Tate and Musk were outraged by the Olympics. But Christians must show a better way

Anger, outrage and the insistence that Christians show “strength” and defend themselves is the way of the world. It’s not the way of Jesus, argues Professor Nick Megoran 

How should we react to the alleged mockery of Christianity in the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony? 

The French Bishops’ Conference lamented the “derision and mockery of Christianity,” with Gavin Ashenden explaining in this publication why the scene was so insulting to Catholics in particular. 

Some evangelicals were upset too. But it is striking that some of the quickest and fiercest criticism actually came from right-wing social media personalities who are not themselves Christians.

Elon Musk, who follows Richard Dawkins in identifying only as a “cultural Christian”, opined on his X platform that the ceremony “was extremely disrespectful to Christians” but that “Christianity has become toothless” in not standing up to such insults.

More strident still was Andrew Tate, the Muslim-convert and controversial influencer currently facing charges of rape and human trafficking in Romania. Blasting the ceremony as “a bunch of gay satanic garbage,” he organised a small protest outside the French embassy in Bucharest where placards read, “Christianity will not be mocked” and “Boycott the Olympics.” “Christianity has lost all teeth,” he thundered: “I am a Muslim. And I will not let Jesus be mocked.”