There’s a new, new, NEW Star Wars movie out next month. I think its the 7th. But probably will be called Star Wars 3.2, because they have a habit of bringing out prequels, sequels, before-they-were-all-borns, born-agains and a whole mish-mash of chronological confusion. Doesn’t really matter though; what’ll happen is that a bunch of planes/rockets/spaceships will fight and the good guys, the ones who don’t suffer from acute asthmatic conditions, will win!!!

Anyway, as its December, with Christmas coming, the Church of England decided to advertise in cinemas. Yes. Advertising to… errrr… increase… hmmm… or get more… something. But advertise. So they constructed a 55 second advert in which the Archbish of Canterbury and numerous other Christians say the Lords Prayer. I’ve seen snippets of it on the news and its not exactly a ‘wow’, like a Cadburys Flake ad, or captivating like the Guinness ads of old, but its sweet. Bunch of people reciting the Lords Prayer between them. Bless.

And its been banned.

Well, not exactly ‘banned’, more withdrawn. They won’t show it. Its ‘offensive’. A fucking prayer. How offensive can it be? And that’s the point. The advertising agency have stated that ‘it may cause offence’, presumably to non-Christians, so they won’t show it.

Everyone’s complained. Muslim groups, presumably those deemed by the advertisers ‘offendable’, have spoken out against the withdrawal. As has everyone else. Of all religions, or of no religion. To stop the ad is the worst kind of cowardly fascism. Its the Lords Prayer, for Gods sake (oh!), it can’t offend anybody.

Yet even if it was to cause offence to anyone, is not the freedom of expression, the freedom of religious beliefs, what makes Britain special? What separates us from ISIS? Because we allow everyone to pray, worship, express their beliefs, unless human sacrifice or eating babies is involved.

They’re saying that ‘its being forced down people’s throats’ by showing it immediately before the start of the film when everyone’s seated and ready. I think they’re mistaking the prayer with popcorn. And the truth is, everyone is busy talking, eating, playing with their fucking phones, in the minutes before the credits roll for the big movie. Showing an advert to a group who really aren’t paying much attention is hardly an attempt to radicalise a bunch of Christians, is it?

Otherwise they’d only be showing ads for Volkswagons. Which are much more harmful.

Blessed Tuesday

A xxxx