Christianity QA » Christian God » Jerry Springer the Opera and blasphemy law
Question:
says… *Some* Christians say it’s blasphemous. Not one of them had seen the show before they said so though.
A bit like muslims over Salman Rushdies satanic verses and the Sikhs over the play in birmingham you mean? And anyway, what does it matter if it is? You going to make it illegal to take the piss out of an unprovable concept? Any such legislation would be completely unworkable. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s religion, but how would you differentiate legislatively between the Christian god and say, the Tooth Fairy? The existence or otherwise of either is unprovable, and both have believers.
A bit like the "incitement to religious hatred" law? We either have a level playing field to take the piss out of all religions or non at all. You can’t have it both ways.
Response:
I think it’s about time we had a little consistency. It seems if you’re a darkie, you’re allowed to use your god given democratic right to demonstrate, regardless of how spurious, but if you happen to be white, you should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Come on, be fair – there are plenty of white idiot politicians and bible-thumpers willing to condemn things they haven’t watched/seen/read. It’s all just public posturing – it’s called ‘jumping on the bandwagon’. Remember ‘Brass Eye’? Mike — http://www.corestore.org "All I know is that I’m being sued for unfair business practices by Microsoft. Hello pot? It’s kettle on line two" – Michael Robertson
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something….. However from a Christians point of view it is blasphemous, and not only is it blasphemous but they are paying for the blasphemy through the license fee. Good grounds for refusing to pay your license fee and for the break up of the BBC. *Some* Christians say it’s blasphemous. Not one of them had seen the show before they said so though.
It would be difficult to prove this particular claim. The show has been on stage for some time now (I saw it in Edinburgh in 2002). How can you be so sure that none of the complainants had seen the show on stage before complaining about it being shown on BBC? Colin
Response:
It would be difficult to prove this particular claim. The show has been on stage for some time now (I saw it in Edinburgh in 2002). How can you be so sure that none of the complainants had seen the show on stage before complaining about it being shown on BBC?
Obviously I can’t! I was referring to those I had seen spouting off on the T.V. Sorry for the confusion. — Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. War is peace. — George Orwell
Response:
It would be difficult to prove this particular claim. The show has been on stage for some time now (I saw it in Edinburgh in 2002). How can you be so sure that none of the complainants had seen the show on stage before complaining about it being shown on BBC? Obviously I can’t! I was referring to those I had seen spouting off on the T.V. Sorry for the confusion.
Other people have complained that those who objected shouldn’t have watched it if they found it offensive. It seems that the complainants can’t win either way. I watched it, thought it was utter depraved tripe, and can only suggest that anyone who finds this sort of thing entertaining needs to seriously examine their values.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How would you feel if the BBC was broadasting childpornography? Trot out your "you don’t have to watch it, there are other channels" line? Child porn isn’t a good analogy because it would be unlawful. A more accurate analogy might be a show which made fun of government ministers and offended those citizens who felt that our politicians deserved more respect and that if we make fun of them the rest of the world will have less respect for our government and for our nation. Child porn is a perfect analogy because blasphemy is also unlawful.
Okay, fair enough. Let us say that the BBC broadcasts a documentary showing naked children playing in a garden or on a beach, and dozens of concerned citizens ring to complain that such images are "plainly indecent", that the images would appeal to paedophiles and that they amount to child porn. Their argument is that there should be no public display of children’s private parts. Should we take any notice of such views? Should the moral standards of the entire country be dictated by a vociferous majority of cranks? Both porn and blasphemy are in the eye of the beholder and ultimately it would be up to a jury to decide.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something….. However from a Christians point of view it is blasphemous, and not only is it blasphemous but they are paying for the blasphemy through the license fee. Good grounds for refusing to pay your license fee and for the break up of the BBC.
*Some* Christians say it’s blasphemous. Not one of them had seen the show before they said so though. And anyway, what does it matter if it is? You going to make it illegal to take the piss out of an unprovable concept? Any such legislation would be completely unworkable. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s religion, but how would you differentiate legislatively between the Christian god and say, the Tooth Fairy? The existence or otherwise of either is unprovable, and both have believers. How would you feel if the BBC was broadasting childpornography?
It isn’t though, is it? Child pornography is illegal and has a physical victim. The two scenarios are not even remotely comparable. Trot out your "you don’t have to watch it, there are other channels" line?
– "All snakes who wish to remain in Ireland will please raise their right hands." — Saint Patrick
Response:
I also see he thinks that "The damage that must have done to impressionable young people is incalculable"; doubtless it is, as is the number of fairies living at the bottom of his garden.
That reminds me of one of the highlights of the Scott Inquiry, when William Waldegrave had signed a certificate saying that the disclosure of some information "would cause incalculable damage". He then said that by "incalculable damage" he had meant "incalculably minimal damage". — http://www.election.demon.co.uk "The guilty party was the Liberal Democrats and they were hardened offenders, and coded racism was again in evidence in leaflets distributed in September 1993." – Nigel Copsey, "Contemporary British Fascism", page 62.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4161109.stm Strange that Christian Voice, who are talking about bringing a prosecution didn’t think so to do earlier. The show’s been running at the National Theatre and then the Cambridge for the last 2 years, and before that it was at the Battersea Arts Centre and the Edinburgh Festival. It’s been widely (and generally favourably) reviewed and has won four awards for best musical, so it’s hardly as if Christian Voice can have been unaware of its existence. AIUI, a private prosecution would require the consent of the Attorney General, and it’s certainly open to him to take over a private prosecution at any stage and discontinue it so it’ll be interesting to see how far it gets. I see from the report that ‘Christian Voice national director Stephen Green said: "If Jerry Springer – The Opera isn’t blasphemous then nothing in Britain is sacred." ‘He said the show was "much worse" than he expected when he saw it and said it portrayed Jesus as a "coprophiliac sexual deviant".’ which suggests Mr Green should reread Exodus 20:16 to remind himself of the Almighty’s views on false witness, since the show does no such thing. I also see he thinks that "The damage that must have done to impressionable young people is incalculable"; doubtless it is, as is the number of fairies living at the bottom of his garden.
Steve, would I be right in thinking that many Christians are watching all this fuss with a certain amount of embarrassment for their more exciteable brethren? The media don’t seem to be interested in getting the views of a cross section of Christianity. — In the beginning was the word. But by the time the second word was added to it, there was trouble. For with it came syntax … — John Simon
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something….. However from a Christians point of view it is blasphemous, and not only is it blasphemous but they are paying for the blasphemy through the license fee. Good grounds for refusing to pay your license fee and for the break up of the BBC. How would you feel if the BBC was broadasting childpornography? Trot out your "you don’t have to watch it, there are other channels" line? But was it blasphemous? I didn’t see it. I read reviews and heard reviews on the radio which suggested that the music was very good but the lyrics/script rather infantile at times. If you read "Private Eye" you may have noticed a vigorous debate about one of their front covers a few weeks ago, showing a nativity scene with a supposedly humorous speech bubble saying something like "apparently it’s David Blunkett’s". A number of readers said it was offensive to Christians and they would never buy the magazine again. The next week many readers including some Reverends wrote in to say they found the cover perfectly acceptable and rather funny. Child porn isn’t a good analogy because it would be unlawful. A more accurate analogy might be a show which made fun of government ministers and offended those citizens who felt that our politicians deserved more respect and that if we make fun of them the rest of the world will have less respect for our government and for our nation. As far as the licence fee is concerned, it is difficult to justify it at all. If we are to have a compulsory state broadcasting service maybe it could confine itself to news bulletins and the sort of drama that can be sold at a profit on DVD to recoup its production cost.
Child porn is a perfect analogy because blasphemy is also unlawful.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something….. However from a Christians point of view it is blasphemous, and not only is it blasphemous but they are paying for the blasphemy through the license fee. Good grounds for refusing to pay your license fee and for the break up of the BBC. *Some* Christians say it’s blasphemous. Not one of them had seen the show before they said so though. And anyway, what does it matter if it is? You going to make it illegal to take the piss out of an unprovable concept? Any such legislation would be completely unworkable. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s religion, but how would you differentiate legislatively between the Christian god and say, the Tooth Fairy? The existence or otherwise of either is unprovable, and both have believers. How would you feel if the BBC was broadasting childpornography? It isn’t though, is it? Child pornography is illegal and has a physical victim. The two scenarios are not even remotely comparable.
Blasphemy *is* also illegal. It is *exactly* the same situation. There are degrees of blasphemy as there degrees of CP. Maybe the BBC could start with ‘mild’ CP and work its way down to the hardcore stuff? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Trot out your "you don’t have to watch it, there are other channels" line? — "All snakes who wish to remain in Ireland will please raise their right hands." — Saint Patrick
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something…..
However from a Christians point of view it is blasphemous, and not only is it blasphemous but they are paying for the blasphemy through the license fee. Good grounds for refusing to pay your license fee and for the break up of the BBC. How would you feel if the BBC was broadasting childpornography? Trot out your "you don’t have to watch it, there are other channels" line? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
Damn. I missed it. What is the likelihood of it appearing again on TV eg on satellite channels?
According to today’s news, if you turn up at the theatre box office with a bible, you get to see the show live for a tenner a ticket. I watched the programme – great fun, and sent the BBC a message of support. — .sigmonster on vacation
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something….. However from a Christians point of view it is blasphemous, and not only is it blasphemous but they are paying for the blasphemy through the license fee. Good grounds for refusing to pay your license fee and for the break up of the BBC. How would you feel if the BBC was broadasting childpornography? Trot out your "you don’t have to watch it, there are other channels" line?
But was it blasphemous? I didn’t see it. I read reviews and heard reviews on the radio which suggested that the music was very good but the lyrics/script rather infantile at times. If you read "Private Eye" you may have noticed a vigorous debate about one of their front covers a few weeks ago, showing a nativity scene with a supposedly humorous speech bubble saying something like "apparently it’s David Blunkett’s". A number of readers said it was offensive to Christians and they would never buy the magazine again. The next week many readers including some Reverends wrote in to say they found the cover perfectly acceptable and rather funny. Child porn isn’t a good analogy because it would be unlawful. A more accurate analogy might be a show which made fun of government ministers and offended those citizens who felt that our politicians deserved more respect and that if we make fun of them the rest of the world will have less respect for our government and for our nation. As far as the licence fee is concerned, it is difficult to justify it at all. If we are to have a compulsory state broadcasting service maybe it could confine itself to news bulletins and the sort of drama that can be sold at a profit on DVD to recoup its production cost.
Response:
Steve, would I be right in thinking that many Christians are watching all this fuss with a certain amount of embarrassment for their more exciteable brethren? The media don’t seem to be interested in getting the views of a cross section of Christianity.
That’s certainly my impression. Most people I’ve talked to were more bothered about all the swearing than anything else, and aren’t too bothered about that. Steve
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to handle viewing it all; in my opinion the fat man in a nappy wasn’t good enough at singing. Dave. ] Some bible bashing idiots are going to bring a private prosecution.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4161109.stm Strange that Christian Voice, who are talking about bringing a prosecution didn’t think so to do earlier. The show’s been running at the National Theatre and then the Cambridge for the last 2 years, and before that it was at the Battersea Arts Centre and the Edinburgh Festival. It’s been widely (and generally favourably) reviewed and has won four awards for best musical, so it’s hardly as if Christian Voice can have been unaware of its existence. AIUI, a private prosecution would require the consent of the Attorney General, and it’s certainly open to him to take over a private prosecution at any stage and discontinue it so it’ll be interesting to see how far it gets. I see from the report that ‘Christian Voice national director Stephen Green said: "If Jerry Springer – The Opera isn’t blasphemous then nothing in Britain is sacred." ‘He said the show was "much worse" than he expected when he saw it and said it portrayed Jesus as a "coprophiliac sexual deviant".’ which suggests Mr Green should reread Exodus 20:16 to remind himself of the Almighty’s views on false witness, since the show does no such thing. I also see he thinks that "The damage that must have done to impressionable young people is incalculable"; doubtless it is, as is the number of fairies living at the bottom of his garden. Steve
Response:
Is it the 1970s again? Mary Whitehouse back on the planet? Ian
It appears that the ghost of Mary Whitehouse has indeed returned. Mabon Dane
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to handle viewing it all; in my opinion the fat man in a nappy wasn’t good enough at singing. Dave. ] Some bible bashing idiots are going to bring a private prosecution.
Damn. I missed it. What is the likelihood of it appearing again on TV eg on satellite channels?
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service?
I’d suggest you buy yourself a new TV…..Modern models come equipped with an "off" swicth, and a whole array of other buttons that allow you to change the channel when you don’t want to watch something…..
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service?
The fact that you watched enough of it to realise this, implies that you deliberately watched it with the sole intention of being offended, just so you would have something to complain about….. Sadly, this is often the way with god-botherers……
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? The fact that you watched enough of it to realise this, implies that you deliberately watched it with the sole intention of being offended, just so you would have something to complain about….. Sadly, this is often the way with god-botherers……
At least he watched it and then complained. I remember the Salman Rushdie carry on outside Bradford police station. The local Talibanis were bussed in an masse, much sword waving plus book and effigy burning. The local news reporters were on the scene, and asked "Whats your demonstration in aid of" and they were told of that this book is blasphemous to all muslims etc etc. They were then asked "Have you read it?" and every last man jack of them said "No" I think it’s about time we had a little consistency. It seems if you’re a darkie, you’re allowed to use your god given democratic right to demonstrate, regardless of how spurious, but if you happen to be white, you should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to handle viewing it all; in my opinion the fat man in a nappy wasn’t good enough at singing. Dave.
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to handle viewing it all; in my opinion the fat man in a nappy wasn’t good enough at singing. Dave.
] Some bible bashing idiots are going to bring a private prosecution.
Response:
Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to handle viewing it all; in my opinion the fat man in a nappy wasn’t good enough at singing. Dave.
Prayer group to sue BBC: Source: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3979484
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Last night I saw some of Jerry Springer the Opera on BBC2 and thought it was blasphemous. Would a prosecution have a reasonable chance of succeeding? Has anyone brought this up with the Crown Prosecution Service? Unfortunately I wasn’t able to handle viewing it all; in my opinion the fat man in a nappy wasn’t good enough at singing. Dave. Prayer group to sue BBC: Source: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3979484
Is it the 1970s again? Mary Whitehouse back on the planet? Ian
no comment untill now