South Park: comedy or blasphemy?

What's sacred to the producers of South Park?

Their lives.

Freedom of speech is a value so important to our daily life, yet has it ever been practiced as part of a religion? Just being on TV means your bound to offend someone. I personally am a little tired of South Parks brand of being jerks to everyone equally. Just so you know, it doesn't mean your egalitarian, it still means your a jerk.

Its funny that they depicted the Prophet Mohammad years before the Danish cartoons, and there was no fuss at all about it, and these two new episodes reference this. Also, these episodes were NOTHING compared to the vivisection they gave to Scientology and Mormonism. I could imagine that if they wanted to, they could make an episode about the life of Mohammad that would shock people too (9 year old bride anyone?), but I doubt they're that concerned.

South Park rules!

Irreverence at it's finest.

"Why do South Park's creators take on religion with such gusto?"

Because they are comedy writers. What could be funnier than grown adults believing in a magic sky fairy? The Morman musical is going to be brilliant! The Mormon episode of South Park was hilarious. "Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb" lmao

The most recent depiction of Muhammed on South Park was designed to point out the ridiculousness of Muslim outrage over a cartoon show. The threats they received were predictable and illustrated their point.

Couldn't agree more about all religions being ridiculous.

One man's blasphemy is another man's comedy.

I think South Park is funny.

One man's time honored tradition is another man's blasphemy.

I think Catholic clergy helping themselves to the bodies of little boys and covering it up is blasphemy.

If we can't laugh at tragedy, all we have is pain. Thanks South Park.

-yet another fan

hariaum

Religion's not funny. Though it would be if it weren't exempted from the taxes I have to pay.

I miss Chef and the chocolate balls..

The people who took offense at SP episode 200/201 should ask themselves.. 'What would Brian Boitano do?'

The thing that really burns me up is people claming that Muhammad was in the bear suit. It wasn't Muhammad - it was Santa! They only believed Muhammad was in the bear suit, but he wasn't. I think that says a lot right there about tolerance, religion, faith and whether or not people want the Truth or their brand of truth. On the topic of whether or not religion should be satired - yes! Religions are for the most part silly or more importantly what people perceive religion to be and what must be done for these religions are silly. If there is some kind of god or force do you think that force really gives a damn if you eat pork or wear special underwear? No, but if some force or being does exist I bet they care about pedophilia, marrying children and killing in their name. South Park should be praised not inundated with veiled death threats.

Personally, I'm offended that they were censored. Why does Western media allow a few radically pissed off people circumscribe freedom of expressions?

Somebody is offended by a picture of Mohammad? Tough s***. We are a secular society and not subject to your religious laws.

For the record, it was ultimately revealed on the show that it wasn't Muhammad in the teddy bear suit, it was Santa Claus.

I've seen several commentaries on this today, and not one has mentioned this central fact. You'd think people would actually bother to watch before offering an opinion.

Although you might think this is no big deal, obviously Trey Parker and Matt Stone were throwing a curve at the people they rightly assumed would take offense (not to mention op-ed writers). In fact the extremist group who reportedly threatened the show's creators and Comedy Central took the same bait, and ended up looking that much more ridiculous for it.

You ask whether religion should be ridiculed? My answer is anyone who takes themselves too seriously opens themselves up to ridicule (and probably deserves it).

Interestingly - Jesus, as depicted in South Park, does not take himself too seriously, and the boys repeatedly seek his guidance.

We are all athiests where most of the religions mankind has invented are concerned. Some people just that one God farther.

If you are religious and someone insults your religion, there are two possible outcomes:

1. God will punish the blasphemer in the afterlife, so you really don't have to do anything but feel sorry for the idiot.

2. God doesn't care, in which case you shouldn't either.

Unfortunately, far too many people feel compelled to impose their beliefs on others.

only muslims come with death threats...
and maybe satanism...
otherwise the rest are about life and love...

I prefer to watch The Daily Show. There we get entertainment and the ONLY "fair and balanced" new available on TV.

if south park went after gays, could they play in canada...

I find it incredibly odd to ask "should religion be satirized?"

Let's flip it:
Should religion not merely satirize but outright condemn lifestyles that are incompatible with its teachings?

The common thread here is humans expressing their worldviews. IMO, a more important question is, should people get angry over "offensive" treatment of their worldview? It's gonna happen sooner or later, regardless of how you feel about the world.

You are doomed American peoples. You are turning billions of Muslims against you.

People who make death threats should be in jail. People who attempt to carry out such threats shoule be in jail for life.

ALL religions are fair game for satire.

At the end of the day, all that matters is how we treat each other. When people take their religion too seriously, they become holier-than-thou. Others become "minions of Satan" or "infidels" or any of a million ways to demonize people we don't like (including the things Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins call religious folk). At that point, what's to stop you from getting out your gun and killing people?

God has a sense of humor so, why don't we?

Does anyone really think God gets angry over a good joke?

I think God gets angry about people who become self-righteous in God's name.

Poor DwightCollins, such a sad little person. Southpark does "go after gays" and transexuals and it does play in Canada. They also make fun of Canadians all the time, including their Oscar nominated song "Blame Canada". And as far as death threats? Well a Christian killed a doctor in Kansas recently, so it wasn't just a threat, but a reality. Oh, and satanists? Really? How pathetically pedestrian of you. On Southpark Satan is a homosexual who is in a homosexual relationship with Sadam. You poor frightened little creature.

I think everyone who is pissed about South Park should find their remotes and turn it off. Parker and Stone have the right to say anything they want regarding religion, Comedy Central has the right to censor as needed and we all have the right not to watch it. God (Or whatever you believe in) bless America.

I am really disappointed that Comedy Central was intimidated into censoring this. Reasonable people everywhere should be outraged that we are censoring ourselves out of the fear of some irrational, religious nuts. Its a cartoon.

It infuriates me that some pipsqueak ad hoc group of about a dozen Muslims involved with an obscure website (yes, news reports say it's literally about 12 guys) can give their own religion a black eye and screw up my favorite show out of complete crosscultural cluelessness. Where in the Quran is it forbidden to depict Santa Claus in a bear suit? Idiots.

Apparently the only religion you can't poke fun of is the muslim faith. Religion of peace my butt.

Of course if should be allowed. If you make fun of a topic, it still causes people to think about the topic and fosters discussion. If you can't question something, you can't become more informed and make a good decision. Frankly, it seems to me like a lot of people need to be questioning their religion because a lot of things religions do are pretty out there.

Someone here said only Muslims make death threats, I have to disagree after growing up with a parent who taught evolution to school kids. We got threats from the Christians.

I do think all religions are funny, and I don't have a problem with a show picking on them as equally as possible. Picking on just one seems mean. I thought it was ironic when Hays left the show when they finally got around to picking on his religion. He was fine with all the others.

I believe in South Park.

I used to watch South Park, but I was offended by the way it treated my beliefs. What did I do? Since I'm a teacher and it's state testing season, I'll give it to you as a multiple choice question.

Did I...
a. threaten to kill the creators,
b. bomb the studio,
c. destroy every TV within reach, or
d. JUST CHANGE THE STUPID CHANNEL?

(If you get that one wrong, you fail.)

I suppose The Washington Post has to pay lip service to tolerating Muslims, lest it be accused of inciting genocide.

Freedom is an abstract concept and can only be objectively assessed in the specific social context it exists. It is not an all-encompassing and unconditional guarantee to say anything to anybody at any time and at any place. The right to free speech has supposedly been created to enrich the lives of the social-being. However, one should also know that social-being are emotional beings. A freedom that tramples upon the sentiments of these beings pervasively may not be achieving its nascent objective. From a civil perspective, ‘just because you can’ is not a reasonable justification for that ‘you should’. Rights and laws which are more mechanical and dispassionate in nature may not be always in the best interest of the society they intend to serve.

Nothing is more preposterous than the Abrahamic religions and none more so than Christianity and no Christianity more ridiculous than the "modern" evangelical racketeering of America! Ridicule of the absurdities, the blatant lies and distortions, the pomposity of Priests and ministers, the lying charade of "religious" grabs for political power, the sheer ignorance exposed by even the most superficial conversation that touch on any of the "sacred" cows of canon and dogma, and the mind-twisting utilization of a patently obvious book of contradictions, self-serving stories, internally inconsistent man made book of hypocrisy as a basis for stubborn ignorant unfounded belief in GOD and his alter ego Jesus can only be addressed with ridicule and scorn!

Hold on boys and girls - ever hear of the "Piss Jesus"?? The National Endowment of the Arts paid for it.
No big outrage - it was (yawn) another attack on Christianity.
This Isalmic Radidal reaction to cartoons is amusing - but death threats????? Is that all it takes to make you liberals run???
You should move to France - you know - where the outlawed fireworks because - the army surrendered every time they went off??? Where Pan "B" was to have every soldier carry a white flag??
Get a spine!!!!!!!!

Funny or strange?
Nobody seems to be insulted when Jews are depicted.

So what is so terrible to have a good joke about the Muslim? It only shows the weakness of whoever feels that way and has to brainwashed to think so.

@Tariq_Asam_NY,

Are you saying that you favor censorship? Under what circumstances? Who gets to decide? I don't buy it.

There are plenty of things people say that I think are wrong, stupid, or both, but I either ignore them, laugh at them, or if I think it's worth my while, respond to them.

Of course religion should be satirized. It lends itself to satirization so well. Would we want to live in a world where Dana Carvey couldn't be the Church Lady? Lighten up, folks. And that means you, too, Muslims. Man is the only one of God's creations with a sense of humor. Don't you think He wants us to use it? Yeah, it's healthy to laugh at yourself now and then. Only God is perfect.

It's not religion, per se, that deserves to be satirized.

It's the PEOPLE who practice respective religions that deserve it: those who take themselves so seriously and insist that THEIR religion is the ONLY TRUE religion, failing to realize that that attitude misses the whole point of religions' existence: to create and maintain a spiritual, moral, ethical community of family, friends, neighbors, and which attempts to explain life's mysteries. Simplistically, put, yes, but if so-called "religious" people thought in this general direction there wouldn't be all the unnecessary hatred, bloodshed, intolerance, wars, killing, torture, maiming, mean-spiritedness that has characterized ALL religions at some point throughout history.

It's these specific people(not the religion) who commit atrocities in the name of Christianity (the Crusades for over 200 years; the Spanish Inquisition - Christian "heretics" vs "true" Christian believers; Protestants vs Catholics in Northern Ireland; Jewish progroms carried on by "Christians"), in the name of Islam (Islam vs Islam; Islam vs Christian; Islam vs Jewish; Islam vs Buddhism; Islam vs Hinduism), In the name of Buddhism (Buddha vs Shintoism)in the name of Jewish religion (the insistence on being considered "the Chosen ones" in biblical times), etc, etc, etc.

If these people don't deserve to "be satirized", then who does? It's either that---or kill them!! (note: just kidding about the kill reference--see what I mean? So sensitive!)

If they can't take a joke, then they can get stuffed.

I'm sure if there is a God, he's really not too worried about a DAMN CARTOON. Comprende?

Nothing is more preposterous than the Abrahamic religions and none more so than Christianity and no Christianity more ridiculous than the "modern" evangelical racketeering of America! Ridicule of the absurdities, the blatant lies and distortions, the pomposity of Priests and ministers, the lying charade of "religious" grabs for political power, the sheer ignorance exposed by even the most superficial conversation that touch on any of the "sacred" cows of canon and dogma, and the mind-twisting utilization of a patently obvious book of contradictions, self-serving stories, internally inconsistent man made book of hypocrisy as a basis for stubborn ignorant unfounded belief in GOD and his alter ego Jesus can only be addressed with ridicule and scorn!
Posted Chaotician | April 23, 2010 5:52 PM

**
Exactly!! Thank you!

Thornegp2626 are you serious? Piss Christ caused quite the stir with faux christians at the time. Yes it did. Also, Andres Serrano, the artist who made Piss Christ is a Christian. Imagine that, a Christian making a statement about his own faith. And all of this outraged the politcally charged Christian Right in this country to the point of it becoming a widely known work of art. Had there been no outrage, you wouldn't even know that the Piss Christ existed. Why do you lie so blatantly and poorly?

Looks to me that boredom once again rules. A lotta people need to get lives!!!. TFL, Ken

More than anything else, Religion should be Satirized - it's our oldest Cultural Component.

Notice how the Jews totally "get it" - they have a superb Sense of Humor even about their most Sacred entities.

We in the West with our Judeo-Christian "roots" are DEFINITELY "superior" to the Backward Moslems.
Not only do they have a backward sense of humor but they don't even allow graphics of the Human Form - they missed out on 1000 years of Great Art.

Oh - I know - nice Rugs & Mosaics - nothing else.

Islam is the Loser of a Cultural History Race, and Religion should always be questioned continuously.

The Story of Science is so much Bigger and more Beautiful than the Story of God.

blasphemy is a charge that is lodged by those who cannot tolerate others.

if you want to call it "blasphemy", then I claim you are intolerant, and cannot embrace the laws of the land - namely free speech.

end of story.

This is NOT a religious state, and we do have a law here that allows this.

Churches - too bad you're all set up in a country that permits this. If you don't like it, then may I suggest another country with different laws more to your liking? Iran is a good start. You can't say anything there, and i'm sure you'll be really happy with that solution.

Or you *could* turn the other cheek, as your lord Jesus teaches you. if you get upset - that's YOUR personal problem.

Jesus knows it is a joke, I'll wager.

Lao Tzu wrote (as accurately as it translates from ancient Mandarin into English) "If it could not be laughed at, it would not be the Tao." One of the world's great sages has given all of us permission to satirize anything, religion implicitly included. The satirists should be encouraged, not excoriated. The intolerant extremists are the problem, and their sanity is thereby called into question.

Few thing enrage me more than Muslims forcing their own morality code on the rest of us.

We are one of the most tolerant societies in this history of the world, but I completely draw the line on this one.

If you don't like it, folks, then get out of the United States.

Freedom of speech (including satire) is so much more important than the (hyper) sensitivities of any particular religious group.

Buzz off.

THere are so many mistakes and misconceptions about religion and free speech among your comments as well as South PArk. I will only make a couple of coments: The Piss Jesus picture of a cross in what appears to be a yellow fluid, presumably urine, was actually in a beaker filled with yellow colored water. No urine was actually used. It was meant to be outrageous, and it worked.Without doing anything but presenting a fake image with an outrageous title, the photographer made his statement.
The "so called" anti-Mormon episode(s) of South Park, actually let Joseph Smith and the early LDS (Mormons call themselves Latter Day Saints) off without more than a slap on the wrist.
The actual early life of Smith and his criminal record of hustling upstate NY farmers out of cash while allegedly exploring for hidden "Indian treasure" on their land, using his Peep Stone in his hat -a common con in the unlettered and superstitious era of the Second Great Awakening in America is never, ever mentioned by SP nor by any authority or writers, or even historians any more.
The LDS have suppressed these facts quite expertly. Nor does any author or writer mention the actual book from which Jos. Smith stole,(plagiarized) the entire theme and ideas behind the book of Mormon(including the linguidtic style which as any philologist can tell is faked psuedo-King James gibberrish written in the 19th century . Apparently, the South Park authors may not even be aware of these facts(not assertions: these are facts. Smith was a convicted criminal in NY state), and merely assumed Smith to be a standard issue liar and not a real old-time PT BArnum style hustler,("There's a sucker born every minute" was a Barnum quote.)
The difference between Smith and Barnum was that Barnum never claimed his productions were anything more than what you saw or wanted to believe you saw.
In fact, SOuth Park, in it's very ridiculing of everyone and everything, actually does all religions a service. The SP assertions and insults are so "out of the ball park", so outrageous, make such unbelievable assertions that they lose the very power of their satires simply by becoming vicious and mean spirited, rather than by using facts which are damning enough. It isn't necessary to insert giant spiders from outer space running the Vatican to ridicule pedophilia among the clergy.
I suspect that at least one of the South Park pair was brought up among Mormons and may have been a "Jack Mormon", or lapsed LDS member. However, I am only guessing. Nevertheless, the LDS church makes more appearances in SP than Orthodox Jews, who are treated with Kid gloves in South Park, for some reason.
Why do the Jews get off so lightly? I wonder. . .

Yep, satirize it all, cancer, alcoholism, pedophilia, and most of all religion. All of life and its big hairy ugly mess. That's how some people cope. The only way for some of us.

Why don't all the newspapers, magazine and television superior people get together and post pictures of Muhammad?

No problem with piss Christ, that's art. The Pope, hey, he's fair game.

But when it comes to Islam, oh is it blasphemy?

Admit it, you're cowards.

I heard about this on Anderson Cooper's 360º the other night.
Everyone religion has been skewered in the United States. Muslims should join the 21st Century. And, if they get all upset, then they should get a life.
They were able to intimidate the Dutch into secreting Ayan Hirsi Ali into hiding, and that was the wrong signal to give to Islam.
The lesson she recommended to us all, & one which seems valid, is clearly: to do what we do to exercise our free speech as we always have. I hope that South Park continues to skewer the Muslim faith, along with pedophile Mohammad, and pedophile Pope, and pedophile Mormons, and pedophile ministers and rabbis, and card playing, drunken men of the cloth regularly.
If Islamists want to get all bent out of shape, they can. But the fact is, the Western world values the right to free speech almost as if that right, alone, were a heavenly commandment. The fact is: no Islamist or Muslim should be allowed to intimidate Americans into not watching "South Park," or buying papers which have cartoons of Mohammed.
I've tried to find those sections of the Quran that would justify calling Islam a "peaceful religion." So far, I haven't. If there are truly peaceful Muslims, then they need to speak out forcefully, regularly, consistently, against the more militant and war-like, aggressive, combative elements of Islam. So far, I've not seen that happen since September 11, either.
Usually, those imams or Muslim "peace niks" are shouted down or killed ... by fellow Muslims. This is the 21st Century. The course of this century will best be charted by Americans and others across the globe
standing up to bully Islam. Draw the cartoons; make the jokes; and keep skewering every religious figure who acts like fools.
Start with Pat Robertson, and then the road is open for anything. We will not be bullied.

The muslim belief includes loving God and his prophet Mohammed more than anyone including themselves or their parents or anything else.

So if you would like to see if something insulting about God or any of his prophets, including prophet Mohammed (Or Jesur or Moses)would offend one fifth of the population, ask yourself first: If someone depicts my mother that way on national media, would I be offended? If you would be offended, try something else.

The problem that the South Park writers have always had is that they think they are the coolest, hippest, funniest people in the world. I have watched South Park since the beginning. Much of it is very funny. Much of it is disgusting. I question their smarts though to do what they did. They are taunting a group of people which contains a very dangerous sub-group. I would have no desire to be rich and hunted.

Religious terrorists of every type have no legitimacy censoring or removing rights. The two biggest mythology books have caused enough bloodshed and insanity.

People could believe or not believe and that is their choice. Religious social ideas like helping the poor and sick, truth, fairness, etc. should be incorporated as they are universal across faiths and atheists/agnostics. Religious rituals or unproven scientific beliefs (creationism) belong in Sunday schools. I think a Constitutional Amendment should be passed not to allow free speech against belief or call for harm because of it. Jews are stupid is fine. Non-believers should be killed is not. It would also forbid the type of IRA/Orange rhetoric we have seen in the past.

An autocratic culture like Islam that firmly believes that the “other” do not deserve to live cannot be expected to be tolerant of the opinions of the others; the “other” being whoever does not subscribe to the full extent of their worldview. An awful amount of brainwashing made Muslims not separate between their persons and those who they revere. They view the mention of the name of their prophet by a “non-believer” as insulting to the prophet and to his followers by association. They do not openly disparage Jesus or Moses, because they believe they are prophets like Noah, Jonah, Saleh, Joseph Lot and Ishmael. Nevertheless they do not refrain from demonizing their followers. They expect people to adopt their point of view regarding what they consider sacred or else. In the meantime they are trying to pass international laws that would paint humanity in their image.

Religion is already a satire, and so absurd that no satire of it could possibly be more stupid or more offensive or more insulting to our intelligence than religion itself.

Why are we arguing about islam being a religion. It is not. It is an ideology, much like communism, fascism and nazism. Of course they should have fun poked at them, it would be shameful not to! islam is not nice, read their books...

I never recalled these two hacks commenting on South Park when they(Matt Parker and Trey Stone) skewered Christianity on their show? Mr. Meacham and Ms. Quinn, are you afraid of offending Ahmed who works at the corner 7-11?

Will the press and the rest of the world please stop handling Islam and Muslims with kid gloves?!?!? This is a backwards religion of death. The radical Islamofascists are barbaric thugs and the "moderate" Islamists remain silent. These "moderates" want an Islamic caliphate ruling over the entire world just as bad as the dogs hiding out in caves in Pakistan.

By the time the rest of America and the world realizes that we are in the midst of a holy war, it will be too late.

"Only Muslims" come with death threats? Oh, really...Was the evil wreck who killed Dr. Tiller a Muslim? Was Eric Rudolph all about life and love? ALL religion should be mocked and ridiculed off the face of this earth.

Christians let God deal with vengence, Muslims think they should do it. In other words muslims think they know what God's thinking (fail)...

Religion's a joke. How can anyone be surprised that South Park's making fun of it.

The Catholic religion is based on wild, spiritual, ghost tales taught by narcissistic, sociopathic, pedophiliac rapists. And you tell me a funny show on the Comedy Channel angers you? And you want to be taken serious??

If you think South Park is obscene and blasphemous, turn it off.

I don't watch RNC Fox News for the same reasons.

The people making threats did not fare so well in this. They had bad results it's safe to say.

The Reality of Islam 101: (another South Park feature film?)

From- Ayaan Hirsi Ali's autobiography, "Infidel".

"Thus begins the extraordinary story of a woman born into a family of desert nomads, circumcised as a child, educated by radical imams in Kenya and Saudi Arabia, taught to believe that if she uncovered her hair, terrible tragedies would ensue. It's a story that, with a few different twists, really could have led to a wretched life and a lonely death, as her grandmother warned. But instead, Hirsi Ali escaped -- and transformed herself into an internationally renowned spokeswoman for the rights of Muslim women."

ref: Washington Post book review.

four excerpts:

p. 47 paperback issue:

"Some of the Saudi women in our neighborhood were regularly beaten by their husbands. You could hear them at night. Their screams resounded across the courtyards. "No! Please! By Allah!"

p.68:

"The Pakistanis were Muslims but they too had castes. The Untouchable girls, both Indian and Pakistani were darker skin. The others would not play with them because they were untouchable. We thought that was funny because of course they were touchable: we touched them see? but also horrifying to think of yourself as untouchable, despicable to the human race."

p.309

"Between October 2004 and May 2005, eleven Muslim girls were killed by their families in just two regions (there are 20 regions in Holland). After that, people stopped telling me I was exaggerating."

p. 347

"The kind on thinking I saw in Saudi Arabia and among the Brotherhood of Kenya and Somalia, is incompatible with human rights and liberal values. It preserves the feudal mind-set based on tribal concepts of honor and shame. It rests on self-deception, hyprocricy, and double standards. It relies on the technologial advances of the West while pretending to ignore their origin in Western thinking. This mind-set makes the transition to modernity very painful for all who practice Islam".

"Infidel" should be required reading in all the countries of the free world

South Park has skewered the sacred cows of every major religion but Judaism. The Passion of the Jews was a satire of Mel Gibson and Christian antisemitism.

If it actually did satirize the sacred cows of Judaism the way it does Islam or Christianity it would probably end up in oblivion along with My Name Is Rachel and any other artistic attempt at challenging the prevailing orthodoxy in America.

Odds of South Park airing next season if it ran the following satire?

Benjamin Netanyahu driving a Caterpillar bulldozer with a Star of David on its side and Barack Obama seated next to him with his eyes glued to his Blackberry the whole time complaining to Netanyahu about the rough ride. Behind the Caterpillar is a big sign proclaiming: "South Park Welcomes The 5th Century BC Religious Theme Park!" Meanwhile Netanyahu is blithely driving over the crunching bodies of South Park residents standing in his way because they apparently object to their neighborhood being razed.

YOU'RE, not YOUR

why can't people get this simple bit of grammar correct

I personally do not care for South Park, but, "I will not always agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it." (Voltaire apparently understood the right of free speech more adequately than many of us who enjoy it.)

.
seems everybody is overlooking the basics -
they pretended to mock Islam, but chickened out.

What they believe in, the creators of the unfunny South Park, is their own brilliance and bravery. Which is even more far-fetched than any religion, real or imagined.
.

There's no reason South Park must be broadcast on television. It can become an Internet-only form of free speech like a neo-Nazi hate site. The whole premise of the debate is that South Park's speech must be tolerated or not because it has no other place to speak. That's sort of an mid-1960s approach to free speech. It's now 2010 and there are as many venues for speech as there are web pages on the Internet, and each page on the Internet is its own revenue-generating vehicle.

Every religion is heresy and blasphemy in the eyes of every other religion.

There's no reason South Park must be broadcast on television. It can become an Internet-only form of free speech like a neo-Nazi hate site.
Posted by: blasmaic

By the same logic, there is no reason RNC Fox News or Limbaugh hate radio must be broadcast either. These can also be an internet-only form of free speech like pro-Nazi hate sites as well. For that matter, let's ban Huckabee religious shows from cable, too. We'll appoint blasmaic to determine what should be on cable and over the air or not. Of course, there will be nothing "Nazi" about his unlimited power to do this.

If, like me, one doesn't really like South Park one doesn't watch it and therefore it simply does not exist in one's world. End of story for most folks, but, then, there are those who most likely watch things they do not like and then compplain about it like the "group" who just threatened them with death for their skit about their religios, these are the folks torture themselves and the world around them simply because they know not how to turn the channel. So, I will give them a worthwihile lesson.....just press the button, dummies!

Seriously, discussing anything about South Park is simply silly, it's a dumb TV show, not particularly interesting or funny and who really cares about it's message? No one, with a brain that works and knows how to turn the channel.

Posted by: dcdoug |
Christians let God deal with vengence, Muslims think they should do it. In other words muslims think they know what God's thinking (fail)...
******************************************
Is that why most "Chistians" support capital punishment.

Let's not forget that 9/11 was caused by America's arrogant foreign policy. America needs to stop angering other countries. The racists Matt and Trey who make South Park garbage are not helping solve this problem, they are aggravating it. America needs to make up for South Park's mistake, and South Park should be pulled off the air immediately. The threat posed by Muslims is exaggerated by South Park, just like it is exaggerated by the racist Repuke - iclans for their own stupid brand of cowboy style politics.

dustinwalker20 wrote:

"YOU'RE, not YOUR"
"why can't people get this simple bit of grammar correct"

Actually, it depends on the context, you pompous ass.

The critics of South Park never even watched the cartoon in question. The cartoon story line in this instance was totally respectful of Mohamed - followers of Buddha should be the offended.

But what totally blows is the speech at the end about not being intolerant was censored - and intolerance won.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker have undoubtedly put the uncensored un-bleeped version in a secret vault by know. I'm just hoping I can by a copy on EBay someday.

You are doomed American peoples. You are turning billions of Muslims against you.
Posted by: abdulthearab
_________________

Ah....you didn't know?.....we are now ruled by your people. The son of Christian evangelist Billy Graham, Franklin, was disinvited to pray at the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C., because he would be offensive to your people.

His offense was saying that your religion was evil and vile. This was in the aftermath of the destruction of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the loss of lives by your people. Since, he would not retract his statement, and admit that your religion is the religion of peace, the top brass at the military, who are pro your religion, disinvited him. He would not submit to your god; thus, pay the price of being excluded, for now.

Soon, whenever the name of your prophet is spoken, not only will it be followed by praise by his followers, but all the infidels will join in, or threatened with loss of life, as were the South Park writers.

Sadly, the children of America have never experienced hardship. From birth, they are pampered and given endless videos to watch, and they never grow up. They continue to watch cartoons, though they have long since aged out of their teen years.

Now, with the threat to these South Park writers, and their favorite irreverent cartoon, these children are throwing fits, egging on a fight safely from their computers. They have never known physical violence or even a threat. They have no idea that the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh died for making a film that offended your people. And, not just Theo, but others who have offended your people with books and cartoons have had to go into hiding, build safe rooms in their homes, have 24/7 protection. All of this is incomprehensible to them in their safe world with no threats of any kind, ever.

Now, let me address the question of the article: Is South Park comedy or blasphemy?

It's blasphemy, of course. The writers have produced millions of like-minded irreverent individuals. I don't see a happy future for these people who will live/be enslaved in a world of their own making. It is a world I would not want to live in.

exposethegreed wrote:
America needs to stop angering other countries. The racists Matt and Trey who make South Park garbage are not helping solve this problem..
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You've obviously never rented Matt & Trey's movie Team America World Police. After you do we'll forgive your ignorance.

Let's not forget that 9/11 was caused by America's arrogant foreign policy. America needs to stop angering other countries. posted by exposethegreed
_____________________

Let's see, before 9/11, America was not at war with Iraq or Afghanistan.

Now, would you please explain exactly what foreign policy angered other countries so that they retaliated by flying planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?

South Park is an equal opportunity blasphemer. The amazing thing is that they have the courage to take on Islam. Most of the free thinking creative crowd does not have the courage to skewer this murderous religion.

We should be done coddling mythology-based belief systems; let the 11th century be done and lets operate like the 21st century with rationality and science as the basis of society. If you dont like to look at something, just leave the room or close the book.

Star Wars is voweless Jedi Jude Judah establishment of the Elders Of Zion as masters of the universe by Luke the medical apostle. The civil service federal bureacracy Death Star is blowed up before socialized medicine could be established by a new Gonzo Gregory Harrison generation of cool kid hockey pucks. Jedi Jude Judah are said to be heridatary religious good guys the Chosen by the Light to help the good and harm the bad. Sith will help just about anybody allowing for Lando Kalrissian, Jabba the Hutt and the motley crew at the space bar to thrive. No aid and comfort to enemies foreign and domestic. Matriarchal mitochondrial mitochlorian DNA is rumored to hold the "God" gene if you believe Joo lies. Padme is jooess Natalie Portman and Princess Leah is daughter of Joo Eddie Fischer and Jooess Debby Reynolds. The Chosen are God's people and look down on the masses as monkeys and livestock to be managed or destroyed. AIDS HIV was synthesized and spread through hepatitus vaccine to gays and Africans by American medical. Great Satan. Blasphemy sacrilege Mohammed same tradition suks too.

"Let's not forget that 9/11 was caused by America's arrogant foreign policy. America needs to stop angering other countries. The racists Matt and Trey who make South Park garbage are not helping solve this problem, they are aggravating it. America needs to make up for South Park's mistake, and South Park should be pulled off the air immediately. The threat posed by Muslims is exaggerated by South Park, just like it is exaggerated by the racist Repuke - iclans for their own stupid brand of cowboy style politics."

POSTED BY: EXPOSETHEGREED

Get a copy of the Constitution of the United States. I direct your attention to the First Amendment. Thank you.

this isn't the first time they made fun of the prophet mohammed (peace be upon him). A few years ago, they ridiculed family guy, fox entertainment, and the prophet by making a big contraversey about a family guy episode featuring the prophet (censored) in one of family guy's diversions. it was quite funny. my favourite part:
pres. bush.: well, we can't really stop them. they're protected by the first ammendment.
press dude: first ammendment?
bush: you know, freedom of speech.
press dude (sceptically): how long has your administration known about this "first ammendment?"

This is ridiculous! I'm Jewish and yes, the show does go overboard in just about every episode. But for someone to call for the death of the producers is going too far. Muslims need to get a grip on the fact that not everyone worships the same god they do. If Islam is truly a religion of peace, then why not show it by not responding? Haven't Muslims learned anything about civility over the past 1,360 years?

Parker's statements about atheism and the Big Bang theory are wrong. Atheism is not a religion and the Big Bang is not an atheist creation myth. Atheism predates the Big Bang Theory and being an atheist does not mean you believe in the Big Bang Theory nor does believing in the Big Bang Theory mean you are an atheist. The Big Bang Theory has as much to do with religion as Newton's theory of gravitation does.
South Park extols what they see as common sense and lampoons things that do not make sense to them. Sometimes they hit and sometimes they miss. Sometimes things do not make sense because they are truly nonsense other times they do not make sense because of people just do not simply understand. Looks like Parker does not understand physics. The only thing silly about the Big Bang Theory is its name.

This is all a hoax created by SouthPark people to make them appear more important than they actually are. There are no demonstrations, no condemnation, no nothing for these cartoons from Muslims. We are now fully aware of this pattern of provocations and aren't bothered to give credence to someone's sick sense of humor anymore. WHO IS THIS SHADY ORGANIZATION WHO GAVE DEATH THREATS?? How come all the internet guru's of US can't find out where this threat originated from? Its just a gig to get more ratings. Name me one known muslim who has come out and condemned this cartoon? All this reactionary hoopla is just typical of anti-muslim bigots (all of them identifiable by there previous posts) of WaPo.

False religions are like fairy tales. If it's a fairy tale then it's OK to make fun about it or make a parody of it.

The only thing sacred is the name Jesus Christ. You make fun of it, you'll pay very dearly in the afterlife.

He made many miracles like multiplying the fish and bread, turning water to wine and walking on water, etc.

It's like a gamble. If those stories of Jesus happen to be true (100% it is) which means he is truly God, then those guys in South Park are toast.

"Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)

When evolution science teaches that a bacteria can turn into a brain or an eye or an eagle's wings after millions of years, it's called LUNACY.

Good for South Park to include atheism as the most idiotic religion.

FORGET SATIRE, EVEN SCHOLARS WHO SEEK TO APPLY NORMAL INTELLECTUAL SCHOLARLY STANDARDS IN STUDYING THE HISTORY OF ISLAM ARE THREATENED. You cannot live with theae people.

spidermean, you ever present inveterate moron, it's Billions of years. See that 'B'?

Even if it could be proven to you it is certain you would not accept it. Of course you'll mistake the lack of effort on our part to clue you in to the facts as validation of your idiotic noise. But then, have you noticed you're the only one here who has a high opinion of your intelligence?

Your intelligence can be be described as simian at best.

Billions or trillions or quadrillions, it doesn't matter coz there is no science that exist to explain the possibility that a bacteria can form into a brain. It's not only fairy tale, it's bordering on madness or lunacy.

The worst part is that we pay these lunatics to teach our children. At least those islamic extremists get hunted while you lunatics get paid after making a fool of our education system.

When evolution science teaches that a bacteria can turn into a brain or an eye or an eagle's wings after millions of years, it's called LUNACY.
Good for South Park to include atheism as the most idiotic religion.
Posted by: spidermean2 | April 24, 2010 11:55 AM
----------------------------------------

LOL here's someone who completely misunderstood the point of the atheist episode.

The writers views on that topic were more or less expressed by Stan in that episode when he said "can't evolution be the how, not the why?" which is a perfectly rational and logical position.

Ms. Garrison was portrayed at first as a hysterical, anti-evolution, childish zealot (throwing poo to make a point) and then when she was "converted" by Dawkins to believe in evolution she/he acted like a complete jerk by singling religious people out as being idiots (making Stan wear the idiot hat).

The writers were mocking zealot athiests who are intolerant of the views of others, they were in no way endorsing the "evolution is hogwash" argument you're spouting.

"Nuance", look it up.

There's all sorts of science to explain it boy, most scientists, almost all of them in fact accept the theory of evolution.

But you can't accept that, you can't read it, you can't understand it. Just because it's too complicated for you doesn't make it false.

Every day you come here and prove over and over again what a truly stupid monkey you are.

I wonder if the "free speech" patriots complaining about the censorship of the Mohammed incident were OK with the art piece "crucifix in urine" or maybe free speech is for me and not you.

Hahahahehehe. HARHAR!

Religion is very important to those who make money or gain status by associating with it. In a sense, it is almost as old as comedy--or, perhaps, a split-second older so that it could serve as a target.

Kenny, beware!

Im an engineer and you are not. Most of these evolutionists don't understand what is science coz they don't have an engineering degree.

So tell me the algorithm how a bacteria can possibly turn into a brain? What's the initial step?

That is how we solve problems as engineers.

It can't be solved coz nobody still understands how a bacteria was formed in the first place coz the DNA is a very complex entity, idiot.

"South Park: comedy or blasphemy?"

Can't it be both?

I personally love South Park; its a surprisingly intelligent, daring satire.

I read an article that described South Park as being the equivalent to that person who is always willing to call out stupidity and hypocrisy regardless of whose guilty of it. As being the equivalent to the sort of person whose sense of honesty is stronger than their sense of tact or their suspectibility to giving into social pressure. A provider of the ugly truths.

It seems it is almost deliberately designed to push the buttons of easily-offended people the world over - something that many of us find hilarious since we can't stand such people. It begs the question, why are you so offended? It gives society a mirror with which to look at itself even when society doesn't want to by provoking people and asking questions.

As for the current situation, I'm firmly on the side of South Park. The way I see it, there will ALWAYS be people who are willing to control others through the threat of violence. At their core, these people are bullies who rely on intimidation to get what they want. You can give in or defy but in the end, they will still hate you because that's what fanatics of all stripes do - they hate others different then themselves in order to convince themselves of their own worth - so why give in? Why not act defiantely and stand up for what you believe in, threats be damned?

The sad fact is that courage is an almost extinct quality in the U.S. After taking an unpopular position that you feel is right, most will sell out as soon as possible to gain favour & to avoid offending people.

What is a false religion?

False religions are based on the idea that man can save himself by doing or following a set of belief system. What it actually does is building a SELF-RIGHTEOUS mentality.

The end result is they become rabid defenders of stupidity.

You can't blame South Park creators to fear for their lives coz they are dealing with madmen.

If Catholicism were not defanged thru series of religious wars, they would be acting like madmen too. The creators of South Park might end up in a catacomb just under St. Peter's Basilica.

While Christianity calls for "patience in suffering," "turning the other cheek," and "praying for one's enemies," Islam demands Vengence on those who offend.

Consider Theo Van Gogh, the Dutch filmmaker, who was gunned down, throat slit, and a knife stuck in his torso with note attached for offending Muslims. His collaborator had to flee the country. Her name is Ayaan Hirsi Ali who has written a book that a previous poster suggested everyone read and posted a few passages of that book, "Infidel."

Another expositor of Islam is Brigette Gabriel who has written the bestselling book "Because They Hate." She lost her childhood to militant Islam as a Lebanese Christian. She is now a U.S. based journalist and news producer who started her career as an anchor for World News, an evening Arabic news program broadcast throughout the Middle East. As a terrorism expert and the founder of the nonprofit organization American Congress for Truth, Brigitte travels widely and speaks regularly on topics related to the Middle East.

She is a brave woman, doing what our government officials should do, warning America of the threat by fundamentalist Islamic theology. She says that radical Islam will stop at nothing short of domination of all non-Muslim countries. She does not agree with our government's position that Islam is a "religion of peace."

She is a brave voice of one crying in the wilderness, risking her life to warn a populace that is either unaware of the danger, complicit with the goals, or just cowering in fear because they do know the danger.

Everyone should read her book. Those who are courageous should step forward and lead the way to oppose this force that wills to dominate.

If there are any elements of "Just Cuz" in atheism, it is because atheists realize that there are things in this Universe that we don't understand YET. The important point is that atheist are not just making up stuff to fill in the gaps of our knowledge.

That said, it's probably ridiculous to response seriously to anything Trey and Matt say or write. Trey and Matt.... When are you going to release the uncut version of Episode 201?

Abdul threatens us thus:

“You are doomed American peoples. You are turning billions of Muslims against you.”
Apparently they had not taught him in his cult’s madrassas' that a billion zeros add up to no more than a zero.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaan_Hirsi_Ali

"The final blow to her faith was her reading of The Atheist Manifesto (Atheistisch Manifest) of Leiden philosopher Herman Philipse. She renounced Islam and became an atheist in 2002."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdie

Salman Rushdie, another muslim-turned atheist is also under muslim death threats.

I often wonder if the muslims hate atheists more than the christians hate us. I wonder how it compares with the hatred they have for each other.

The Pentagon should be revamped coz it is making policies based on fear.

They burned the Bibles in Afghanistan for fear that Afghans will be offended. They just occupied the place with tanks and bombs and yet they fear the Bible would be offensive? What is in the Bible which disrepect the Afghan people by the way?

They disinvited Franklin Graham from Prayer Day for fear that Muslims will be offended. Never mind the more than 50-70 million evangelical Americans who pay them thru tax money might be offended.

They let the opium poppies grow in Afghanistan for fear that the villagers will be offended. Never mind the destructive consequences these drugs create.

Stupidity has crept into the Pentagon coz they are infected with false beliefs thru false religions.

America should not be surprised if they will see the Pentagon destroyed and gone with the wind.

Actually it is a sign that a new and righteous force is budding.

Comedy or blasphemy? How about both?

Anything that smashes religionist superstitions is a welcome development.

"I often wonder if the muslims hate atheists more than the christians hate us."

Actually, true Christians don't hate atheists. Imagine a mother scolding her child for jumping at a 10 foot deep swimming pool even if the child don't know how to swim.

You guys will burn in the afterlife and yet you are clueless.

Mohammad as a teddy bear isn't courageous, or edgy, or creative; it's just kind of dumb.
Parker and Stone are usually funny when they aren't totally disgusting, as when some characters shoved food in their butts and started crapping out of their mouths. About that time, I made the switch to Family Guy (even if it is on FOX) and never looked back.

I think there is nothing blasphemous at poking at all the illogical aspects of any religion and questioning the lack of common sense of some of its followers. For instance, South Park should satirize the contradictions or incongruity of the Muslim religion--THE RELIGION OF LOVE AND PEACE--- and show how peacefully they blow up themselves and other innocent victims. South Park should show how Allah must be smiling from heaven for their good deed. Such peaceful scene these Muslim create! Pieces of human carnage, blowing in all directions, people screaming in pain, blood splattering all over the place. Allah and Mohammed must be saying AWESOME! I am so proud of my people.

People can argue about true religion and false religion all day long but there is one religion that is a standout as a murderous religion.

Most creative types steer clear out of fear. Blaspheme against them at your own risk. Parker and Stone tread lightly in any event and the powers at Comedy Central ran like gutless crybabies.

1. Christianity has advanced somewhat beyond the burning of heretics. The modern fringe element of Christianity will murder a doctor for performing abortions but has, more or less, found accommodation with other Christian sects and Judaism. We can hope the best elements of Islam will find a way to influence the lesser ones.
2. A British author was recently interviewed about his novel and its potential to offend some. His response was the best short commentary on free speech I've heard. (Video was posted on Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish.) The author said, in a nutshell, that no one is born with the right to never be shocked or offended. Food, shelter, yes. But the right to be undisturbed, no.

Southpark is some of the best human satire on television today.

Here's the part I don't get -- South Park actually showed an image of Mohammed during Season 5's episode "Super Best Friends". You can see see an image on him on the various websites..... and NOBODY had a problem back then.

This isn't Islam complaining, it's a handful of idiot extremist who are trying to both make noise and get attention. And with what we are seeing, they are succeeding.

CC should be ashamed of it's censoring and SP should continue to skewer everyone (I'm Catholic and I'm not a fan of how they portray every priest as being a pedophile but it's just a gag -- and if I find the episode stupid or too crude, I don't watch it again or I turn it off).

See this little asterisk? * You may not recognize him, but that's an image of Mohammad! I personally think it's a pretty good likeness.

I would have drawn a teddy bear or a squirrel, but my keyboard doesn't do crayons.

Please don't kill me, ABDULTHEARAB. I'm just funnin' ya.

People like ABDULTHEARAB are just begging to be lampooned. If you don't to be ridiculed, don't act the fool.

It is one thing to condemn people who profess to follow your religion for making fun of it. It is another thing entirely to attack and threaten outsiders who may choose to make fun of your religion. That may upset you, but there is no right to silence them. Too many people of all faiths take their religions far too seriously when they try to control others and use their religion as justification for that. Only fanatics believe they have the only truth and the right to force it on others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQus_CE980U

Arab terrorist vs German engineering.

Now that video is funny!

To all those who say our ideology/religion is off limits when it comes to ridicule, questioning or lampooning, Trey Parker and Matt Stone say "oh really?"

And for that we owe them a debt of gratitude.

BTW has anyone pointed out that the imfamous atheist episode was called "Go God. Go!"

Breaking news!!!!!
Terrorist group threatens cartoons....

I wonder, was there any difference between the moslem reaction and the Christians?

Oh, I forgot, the degenerates who issued the death threats are members of the religion of peace.

That explains a lot.

I really don't think that any religion that believes it's God is all powerfull,should feel the need to come to Gods aid if someone says something offensive. Let your God take care of the issue.

Free Speech or no Free Speech..Just because you have a mouth and a tough does not mean that you should always use it. Our actions have consequences. If they don't then why can't people yell falsly, "fire" in a crowed theatre.

So would everyone be satisfied if the guy who runs that website becomes "cartoonized" and gets to kill Kenny in an upcoming show?

Issac Hayes could come back just to do the voice.

Hey, this is no less ridiculous than complaining about the show to begin with.

And Kenny's used to it.

Only cowards fear blasphemy.

Police are keeping the peace and when it turns deadly the service at the church means something. Television is called a medium because it is not well done. The writers went on strike and the entire country shrugged it's shoulders. God has a strange sense of humor. Just take a look at Detroit and the auto show. The next time I'm in church I'll be married or dead and either way I'll try to make the most of it. You can't take them seriously. Honey turn off the TV please. Turn on your honey.

I said please!

Well, when their magic dead guys come back to complain in person, then they can get all bent about it. Until they grow a sense of humor though, that'll never happen.

My son informs me that the web site of the threat issuing organization is currently under cyber assault. Too bad.

Are you telling me that full grown adults still believe they have an invisible friend? And each person believes their particular invisible friend is the true invisible friend?

The webcomic "Jesus and Mo" has been around for years...and this week features the southpark controversy:

http://www.jesusandmo.net/

blasphemy is good.

My religion is not so weak that mockery can be offensive. But I can understand it. As for those Muslims who threaten the creators of "South Park", they prove the point and can never make me feel that I'd want to convert to such a religion. It is up to the believers whose religion motivates them to heroic love to condemn the extremists.

I hope "South Park" will have the guts to stand up to these threats and that our free society will protect them. "South Park" - keep it up... do not yield to the extremist threats.

"The story of Jesus makes no sense to me. God sent his only son. Why could God only have one son and why would he have to die? It's just bad writing, really."

I've always felt this way, and no Christian has ever been able to explain to me what this claim actually means.

If God is as all-powerful as Christians say he is, why did he even have to have a son in order to deal with the folks down on Earth? Why was he able to have only the one? (And apparently not in the usual way.) Why did killing this son seem to be the only way to fix things down here?

The point is that none of the Christ narrative makes sense. It's not a matter of leaps of faith. It just doesn't make sense.

As Parker noted, "bad writing."

South Park has never done anything more offensive to Mormons than the average Evangelical Pastor does every week in his/her sermon - as evidenced by some of the comments made here.

South Park is an equal opportunity offender. They've slammed Jews and Fundamentalist Christians on a regular basis, and most other religions (including Paganism) at one point or another. Get over it.

I didn't see the SP that parodied Paganism, but I made certain to set my Tivo for the Simpsons ep where Lisa joined a Wiccan coven. I laughed my a$$ off at it!