Shattered and Sanctified - Paperback

by Andrew C. Lay (Author)

The Church Lady is one of the most iconic characters in the history of Saturday Night Live. 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.

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... Satan?" 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.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: "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 quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group"[ii]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.