You really had to be there at BAHACon 2026 … David was scheduled to do a talk. Cue the Twilight Zone theme. "You've come to Eastern Canada for a secular conference of Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics - but instead, you find yourself in a worship service like any other -- except for one small difference you can't quite put your finger on... here in The Twilight Zone..." Karis entered from the hallway. Not even David had previously seen her costurme.
“Welcome Sisters, and Children of Sisters.” She thanked the Sisters who had made the day possible, Suzanne Newington and Melanies Terpstra, and their helpers, Jeff Suzanspartner and Jason Melspartner. She expounded on the traditional roles of women and men, “… everyone can plainly see that women are naturally intended to lead and be the head of the house. We mature faster, we live longer, we’re smarter, and we share with the Mother God the miraculous ability to create life out of our own bodies - that’s just basic science.” Then she told the ‘little gentlemen’ to ‘settle’, since men are to keep silent in church; “If you have questions you can ask your wife afterwards, at home,” and sternly reminded them that they ought to cover their heads in church! They just need to submit and know their place.
The sermon itself focused on Genesis, chapter 2, wherein the Mother God first created a being in Her own image, a Woman. Later, realizing the Woman should have a helper, She caused her to sleep, took a rib, formed flesh around the rib. When Mother God saw that, even though the rib had been ‘ribbed for her pleasure,’ the woman needed more, She attached a man to the rib. And Eve said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: he shall be called a man, because he was taken out of woman.” “And in the midst of the garden was the Tree of Knowledge. And in the branches of the tree, Mother God set her serpent, to tell them, “Here is the tree of knowledge, whose fruit makes one wise.” Eve, of course, ate the apple and became wise. “But the man cried, ‘Eek! A snake!’ And did dash the serpent to the earth and stomp upon it until he slew the serpent." And the LADY God said unto the Woman, “What is this that thou hast done?” And Eve said, “The man whom thou gavest to be with me, he ATE NOT of the Tree of Knowledge and did smite the serpent. What therefore can be done?” And then the LADY God and the Woman did shake their heads and sigh, “Ah, Men.”
Karis left the stage.
David completed his formal talk, as was originally expected. Using his biblical expertise and quoting chapter and verse, he talked about how the new book shows the many ways the scriptures sound like the skit, with the roles reversed. He included lots of slides and information about the new book, a book clearly written by boys, including some of the cartoons and illustrations, as well as some amusing quotes from Gloria Steinem’s article ‘If Men Could Menstruate.’
Then David called Karis back up for some Q & A with the audience.
Costume details include: An apple-themed stripe down the front of the surplice, and bitten-apple icons created and appliquéd onto the stole. A bitten apple pendant instead of a gold cross. And ‘Hellfire-red' Atheist Shoes, all the way from Berlin, with carved soles to make interesting footprints.
