A MISCHIEVOUS billboard about to be hoisted by an Auckland church has raised the ire of a fundamentalist Christian lobby group.
Intended to provoke conversation about spiritual matters at Christmas, the billboard is far more likely to provoke smutty jibes about the hows and the whys of Mary’s encounter with a sizeable celestial penis – and Family First NZ is appalled.
It described the billboard, to be put up by by St Matthew-in-the-City Church, as insensitive and objectionable.
According to this report, the billboard is apparently intended to challenge stereotypes about the way that Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story, the church said.
Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said it had already generated plenty of discussion in its “conception phase”.
But Family First National Director Bob McCoskrie describes the church’s plan as irresponsible.
The church can have its debate on the virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary.
The church has failed to recognise that public billboards are exposed to all of the public including children and families who may be offended by the material.
Cardy said on the church’s website that “the true importance of Christmas” was in the radical hospitality Jesus offered to the poor, the despised, women, children, and the sick.
Last week a campaign by New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign raised $20,000 in public donations to replicate bus ads which created a storm when they ran on the London Underground and British buses this year. The slogan is “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”.
Similar ads have run in the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, Australia, Finland and Germany.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
December 16th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
A sense of humor is so ‘anti-christian’….
December 16th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
But, like Santa, God only came at Christmas, didn’t he?
December 16th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Joke:-
God decides He needs a Holiday and asks Paul for ideas. “How about the Sun?”, says Paul. “It’s a bit too warm”.
“What about Jupiter?”, God repiles “Those Magnetic forces Doesn’t really do my back any good”.
Finally Paul thinks He has the solution, “I KNOW, what about Earth?”. God declares “You must be bloody joking. I had an affair with a nice jewish girl 2000 Years ago and they still keep banging on about it!!!”
BOOM BOOM
December 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
The irony, is far as I see, is the church wants the church not to talk about the church?
December 16th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Well, hang on, the fundie ass-hole church it seems, has strayed far from the jebus’ message.
Family First??? Are they TOTALLY fucking stupid, insomuch as not even reading their bibbles???
The Jebus said to leave your family and follow him. (Presumably to let them die with no means of support.)
He put family worse than last – he totally gibbed families off. That dirty retard Bill Donohue. He needs to know this too.
On an even darker note, Hutton has been sabotaging breakfast cereals again. Where does he operate? surely the police should be informed?
December 17th, 2009 at 1:15 am
I can hear those silly fundies screaming…’FOR the CHILDREN!!!’
Ask yourself…before the age of puberty how many bill boards did you read or understand??? Exactly none!
December 17th, 2009 at 1:15 am
You don’t have the right not to be offended. The advert should be allowed.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Stop Press: Church’s bedroom billboard defaced after 5 hours
What a surprise! Comment from St Matthew-in-the-City spokesman Clay Nelson “We knew this would create a little bit of a fuss but I had no idea that my co-religionists had no sense of humour”
I’ve got news for you mate, they take this load of bollocks very seriously indeed.
Actually it would be quite funny if this sparked off an inter-church conflict – the fundies versus the retards, bashing each other over the heads with crucifixes and bibbles.
Shame Oral Roberts missed this – hope the devil’s giving him some personal attention!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:43 am
This advertisement is surprisingly witty for christians, considering most of them have had a sense of humour by-pass. I suppose if Joseph’s wife has just had a bit of rumpy-pumpy with the most powerful imaginary being in the universe, Joseph is bound to feel inadequate and have an impotence problem. Now what if god was a woman and had had a go at Mary? Phwar! nudge nudge wink wink!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I think barriejohn had that pun ready & waiting and this article was simply godsent.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:53 am
He may have had the pun ready and waiting but shouldn’t god have come around late march?
December 17th, 2009 at 9:03 am
With God, all things are possible, @chrsbol!
December 17th, 2009 at 9:14 am
What are they advertising exactly?
December 17th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Poor Joseph, it has to be said,
Was a man who was easily led.
His betrothed said: “My word,
I’ve been shagged by the Lord;
And he’s better than you are in bed!”
December 17th, 2009 at 9:39 am
We used to sing a hymn: “Now none but Christ can satisfy”!
I’m not joking!!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:42 am
On nzherald.co.nz:
“A mischievous biblical bedroom billboard was defaced just over five hours after it was erected in downtown Auckland today.
It was seen defaced with brown paint about 4.10pm, with both faces and the caption covered.”
Who is f*cked? Will we ever know?
December 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Phew! The guy on that poster looks well and truly knackered. Old Mary must have been giving it some!! No wonder we are having to wait so long for the second coming.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
He looks like he’s lost his erection and she’s continuing alone doing the “kitkat shuffle”.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:04 am
The church has failed to recognise that public billboards are exposed to all of the public including children and families who may be offended by the material.
Considering most Christians are perpetually offended by everything, how is it possible to avoid getting their knickers in a twist?
December 18th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
The elephant in the room is that an unwed pregnant woman would be stoned by her community- it makes perfect sense for Mary and Joseph to flee, yet immaculate conception seems a far fetched notion. (Occam’s Razor)
December 19th, 2009 at 4:28 am
I laughed out loud!
Joy to the world, the lord did cum!