BBC’s “satirical tirade” provokes Christian complaints
Christian Concern for our Nation are probably wishing they lived in Ireland right now. In their latest mailshot they urge readers to complain to the BBC about “blasphemy” on Radio 4’s Now Show:
The BBC Radio 4’s Now Show has allowed a blasphemous satirical tirade against the Lord Jesus and the Word of God. We urge you to complain to the BBC (click here) at the offence caused to Christians and the corrupting effect of this kind of behaviour on a vulnerable audience.
They also helpfully provide a pdf transcript of Marcus Brigstock’s tirade, in which he opines uncontroversially that the Bible contains
acts of wanton genocide, infanticide, fratricide, straight murder, rape, pedophilia, enslavement, brutality and frankly, a level of sexism that would make John McCririck go “woo steady, now give the little ladies a break”
Perhaps what gave the pious pearl-clutchers of CCFON the vapours was the likening of Almighty God to “a paranoid menopausal housewife with an adulterous husband”, owing to his using up the first 4 of ten commandments to bolster his own fragile ego.
Anyway, you can hear the whole thing, suitably illustrated, on YouTube. Provided you aren’t vulnerable, that is. We wouldn’t want you to get corrupted.
Oh, and why not take CCFON’s advice and write to the BBC. They deserve a bit of praise every now and again.
UPDATE: (27 July) This is priceless. The CCFON’s next mailshot – sent out the day after the one containing the Brigstock complaint – is about the perils of the government’s Equal Treatment Directive. It is a dodgy bit of legislation to be sure, but CCFON’s objections to it are quite breathtaking in their hypocrisy.
The Directive extents discrimination law, introducing the concept of “harassment” which it defines as conduct with “the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”
Here’s what CCFON are saying about it:
“Harassment,” as defined in the Directive however, allows an individual to accuse someone of discrimination merely for expressing something the individual allegedly perceives as offensive.
Individuals can easily alleged offence from a discussion about faith or sexual ethics…
The freedom to speak freely about one’s religious beliefs should not be considered “harassment”, but should remain a fundamental right in a democratic society.
Giving people the right to sue someone because they allege that they feel offended is extremely dangerous for freedom of speech
Adopting a provision covering harassment on the grounds of religion or belief or sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services creates a massive chilling effect on freedom of speech and the free exercise of conscience by religious people.
One wonders if even their supporters take these clowns seriously. One day they are squealing about how offended they are, and the next they are pontificating about how taking offence shouldn’t interfere with the “fundamental right” of free speech.
They really do seem to think that freedom of speech should only apply to them.