It seems pretty simple. Intentionally ridiculing God falls into the category of blasphemy. Doing it to make a buck qualifies as evil.

I am looking forward to seeing this film, if there’s a theater that will show it here in the Dallas area. In the middle of the Bible belt, I’m not overly hopeful.
It seems to me that the movie is really ridiculing people–the people who are intentionally offensive as well as people who are eagerly offended. It looks to be a fairly entertaining farce, with some scenes that will make me wince at their audacity, but far more scenes that will make me laugh at their zaniness.
It’s not Hollywood which needs to repent of trivializing Jesus. A number like “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” wouldn’t be comedically possible if He had not already been sufficiently domesticated, miniaturized, and commercialized by the “Christian” marketing machine. We’re the ones who turn Jesus into a product and a brand, filling “Christian” stores with junk that sells just because it has “Jesus” on the label. We’re the ones singing the awful, earnest, naive, self-absorbed rock anthems about dancing with Jesus, falling in love with Jesus, in our edgy, seeker-friendly services.
This film isn’t making fun of Jesus. It’s just making fun of the kind of people who want to jump up and defend his name from defilement, without realizing that they are the worst offenders.

LMAO off at Cranky. It’s funny/scary people like you actually exist. LOL wow

Athena makes some good points, I think.

I don’t deny it hurts. Seeing something like that – even the sound bite of an add I saw on TV. Mainly because Christ is my savior, my mentor and my friend. I can’t expect anyone that has not accepted him to understand it, but try to imagine that a movie was made about you and your life – particulary someone that you hold the most dear, above anyone else on earth. Someone that you cherish and look up to, and pattern your life after. Seriously try to imagine the movie mocks and degrades that person for no other reason than cheap laughs or a smirk from the cynical.

And midsouth does a good job of makiong the case for the other side…
That’s the kind of discussion that needs to happen.

I saw the preview on Saturday, and this actually looks like it is funny. Did anyone else think that Steve Coogan looked a lot like Monty Python’s Eric Idle?
BTW, Monty Python’s Life of Brian is one of my favorite films. That would probably be considered blasphemous, too. The concept of “Sexy Jesus” seems both silly and trivial, but I’m willing to check out the movie and make up my own mind.

When I saw the add on tv, I was stunned, then angry. What makes it okay to make fun of religious beliefs? I am Catholic, but I do not poke fun or criticize anyone’s beliefs. We all have one Father after all. The “song”, for lack of a better word, is an offense. I will not go see this film. Unfortunately, with todays moral climate (which is no morals, for the most part) many will go to see this piece of junk. It will make money because there are too many out there who simply do not care.

the first time that i saw this film on youtube, i was outraged, and really offended. I mean, why would you people do that to make fun of god in that sense? i am catholic and i think this is wrong. like really wrong.. how would we feel that say we were in that persons place, how would god react? mad right?but not that mad because he forgave us.. but its not for i to judge, i never actually watched it.. but it just disgusted me.. from seeing that in commercial.

Why isn’t it okay to make fun of a person’s religious beliefs? If I said that Elvis was still alive and my life revolved around the idea that I was one day going to meet him and fulfill my life’s purpose, should you respect that? Umm, no, you should bring me back down to earth by criticizing that belief in any and all ways possible. Just because an irrational belief has the word “religion” attached to it shouldn’t exempt it from criticism.
Believing that Jesus is somehow responsible for your salvation is just a ludicrous as believing that Elvis is still alive. Hey, I don’t care what anybody believes as long as they’re not hurting others, but if you believe things based on delusions than be prepared to accept criticism for it.
What better way to criticize something that should be criticized than to make a joke out of it. Brilliant!

Posted by: Anna | August 11, 2008 4:48 PM
“What makes it okay to make fun of religious beliefs?”
I believe it’s a think called the first amendment of the constitution of the United States of America. You know, freedom of speech. I haven’t seen the movie, but from the previews that seems to be the whole point. People are offended by the play and are trying to shut it down, but the ACLU lawyer is fighting for the freedom of speech and expression so the play can go on.

Joyfully blasphemous!

celestine – “how would god react? mad right?”
I’m sure that if god is all omni-everything or whatever, he probably doesn’t care. Or he’s actually got a good sense of humor, unlike some of his followers.

God does not got such “good” sense of humor to accept Jesus to be represented dancing that way!That videoclip would have been ok without that!

celestine – “how would god react? mad right?”
I’m sure that if god is all omni-everything or whatever, he probably doesn’t care. Or he’s actually got a good sense of humor, unlike some of his followers.

There is nothing I can say here that will sway anyone who thinks there is a single “good”, “funny”, or “decent” about this absurd thing. If you know heavenly Father and are fairly well acquainted with his word, you already know what he thinks and feels about being mocked in this manner. The Holy One of Israel has a wonderful sense of humor. If these folks studied and paid attention to the words he has given us to know him by you’d have no doubt about it, but this? Well, I guess you’re gonna have to see one day very soon to come whether what YOU find amusing is amusing to HIM as well. By the time you know that it might be too late to change your mind.
All I can really say is that I pity the cast, crew, the people who made this trash and the people who will pay to see it. I know my heavenly Father and love him very much. I am appalled and disgusted that you have mocked him AND ME in this way, but it’s no more than a continuation of the fulfillment of prophecy leading to the end of this age. My husband and I will remember all the posters and people associated with this film in our prayers today but may God’s perfect and just will always be done according to his way, his timing, and his method. Glory be to the one true living God! :^)

I’m a person who loves God and I am just laughing my ass off at some of you. I really can’t stop and I’m so scared of some of you. And I know so many of you will doubt my faith because I will be in line for this movie opening night after watching South Park all day. I thought I was lucky to find an intelligent faith blog, but I guess the comments are still full of the uptight hypocrites that I try to distance myself from.

Also, what would a religious controversy be without people boycotting something they’ve judged with only a brief synopsis and without a full viewing. Really, where does the LightWithin get off telling someone they are going to hell. People like you push me farther and farther from God as I don’t want to be associated with anyone like you. Have fun praying for this evil child Fatima in your prayers!!!!

so how is this not offensive? they’re not giving people the right image of Jesus Christ. They’re associating him with sexual appeal and fire is in the background. If they are trying to please God, they aren’t doing such a good job. They’re advertising false idols and saying things Jesus would definitly not approve. so if you don’t think this is offensive…then I don’t think yo really know who Jesus Christ is? I’m simply not going to watch the movie because it’s incorrect on it’s views on Jesus Christ and giving the wrong message and because it simply doesn’t look funny. This movie just makes these people look very ignorant because they don’t even know what they’re making a movie about. If you want to watch it…it’s your choice. I hope t was worth it? If you really want to see something about Jesus…go to church

Fatima, all I have viewed was the video clip on this sight and I’ve seen the film trailers. That’s about all I ever use to decide if a movie looks like something I’d like to see or not. I guess one could call that judging, but that’s what the film-makers put together trailers and short clips for – potential customer evaluation. So I evaluated. Based on what I’ve seen it’s not a film I want to see. Hope that’s ok with you. If not, oh well. I’ll still save my money.
I think you need to read my post again. I didn’t tell anyone they were going to hell. I have no right whatsoever to do so, not now, not when I’m gone home to be again with the LORD, not EVER. It’s is his right and his alone to judge his creation. If I gave anyone else an impression that I think people who watch films or cartoons that disparage our heavenly Father or our Lord Jesus are hell-bound for sure or something then I’m sorry. My statement was one of hope that folks who were in this discussion might think twice before participating in something that they’re not sure God finds clean and good for us to enjoy.
I did pray for you Fatima. You sound awfully angry and spiteful for someone representing themselves as a Christian to a group of strangers on a web site (a public place), but I would hope that you would pray for me as well. If we are both members of the Body of Christ, it’s what we’re supposed to do.
As far as being an “uptight hypocrite”, you give no proof that I say one thing and do another, nor can you as you don’t know me in any way short of the few words that I wrote here. I called you no name, I made no derogatory observation about anything at all except the video clip, the people who participated in its making, and the movie trailers for the film we were talking about. I gave my opinion as was the intent of this site. You disagree with me and perhaps include me in the group here that you are so “scared” of. I’m only a flesh person that you don’t know. You have nothing to fear from me. Except that I might pray for you again *grins and pokes ya*
As for the full viewing.. God gave me enough common sense to recognize a moldy piece of fruit. I don’t have to eat the whole thing and get sick before I figure it out.
One final thing before I close – you said that you love God. I have no reason really to think that you don’t. But if you do, then nothing I say or that anyone says will EVER be able to push you away from him. It’s pretty black and white there. We either love him or we don’t.
I have a feeling that you’re going to have to say something in retort to this writing but if you don’t want to associate yourself with people like me that’s ok. I’ll see ya when we get home, alright? Bye ’til then *waves and smiles*

Come on, folks. Some things simply do not lend themselves to satire, and the holy name of God and his son, Jesus are two of those things.
Obviously not everyone, particularly non-Christians, will find the notion of making fun of Jesus offensive. That is certainly their right as an American and of course the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the content of this movie as free speech. I realize that many people do believe that Jesus is the perfect Son of God and do not believe that Jesus is the Saviour. In America, that is their right as we have freedon of religion. Christians, will, or should, find this movie offensive, which is our right as Americans.
That being said, those that are not offended by the content of this movie should realize that those of us that are offended are so for very good reasons. Its not that we are narrow-minded, hypocrites, uptight or right-wing bigots of some kind. We are offended because we believe that it is NEVER proper to defile the name or likeness of Jesus. We believe that in a culture of anything goes, some things are off-limits, and Jesus is one of them.
Would Jesus think this is funny? I don’t believe so, as this movie cheapens his holiness and purpose. Also, a movie in which Buddha or Mohammed was portrayed in such a manner would never be tolerated. Hollywood or Indie film producers would see a movie making fun of them as “hatred”…but of course Jesus is fair game in today’s culture.
So remember…as Christians, we simply disagree that this movie is funny or acceptable. Just because this movie could be made doesn’t mean that is was a good idea, at least to us.

I’m a Christian and I love movies and films to death. But I love Jesus more.
Knowing that Focus Pictures is using “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” as their promotional tool doesn’t disgust me. It is, after all, their choice as it falls under freedom of speech.
However, veiwing that video offended me greatly. Just the overall feeling I got while watching that clip felt tremendously wrong, and I know God wouldn’t approve of me watching something like that and having fun. It’s not my right to say whether or not others can see this movie or not, but I’m going to abstain.

This is just soooo offensive!

IS THIS OUR SOCIETY’S IDEA OF HONORING THE LORD? TRYING TO MAKE IT OBTAINABLE TO YOUTH THROUGH POP CULTURE “HUMOR” (IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT). TOO MUCH OF THIS SORT OF THING HAS BEEN ALLOWED. THE ONLY WORD I CAN THINK OF TO DESCRIBE IT IS SACRELIGIOUS !!! IT MADE ME SICK TO MY LORD PORTRAYED LIKE THAT, I DIDN’T EVEN FINISH WATCHING THE CLIP,,,WHY BOTHER.

Its about how if Jesus came in modern times he would have to market himself like a celebrity… Also the movie itself is about forgiveness and healing through artistic expression. It’s actually quite clever, but i can see how it may be offensive to some people.

Guys here is alll about the gray area. The Lord is grace oriented watching this movie or finding it funny is not going to send you to hell. If your faith is strong then you can live in freedom as written in Romans 14. Yet in there it also says that you must not judge a brother for thinking another way (the examples given are on eating certain meat and the sabbath being respected) we are called to love, not to judge we are all forgiven you cannot tell someone they should be offended by something and you cannot tell someone they are dumb for being offended, as your faith grows and you mature you will find new freedom in Christ (again read romans 14). Leaving you free not too worry about what people say or do but pouring out love to everyone.
i personally find this movie hilarious, yes it is pretty rude and ridiculous but it still basically gives the true gospel and is just a form of entertainment. Also it is made by the creators of southpark. they are not afraid to make fun of anything and everything. but gods grace and love still spreads to them as well.
Love is patien love is kind it does not envy it does not boast it is not proud it is not rude it is not self seeking. it is not eagerly angered it keeps no record of wrong love does not delight in evil but rejoyces in the truth. it always protects always hopes and always perserveres 1 Cor 13:4-6
look at this and see if your reaction to this movie fits. arent we called to love all?