Controversial Mary & Joseph billboard

A mischievous billboard about to be hoisted by an Auckland church and intended to provoke conversation about spiritual matters at Christmas has raised the ire of a Christian lobby group.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0912/S00219.htm


Family First NZ labeled the billboard to be put up by St Matthew-in-the-City Church as insensitive and objectionable to many people.
The billboard will feature an illustration the church itself felt could disturb some.
On it, Mary and Joseph are in bed. Joseph looks down dejected. Mary looks sad.
The caption reads: "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow."
It was intended to challenge stereotypes about the way that Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story, the church said.
Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said it had already generated plenty of discussion in its conception phase.
But Family First national director Bob McCoskrie describes the church's plan as irresponsible.
"The church can have its debate on the virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," he said.
"The church has failed to recognize that public billboards are exposed to all of the public including children and families who may be offended by the material."
Even the Catholic Church in New Zealand wants to know why the Anglican Church is questioning where Jesus came from.
Auckland's Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer says it's a distinctly a non-Christian message.
She says she would be surprised if the billboard's representative of mainstream Anglican thinking.
Cardy said on the church's website that the true importance of Christmas was in the radical hospitality Jesus offered to the poor, the despised, women, children, and the sick.
"His death was a consequence of the offensive nature of that hospitality and his resurrection a symbolic vindication."

http://www.nogod.org.nz/

Last week a campaign by New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign raised $20,000 in public donations to fund bus ads which read theres probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life. Those ads created a storm when they ran on the London Underground and British buses this year. Similar ads have run in the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, Australia, Finland and Germany.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• new
• zealand
• god
• church
• jesus
• religion
• bible
• atheism
• secular
• billboard
• resurrection
• virgin
• mary
• symbolic
• chastity

[friendofthefunk]

Always funny when people find it to be "offensive" when presented with their own beliefs.

[FaganRoberts]

Dump all religion.

[Juillardl]

Lol...God. People still believe that pffffffftt

[Strictlypointless]

@tool675 Did you even watch the video? Religious people put this billboard up NOT atheists. Also I should point out, seeing as America is a prominent Christian state it would be safe to assume that Christianity would be at the forefront of their movement. However from the billboards that I've seen they generalize not single out, like "you can be good without god". Considering Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all monotheistic faiths emphasizing their common origin to Abraham.

[tool675]

they will make a billboard talking shit about christians, why dont they make one talking about muslims, there fucking scared to do that. fucking cowards. thats all they do, is make fun every religion except islam, fucking ass cowards

[AndreiG31]

They just reversed their clothes, and they are making big effort to prove that they are not God’s people.

Indeed, Jews are the people of Devil.

[sarainreno30]

I like it, people will complain over anything.

[gino3298]

this is just a bit sacrilegious

[phillozoph50]

@happy543210 Clear conscience and head full of bullshit.

[happy543210]

@phillozoph50 Oh, I'll sleep soundly tonight...unlike you, I have a clear conscience.

[phillozoph50]

@happy543210 Sure sweetheart.Did you have your story for goodnight already?And your hot chocolate?Good.It's time to sleep.But don't stain your bed again while dreaming about Lord.He's sexi I know,but try to hold it.And when you look into a mirror in the morning,remember-you're evolved ape.You'll be dead when you die.

[happy543210]

@phillozoph50 Revel in the fact that you choose to belong to the LOSING team.