In April, the Comedy Central network, known for its disdain toward religions, caved to the intimidation of Islamists when they planned a South Park episode that included portrayals of Muhammad, Buddha, and Jesus. In the episode, supposedly in deference to Muslim restrictions against any representation of Muhammad, the network never actually showed a caricature of him, but his voice could be heard. On the other hand, in the same episode, Jesus was depicted as viewing porn and Buddha as doing drugs.
Bob WeathersEven so, the network was unable to appease Islamists. The creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, were threatened on the internet, so the network cowered and bleeped out all instances of Muhammad’s name on the show.
Then, one month later, Comedy Central announced its list of shows that were in various stages of development for the Fall 2010 lineup. In the mix is a show called “JC.” The show depicts a modern day Jesus, living in New York and trying to lead a “normal” life. In the plot, Jesus struggles “to escape the enormous shadow” of his “all-powerful yet apathetic father” who “would rather be playing video games than listening to JC recount his life in the city.” The Comedy Central staff summarized the program as “an animated show about the adventures of Jesus Christ.”
Not surprisingly, Christians immediately protested. Kent Alterman, who heads the network’s development division, brushed aside these complaints saying that comedy “in its purest form always makes people feel uncomfortable.” People like Christians, that is. Muslims? Not so much.
Comedy Central has provided a stage for playing out the extreme contrasts between the Christian and Muslim worldviews. Islam operates by fear and intimidation through a religion of works and ritual. A religion of the flesh, Islam is void of a relationship with God and has no suffering redeemer, no way to respond to insults or parodies of its founder but with anger and fuming pride.
Jesus Christ, however, suffered and died for humanity. God’s love motivates our responses. Ours is a Gospel of grace. Our King the Suffering Servant. We do not retaliate when we are insulted, nor do we embrace it or excuse it. But we understand it. “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).