Jesus on the e-scooter: PETA activists call for a rethink of the Passion Play

Created: 05/14/2022, 15:04

By: Thomas Eldersch

PETA demonstrators in front of the theater in Oberammergau.

© Angelika Warmuth/dpa

Would Jesus today ride an e-scooter instead of traveling by donkey?

According to PETA's animal rights activists, yes.

That is exactly what they are now demanding in Oberammergau.

Oberammergau – Finally passion plays again in Oberammergau (Garmisch-Partenkirchen district).

Due to Corona, two years had to be suspended.

Actually, according to the 10-year cycle, implementation should have taken place in 2020.

Now this will be made up for.

But the premiere on Saturday, May 14, did not go without protests.

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Passion Play in Oberammergau 2022: PETA protests in front of the theater grounds

The story of Jesus Christ is already over 2000 years old, but in Oberammergau it is revived every ten years.

The staging of the Passion of Christ is repeatedly revised and adapted a little.

For example, director Christian Stückl freed the Passion Play from anti-Semitic tendencies this year.

He lets Jesus speak Hebrew - and makes it clear: Christ was a believing Jew, the conflict about him was an inner-Jewish one.

This time, too, Stückl changed the lyrics, although not as much as in 2010.

Is it unreasonable, then, to claim that the Saviour's method of locomotion should also be modern?

For PETA activists, this is exactly the time.

Some of the animal rights activists gathered in front of the theater grounds on Saturday and demanded that Jesus ride in with an e-scooter instead of a donkey.

Their banners read: "Animals are living beings, not means of transport" and "Donkeys are not actors".

Passion Play in Oberammergau 2022: PETA demands that no more animals be used

“Nowadays Jesus would not travel on a donkey.

He would probably get around on an electric scooter or some other animal and environmentally friendly mobility scooter," PETA's Jens Vogt said.

"The Passion Play also has a role model function, and turning away from animals on stage would set an important example."

The animal rights activists asked game director Christian Stückl not to use other animals either.

At the Passion Play there are also sheep, goats, pigeons, two horses and two camels on the stage.

“Donkeys, sheep and goats are very social animals.

They belong in a green meadow where they can play with other dogs," says PETA.

According to criticism from animal rights activists, Jesus rides on a larger donkey than before in this passion - the big donkey Aramis was hired especially for this.

But the donkey was not abolished.

PETA had already requested the e-scooter in 2020.