“The Messiah†is not offensive as claimed by Angie, not when it is presented as what he really is. I am all for freedom of speech, but some parties in Lebanon think they are above all laws and as a result their “TVs” think they can broadcast whatever they want.
if you don’t like the idea of a show or disagree with the content…. change the channel.
I might be supportive of that thought but i beg to disagree once again Angie because this quote might work in the United States or Europe but not in Lebanon.
However, the point i wish to highlight is not the broadcasting of the movie itself, but the stations that were behind it, which are Manar (Hezbollah) TV and NBN (Nabih Berri News) TV.
If my memory doesn’t deceive me, Hezbollah & Amal supporters almost started a civil war because a satiric show on LBC (Bass Met Watan) mocked their leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hence the hypocrisy.
Now unless it is God’s will to show this movie, which i strongly doubt, i would recommend that the TVs related to those parties be more attentive in displaying such a demeaning movie to Christianity like the one they did. I also urge the ISF to pay more attention to such shows and ban them in the first place.
Lebanon is yet to become a secular country unfortunatelly, and until then, we can’t ask people to change channels in the name of freedom of speech, because such provocations can ignite a civil war in no time.
In general I am against the banning of anything. In a normal country this show should have aired and people could have changed the channel if they didn’t like it!
But as you said when the people behind the two TV channels airing the show have the will to destroy the country if something they don’t like gets aired, I support banning it!
The comparison doesnt work once again. Hassan Nasrallah as a “religious” leader was made fun of … the same reaction would’ve happened should Sfeir have been made into a joke on NBN or Al-Manar.
The movie isn’t meant to be offensive … it’s meant to show their view of Jesus (PBUH) ..
All these examples seem really repetitive to me and used. I’m sorry but the Lebanese are so brainwashed that they can’t separate issues and look at things critically.
As a Muslim, I was offended by the language used around the story being shown and not one person talked about that. They were basically saying Muslims are liars and offending Christians with their views and offending Jesus. Who are they to decide that? I’m pretty sure the Christian version has never offended any Muslims and none of us have complained about the telling of the story.
This issue really pissed me off. I can call out Muslims when they are wrong and in this certain issue they weren’t. Everyone needs to start looking at things with less bias.
Mariam,
First things first, Hassan Nasrallah was mocked as a political leader and military leader, not as a religious leader.
Patriarch Sfeir was mocked several times as well by many politicians yet he never bothered answering them.
The movie is very offended to Christians and Christianity and is Iranian-made. Imagine Christians producing a movie when the prophet Mohammad is played by an actual person. How offending would that be?
Now consider the same scenario where Jesus is shown as being a simple slave to God and not even being crucified and preaching for other prophets and where the resurrection, which is the basis of Christian faith, doesnt take place and you will know why they felt offended.
Manar & NBN were very wrong and saw this coming but couldnt care less because they are “backed up”.
I’m not saying how he was made fun of .. the point is he is a religious leader to them. And what politicians do is not my issue.
Also, This same issue was mentioned before about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and it’s not the same … because a) in Islam for both Prophets we can’t show the person while in Christianity it has been done over and over. b) Muhammad is NOT seen as a Prophet to Christians- they don’t believe in him at all.
And Iranian-made is not a basis for offence neither is the idea that he’s a “slave to god” because I can say in Islam he’s not a God and I can jump on that and say its offensive. How about Christmas time- nothing about Jesus (PBUH) is allowed…How would that roll? Not so well. I know that.
And yes, it doesn’t agree with Christian ideas but it does with Muslim ones. The only difference aslan is that Muslims think he was raised to heaven. I don’t see how that’s offensive.
Once again, the Lebanese have found a way to divide us.
Thank you to everyone for making me doubt my fellow Lebanese and making me angry. I don’t watch al-manar and I don’t want to watch the show. It’s just the mere principal. Hypocrisy runs in their blood.
Mariam the show is not based on the Qoran it is based on a 15th century gospel.
yes, a book Muslims believe in apparently because we believe in both the bible and the torah and this version agrees with the Quran.
And Keane, I’m sorry … low standards? where in what I said did I trash you. There are no low standards simply an ability to accept that you have a different view than me.
well, SURPRISE SURPRISE! didnt you know that muslims had a different version of Jesus? It doesn’t mean that they’re trashing him, on the contrary, he’s like the vice-president of all prophets chez les musulmans. so it won’t do you any harm to try and check other people’s point of view (if you’re THAT open). and no, it’s not the same as the satire sketch of Nasrallah or the Danish cartoons, where it’s the matter of making fun or pure trashing. oh and btw, an Iranian-production doesn’t necessarly have to be terrorist-materials, (a lot of Iranian directors are world-winning directors) #justsayin.
it’s funny how people “bi2awmo el dinyeh w ma bi2a3douha” kirmeil religions. just move on (to more important stuff). this blog is in a serious need of more tolerance.
N.
What tolerance you speak of? So what if they have a different version?
Christians also have a different version of the Prophet of Islam. Why don’t they broadcast a movie showing the prophet “visibly” ?? Would that be ok??
Stop arguing for the sake of it.
It is allowed to mock all religions in Denmark, as it is allowed to mock political figures excluding the president in Lebanon. Even the Muslim leaders have agreed that the reaction to the Danish cartoons was taken way out of proportion.
What is not legal is trashing intentionally or unintentionally religions and religious figures.
Award winning Iranians ehh? the last one was THROWN IN JAIL IN IRAN as she was back from collecting his award.
Najib: this is the problem you refuse to comprehend … this isn’t ONLY about what you think … this is also about the fact that we have our set of beliefs which allow us to discuss who Jesus (PBUH) is and how he lived. As Christians, you aren’t taught about the Prophet what we are taught and you’re definitly not taught to respect him. As for Muslims, Prophet Jesus (PBUH) is just like the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). So this isn’t arguing for the sake of arguing – this is just saying that we aren’t out to degrade, put down or mock Jesus’s (PBUH) life. How you don’t see the difference boggles my mind. It’s common sense almost.
Secondly, yes the reaction was uncalled for doesn’t change the fact that it wasn’t appropriate because in Islam mockery of religion like that is TOTALLY unacceptable regardless of whether it’s Islam or not. And if some groups don’t care their religion is made a mockery.. Muslims regardless of their reaction care.
As for Hassan Nasrallah – while a political leader, he’s also a religious one which automatically takes him out of the mockery equation. Sfeir as well though there’s a lot to make fun of there too.
And regarding the laws in Lebanon- no one is trashing Christians- in fact what happened is by the end of it Muslims felt trashed- honestly, thats how I felt. I was like wow! trashing Muslims to justify the view they have and no one says anything.
NBN and Al-Manar stopped broadcasting the show BEFORE it was banned in order to avoid problems and so we don’t have to hear the crap coming out of people’s mouths with generalizations about Muslims.
Even in Ramadan- we weren’t let be.
Finally, If a movie director or actor etc. has awards but gets thrown in jail – how are these two similar or relevant issues that can help decide whether to play a movie or not?
You could have had a point – MAYBE – if this issue was analyzed and made more sense even slightly. None of the arguments made by anyone regarding this issue has made any sense and hence lost any value.
Maybe during Christmas, I’ll start a revolution against Christmas movies because it’s rather offensive for me to see God being crucified and such. I hope you take my concerns seriously then. And if a movie about the Prophet Muhammad was played then I will tell you right now that’s pure ilit adab.
Ya mariam, 1st of all, during Christmas they don’t play movies about crucifying God; this is usually in Easter.
So u do consider Hassan nasrallah a religious person? A person who promotes death, war n hatred?
Is that what Islam is all about? I thought Islam is about love & forgiveness n so far there’s nothing love & forgiveness about nasrallah!
Now going back to the subject, Christianity is based on 1 important fact which is; the son of God got crucified n resurrected 3 days later; if u guys can’t admit this which means u can’t accept Christianity!
Michele,
Okay sorry! during Easter — the idea remains the same regardless of time of year.
And no I don’t consider Nasrallah a religious figure just as I don’t consider any of the religious figures in Lebanon actually religious because I feel they all promote hatred. What I’m saying is to a certain group he is a religious figure just as Sfeir or the Mufti are doesn’t make them angels!
And while i believe in Christianity based on the original scriptures – Christians for Muslims are “ahl el-kitab” and even if I don’t accept Christianity what is it to anyone .. you don’t accept Islam- same thing. As Muslims we believe that he was taken up to heaven and saved- you don’t have to believe it.. you simply must accept someone believes it.
Michelle, Islam is about love and forgiveness??
“al 3ayn bel 3ayn wal sen bel sen”!!
The sound of the lawyer of the young victims in Ketermaya still resonates in my head until today, when he read a page of the quran to justify why the Egyptian murderer’s butchering was justified..
Those people know nothing about forgiveness and salvation..
I am going to close this thread as it has gone way out of its original content.