[n4r9]

Reminds me of the film Office Space, where Peter is hypnotised to (temporarily) have no cares in the world, but the hypnostist dies before snapping his fingers [0]. There's also a very similar trope in the first episode of the show Black Books, where Manny swallows the "Little Book of Calm", absorbs it into his body, and becomes a Jesus-like calm presence for a while.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfZpEe7KIJ8

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_dMEX_Lke0

[tessierashpool9]

but was jesus jesus-like calm?

    "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

    — Matthew 21:12–13, King James Version[10]

[n4r9]

I suppose I meant "calm like the modern image of Jesus, that has dramatically evolved and been cultivated over 2 thousand years", but that's a bit of a mouthful.

[tessierashpool9]

i suppose, too, but your short version isn't just a passable summary of the mouthful but rather revealing of how christians are cooking up a convenient interpretation of their beliefs while pretending to be so very devoted.