I thought of one the other day on the “Fun things to do in Church” thread:
"Mary was a slut. She slept with God on their first date."
Someone was offended enough to email me (I won’t say who) and ask me to change it. I did. But as an atheist who believes it possible that Jesus and Mary both were fictional characters, I frankly still think my line was more funny than offensive. To me, it’s no more offensive than calling Murphy Brown a slut. (Calling a REAL person a slut is another matter. Also, there are women who LIKE being sluts, like it or not.) And it’s my way of pointing out the hypocrisy of some Christians (not necessarily the person who objected) who oppose sex-out-of-wedlock when their own Lord and Savior was (in a way) a product of an illegitimate relationship. (Hey, did God ASK Mary if she wanted to get pregnant? And were they married?)
IOW, Mary either had sex with someone not her husband (God) and liked it or she was raped by God. (Now, there’s a topic for Great Debates: “Was Mary raped by God?”)
What do you think? I’d rather put that sig line back, but not if I make enemies. And such a sig line wouldn’t get me banned, would it?
Eh, it’s the way things are. Somethings will always offend somebody, it seems like. It all depends, it’s not terribly offensive - though this is coming from a non-practicing atheist - but at the same time Mary is a focus of reverence and therefore derrogatory (sp?) terms directed towards her will offend/anger somebody sooner or later. Personally, I’d change it, but then again, in the words of Melvin Smiley, “I can’t stand the thought of anybody not liking me.”
jab1 - your sig line is pretty funny, but can also irritate many people. I think actually most humour can anger at least one person, so the decisive factors would be (in my mind)
Do more people find it funny, or do more people find it offensive?
Are you more interested in the praise of people that find it funny, or the censure of people that are offended?
Is there anyone who would be offended by this, that you would wish not to offend? e.g. Are there any catholic posters here that you respect?
The problem too with most sig lines is that they are only funny the first time anyway, whereas a derogatory comment seems to have a longer “shelf life”. So after seeing it a couple of times the humour will be gone, whereas the people that are offended may still be hurt when they see it.
It’s ok not that funny. I can understand how some would find it offensive, but not that offensive. Remind me of a comedy bit performed by whasisis name from Mr. Show.
I was in the desert and a light decended, and it was the virgin mary.
and…
and…
{sobbing}
she raped me
I find myself agreeing with everything Arnold said, so I’d go with his formula(s). Seeing as how I’m not offended, and as how I like humor, I vote with Silver.
ILegend - I’m sure you offended somebody, but it sure as heck wasn’t me. Happy, as always, to entertain.
They need to get the sticks out of their butts, jab. It’s a joke, plain and simple. And anyone that tries to force you or pressure you into taking that down is not only violating your right to free speech given by the First Amendment, but also trying to force their beliefs and their religion on you. I’d tell em to stuff it.
Well, actually, anyone who believes in the virgin birth believes she was a virgin before and after the conception. No sex. She supposedly remained a virgin until she and Joseph took up their relationship as man and wife and she had children with him. So naturally your sig line could be offensive. I personally try to avoid offending people any more than I must, so I would not use a sig line I know that an entire group of people will likely take offense at. Beyond that, I have no opinion as to whether you should have changed it or not.
Happy, as always, to entertain.