Jesus Loves Osama

Guess_Who

These kind of signs are popping up on churches in Sydney & making the news across Australia for the uproar they're causing.

I can see what the churches are trying to get across but can also see how some people would find it offensive.

Just wondering what other people think?

Mods, can this be left in AH instead of moving it to Religion because I think it'll get a better response here.

whiskeyman

Meh... I thought that flick was rubbish...

Seriously though, I wonder if they ever thought of doing a
'Jesus loves Paedophile Priests'.

Which one would cause more uproar?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Call Me Jimmy

Jesus loves pedophile priests. Now that would be an ad campaign

Ruu_Old

Guess_Who wrote:

These kind of signs are popping up on churches in Sydney & making the news across Australia for the uproar they're causing.

I can see what the churches are trying to get across but can also see how some people would find it offensive.

Just wondering what other people think?

Mods, can this be left in AH instead of moving it to Religion because I think it'll get a better response here.

Because you want a speedier answer or want an general Joe User response? If you reckon you'll get some answers here, then you haven't been here long enough. Choose wisely here.

biko

"Jesus loves you, but I think you're a bit of a tit"

iFight

whiskeyman wrote:

Seriously though, I wonder if they ever though of doing a
'Jesus loves Paedophile Priests'.

hehehehe nice

Can't see the point in these at all, surely they knew it would cause uproar, what's the point?

Rabies

It was in the news over here last night. I think the church is just trying to get some publicity.

The church around the corner from me has a billboard up in the style of an iPod advert with the image of priest and the words iGod.

Guess_Who

Ruu wrote:

Because you want a speedier answer or want an general Joe User response? If you reckon you'll get some answers here, then you haven't been here long enough. Choose wisely here.

I'm just wondering about general public opinion not a philosphical debate on it.

Guess_Who

It's a baptist church that that sign is on.

I suppose yeah I would find 'Jesus loves Paedophile Priests' more offensive.

Flukey

The point is that Jesus loves everyone, and we should love our enemies. So there is nothing particularly offensive in it. From the message of Jesus, even Jesus loves paedophile priests would make the exact same point. It is just the individuals that would find it offensive. True Christians shouldn't.

randylonghorn

Guess_Who wrote:

These kind of signs are popping up on churches in Sydney & making the news across Australia for the uproar they're causing.

I can see what the churches are trying to get across but can also see how some people would find it offensive.

It doesn't work, mainly because of the modern mania for condensing everything into soundbites.

The relevant bit was something like "God hates the sin, but loves the sinner", but this doesn't make any difference between the individual person and his actions.

It also ignores the doctrine that one must repent in order to be forgiven.

I think most Christians WOULD find it offensive, but at least partly because it's a bit like trying to turn the bible into txt spk!

gilroyb

Shouldn't the message be "Jesus loves Osama; but not in 'that' way" ? Would fit in better with other teachings.

They should probably have the same caveat on the paedophile ads.

randylonghorn

"Jesus loves paedophile priests; but not in 'that' way" ?

ROFL!

Mossy Monk

Flukey wrote:

The point is that Jesus loves everyone

including paedophiles, Hitler, Bertie Ahern and Tom Cruise

he really is a swell kind of guy

randylonghorn

Has it occurred to anyone else that Osama would probably be more insulted by that sign than anyone else?!

Call Me Jimmy

Flukey wrote:

we should love our enemies.

[EPIPHANY] and if we truly love our enemies, they are no longer our enemies![/EPIPHANY]

Guess_Who

randylonghorn wrote:

It doesn't work, mainly because of the modern mania for condensing everything into soundbites.

Fair enough, but no-one's gonna read a whole lump of the bible on a billboard so maybe condesing it worked cos it got people going WTF! and then thinking about it.

I thought it was a p*ss take til I saw it on the news though.

randylonghorn

Guess_Who wrote:

Fair enough, but no-one's gonna read a whole lump of the bible on a billboard

Point taken, but I think this is one of those cases where there definitely IS such a thing as too small!

I suspect many would take it as a pisstake in poor enough taste, and then be surprised to find it was associated with a church.

Flukey

Well it has achieved its objective insofar it has got people talking about it and even made it to the news. The ad executives suceed again.

InFront

randylonghorn wrote:

Has it occurred to anyone else that Osama would probably be more insulted by that sign than anyone else?!

No, why would that be?

Guess_Who

Yep, it's like the whole killing them with kindness kind of thing.

i.e. you're a tosser so I'm gonna be really nice to you to p*ss you off even more.

randylonghorn

InFront wrote:

No, why would that be?

While mainstream Muslims see Jesus as a respected prophet of God, Osama is extremist, actively supporting jihad against all that is Western / non-Islam.

Would such a man appreciate such a message? ... especially when coming from the Baptist church, which is often associated (rightly or wrongly) with American right-wing / conservative / fundamentalist views? *

I doubt it, tbh ... but hey, I'm speculating, I've never met the chap!

* ... and yes, I'm aware it's the Australian Baptist church which has put up these signs

InFront

randylonghorn wrote:

While mainstream Muslims see Jesus as a respected prophet of God

Mainstream only?? No. I don't know what you'd call a Muslim who did not believe in this prophet of God, tbh.

A non-Muslim, maybe.

randylonghorn

Mainstream may have been a poor choice of words ... I simply meant those who are not extremist / fanatical / militant to the point of terrorism ... i.e. all but a tiny minority.

So ... do YOU think Osama will appreciate this gesture of the Australian Baptist church?