St Matthew's gives up on it's "offensive" billboard

[Bren]

Just my two cents worth...As a believer who was raised as a Catholic I find the Billboard offensive and Blasphemous. Just as well we are not in the middle ages as the clergy of that church would be deemed as Heretics and possibly tortured and killed. ....

[cooneyr]

I'm from a very staunch Roman Catholic family and while my olds would have an issue at this I do not. Why because before the latter part of the of the last century the churches realised that force feeding the teachings of the bible literally to congregations it was better to have a more open discussion on things. My old man is old enough to have been brought up under the old regime which would have been highly offended by things such as the bilboard - nobody would dare question the virginity of Mary.

What I've taken from all the religious ed (apart from primary school all the schools I've been too were catholic) is that the bible contains messages and concepts on how we/society should live/best function. It does not need to be taken literally - think about what it is trying to say.

The billboard is not about Mary not being a virgin at Jesus's conception. The point of the virgin birth is to imply that Jesus is the son of God and is somebody that could show us the way to live. With that in mind the point of the bilboard, to me, is simply that "God is a hard act to follow". If you try to live your life in as holy way as possible it is a hard thing for us humans to do as we all have faults. Accept that and trying to be a better, or more holy, person and your on the right track.

They could have just put "God is a hard act to follow" up in text which is the sort of thing that curches have been doing for many years, but how would that have caught peoples attention?

[cooneyr]

Just my two cents worth...As a believer who was raised as a Catholic I find the Billboard offensive and Blasphemous. Just as well we are not in the middle ages as the clergy of that church would be deemed as Heretics and possibly tortured and killed. ....

Exactly my point we are not in the middle ages and we are more free to think about what is being said rather than "taking it as gospel". What do you think the real message of the bilboard is?

[CookMySock]

Horses for courses, I doubt the people complaining about this would make a fuss if if was a picture of Buddha in a clown suit. What they really need is some perspective in their lives.

Everyone already has their own perspective, just you and I do, and like us, they are completely happy with it. If they aren't, they'll change it, just like you are I do.

Must make them nervous basing their lives and values on a myth.

No doubt plenty of times in your life already, you have been surprised to discover this thing you previously placed great stead in was actually a complete fantasy, but it isn't your or my job to go around pointing that out to people, and if we did it would just be a matter of time before it was our turn to get socked.

Steve

[YellowDog]

My initial reaction is that the board is in bad taste, but then I can see how it is there to provoke thought and discussion.

Whilst I AM a big fan of the Christmas thing and the strong morals and honesty based code by which to bring your kids up in an attempt to help them be good people; some of you staunchies need to get real about this virgin birth thing.

The modern day religion is sex and and it is being thrust in our faces from all angles (I mean a virtual thrust via the media). I suspect that what the board is trying to say is that the inference that 'The Virgin Mary' was shagged by an omnipresent supreme being is a stupid concept to believe and of course how could poor old Joe compete with that?

The point is that he can't as there was alledgedly no sexual act involved in The Virgin Mary becomming pregnant, Joe would have to compete on a higher spiritual level and not a sexual one.

There are many interpretations of the same thing and we need to remember that it was religious folk whom commissioned this thought provoking non-sexual poster.

Happy Christmas

[Mikkel]

Fanatics need to be challenged and provoked on a regular basis.

If we all just roll over and play along, as in the "good" old days, they gain power and influence.

[Forest]

I'm in agreement with the atheists.

There is no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

[Toaster]

I am a Christian and I took the billboard ad to be more thought provoking rather than offensive.

The billboard appeared to me to be quite witty and clever. God as portrayed would indeed be a hard act to follow, but the core message of the bible is about following him.... or not.

What we choose to do or not do with God is our choice... thank goodness for free will.

[CookMySock]

The modern day religion is sex and and it is being thrust in our faces from all angles

AMEN BROTHER, HALLELUJAH!!!

This is progress!

Steve

[Dave Lobster]

Just my two cents worth...As a believer who was raised as a Catholic I find the Billboard offensive and Blasphemous. Just as well we are not in the middle ages as the clergy of that church would be deemed as Heretics and possibly tortured and killed. ....

How christian is that?!?!

[slofox]

The modern day religion is sex and and it is being thrust in our faces from all angles

I don't mind it being thrust in my face at all! (oops errr I mean...hehehe...)

[Dave Lobster]

The modern day religion is sex and and it is being thrust in our faces from all angles (I mean a virtual thrust via the media).

I thought it was 'reality' TV?!?!

[Thaeos]

Eh, none of them are really 'Christian' anyway! There's only ever been one, and he died on the cross....

[The Pastor]

I shall type slowly.

I am suggesting that the little old lady who is so offended by the concept of The "virgin" mary getting her end away would not raise an eyebrow if it was another religion being poked fun at.

Instead of Buddha use "insert Deity of choice here"

well thanks for pointing out that different people like different things

[slowpoke]

There are no christian extremists in NZ (tui)