Laura has posted about a petition the AFA is circulating to censor Madonna’s show that mocks the Crucifixion when it airs on NBC. The petitions states:
Following the lead of Rosie O’Donnell and ABC, NBC has decided to join in the bashing of Christians by airing a Madonna special in November. A specific date has not been released.In the show, Madonna, wearing a fake crown of thorns, descends on a suspended mirrored, disco ball-type cross. When some Christian leaders complained about the mockery, NBC ignored their concerns.
I want to applaud Laura for her take on it.
Christians will protest furiously if the American Family Association has anything to say about it. And that is our right. However, before we act on this, let’s take a moment to think. It’s ironic that at the same time conservative Christians are signing petitions and blogging in support of Denmark’s right to publish cartoons of Mohamed that offend Muslims, that we are going to scream and yell about a TV show that is not exactly the epitome of Christian values to begin with. […]It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison to say that Christians are engaging in the hysteria Muslims do where blasphemy or even mild criticism of their religion is concerned. We’re not burning flags, making bomb threats, and threatening to kidnap people. However, of a billion or so Muslims, most of them are not either. They may tacitly agree with it – many have said in interviews or on websites that they find it understandable – but the actions of most are to boycott, sign petitions, and make phone calls. Are they correct in demanding that newspapers refrain from printing cartoons that depict their faith in an unflattering light? Can we demand to be free from the possibility of being offended and still remain a free society?
Let’s keep in mind that the gospel offends. Someday our “freedom” to not be offended by entertainment may turn into someone else’s freedom to not be offended by the gospel.
This is the attitude that all Christians should have towards offensive things. You have the right to turn your TV off the night this is aired. You have the right not to watch.
Why should we expect the rights of the world to be taken away and ours to remain in place?
Laura suggests that we use this as an opportunity to educate people on why something like this is offensive to the Christian, rather than massively protesting and trying to censor it. I agree with her. This is an opportunity to be Christ-like and educate people. I fear that more Christians will perpetuate the idea that we should become angry and launch protests.
Pressuring NBC to not air Madonna’s blasphemy is not taking anyone’s rights away. She can still blaspheme…she has been for decades. It’s a straw man to make it about “rights.”
NBC refuse to air the Danish Mohammad cartoons so as to not offend Muslims. They are airing this because they can get away with it and it will raise revenue during sweeps week.
I say we educate AND pressure NBC to not air blasphemy.
I’m with Randy. We can have the right attitude and sign the petition at the same time. Let’s all pray for salvation for people like Madonna and others who are in the spotlight. Wouldn’t she have an incredible testimony if she were to become saved?
Seems like everyone disagrees with me these days.
You know, this world is not a Christian world. Trying to impose godly standards on people who don’t know God is not going to bring anyone to Christ. As Christians it is our responsibility to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We’re not doing that if all of our energy is spent protesting tv networks and and those who are intolerant of Christianity.
My perspective is such that it is our testimonies that will make a difference in the lives of those who don’t know God. Show by example, not by protesting. Show the love, not the hate. Show them that their stereotypes about Christians are wrong, not right.
Not everyone disagrees with you. FOr the first time EVER, I actually agree with you.
Your course of action may actual work. You at least have a shot at people listening to what you have to say. They still likely to nod, smile , and turn the other way, but the door is at least left open. They boycotts and screaming and yelling don’t do anything other than cause the rest of us to say “crazy fundies”.
I’ve made the same argument before regarding gay marriage. As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
Musicguy said it right with the saying.
As a Christian it honestly grieves me to see such mockery made of my Savior. But we all know it [a protest] is not going to stop such things from happening. (We all knows it’s eventually going to get worse on tv anyway.)
I’m not exactly saying to take it lying down. I’m just saying that for this specific purpose a protest is not the best course of action.
Besides if a protest was even successful in keeping the Madonna special from airing, it would only make people want to see it more just to see what all the hype is about.
Letting the world know who and what the real Jesus Christ is, is the best way to tell others that Madonna’s depiction is wrong.
It’s time to boycott NBC/GE.
See my blog on why at http://biblicalcommentary.blogspot.com/
The ironic part about it is that people are calling it anti-Christian and a mockery of Christ when the purpose is “to bring attention to the millions of children in Africa who are dying every day (or) are living without care, without medicine and without hope. I am asking people to open their hearts and minds to get involved in whatever way they can.”
That isn’t anti-Christian, it’s the definition of Christianity!
Yes, it’s called a “mock” crucifixion because it is not real. That is what mock means; it is not “mocking” the crucifixion, and it sure as hell isn’t mocking Christ! Every Easter, Catholics across the world perform “mock” crucifixions when they go through the stations of the cross. It’s a simple imitation. Are you making fun of turtlenecks when you wear a “mock” turtleneck? This is a lack of understanding of the English language!
Now, NBC is pondering pulling the broadcast of her concert special Live to Tell, recorded during the latest leg of her hugely popular and equally controversial Confessions tour, because some people WHO HAVEN’T EVEN SEEN IT are “offended.” How do you know it’s offensive if you haven’t seen it? This isn’t judging a book by it’s cover; it’s judging a book by hearing the title spoken!
Remember when people screamed “freedom of speech!” when Muslims were upset over the cartoon of Mohammed with a bomb on his head? (According to their religion, it is a grave sin to depict the Prophet at all.) Madonna may have no taste, but she is no bigot, and she is entitled to express herself. See, the great thing about America is that we have this thing called “freedom of speech.”
To those who may sign the petition to NBC to get the show pulled: If you’re offended, don’t watch it, it’s that simple. Don’t take other people’s rights away just because YOU don’t like something. If you think, “my kids will see it!” maybe you need to have more control over them – don’t let them watch so much television. But once you start taking away one person’s right to speak, others will follow, and then one day, you may find yourself in a position where you no longer have a voice. Don’t give your freedom to the corporations.
I really applaud you, Amanda, for this post, for standing up for freedom of speech and the United States Constitution when so many spit on it when they try to censor someone like this.
Madonna is weird, and she has no taste, but she is NOT a bigot. Frankly, I wish more people who call themselves “Christians” would quit ignoring Africa. Controversy brings attention. I just hope people can see beyond their own noses and look at the big picture: African kids are dying while we sit on our couches and stuff our faces.
Now I am in total agreement with Amanda… but I have to (and forgive the word usage)play devil’s advocate a little bit…
What on earth does a “mock” crucifixion have to do with making people aware of the starving/dying children in Africa???
Besides… if we’re going to go technical on word usage here, most churches on Easter do a “reinactment” of the death and not so much a “mock” crucifixion.
But I repeat… what does a mock crucificion have to do with starving children who are dying in Africa???
Excellent comments, Daedalus! You certainly have a handle on the situtation.
Carmel, maybe you’ll just have to watch and find out what it has to do with starving children. It’s easy to yell and scream and moan about being offended, but when it comes down to it, you have no idea what Madonna’s intent and purposes are. You’re probably just responding to an action email you receieved telling you to SIGN A PETITION BEFORE THE WORLD COMES SCREETCHING TO A HALT! (I’m sure there were all caps involved somewhere).
You very well may have a ligitimate issue here, but I have a feeling it’s a whole lot of “Henny Penny and the sky is falling” syndrome.
And God forbid we worry about starving children in Africa- they’re not even Christians! When you think about all the sick and dying peopple in the world, those without jobs or health insurance, corporate greed, etc, it seems mighty silly to complain about a mock crucifixtion you don’t know much about.
Now Musicguy that was awfully unfair.
I actually think that the program should not be protested. And NEVER (yes Caps were intended for that) received an email about the program nor signed a petition to ban it.
I was, as I said, playing devil’s advocate (meaning I asked a contrary question whether I agreed or not… I was a champion debater… I play devil’s advocate all the time) and if you look at it, it IS a valid question.
I was born in a third world country where there are plenty of starving children on the streets. So please don’t tell me I don’t care about the starving children of the world when I sponsor three of them even though I currently have no job and am broke myself. Some people already know about the worries of third world countries without having to let Madonna or any other celebrity tell the world about it.
Never have I yelled or screamed about the Madonna program so I don’t know where you got that.
As to Madonna’s intent and purposes, didn’t we just go over that? To make people aware of the starving/dying children in Africa?
I asked a question, I didn’t complain about it. I asked what a mock crucifixion has to do with her original intent and purpose which as we agreed is to make the world aware of the starving/dying children in Africa.
My apologies, Carmel. I am slowly learning (with the help of Amanda) that not everyone is a crazy fundie.
That said, let’s try and guess the amount of people who did receive an email in caps, and have begun screaming and yelling without having any idea what the hell they’re yelling about.
It’s admirable that you sponsor three children, but I would also suppose that a vasy majority of people bitching about Madonna do not.
If we want to see what the mock crucifixtion has to do with starving children, my original statement stands: watch the special.
Again, Carmel, sorry for the confusion. Just change the name in my previous comment from Carmel to Crazy Fundie, and it will be directed at the correct party.
Musicguy it’s all good.
I can tell you I may be a Christian but no, I can’t say I’m a crazy fundie. There are more of us out there than people think
.
And I’m pretty sure there were quite a few people who did moan and groan but I’m pretty sure there were quite a few people who also said… “Go figure… it’s Madonna.”
You’re right one needs to watch it to figure out how a mock crucifixion might have something to do with starving children in Africa.
I’m just thinking that seeing as it’s Madonna, I don’t think it’ll really have anything to do with her original intent but more for show. I’m not saying this is guaranteed…
I’m just asking what’s the likelihood that Madonna will link a mock crucifixion to starving children in Africa. If she does… well I guess she proved me and the statistics wrong. And I’ll admit it. If she doesn’t… then my question still stands.
I don’t know if I’ll be watching it though, not because of the mock crucifxion, but more so because I’m not and never have been, a big fan of Madonna. Go figure eh?
The multitude of moderate christians who reside in this country need to start speaking up for themselves. The crazy fundies are giving all christians a very bad name.
I like Madonna’s old stuff, especially the Immaculate Collection. She’s pissed me off over the last couple of years though. I’m going to watch, only because I couldn’t afford her over-priced concert tickets