Shock and Awe, or how Christianity Can Sometimes Really Hurt You

I’m sort of amused and confused by some of the outrage hurled at Mel Gibson’s new Mad Max film -- Oops! I mean his new Mondo-Biblical horror film about the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil the end for you. But seriously, why are so many people shocked about the film’s violence? Have you no knowledge of the darker undercurrents of the religion? For those of you who are unaware of many a Christian’s sado-masochistic death-trip tendencies or who believe that the religion is bloodless and lacks bite, I urge you to seek out the book Tortures & Torments of the Christian Martyrs from Feral House. Originally published in 1989, the book is long out of print, but a newly revised edition should be out soon. The book is partly a facsimile of an edition published in 1904 with engravings from the 1591 edition. Vividly depicting the excruciating tortures that the passive-aggressive Holy Martyrs so deliciously craved, this is a brutal reminder that not all believers want their salvation tasting like vanilla. The book also contains a fascinating appendix entitled On the Physical Death of Jesus, written by a pathologist from the Mayo Clinic. Whether your interest is morbid fascination, scholarly, or because you need some deviant material for your next holy masturbation session, check it out. Your soul may depend on it.