Recently, I rewatched the classic comedy Monty Python’s Life of Brian. I am an avid fan of Monty Python, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail is my all-time favorite movie. I was about ten years old when I saw the Holy Grail and it instantly changed my world. I cannot tell you how many “Knights Who Say Ni” and “It’s just a flesh wound” shirts I have owned in my lifetime. I absolutely loved it! But one movie that was forbidden at home was Life of Brian.
I watched Life of Brian for the first time when I was fifteen, at my best friend’s house. Watching it, I understood why I was never allowed to see it; and, as religious as I was at the time, I did not really care for it. I recall taking offense to the film’s portrayal of the “gospel.” Fast forward to this week, where I have rewatched it and can now deem it one of my favorite films. Not only one of my favorite movies, but a cinematic masterpiece that profoundly showcases the humorous pitfalls of organized religion.
A Synopsis and Key Points
For those who are not familiar with what some might now consider an “ancient” film, Life of Brian tells the story of a man who parallels Jesus. Brian (Graham Chapman) is born in a manger next door to Jesus’, to a single, nagging mother (Terry Jones). The Wise Men mistake Brian’s birth for Jesus. Brian and his mother are seen as members of the audience at Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Eventually, the Judeans begin to think Brian is the Messiah.
At one point, Brian joins the People’s Front of Judea (PFJ), a divided organization that attempts to liberate Judea from Roman rule. Brian is tasked with graffitiing Pontius Pilate’s palace, where Roman soldiers attempt to capture him. After trying to copy Jesus’ sermon while hiding from the Roman soldiers, Brian captivates an audience. He grows weary when the audience grows and begins following him, begging for miracles and wise teachings.
Being released in 1979, the film obviously caused tremendous controversy. Christians protested the film for blaspheming Jesus and the Gospels, leading to the film’s censorship in multiple countries.
One of my favorite examples comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. As Jesus is speaking to a large crowd, the audience at the back misunderstands what he is saying. “I think it was ‘Blessed are the cheesemakers,’” one says, prompting another to ask, “What’s so special about the cheesemakers?” which another answers, “It’s not meant to be taken literally, it refers to any manufacturer.” I couldn’t help but notice just how accurately this summarizes the conflict between Christian denominations.
Protestants and Catholics, Baptists and Methodists, Pentecostals and Calvinists are each guilty of this. The comedic point I see is that Christians squabble over tiny details rather than uniting for the greater picture. These audience members in the nosebleeds accurately describe the entirety of Christianity. They are close-minded in their interpretation of what is being preached; they argue over what words are used; and they are all there for personal, subjective gain. This is precisely what goes on behind the scenes of the church.
Organized Religion, Violence, and Ignorance
After delivering his mock-Sermon on the mount, Brian tries to escape a crowd that worships him. While running from the crowd, Brian loses one of his sandals. The crowd of followers pick up the sandal, proclaiming, “He has given us a sign! He has given us… his shoe!” The followers begin to dispute the significance and meaning of the shoe. One notes that they are to follow the “Holy Gourd” he had previously handed them, not the shoe. Like Christians with the extrabiblical doctrines of the Trinity and hell, the followers of Brian argue over needless things.
The crowd eventually catches up with Brian, who hides in a hole with a crazy man in the wilderness. Brian denies that he is the Messiah; a woman in the crowd exclaims, “Only the true Messiah denies his divinity.” The crowd begins to cheer that he is the Messiah. Confused, and hoping to get the crowd to go away, Brian then declares that he is the Messiah. The crowd again goes fanatic and begins bowing to him. When the lunatic in the wilderness denies that Brian is the Messiah, the crowd begins to assault the man with one member shouting, “Persecute—kill him!”
It amazes me how perfectly Monty Python summarizes the history of the Christian religion in a mere few, silly scenes. It is humorous indeed, but also quite sad. Jesus started a movement of compassion and love; Christianity, however, is a religion of violence, ignorance, and bickering. The movie accurately demonstrates how Christian leaders, beginning with Paul through modern evangelists like Joel O’Steen and Tommy McMurtry, have ignored the larger picture of Jesus’ ministry in favor of promoting tiny doctrines that actually go against the grain of everything Jesus preached. It shows just how far the church has deviated from the message of the Gospels.
The Controversy Continues
With the parts of the movie I have just described, it is obvious that the film sparked an uproar among Christians. But is this really necessary? I do not view Life of Brian as heretical. It is not mocking the Gospel, and it is not disputing the divinity of Jesus. In the eyes of the church, it has created a far greater sin; it has blasphemed the church itself. I think Christians get upset about the movie because it accurately portrays everything wrong with the church. But here we are, nearly fifty years later, and Christianity cannot get over Monty Python’s satire.
What is more, at one point in the film, Brian encourages the audience to stop following him and start thinking for themselves. Despite his plea, the crowd continues to worshipfully harass him. I believe this is symbolic of the failure of pastors to lead churches. It has become commonplace for pastors to get fired for sexual assault, adultery, or making hateful comments. Yet, people still listen to such pastors. People still live under the impression that because “Pastor” or “Reverend” precedes a sinner’s name, he or she must know the way to live holy. Instead of looking at the signs (e.g., “Stop following me!) and controlling their own lives, they pretend they never heard the words.
Brian is not Jesus. Brian is, I believe, symbolic of pastors. Life of Brian is not attacking or even parodying Jesus; it takes the source material and uses it to work against the end result, that is, corrupt religion. It can remind us that although our pastors may believe in Jesus, they are not Jesus. And they are not further along in their faith than anybody else. Jesus died and was resurrected, yet we worship his death. Pastors sin, run away, lose their shoe, and well… Christians pick up the shoe and interpret it as a sign.
Conclusion
Life of Brian portrays the nonsensical and toxic dogmatism of organized religion. It is not attacking the Gospel; it is attacking what Christianity has done to the Gospel. John Cleese, one of the members of Monty Python, implied that “Monty Python did indeed consider producing a Jesus film, but could not because Jesus is such a good fellow and uncomplicated character. Cleese (2014) continued to mention three aspects of Jesus: he sided with the poor and taught tolerance and humility.”1
Furthermore, Life of Brian promotes the belief of the little-understood book of Ecclesiastes: to always look on the bright side of life. The song at the end of the film, while everyone is hanging on crucifixes, encourages its viewers to focus on the good in life, rather than getting caught up in the bad. This life is the only life that we can know for certain we have; we need to enjoy it and look for the optimism even when life is difficult. What a brilliant way to conclude such an excellent and accurate parody!
To conclude, Life of Brian does not mock the biblical Jesus or even the Gospels. Instead, as members of Monty Python have implied over the years, “What is satirized is how people interpret and respond to Jesus and his message.”2 Like worshipping the shoe, Christians worship Christ’s death over resurrection. Like the ignorant crowd, Christians have historically been violent. And like everyone else in the movie, Christians make small issues into big disagreements, rather than uniting behind one message.
Faith and spirituality need not always be serious. It is important for us to find the humor in what we believe, why we believe, and even in our own selves. Doing so introduces a world of insight into our beliefs and our roles as humans. This life is fleeting; we all need a good laugh. And we also need to remember that, “Blessed are the cheesemakers!”
1. Scheffler, Eben. “Reflecting on Jesus’ Teaching on Humility from a Positive Psychological Perspective.” Neotestamentica 51, no. 1 (2017): 95. https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=747c882c-fb68-4e32-8376-ab42812b1c62%40redis
2. Benko, Steven A. “Ironic Faith in Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” The journal of religion and film : JR & F. 16, no. 1 (2012), 2. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol16/iss1/6/