Shattered and Sanctified

<table style=border: 1px solid rgba(0 0 0 1)><tbody><tr><td data-row=1 class=ql-align-justify></td></tr></tbody></table><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>The Church Lady is one of the most iconic characters in the history of </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Saturday Night Live</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>. Comedian Dana Carvey adorned in a modest sweater and dress that falls below the knees plays the role of Enid Strict. In these hilarious sketches Enid-the Church Lady as she is known-hosts her talk show Church Chat where she regularly attacks her guests sarcastically pointing out their sinful and secular ways. </span></p><p class=ql-align-justify></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>In one of the most notable sketches from 1987 the Church Lady interviews Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker (played by Phil Hartman and Jan Hooks) amid the aftermath of Jim Bakker's affair with Jessica Hahn. The Church Lady always quick to offer a word of judgment utters her popular catchphrases Well isn't that special? How convenient! and Now who could it be? Could it be... </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Satan</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>? </span></p><p class=ql-align-justify></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>One of the reasons why this character is so funny is because she's so familiar. We feel like we know her. She seems all too real. In fact Dana Carvey confessed that the character is based on real women from his church growing up who kept track of people's worship attendance. They were like security guards posted outside the church keeping tabs on the congregants and passing judgment.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Unfortunately the church has a reputation for being judgmental and hypocritical. As a result the church has turned many people away. In 2010 the novelist Anne Rice declared that she was leaving the church. In a Facebook post she wrote: </span></p><p class=ql-align-justify></p><p class=ql-align-justify><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being 'Christian' or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this </em></p><p class=ql-align-justify><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>quarrelsome hostile disputatious and deservedly infamous group</em><sup style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>[ii]</sup></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>This is not an uncommon story. Many people have turned away from organized religion because the church has failed them wounded them betrayed them or maybe even just bored them. </span></p><p></p><p></p>