I don't think we ought to make fun of people's sincere belief in the watering can. Besides, it's not as though the belief is crazy -- there is evidence that the can exists and provides life-giving water!
I think people like Rick Santorum might say, "You can't equate my belief in God with belief in a watering can!"
But it's not about the object of the belief, it's about the actions people take in the name of that object. Once you strip the object of its sacred nature, the insanity of some of those actions is laid bare.
One commenter at that site cleverly remarked that the watering can might be an analogue for Bertrand Russell's famous celestial teapot. If that's what the art student was aiming for, then there's a chance he was critiquing both the object of belief and the actions people take in the name of that belief. (Loved that "pouring" gesture.)
All comments are subject to approval before they are published, so they will not appear immediately. Comments should be civil, relevant, and substantive. Anonymous comments are not allowed and will be unceremoniously deleted. For more on my comments policy, please see this entry on my other blog.
I don't think we ought to make fun of people's sincere belief in the watering can. Besides, it's not as though the belief is crazy -- there is evidence that the can exists and provides life-giving water!
ReplyDeleteJeffery Hodges
* * *
I think people like Rick Santorum might say, "You can't equate my belief in God with belief in a watering can!"
ReplyDeleteBut it's not about the object of the belief, it's about the actions people take in the name of that object. Once you strip the object of its sacred nature, the insanity of some of those actions is laid bare.
One commenter at that site cleverly remarked that the watering can might be an analogue for Bertrand Russell's famous celestial teapot. If that's what the art student was aiming for, then there's a chance he was critiquing both the object of belief and the actions people take in the name of that belief. (Loved that "pouring" gesture.)
ReplyDelete