Love and Other Failed Religions

There is no messiah here. The most popular religion on Earth was founded by a Jewish man who traveled the Roman Empire. He allegedly challenged religious leaders, while preaching the importance of love. He was persecuted in his time, but eventually, his preachings flourished. Millennia later (in the 60’s), another Jewish man challenged political and religious leaders on the stage as a comic. He preached lessons of love through laughter. He also was persecuted for his beliefs. They both had humiliating deaths. After he died, many of those who prosecuted him, praised him. His fans renamed him Saint Lenny. We have no way of knowing if Lenny Bruce and Jesus Christ were similar people, but both fiercely believed in the power of love. The life and death of the late great comic Lenny Bruce acts as the backdrop for Dane Swan’s meditation on drugs, sex, religion and love.