What's not to like about Judas, bikers, polygamy?
 
By Les MacPherson
The StarPhoenix - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
 
Today's subject is bad reputations. The news reports provide us with three excellent examples: Judas Iscariot, the Bandidos motorcycle gang and polygamists. If there was such a thing as an unpopularity contest, these would be among the semi-finalists.

Judas, of course, is among the most vilified figures in human history. After more than 2,000 years of ignominy, however, he's finally getting a break. New evidence cries out at least for retrial, if not necessarily an acquittal.

The biblical rap on Judas is that he betrayed Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. Realizing too late his folly, he cast away the money and hanged himself. This shows how standards have changed in 2,000 years. Today, he'd have signed a book deal and gone on the talk-show circuit.

Now there's an alternative account. An ancient, non-biblical gospel, recently discovered and translated, suggests that Judas was acting entirely on Jesus' instructions. In other words, he was not a dirty rat. Rather, he was the truest of disciples, entrusted with the most difficult and thankless of roles. Had these texts been available to the people who compiled the Bible, we might today see schools and hospitals named for St. Judas.

Christians around the world are not exactly rushing to amend their Bibles in light of this new information. Still, the story is credible enough to be featured on the cover of the latest National Geographic. That's like the Bible of magazines.

This new account does clear up some troubling questions. For example, why did Jesus allow himself to be betrayed by Judas? As God in human form, Jesus could see into the souls of men. He'd have known what Judas was up to. It figures, then, that Jesus wanted Judas to betray him. Destiny required it. It is not unreasonable to believe that Jesus might have set the wheels in motion by asking Judas to do what was necessary.

This is a more complicated view of events. It not only rehabilitates Judas, it makes Jesus look somewhat manipulative. Of course, it's not possible for a supreme being to involve himself in human affairs without being somewhat manipulative. Is it?

Jumping two millennia forward in time, we come to the Bandidos. Their reputation could hardly be worse. This is the outlaw motorcycle gang involved in that terrible mass murder near Elgin, Ont. The eight victims, as well as the five accused, reportedly were all Bandidos or associates. According to unconfirmed reports, the gang

was already under police surveillance around the time of the murders. That would explain why arrests were made within hours, and why police could so quickly offer reassurances that this was strictly an internal gang conflict.

Self-destruction is more like it. The murders and arrests reportedly account for most of the Bandidos' modest Canadian membership. It's organized crime wiping out itself. This raises serious questions about the level of organization. It seems to me that better organized criminals would maintain a lower profile than that of an outlaw biker.

Finally, we come to polygamists. Their reputation is so bad that they're officially unwelcome in Saskatchewan. With our population dwindling as it is, we can't afford to be choosy. To see anyone turned away is troubling.

Perhaps that's why a polygamous sect supposedly wants to settle here. They know it's a buyer's market here for people.

It doesn't help their cause that the sect's leader, Warren Jeffs, is a fugitive. He's wanted in the U.S. for arranging a plural marriage between an adult male and a 16-year-old girl. There have been no charges, however, involving the sect's community in Bountiful, B.C. This in spite of allegations, not only of polygamy, but of incest and child abuse. Whether through lack of investigation or lack of evidence, authorities have not seen fit to make a move against the community.

Of course, we can't countenance incest or child abuse. Period. Polygamy is a bit trickier. It might even be protected by the courts as a constitutional right, just like gay marriage. Many of the same justifications apply. The precedent for redefining marriage is established. If genders can be mixed or matched, there's no reason to believe the courts will get all hung up on numbers.

There is also the question of religious freedom. If it means anything at all, it should mean protection for religions we don't especially like. Otherwise, what's the point? Popular religions don't need a lot of protection. Neither do consenting adults.

Saskatchewan has long welcomed religious minorities. That's a more noble tradition, I think, than persecuting polygamists.

We needn't fear the practice will catch on. While the notion of multiple wives is not without a certain appeal, polygamy has a powerful, built-in disincentive:

Poly mothers-in-law.

lmacpherson@sp.canwest.com
 
The StarPhoenix
Originally published Saturday, April 15, 2006
 
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