A fan of retribution, he certainly was not. If Jesus was walking the Earth today, he would get a kick out of Comedy Central's "JC," a show in development by Comedy Central that depicts him as a typical New York guy trying to emerge from the shadows of his powerful father. That’s something that resonates with many young New Yorkers, especially when economic prospects are not very bright at the moment.
The censor-crazed zealots at the Citizens Against Religious Bigotry wants to punish Comedy Central for having the temerity to consider JC for its line-up. It sees Christian-bashing in a program that actually may turn on a young generation to the teachings of Jesus by updating his image for the 21st Century. Talk about a PR makeover. But that makeover has been going on since the 1960s, when pictures in homes of an afflicted praying Jesus in the Garden gave way to images of a laughing Christ fully engaged with life.
The Coalition includes conservative religious groups and right-wing politicos such as Tony Perkins (Family Research Council), Bill Donohue (Catholic League), Rabbi Daniel Lapin (American Alliance of Jews and Christians), Tim Winter (Parents Television Council) and Brent Bozell (Media Research Council). These sanctimonious windbags plan a press conference tomorrow to criticize Comedy Central for a show that doesn’t even have a pilot as of yet.
The Coalition justifies its action by accusing Comedy Center of having a “double standard.” CC did cave when some Muslims complained about South Park’s depiction of Muhammad. That fold-o was not CC’s finest hour. Is the Coalition advocating the adoption of the censorship policy practiced by fanatical Muslims, a policy rooted in ancient times?
Free expression is the backbone of modern America. The Coalition should get with the times. It has every right to tell followers to turn off JC, if the show ever makes the cut. The close-minded will follow like lambs. Threatening an advertiser boycott against JC sponsors, however, denies the program for the rest of us. That’s not right. And it’s definitely not what Jesus would have done.
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