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The devil works in mysterious ways, and apparently Satan is now infiltrating young minds through a Grantleigh School matric pupil’s final artwork project.

Yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds.

The artwork was brought to the nation’s attention thanks to Richards Bay pastor Andrew Anderson, who was all but reduced to tears in a video rant that has now gone viral.

For those who cannot sit through the entire five-minute plus video, News24 has a shortened version:

Is that artwork going to push buttons? Yes.

Should artwork push buttons and ask questions? Also yes.

Grown men crying over a matric’s art project – how very 2019.

Now the pupil, who will already be under the additional pressure that comes with writing your final high school exams, has been forced to defend his work.

Here’s the full statement, via this tweet:

Too long, can’t be bothered? Here’s the gist:

“Instead of connecting with one’s faith on a deep, seemingly meaningful level and actually having the guts to ask metaphysical questions, many simply consume their religion in the same fashion as they would any other product [hence the use of Ronald McDonald as a symbol for the infection of faith with consumer culture], and it is because of this that they become vulnerable to manipulation at the hands of those who use their office as a religious leader to further their own lives instead of bringing about positive change in the world.”

The appearance of Ronald McDonald, the McDonald’s clown, does not act as a “defamation of anyone’s personal messiah”, but as a symbol of the abuse and misuse.

“I do not care what people believe, I simply want to highlight potential risks in how they believe it. For in a society dominated by an idea-driven culture, the contents of your mind are perhaps the most important and exploitable.”

The artist asked whether, in a country stricken with poverty and glaring inequalities “who can take those religious leaders who rake in millions of rand of income on a regular basis seriously?”

Mic drop. Nailed it.

Some of the world’s most revered pastors fly around in private jets and are worth hundreds of millions, but don’t you dare ask them about that most obvious of contradictions.

In the end, sadly, the school caved under the pressure:

On Wednesday, the Ballito Apostolic Faith Mission pastor said the exhibition had been taken down, following a meeting with the school, which pleased him. The school would not confirm or deny this.

Anderson said there were two things he was aiming for: That the school admitted it pushed the boundary and crossed its ethos of “to God be the Glory”; and that it made a statement that this would never happen again.

In a statement on Wednesday, the school apologised for offending anybody.

Well done, Pastor Anderson – you win 2019’s ‘Self-Righteous Stifler Of Free Speech’ award.

For more context, let’s turn to Jason Currie, a pastor involved at Grantleigh School, who penned an open letter on SA People, clearing up some misconceptions:

I was at the school on Monday to do the devotion at their Grade 12 awards ceremony. I had heard about the controversial artwork but had not had an opportunity to view it. I was engaged by Mr Anderson about the artwork during the ceremony and I could see he were deeply disturbed and emotional about the display…

To give a bit of context, the display was put up on Monday, 14 October. It stayed up and could not be moved according to IEB examinations rules which was done on Friday, 18 October…

The display was placed in a corner cubicle, with a curtain at the entrance that stopped access. There was also a sign that warned that the artwork would be offensive and discretion was needed.

It also did not allow kids Grade 7 and younger entry and asked that no pictures or videos were allowed…

The school office telephone has not stopped ringing. Eventually the secretary could not deal with the volume and abuse. People went from name calling such as ‘dark lords’ to verbal abuse.

As a pastor I have been ashamed by the Christian world at large who have joined a crusade bent on ridicule, anger and abuse all in the name of faith.

Finally, some logic.

Stellenbosch University’s Professor Jonathan Jansen also waded in and landed a few body blows, reports EWN:

This is a Constitutional democracy in which people can think for themselves, in which art is a very important part of expression.

If their Jesus is so small and so threatened by a young boy’s depiction of the divine then I suggest they go re-read their scriptures.

The whole idea of art is to be offensive, to push the boundaries and turn orthodoxy on its head.

Nothing like those opposed to the artwork on religious grounds calling in their droves and hurling abuse at the secretary answering the phone to remind you who really holds the moral high ground.

Everyone, please make sure Pastor Anderson doesn’t catch wind of The Righteous Gemstones, because he may well suffer a cardiac arrest.

[sources:news24&sapeople&ewn]