OUTLAWS IN THE BIBLE

Introducing his interview with Hunter S. Thompson (May 7), JoE Silva excerpts a puzzling passage from Mr. Thompson's new book. Mr. Thompson writes, "But there are no mentions of good Outlaws in the Holy Bible, I think - mainly because of The Church and all its spin-offs that believe in total punishment for all sinners. The Bible makes no exceptions for good-hearted social outlaws. They are all cast into the Lake of Fire. Punishment. Fuck those people."

Mr. Thompson's suggestion that the church discouraged or rejected stories about "outlaws" is unfounded. When the last of the writings that would become biblical canon was composed, the Christian church, though growing, was still a fledgling community. No mechanism existed for the designation of official church literature. The Christian "scriptures" were simply reports, histories and letters of various individuals addressed to different persons or groups around the community. About two and a half centuries after their composition, the works were joined and listed as the New Testament canon. There is no evidence that any branch or sect of the church ever sought to exclude or remove from the Bible a single reference to nonconformists, rebels or outlaw-figures. The modern institutional church had not developed when the writings were set down, and most church "spin-offs" appeared centuries after the canon was established.

Mr. Thompson either misunderstands or ignores the biblical texts to which he refers. Some of the Bible's most prominent personalities lived, at times, as outlaws. Jacob, Moses and Elijah - all venerated figures from ancient Hebrew scripture - became fugitives as they struggled with isolation from family, community and God, oppression and injustice, and their own frailties. Rather than being ritually dispatched to a fiery netherworld, they found redemption and purpose in God's merciful and abiding love. Other biblical characters of every sort and in every circumstance (often tormented by sin) similarly experienced God's goodness.

Mr. Thompson also disregards the central figure of Christian scriptures and Christianity. Jesus of Nazareth led a small, motley bunch in his ministry to persons afflicted in body, mind, heart and spirit. Jesus defended prostitutes and dined with disreputable "sinners." He associated with the reviled, the outcast, the disgraced. He urged fair and compassionate treatment of the poor. He chided the self-righteous and warned the rich against the dangerous seduction of excess. He scolded unscrupulous clerics for their abuses and hypocrisy, and earned their disdain. He upset the prevailing religious ordering, infuriating some influential members of the community.

So caustic were the accusations against Jesus that he was compelled to assure his followers, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law [of Moses]... but to fulfill." As antagonism directed at him grew, he declared that the old prophecy that the Messiah would be "counted among the lawless" was being fulfilled. Angry clerics sought his life and were accommodated by Roman authorities. Jesus was arrested and subjected to highly irregular legal proceedings. The masses that had worshipped him mutinied or scattered. Even his closest followers forsook him. He was flogged, ridiculed and crucified. Clearly, he had run afoul of the establishment.

Whatever Mr. Thompson may believe about other claims concerning Jesus (his miracles, his divinity, his resurrection), it would seem that something in the Nazarene's life should appeal to "good-hearted social outlaws."

Inasmuch as "outlaw" is a delimiting term, it does not fairly define Jacob, Moses or Jesus, who have been more than colorful agitators to adherents of faith through the millennia. And Mr. Thompson is free, of course, to emulate or revere "outlaw gods" such as Robin Hood or Bacchus. But his facile dismissal of the biblical stories is not warranted. The Bible relates much more concerning outlaws than prescriptions for punishment. The impulse that Mr. Thompson identifies when he cites Robin Hood and Bacchus finds empathy in thoughtful consideration of biblical stories. Mr. Thompson has earned acclaim and repute as an outlaw journalist. Many readers take him seriously. He should take seriously the subjects of his writing.

Rob McNiff
Athens

ODIOUS REVIEW

The Music Midtown review was odious. I'm not sure if the author was practicing for more creative endeavors or simply has no concept of the word "reporting," but the florid descriptions of such items as her MARTA experiences, her personal history with the genre known as jazz, or the fact that she "had the good fortune of getting to chat with (Jack) Johnson after his performance" but failed to glean anything of value from the conversation to put into her article were superfluous at best. One would hope that even a publication that would publish such inanities would have the sense not to print the word "blech," especially not three times. And I must say, I've never before seen the word 'Yippity skippity' in print, much less twice in one article. Considering the sheer number of acts performing at Music Midtown, (over 100 on five stages) your readership probably would have appreciated reviews of more than four of them over the personal meanderings indulged by the reviewer.

By the way, did the author's decision to "... declare the end to (her) deprivation from the world of jazz... " end up shattering her "... weak, little, delicate ankles... " and if so, should I send a get well card c/o Flagpole's offices?

PS: Is it really necessary to print another article about Brian's taxi service? That smacks of free advertising for the townie set.

Name Withheld
Athens

VINTAGE VIC

I was sad to read Gordon Lamb's experience of seeing Vic Chesnutt at the 40 Watt. I was fortunate enough to see Vic the previous night in Asheville, NC and the show was wonderful. The crowd was small and dwindled, but was attentive. Those of us left were a lucky few who got to experience a hauntingly beautiful performance. The Silver Lake songs were sometimes done in variant ways from the CD, all interesting. I hope listeners don't judge Vic and the band solely from the 40 Watt performance and crowd. The show I witnessed in Asheville was one I'm sure I'll remember for years to come.

Jan Bailey
Boone, NC