John Safran
From RationalWiki
John Safran is an Autrailian television presenter and comedian, possibly most famous for his skit of Baz Luhrmann's "sunscreen song" but most relevant for his TV show John Safran vs God.
[edit] John Safran vs God
The show is an 8 part series where John decides to take a look at world religions. In the first segment of the first episode, he tries to find out how difficult it is to have a fatwa placed on someone, the answer being "not very difficult". Other segments try to see him join the Ku Klux Klan, as he's a "Jew who doesn't do anything Jewish", although it turns out that Jewish blood is passed on through the mother, so he's disqualified automatically. While "road testing" Zen Buddhism he comes to the conclusion that westerners who practice Buddhism are missing out on the best part of it: hitting people with sticks. He also appears to have a dislike of Mormons, ranting at them for getting him out of bed on a Saturday morning and testing the gullibility of Mormon Cinema by pitching Extreme Mormons, a film about BMXing missionaries, to the makers of God's Army among others. He also, among other things, tries out an Asatru ritual, and takes peyote at an Arizona peyotist church.
[edit] Episode 8
In the 8th episode of the show, he visits preacher Bob Larson to recieve an exorcism. While disturbing viewing, the entire episode lacks the humourous content of the previous, it is unclear whether it is real or whether Safran is merely acting. During the episode when Safran describes the various religions he tried, Larson says "you're walking flypaper for demons". Larson, as part of the exorcism, also had Safran, who is Jewish, forgive Hitler for the crimes against his people, which Larson claimed was necessary before the demons could be cast out.
