A view from the cab

(Editor’s note: due to complaints we have received, we are introducing a new certification scheme for our blogs, ranging from `G’ for `Godly’ and thus suitable for all to `M’ for those blogs which contain material offensive to the spiritually mature. The following blog is rated `M’ and contains some material which mature readers may find offensive.)

In the absence of Gareth, I've kindly agreed to host this part of Ref21.  Once again, we pose a significant theological question to a leading Reformed cab driver. This week, we ask the question `Is it right to have absurd fictional characters blogging on Ref21?’ and our guest is Dave Dee – no, not the member of sixties flash-in-the-pans, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, but Driver 45677 with Onehitwonder Cabs, Ealing. Dave, what do you think? Do fictional bloggers trivialize the message of Reformation 21?

Well, guvnor, I think it’s right disgrace and no mistake. Fictional characters coming over here and takin’ our blogs? The government should put a stop to it, shouldn’t they. Not that I’m prejudiced or nothing – some of my best friends are fictional constructs, or so my psychiatrist told me just before ‘e ‘ad that fatal accident wiv the lawnmower and all that. But I think it totally spoils the Ref21 blog when sensible real-life theologians are ‘aving their work made ridiculous by some plonker clownin’ around. I mean, on the one side, you’ve got the serious and profound contributions of real theologians like Tony Pinnochio, Rev Monious, Gareth Baudrillard Jones and Justin Taylor – people of real intellectual depth and piety and all that. And then you’ve got these silly caricatures, like “Phil Ryken,” “Rick Phillips,” “Carl Trueman” and “Delbert Thomas.” And then there’s those ridiculous and childish pseudonyms. Ligon Duncan? Do me a favour! Am I meant to believe that’s a real name, like, that someone was actually baptized with that monicker? I wasn’t born again yesterday, you know. I tell you, if some geezer what was just a linguistic construct with no extra-textual referentiality got into the back of my cab, do you know what I’d do? I’d bloomin’ well deconstruct ‘im there and then, that’s what and no mistake. Mind you, with them fictional blokes comin’ over ‘ere and takin’ our jobs, I reckon deconstruction's too good for em. String’em up, that’s what I say, string ‘em up. Mind you, if I ad a quid for every…..(that’s enough deconstruction for one day – Derek Thomas)