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Just in time for Christmas, a New Zealand church has erected a billboard that depicts the Virgin Mary and Joseph in bed together. Even if you're not a believer, this will probably make your skin crawl.The billboard -- paid for by St. Matthew-in-the-City, an Anglican church in the town of Wellington -- reads, "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow." Uh, gross. According to the Huffington Post, the "progressive Christian" Anglican church hopes that the billboard will "get people talking about the Christmas story."
Church leader Archdeacon Glynn Cardy told the A.P., "This billboard is trying to lampoon and ridicule the very literal idea that God is a male and somehow this male God impregnated Mary ... We would question the Virgin Birth in any literal sense. We would question the maleness of God in any literal sense."
We'd think there's a more subtle way to do this, but it seems subtlety is not St. Matthew-in-the-City's strong suit: A press release on the church's Web site asks, "Is the Christmas miracle a male God sending forth his divine sperm, or is the miracle that God is and always has been among the poor?" Did we mention: gross?
Look, we're not jumping into the religious debate on this one, but this is probably the worst example of using sex to drum up publicity since the Screech sex tape.
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Saturday 19 December
By Nancy
There are many many people who identify themselves as Christians. To some, their denomination is the same as their race...meaningless. Most of these people believe thy are Christians. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, nor does being a "good" person. To be an authentic Christian one must have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
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Saturday 19 December
By KatieCouric'sNemesis
The whole Nativity story loses its appeal with the truth about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny.
Parthenogenesis (Virgin Birth)? Anyone with the merest passing knowledge of female anatomy knows full well that the birthing a child rips a hymen to oblivion--and that intact hymen is the prerequisite for virginity (if you don't count the demivierge who allows near contact with a male appendage but disallows penetration).
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Saturday 19 December
By Ryan
"Is the Christmas miracle a male God sending forth his divine sperm, or is the miracle that God is and always has been among the poor?"
Are they serious? Question the Virgin Birth all you want!. But, the characterization of the Incarnation as a Divine Sperm/Mary sexual combo doesn't touch the traditional theology.. The "maleness" of God is as much a philosophical device as tool of patriarchal oppression. They should now that too.
The Christmas miracle is God with us all. "Today is revealed the mystery that is from all eternity. The Son of God becomes the Son of man, that, sharing in what is worse, He may make me share in what is better. "
The rich and poor, black and white, mature and sophomoric all share in God's love. I'll let you guess what category I think they belong.
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Saturday 19 December
By Aw
In the Holy Bible, it says that not everyone who says "Lord! Lord!" is saved. Just because the Anglican Church claims they are Christian does not mean that they are. Anybody can give themselves a title, but it does not mean that they have any right to that title. Jesus knows who His sheep are. God is not mocked, nor deaf, nor blind to how Satan has infiltrated the various Houses of God. Just like Eve was beguiled by Satan twisting and warping God' Word, so 5000-6000 years later Satan is using the same ploy on us. I wonder how many Anglicans will read this trashy billboard and be beguiled into believing "well our spiritual leader thought it up and had it made, and posted, so it must be ok? My question is who is blind and deaf? Are you sure it's still God and not us?
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Saturday 19 December
By V.o.R.
Now, guys, let's remember that Christian's are very fearful of sex, and putting their saints and idols in the same thought as sex confuses and scares them.
It's so sad that people are willing to trade their self-esteem for a golden ticket to heaven. You can have my ticket there. I'll be down here having sex because there's no reason to be ashamed of something as necessary to our well-being and happiness as consuming food.
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Saturday 19 December
By Becky
I like the Billboard, its funny. It's no big deal. Its not like it's showing mary getting it up the ass or something. And whats the big deal with her. She was chosen to carry the son of God. Why is she being worshiped? Some people pay more attention to her than they do to Jesus or God. Mary wasn't a virgin for long. She and Joseph had lots of kids together. The billboard was brilliant because, Look!!! we're talking about religion. People are just overly sensitive. Hell today I was talking to someone and she as all about baby Jesus and Mary. I asked her why is baby jesus worshiped so much, when he didn't do anything. She was completely ignorant of his doings as an adult. Point is, at some point in time, Joseph had sex with Mary multiple times. And yes he probably compared himself to God.
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Saturday 19 December
By cathy rohrscheib
this is as bas as the agnostics staing if you dont believe theres a god its ok your not alone. i am ashamed of this church or to call it one why would they even say that oh to prove a point not . i sure dont see it
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Saturday 19 December
By Nia
How can you call yourself a church! Putting up posters like this! Then calling yourself Christian! I don't think so! They should be ashamed of themselves!
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Saturday 19 December
By tyrebitre
Why am I not surprised that a group of people who believe that they can telepathically communicate with a Jewish zombie, who is his own father, and who raped his teenaged virgin mother so he could be born to sacrifice himself to himself so he could forgive mankind because he got into a snit with two naked tenants and a talking snake over a fruit tree, are offended by this ?
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Saturday 19 December
By trisha
I will pray for you b/c you know nothing of the bible and of my religion! Its sad that america has came to this! People like you who spread this to your children! I can see you are not open to anything but your on opinion but only GOD can judge you!
Sunday 20 December
By Anna in NJ
The billboard was horrific enough but some of the responses were juast as terrifying. Because they show such disrespect for people. A lack of respect, hostility and rudeness, crudeness. Christmas, whether you are a Christian, or not IS about love & peace. Christmas is not celebrated to bring horror to the world. It is a reminder to love one another. To work for peace. A message of hope for individuals and for a broken world. It is that simple and wonderful. Saying Merry Christmas doesn't mean you have to believe just a wish for hope and love for you. So Merry Christmas - Joy to all - whether you believe in anything or anybody I can still hope for joy for you. See? Simple :)
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Saturday 19 December
By Curtis
they had no bed!
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Saturday 19 December
By trisha
It would have been best for them to not put it up at all, and yes christianity does get picked on more, they are trying to take Christ out of Christmas, Out of our Anthem, out of everything. I am open to other religions, I dont not express my opinions of them but I do see that America was built on GOD. That doesnt mean that other religions cant practice here but there should be s point where people cannot put up signs about religion, abortions, and politics. America is based on freedom of speech also but I think it should also come with respect! I never comment on these ads but this was very offensive! I know that christians put this up thats why they should not be allowed to do so! They are probly trying to promote their church more! Thats the way of a sinner!
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Saturday 19 December
By ShakingMy Head
See,here's the thing, 78% of those that voted whether or not this story was offensive to them, are going to be ingored. As a non religious yet spiritual person who believes in God, that includes me. But, in my humble opinion, crap like this is laughable by anyones standards. Too bad that there will always be someone out to make a buck rather than considering the beliefs of more than 78% of a population. Man plans, God laughs. And money hungry materialists will never get it.
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Saturday 19 December
By Rhode Island
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. HE IS THE VISIBLE LIKENESS OF THE INVISIBLE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!! HAIL MARY FULL OF GRACE THE LORD IS WITH THEE, BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THEY WOMB JESUS. HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD PRAY FOR US SINNERS NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH. AMEN.
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Saturday 19 December
By jcoleman10
i think this ad is freakin HILARIOUS!!! i am of the christian faith and i find NOTHING offensive about this ad. I feel it is clever and a funny way of getting people to look at relgion again, especially in a day and age where it seems religious views and beliefs are scarce. There are just TOO MANY people out there who are thin skinned and love to find something wrong in just about anything out there in the world, "MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLE HILL!!". and as for the comment about not findin ads of other relious figures, how about these ideas: buddha for slim fast...or ghandi for that matter. how about moses in bed with a pig...because jewish people(my wife being jewish) dont eat pork. or even better yet, moses in bed with a cop (aka a "pig") lol. just a few ideas that would make the sensitive christians feel alil bettere. again i myself am of the christian belief and find this ad hilarious!!...i wonder if god would've wore a trojan magnum XXXXXL?!? LMAO!!
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Saturday 19 December
By TONI TYLER
THAT IS SO AGINST GOD AND IMMA PRAY FOR WHO EVER THOUGHT THAT WAS FUNNY!!!!
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Saturday 19 December
By Kareb
When I looked at the picture 1st, it looked to me like Jesus and Mary were in bed. That would be disgusting!
Cloning has proved how an immaculate conception could occur-a spark is added to DNA, and voila, an embryo grows. No sperm or physical contact needed. As there are women who have 2 X's and 1 Y, it's even physically possible to clone a man from a woman. So why is this church ridiculing?
And they seem to be playing into men's fears that a non-virgin wife can't be satisfied by them-which certainly degrades marriage. This is offensive because it is so full of ignorance.
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Saturday 19 December
By Karen
A virgin is one who has not had sexual intercourse-an intact hymen can prove virginity, but a missing one means nothing, as there are many ways to break one other than thru sexual intercourse.
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Saturday 19 December
By exoticdoc2
Any time you see the word "progressive," be wary. Too often these days the word is used to describe those abandoning the truth and traditional morals and ethics and trying to make it sound like a good thing.
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