The First Annual R&S Awards

Have you caught the fever?  It's on all the talk shows, even had an ad during the Superbowl.  If you missed it, turn on this week's American Idol.  The Oscars?  No, but it could be big or bigger.  It's the R&S Awards.

What's that?  Come on.  Where have you been?  Everybody who's anybody is behind it, that is, all the religious and spiritual leaders, anyway.  Would you believe the Pope, the Dalai Lama, William Franklin Graham, Rick Warren, Ali Khamenei, and Joel Osteen?

"I don't know why we didn't think of this before," groused Jack Carissimi, the Vatican's delegate to the R&S Academy, which is meeting in Las Vegas to announce the first year's nominees.  "What a great city to begin this effort," said the excited Maharaji Maestro, the event's mastermind.  "All of us can spread our word on the way to and from the Academy."

"Yes, it's about time."  That's Julie Priestess, director of outreach for the Las Vegas Business Development Board.  "The seculars have milked the Oscars and reality tv for all they're worth.  Why not the religious?"

"We've had a great run," said Wiggly Worm, with the National Order of American Evangelicals, "God's honest truth, the greatest marketing campaign of the ages, but now, with a worldwide recession, it's time to take advantage of another great opportunity."

Of course, dissenters complain.  "I'm not sure it's such a good idea," doubted Jesse Whitte, rabbi in The Lakes nearby, "but I hope bringing together all these different faiths bodes well for the future."

"Now there's a thought," says Virginia.  "Maybe they'll realize they have some things in common and start working together."

I say, "I'd like to have been a spider on the wall when they debated top tens for Best Preacher, Best Message, Best Supporting Congregant, Best Sanctuary.  I hear they're open for suggestions about other Bests."

Have you got any?