate mail," I said.
"Actually," he replied, "I haven't received all that much hate mail and 99 percent of the feedback from White Alert readers has been positive. Only trouble is, I can't get some of my best friends to even look at my website. So many people here, as you well know, work for the government and they're actually afraid to visit my website because of the Patriot Act and all of the paranoia about 'terrorism.' Such is the sad state of affairs today in 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'! I'm glad that you at least have some balls, Jack."
I ruefully nodded my agreement, and on that note we parted, Rich pushing his cart toward the garden department and I to pick up some pads and parts to start up my swamp cooler for the season. Yes, we've had beautiful, 80 degree days here on the high desert this past week and it seems like just about everyone is getting spring fever. It makes you truly feel that God lives, and maybe that's the real reason I believe in the resurrection.
JACK YOUNG
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Visit Mr. Brooks's White Alert.
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