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Title: Indian state confiscates 'blasphemous' Jesus textbooks
Source:
BBC
URL Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8524043.stm
Published: Feb 20, 2010
Author: Subir Bhaumik
Post Date: 2010-02-20 15:38:45 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 171
Comments: 7
The government in the Indian state of Meghalaya has confiscated textbooks showing pictures of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a can of beer. The book has been used for primary classes and has caused a furore in the north-eastern state, where more than 70% of the population are Christians. State Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said legal action against the publishers was being contemplated. The company, based in Delhi, has so far not responded to the complaints. 'Insensitivity' "We are now considering legal action against the Skyline Publications of New Delhi who published the controversial textbooks," Mr Lyngdoh said. The controversial picture of Jesus was discovered in cursive writing exercise books being used at a private school in the state capital, Shillong. The minister said that although private schools were not obliged to use textbooks prescribed by the Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education, his government has taken speedy action by seizing all the copies of the textbook from schools and bookshops. "We are deeply hurt by the insensitivity of the publisher. How can one show such total disrespect for a religion?" asked Dominic Jala, the Archbishop of Shillong. "Just think how this would impact on students at such a tender age." The Catholic Church in India has banned all textbooks by Skyline Publications from all its schools. "We have told all our member schools across the country to ban this publisher," said Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman Babu Joseph. The Church has also asked the government to take strict action against the publisher and to ban any such "objectionable publications" from all schools in future, he said. "Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith and Christian life. The attempt to tarnish his image is highly objectionable and goes against the spirit of religious tolerance in India," Mr Joseph said.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 6.
#1. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
Hey, it's just product placement. Everybody does it.
But what if he were holding PBR beer (cheap rotgut) or smoking an Eve cigarette? ;-) Seriously though, this illustration was a classic case of "What the blue blazes were you thinking of when you made that pic?"
I'm sure there's more to this, but damfino. Now if they had Jesus and Mohamed sharing a joint, I'd say they were going for the old "can't we all just get along" thing.
Great concept; dueling outrage. Which religion would get the most postal over that concept with Jesus and Mohamed in the same act of blasphemy? The Christians would be very cross, but I bet the Muslims would win if only by the nose of a suicide bomb plane.
There's no doubt about that. Simply by printing a picture of Big Mo alone would be plenty of justification for bombing the publishing company and blowing up every school where the book was used. Isn't religion grand?
If they had only used a glass of wine and maybe a nice cigar. Well, maybe skip the cigar.
#7. To: PSUSA (#6)
I can see the marketing campaign: "What would Jesus drink?". Save the cigar/cigarette for the Cialis ad later.
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#2. To: JRiggs (#1)
#3. To: Ferret Mike (#2)
Seriously though, this illustration was a classic case of "What the blue blazes were you thinking of when you made that pic?"
#4. To: JRiggs (#3)
#5. To: Ferret Mike (#4)
The Christians would be very cross, but I bet the Muslims would win if only by the nose of a suicide bomb plane.
#6. To: JRiggs (#5)
Replies to Comment # 6. If they had only used a glass of wine and maybe a nice cigar. Well, maybe skip the cigar.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 6.