- John Jordan Otte
Since my story last week about Tarleton State University student John Jordan Otte directing an excerpt of the Terrence McNally play “Corpus Christi,” pressure has persisted to stop the production.
Letters to the editor of The Stephenville Empire Tribune have continued to spew hatred.
Several of the actors in the class project have been forced to leave the play.
Another, a freshman whose father is a Baptist minister in Stephenville, refused to quit the production and was thrown out of his house. Otte has taken in the student and given him a place to live.
This morning on KRLD, host Jodie Dean ambushed Otte, asking whether he chose the play just to provoke controversy. Otte said that he did not, and Dean challenged him on that.
The play was chosen as a class assignment and will be presented one time in a theater that holds just 95 people. The excerpt from the play will be shown along with three other 45-minute productions. While open to the public, the show wasn’t meant to be advertised or promoted. It was intended to be seen mostly by friends and family of the actors.
Instead, word got out about the play, and the controversy erupted. The president of the university has issued a statement defending Otte’s freedom of speech.
I’m sure Dean thought he was being very clever on his right-wing talkfest this morning. But Otte had no reason to believe that this project for his directing class would get any more public attention than homework for his math class.
Jodie Dean is an ass, just like all those other bigots. John Jordan Otte is brave young man. Applause to him.
It is so sad to see this happening in my town. After so many years, you would think that we would make progress. I can’t imagine living with so much hate in my heart.
Hmmm. Let’s see, Christ was the epitome of unconditional love, tolerance, and acceptance. I see nothng wrong with this. It’s art. I say we find an alternate location and allow the production! I’m so sick of the “Hate” agenda.
Hurray for Director John Otte and these brave students. The original production was met with huge resistance in New York City twelve years ago, bomb threats (thanks Catholic League, so “christian” of you), angry mobs, metal detectors at the entrance to the theatre… Hate has no boundaries and Texas is a loving wonderful community that happens to have some people who will rail against things like this. It is not localized and don’t foget there are many loving, caring and beautiful souls in Texas. Our production of Corpus Christi has toured the world and been warmly accepted and embraced. I know the people who attend this show will find it loving and open and most importantly surprisingly respectful to the source material. It is not sensationalistic and shame on those judging it before they read or see it. When you see it, if you do, you will understand why Mr. Otte might be surprised by the reaction. It is a gentle play and tells a story where a young man grows up in 1950’s Texas, is performing miracles, gathers a following, teaches love, acceptance and tolerance…and just happens to be gay. That he is gay is not a flaw and it makes him as human as any one else and the bottom line is gay men and women deserve the same rights and respect as any of us. People like this “reporter” Jodie Dean need to stop judging what they don’t know. Even in moments that may appear as defeat love always wins out over hate.
This was the lead story on CBS Channel 11 in Dallas tonight. Very smart move for John not to talk on camera to them, because after the piece they bashed him with a question of the evening – are you offended by this play. How many of the people answering have actually seen this play that has never been performed in Texas? How many have actually read it? None?
Oops…I think I may have been misunderstood. I meant hate on the part of the protesters – NOT John and the cast. I’m glad that the production is going on and hope that it can help to open some minds. The negativity that this town brings on itself is embarrassing — MLK party, UFO sitings, and now this…..
John is a disgrace to his family. John how can you say you are just like everyone else when you enjoy smelling and eating other mens poop?
I have to say that a play that is representing Jesus as a gay man is as horrific as it gets. The Bible speaks out specifically against homosexuality and those that say that Jesus was okay, or tolerated that, have no idea what they are talking about. It doesn’t cause hate in my heart for these people, just sadness that they are so mislead. Christians out there should pray for the souls of these people because that is what Jesus would want.
Gee, AKW, I would think that murdering thousands of people in the name of God would be far more horrific.
Oh, by the way, the Bible also specifically speaks out against eating pork. When was the last time you had eggs and bacon? Or maybe you went to Red Lobster and had some shrimp or lobster or crab? Shellfish are forbidden, too.
Perhaps you should stop and think about what Jesus said about casting the first stone and then pray for yourself instead
Tammye,
You have a point, murdering people in the name of God is horrific and people that are claiming to be killing for God are not. But if you had read the words of Jesus in the New Testament, he says that it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of his heart. Not eating these things that you listed was an Old Testament practice and done away with when Jesus came. I will pray for myself because I am a sinful human and we all need prayer, as do you. I am not in anyway casting a stone at these folks, I just have a hard time with a play that is comparing a gay man to Jesus. But the outpouring of support for someting like this shows the state that the world is in.
AKW……the outpouring of HATRED and CONTEMPT for something like this shows the state that the world is in moreso than the outpouring of support. It’s no small wonder that so many bright young people are turning away from and/or renouncing their christianity. Jesus, regardless of his sexual orientation, never preached, taught or spread any messages of hatred. The ONLY messages of hatred that we are seeing these days are from…guess who? Those who claim to be followers of Jesus. What’s sad is that there are people out there who are stupid enough to listen to these people, rather than rising above them and their ignorance.
AKW:
I was making a historic reference to the thousands upon thousands that “the church” has killed through the years “in the name of God” — like the Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, etc. Of course, the killing continues today, and it happens, or has happened, in every religion.
Yes, the laws against eating pork or shellfish were Old Testament laws. So were the laws against homosexuality. Jesus said nothing about homosexuality. In fact, there are some theologians who say that in the story of Paul (I think it was Paul) preaching to the eunuch, there is the promise of a special place in Heaven for gays and lesbians (those who are eunuchs from birth).
What Jesus did say was that the law would not pass away until it had been fulfilled “in every jot and tittle) (from the King James Red Letter version), but that He had come to fulfill the law. So as Christians, you are saved not by law but by grace.
Jesus also said it is not our place to judge, but to love our neighbors and our God. As it says in I Corinthians, Chapter 13, now we see “as though through a glass, darkly.” In other words, we don’t know as much as we think we do, and we certainly can’t know the mind of God. We can only ask for guidance and follow that “greatest” commandment: Love thy neighbor as thyself, and God above all else.
There is also the fact that Jesus reached out to those who were the outcasts of his day, and those who were considered “righteous” — the “Scribes and Pharisees” — he described as white-washed tombs, lovely on the outside, but on the inside, full of dead men’s bones. My point here is that those today who claim to be our religious leaders who tell us what the Bible means and doesn’t mean and who try to tell us what’s in the mind of God are quite often full of dead men’s bones, just like the Scribes and Pharisees.
The best we can do is open our hearts and minds to try and hear what God tells us, not what some man – or woman – tells us God says. I can talk to God, and hear God in return, just fine on my own, without someone else to interpret for me.
Tammye and James,
The hatred in the world is a sad thing. You would be correct, James, in saying that Jesus didn’t preach a ministry of hate. Anyone that harbours hate in their heart is not a true Christian. Jesus did teach us to love our enemies as ourselves and pray for their souls.
But Tammye, I’m afraid that nowhere in the Bible will you find anything that states that there is a special place for gays and lesbians in Heaven. I challenge you to find it. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 it says “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be decieved. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” This quote is directly out of the New Testament written by Paul. Unless those that are guilty of such things repent of them, they will not see heaven. Now, I don’t want you to think that I believe I am in anyway less guilty than these, because I am just as guilty as anyone else. The bottom line is that we as humans are all sinners and without the grace of God we will all perish. It is not my intention to put anyone down, just hopefully help you see the truth.
AKW:
It is all about translation and interpretation. I can guarantee you that Paul never said anything about “homosexuals” because the word did not exist. It’s all about how the original text has been interpreted and then translated through the years by fallible humans. Translating from one language to another is never exact. And if two separate people fluent in the original language of a text read the same passage, they can interpret its meaning in vastly different ways.On top of that, you are quoting Paul, not Jesus. Frankly, Paul was nothing more than a preacher, and we all know that preachers can be wrong.
The story I referenced is from Acts 8:26-40. It was Phillip (not Paul as I said earlier) who was instructed by God to go into the Gaza desert where he met an Ethiopian eunuch, someone generally considered an outcast and not worthy of salvation. But Phillip read the Isaiah scrolls with the man and then baptized him when he professed his belief in the Gospel.
Jesus himself spoke of those who are “eunuchs from birth” in Matthew 19:12. I am not a biblical scholar, but there are scholars who say that “eunuchs from birth” are gay people, not inclined toward sexual intimacy with someone of the opposite gender. It is against their nature to be anything other than homosexual. So to engage in opposite gender sexual intimacy would be using their body against its nature, which is something the Bible speaks against.
Follow this link to read an explanation: https://www.gaychristian101.com/Ethiopian-Eunuch.html
Obviously, you and I will not reach any kind of agreement on this. I do not believe the Bible, especially not one written in English, is the literal word of God. I think it is, primarily, a book of philosophy and history – in many instances totally contradictory. I also stopped identifying as Christian years ago because “Christian” stopped being about Jesus and started being about religion, and religion is about power and control.
I respect your right to believe whatever you believe. But I also respectfully disagree.
Tammye,
AKW is so persuasive. And isn’t it wondrous when we remember that the New Testament author, Paul, was an English-speaking man of our time? Otherwise, we’d have to admit that something might have gotten lost in translation from the original text. I mean, have you looked up the Aramaic or Greek word for Sodomite???
I’m just sayin………..
PJW
Tammye,
You are correct that we will just agree to disagree. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Our conversation has been very interesting to me and I have enjoyed it. To make clear why I believe the Bible whole heartedly, I believe that God is all powerful and through his divine power we have the Bible as it was intended to be read. Paul and the other writers of the Bible were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to pen His word. That is why I believe that the Bible is essentially perfect. Religion itself is a problem and on that I agree. But I also believe that there is only one way to worship God and it is prescribed in the New Testament. Religion is comprised of many man made, “add ons” if you will, that are contrary to what the Bible lays out. Well I have enjoyed our conversation and it has been very interesting. I hope that all goes well for you in the end, because that is what ultimately matters.
John 3:16 says “whosoever”. It does NOT say “whosoever, except homosexuals”. Let’s do what real christians do, AKW. You pick the passages of the bible that you want to apply to you, and I’ll pick the ones I want to apply to me. I stopped going to church about five years ago, and I recently renounced my christianity, as much as is possible. Once I got away from all that “religion” and “christianity” mess, my life immediately improved. Today, it has never been better. No question about it, christians are in it for themselves, and nobody else matters.