Billboard shows Joseph in bed with Mary

britexpat
By britexpat

Is this not taking things a little too far ???

A billboard outside a church depicting Joseph in bed with Mary has caused controversy in New Zealand.

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It shows a downcast Joseph lying beside Mary in bed under the heading "Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow."

Church vicar Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the billboard was intended to challenge stereotypes about the way Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story.

Archdeacon Cardy said: "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."

But Auckland Catholic Diocese spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said the billboard implied the Virgin Mary and Joseph had just had sex and was inappropriate, disrespectful and offensive to Christians.

"We would see a billboard like that being used by an anti-Christian group to actually poke fun at the divinity of Christ," Freer told National Radio.

Many messages on the church website attacked the image: "This billboard and your 'sermon' is a sacrilege," posted one visitor, identified as Karen.

But another, Andrew M, wrote: "I for one think this is an excellent billboard. Challenging and thought-provoking. Just what it was intended to be."

Ananova

By anonymous• 24 Dec 2009 11:20
anonymous

ajinasma1 said

May be the bill board is ...

May be the bill board is posted by a muslim terrorist organisation, Al-Qayida or else?

By edifis• 24 Dec 2009 11:09
Rating: 2/5
edifis

That the billboard is vertical, so it can't be a bed. It must be a sofa with white goose frather pillows instead as the antimacassar.

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By Straight Arrow• 24 Dec 2009 10:35
Straight Arrow

It is for Mr. Ahmad Deedat answering questions on Jesus

please tell me what do you think?

By phoenix2009• 24 Dec 2009 10:15
phoenix2009

business=NO morals

Yalla!

By Straight Arrow• 24 Dec 2009 10:12
Rating: 3/5
Straight Arrow

it would have been mintioned in the holy Qur'an or sahih hadith.

But it is not mintioned, then she remained virgin until she died.

By ajinasma1• 24 Dec 2009 09:01
ajinasma1

May be the bill board is posted by a muslim terrorist organisation, Al-Qayida or else?

By avishai• 24 Dec 2009 08:55
Rating: 2/5
avishai

better leave the billboards to the respective viewers...

it ain't intended for anyone other than NZ's i guess, as if people here are the one's being address with.

if it's not for you to take, why take it? even more why take it seriously then...

if you're being hit by a stray bullet, either you're not supposed to be in that spot, or you claim it's intended for you. the billboard is just a stray bullet, either go out of the spot or claim you're being shot. it's a challenge to people there, be it yours too if you wish but if you go facing in the line of fire, don't complain if it hits you hard for it ain't for you in the first place.

remember friends, that's there fight not ours...

have a merry christmas conversation!(imho)

^_^ sticks and stones...

By mmyke• 24 Dec 2009 08:26
mmyke

forgot to take his Viagra!

Is this Mary Magdalene I wonder??

Fairy tales,,fairy tales.

By GodFather.• 24 Dec 2009 08:25
GodFather.

ummjake for you..

Santa's making a list and Checking it twice..

To see who's been naughty or nice..

Santa Clause is coming to Madagaskar..

Merry Christmas everyone

-----------------

"HE WHO DARES WINS"

Derek Edward Trotter

By siddh• 23 Dec 2009 21:37
siddh

Oh boy!...what a boring topic to discuss! no wonder QL is famous for stirring such controversial issues till it gets into an argument, based on religion and then everyone cursing Qatari/ME culture and what not……………

Keep it up guys (& gals), seems there is dearth of activities out there…lolz

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 21:09
anonymous

Do Kiwi girls like cycling in total freedom too :-/

http://skadian-lifeinqatar.blogspot.com/

By ummjake• 23 Dec 2009 21:06
ummjake

I'm trying to be a good girl for Santa.

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By britexpat• 23 Dec 2009 20:56
britexpat

I am not totally naked.. i wear wellies and a pith hat.. Will I do ??

By ummjake• 23 Dec 2009 20:45
Rating: 2/5
ummjake

I think I am pretty tolerant because it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers, veris.

And as far as blending in with the culture of Qatar -- it's never been a goal of mine to "blend in" here, dear.

I am quite content with who I am and how I live my life.

Any naked kiwi cyclists out there? Give me a shout....

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By GodFather.• 23 Dec 2009 20:03
GodFather.

ummjake.. I guess that is the comment of the day.

-----------------

"HE WHO DARES WINS"

Derek Edward Trotter

By verisimilitude• 23 Dec 2009 19:48
verisimilitude

the fact that you can relate more with two men in New Zealand who ride around naked on bicycles (which by the way is against the rules in New Zealand even) rather than understand, tolerate and blend with the culture of the country to which you have immigrated says more about YOU than it does about the rest of the people here...

By ummjake• 23 Dec 2009 18:30
Rating: 2/5
ummjake

the narrow-minded, humorless folks on here!

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By verisimilitude• 23 Dec 2009 18:15
verisimilitude

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8427624.stm

Two young men caught cycling with no clothes on have escaped charges of offensive behaviour, but received a warning to wear protective headgear.

Local policewoman Cathy Duder was unfazed when she came across the two nude men, both in their early 20s.

"They were more shocked than I was, trying to cover up their bits and pieces with their hands," she said.

The men were riding around the Coromandel seaside resort of Whangamata on the north-east coast of New Zealand.

When asked for an explanation, the pair replied that "they wanted to experience total freedom".

Strangely sober

"And I said to them 'the way you're heading, you're going to experience total confinement'," the officer said, laughing.

She said the men appeared decidedly sober.

"They didn't seem drunk at all. That's what worried me," she joked.

Ms Duder issued them with a stern warning for not wearing helmets and then sent them directly home.

She told the Associated Press news agency that she did not see them again during her shift, and it was not known if they donned helmets and resumed their ride.

Public nudity can attract a charge of offensive behaviour in New Zealand, but Ms Duder said she let the two men go free.

"It was dark and there was no-one else around. They were jovial young men who had not intended to cause offence," she said.

By schlaunik• 23 Dec 2009 18:06
Rating: 2/5
schlaunik

The picture is to be condemned. By even those of no religion. strange how the propaganda machines work. Why was Joseph made to appear as a young man when he was 90 according to the Bible and why was Mary made to appear older when she was only twelve(12). Joesph in the Bible never claims to sleep with Mary and their is no proff James was the son of Mary as polygamy was practiced at the time. The picture does spark debate on many issues m but even so it is a flase representation in the first place. We dont build upon lies and ignorance. Pictures andIdolatry were condemned by all Prophets. Atheist and Agnostics speak up on this one. I want to hear you challenge this on a purely historical facts basis . We muslims have spoken. and the chrisitians posted it.

By verisimilitude• 23 Dec 2009 17:46
verisimilitude

good stuff... you summed it up quite well...

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 15:34
anonymous

... and kiwi!

By britexpat• 23 Dec 2009 15:31
britexpat

Boycott Newzealand Sheep also..

By Victory_278692• 23 Dec 2009 11:18
Victory_278692

after FOOD products..... :)

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 10:22
anonymous

Source:

- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)

By GodFather.• 23 Dec 2009 10:20
GodFather.

I think we should protest and boycott, New Zealand Lamb. Anchor buttter and Cheese..:)

-----------------

"HE WHO DARES WINS"

Derek Edward Trotter

By Victory_278692• 23 Dec 2009 10:09
Victory_278692

It is all about respect towards personal faith and for others faith. What matters is there intentions of portraying such billboards.

Clowns, comedians and Artists do their jobs disregard to "ANYBODY" including God, prophets, PM's Politicians, etc, etc......

I feel this what we say LIBERTY And FREEDOM of SPEECH!

Peace

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 10:08
anonymous

Source:

- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 10:06
anonymous

Source:

- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 09:57
Rating: 2/5
anonymous

@ Ummjake,life would be meaningless if there was no respect whatsoever for any entity,as the saying goes,"is nothing sacred anymore?"...THAT is exactly where this billboard is wrong,plain & simple...the nittygritty of the Catholic vs. Protestant/Anglican belief system has nothing at all to do with the issue @ hand,it's about being respectful about something...anything...the world currently is a big enough mess largely because of a lack of mutual respect among fellow human beings & lack of respect for a higher power,whatever anyone calls that power by name isn't the issue here...i say again,"is nothing sacred anymore?"...

By avishai• 23 Dec 2009 09:29
Rating: 2/5
avishai

it challenges their beliefs... and that's irritating i guess for not all people are ready enough to take that up.

^_^ sticks and stones...

By ummjake• 23 Dec 2009 09:24
Rating: 2/5
ummjake

a difference of opinion among the various Christian denominations about whether Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life, or whether she had other children (with Joseph) after the birth of Jesus.

For Catholics and others who think Mary remained a virgin for the remainder of her life, I can understand how they would find the billboard offensive (because it depicts Mary in bed with Joseph, implying that they had marital relations, which is something they do not believe happened).

But I still don't get why others are irritated by it.

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 09:03
anonymous

mary and joseph bashing thread?....

By Victory_278692• 23 Dec 2009 09:01
Victory_278692

distortion of historical facts!

May Allah forgive our sins and save us from satanic curses and thoughts....Ameen

By avishai• 23 Dec 2009 08:56
Rating: 4/5
avishai

don't think he is... unless you think that having male is the only way for a woman to be impregnated then.

guess, test tubes can do that too, of course with the help of anonymous donor.

^_^ sticks and stones...

By anonymous• 23 Dec 2009 08:44
anonymous

That's remembering me of Monty Python's "Life of Brian"...Hilarious!!! =))

By rein• 23 Dec 2009 08:40
rein

"...very literal idea that God is a male and somehow this male God impregnated Mary."

God is not a male.

By marie_2• 23 Dec 2009 08:36
marie_2

Eh? my gosh lol... What a thought!!!

...listen to the sound of silence....

By avishai• 23 Dec 2009 08:33
Rating: 2/5
avishai

well, edifis...

if one does subject himself to an almighty, then one's pleasure becomes irrelevant, don't you think?

he has a role to play, and he played it quite well.

^_^ sticks and stones...

By wirehead• 23 Dec 2009 00:00
wirehead

just like what sefri said about mary in islam, the roman catholic faith (as indicated in church doctrine) believes that she was pure, born without original sin, and remained a virgin all her life. that was some sort of requirement for being the mother of god.

also, she married joseph when she was just about 14 i think, and joseph was around 60 to 80 years old(?). i don't remember the exact details nor where i read these things when i was a kid. it is not improbable that joseph was already a senile old man when he married mary.

taken seriously or not, that ad was done in bad taste imo.

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 23:20
Rating: 4/5
edifis

That's a fact, Flan...they did. Egyptian cotton was famous then too!

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 23:19
Rating: 4/5
edifis

Yes they did.

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By flanostu• 22 Dec 2009 23:17
flanostu

i wonder if they used egyptian bed linen back then.

By Criskha• 22 Dec 2009 23:12
Criskha

what they want to imply with that banner? they are only making people more confused about it........really disturbing...........

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 23:08
Rating: 4/5
edifis

No,.. someone needs to disturb me really! Otherwise I won't get up in the morning and go! My sleep is too sound!

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By Ice Maiden• 22 Dec 2009 23:04
Rating: 2/5
Ice Maiden

Its must be the Pink Unicorn thats disturbing you. So forget that. Think only of the Gods...:))

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 23:01
edifis

But it does not help me wake up in the morning and go on. Even my alarm clock isn't helping me much these days!

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By Ice Maiden• 22 Dec 2009 22:58
Rating: 4/5
Ice Maiden

Whatever you believe in, as long it helps you get up and go on....

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:55
Rating: 5/5
edifis

Yes Yes Ice Maiden. I believe in the Pink Unicorn too!

And I believe in most Gods too!

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By Ice Maiden• 22 Dec 2009 22:52
Rating: 3/5
Ice Maiden

Edifis, Being human sometimes we lose faith in our abilities. During those times the belief that there is a higher power to protect us, to lift us up, to support & guide us during our deepest, darkest turmoil gives us renewed strength. Whatever that belief maybe, we need that hope to keep us going.

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:43
edifis

I believe in me.

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:43
Rating: 2/5
edifis

For what?

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By britexpat• 22 Dec 2009 22:40
britexpat

We all need something to believe in :O)

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:39
edifis

Britex who is your God? her pinkness the "Invisible Pink Unicorn"?

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:37
Rating: 2/5
edifis

Stone Whats a Godly person? Are you Hindu by any chance?

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By britexpat• 22 Dec 2009 22:37
britexpat

It's all a matter of personal perceptions. Being of religious nature, I found it slightly perturbing that the poster needed to go into "sex drive" issues.

Ofcourse, others , like yourself may not see anything wrong with it. I have no problem with that.

By Stone Cold• 22 Dec 2009 22:35
Stone Cold

When you are a godly person or a god fearing person (if you like), then there's no barrier as such. Thats just an assumption.

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:32
Rating: 2/5
edifis

He yielded to the Almighty....But was he really pleased? Thats a secret which we may never know.

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By avishai• 22 Dec 2009 22:30
Rating: 3/5
avishai

it happens.

^_^ sticks and stones...

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:27
edifis

He Knew beforehand ofcourse......but isn't that frustrating. He was hustled out of the picture by God himself!

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By avishai• 22 Dec 2009 22:27
avishai

lol edifis, as if you have a physical evidence of a third party...

your funny, man (imho)

^_^ sticks and stones...

By Stone Cold• 22 Dec 2009 22:25
Stone Cold

Not quite. He had carried out his duty as instructed. I suppose he strongly believe that men don't live on sexs alone.

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 22:14
Rating: 3/5
edifis

Poor Joseph, you can see the look on his face! How he must have felt when he knew....

Isn't this adultery?

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By ummjake• 22 Dec 2009 22:10
ummjake

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By avishai• 22 Dec 2009 22:09
avishai

she was edifis... unless there's sex in heaven (imho)

for virginity is somewhat human terminology and the big guys work is but a mystery.

^_^ sticks and stones...

By Stone Cold• 22 Dec 2009 22:09
Stone Cold

She was. Not physically in contact to men prior to concieving but by the holy spirit. And until she gave birth to christ, she's no more virgin by virture of terminology

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 21:18
Rating: 3/5
edifis

Then Mary was not a Virgin?

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By britexpat• 22 Dec 2009 21:15
britexpat

You read it correctly...

By Ice Maiden• 22 Dec 2009 21:04
Rating: 4/5
Ice Maiden

Sadly, an indication of the way the world is travelling....down the drain

By ummjake• 22 Dec 2009 20:47
ummjake

me what the offensive inference from the caption is that is upsetting everybody?

I just don't get it.

To me, it's rather amusing because I would venture that if one's wife had been impregnated by the almighty (as Mary was), then one might have some performance anxiety -- which is what I get from the caption.

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By progression• 22 Dec 2009 20:24
progression

brit,

upon seeing and reading what you have posted, the first thing that came into my mind is that whoever did that billboard has misconception of not only about joseph and mary's , but also their roles in God's plan. that is why for me the caption is inappropriate.

progress

By Stone Cold• 22 Dec 2009 20:20
Rating: 2/5
Stone Cold

This will suffice, progression. I love to follow than lead. Let things takes its due course of actions.

By Lion_King• 22 Dec 2009 20:18
Lion_King

Infuriating,Shoddy and wretched......

By progression• 22 Dec 2009 20:12
progression

stone cold, you can make another thread for that matter. not about what we believe but why we tend to twist things to suit our needs. how about that/

progress

By Stone Cold• 22 Dec 2009 20:07
Stone Cold

One may wonder where did things started to go wrong as in this case. Mankind are too creative to twist tales and stories in this modern time to suit their own taste. Its not suprising than to see lots of uncensored branches of religion sprotting up from nowhere and to the extend of a self proclaim prophets in some. Again we may argue how we all started to believe what we glorify at the present time as these all happens thousands of years ago before all of us existed.

By britexpat• 22 Dec 2009 19:51
britexpat

The caption infers this..

"Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow."

By progression• 22 Dec 2009 19:29
Rating: 2/5
progression

But Auckland Catholic Diocese spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said the billboard implied the Virgin Mary and Joseph had just had sex and was inappropriate, disrespectful and offensive to Christians....mary has this veil (i don't know how they call it)on, how come they had just sex?

for me the poster is not offending. if we are familiar with the role of mary and joseph in God's plan you will not be offended by this poster or anything.

progress

By britexpat• 22 Dec 2009 18:57
britexpat

It's not the picture that people are objecting to but the inference of the caption..

By edifis• 22 Dec 2009 18:11
Rating: 3/5
edifis

I wonder why would anyone abstain from sex even after marriage? Unless......

A little bit of e-bashing is not detrimental to your health!

By ummjake• 22 Dec 2009 18:00
Rating: 3/5
ummjake

It's a picture of Joseph and Mary in bed together.

By Christian tradition, they were a married couple, so there is nothing wrong in that depiction.

What exactly is it that everyone finds so offensive here?

And verisi, I knew there was a reason I liked you...

You're right. I have no taste.

;-p

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By KHATTAK• 22 Dec 2009 17:59
Rating: 3/5
KHATTAK

...quite disturbing!!!

----------------------------------------------------------Whenever I find the KEY to SUCCESS...Someone STEALS it.

By sabrang kidul• 22 Dec 2009 17:29
sabrang kidul

Sefri, may I ask where in the Qur'an and sahih hadith is a statement mother Maryam (Mary) remained unmarried until her death? I must have missed it during my reading.

BTW, I found this poster is of bad taste as well....

Salaam

SK

By sabrang kidul• 22 Dec 2009 17:29
sabrang kidul

Sefri, may I ask where in the Qur'an and sahih hadith is a statement mother Maryam (Mary) remained unmarried until her death? I must have missed it during my reading.

BTW, I found this poster is of bad taste as well....

Salaam

SK

By A_Prodigy• 22 Dec 2009 17:18
A_Prodigy

Nothing strange about it, it's more about ridiculing people's beliefs and that is wrong in more ways than one.

By britexpat• 22 Dec 2009 17:13
britexpat

It seems strange, since it focuses more on the "sexual" aspect.

By verisimilitude• 22 Dec 2009 16:43
verisimilitude

can't expect everyone to have good taste right...?

By avishai• 22 Dec 2009 16:40
Rating: 4/5
avishai

challenging...

^_^ sticks and stones...

By A_Prodigy• 22 Dec 2009 16:37
A_Prodigy

Very troubling

By ummjake• 22 Dec 2009 16:29
Rating: 4/5
ummjake

Very amusing.

God would be a hard act to follow...

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."

- David Sedaris

By verisimilitude• 22 Dec 2009 16:29
verisimilitude

pathetic...

By sefri• 22 Dec 2009 16:17
Rating: 4/5
sefri

It is not not an offense to Christians, but to Muslims as well!

We Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet born from Mary who remained a virgin until she died.

We consider Mary a holy woman that represents virtues of morality, patience and purity.

We may oppose the idea of the prophet Jesus being the son of God, but that does not make him any less than our prophet Mohammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be upon both of them) and were both sent by God for a blessed reason to humanity...

I don't know where these modern ideas come from, but they will never represent a positive means to think about any religious aspect!

*********************************

Obstacles are what you see when you set your eyes off the goal.

By Darly• 22 Dec 2009 15:51
Darly

Its tasteless and should be banned.

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