Offensive Cartoon Has German Christians Fuming

spiegel.de ^ | 08/28/2012 | n/a

[massmike]

Lampooning religion has proven an easy way to get into hot water in recent years. Caricatures poking fun, or outright hostility, at Islam have been especially prone to producing controversy -- or even violence.

Now, however, it is Germany's Christians who find themselves on the receiving end of an indelicate cartoon. Several religious leaders in Kassel, the western German city that is currently hosting the semi-decadal art exhibition Documenta, have protested against a drawing advertising a show in the city's caricature museum. "I find it problematic when a caricature disparages the very heart of a faith," Barbara Heinrich, a Protestant official in the city, told German news agency DPA. Local Catholic priest Harald Fischer has likewise criticized the caricature, according to the local paper, the Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine (HNA), as have Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders from the area.

The cartoon in question is hanging outside the Kulturbahnhof, a cultural center which houses the caricature museum, known as Caricatura. It depicts Jesus in agony on the cross as a voice calls down from heaven, "Hey, you. I f***ed your mother."

The artist behind the caricature, Mario Lars, likewise expressed surprise at the burgeoning debate. "It was not my intention to hurt the feelings of the faithful," Lars said. "I was just making a joke…. (The church) should stand aloof of such things and address more important problems. Such a large commotion over a small joke isn't good for the church."

[doc1019]

Christians may be “fuming”, but they are not running around in the streets killing people or setting fires like muslem do.

[bigbob]

could the artist perhaps be confused with Islam, where I would imagine such acts are encouraged (if not required)

[RichInOC]

Am I offended? Yes. At how lame that joke was.

[concentric circles]

[dfwgator]

Quick, let’s riot!

[dfwgator]

Yep, he really went out on the edge there. /s

[Sister_T]

Is this the “offending art”?

Yeah, as a Christian, I’m offended.

What a pathetic joke and such a horrible drawing! This is “art” nowadays? A two-year-old could create something better than this!

[RegulatorCountry]

Whoa. I speak German, that is really out of bounds. To those who don’t, it says pretty much what it sounds like it says to an English speaker.

[Simcha7]

Shalom!

As a JEWISH BORN AGAIN BELIEVER IN MESSIAH YESHUA/JESUS THE RISEN CHRIST...I am APPALLED at Mario Lars...He is a NAZI PIG! and that was NO Joke....He is NOT FUNNY!

AND...if Mario Lars does NOT REPENT of this serious Offense to The LORD JESUS CHRIST and ask for FORGIVENESS...he... meaning Lars, just might find himself burning in HELL'S FIRES for ALL ETERNITY!

ANYONE WANT TO JOIN LARS...GO RIGHT AHEAD!

[massmike]

Jesus cries out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” ―Luke 23

__________________________________

[tumblindice]

Ecce homo.

[A_Former_Democrat]

I wonder if Big Boy Mario participated in Everybody Draw Mohammed Day?

[El Cid]

The artist behind the caricature, Mario Lars, likewise expressed surprise at the burgeoning debate. "It was not my intention to hurt the feelings of the faithful," Lars said. "I was just making a joke…. (The church) should stand aloof of such things and address more important problems. Such a large commotion over a small joke isn't good for the church."

Lars, the wannabe artist, is not only a blasphemer, he is also a liar. Clearly his intent was to offend and 'hurt feelings'. His scratchings were neither art, nor humorous. Maybe he thought he could build up street cred with his fellow atheists by getting a rise out of Christians. Sorry, I can only feel pity for the untalented bloke. His 'art' is akin to someone taking a dump in the middle of the street. Sickening, but at the same time you realize that this pathetic person must be mentally ill.

Mocking the Saviour, and his only chance for salvation. Pretty sad. We can only offer a short prayer. Although Lars does not know it, and he would deny it, at this point in life he happens to be Satan's rag doll, who will use and abuse him and lead him to foolish actions. It will take an act of God to pull him out of his nosedive into the eternal fires of hell.

[wayne_shrugged]

That’s art? That’s clever? The artist can “gefickt” himself but it doesn’t make me want to riot or behead anyone — perhaps that’s why the “artist” felt so comfortable creating this garbage.

[null and void]

Go home dad, you’re drunk...

[DesScorp]

I know we're supposed to turn the other cheek at this stuff, but I think he needs an old fashioned, taken-out-behind-the-woodshet woopin'.

[shibumi]

Regarding your post #11.

No clearer proof could there be for the truth of the Christian Religion. Jesus prayed for His enemies that none should be lost to perdition.

By the same token, no greater accusatory finger could be pointed at the false god “Allah” the bloody, the unknowable and the vengeful. The words on their signs speak of the darkness in their hearts.

As Christ taught us, “By their fruits, you shall know them.”

It is not ours to judge, but we are fools not to be good fruit inspectors.

[Amberdawn]

FU too, Lars.

[yank in the UK]

“I wonder if Big Boy Mario participated in Everybody Draw Mohammed Day?”
No, I can assure you that this piece of Euro-scum did no such thing. I am surrounded by Euro-scum like this specimen on a daily basis, I know how they think.
Take my colleague Ian for instance, he is always mocking and making fun of Christians and their “imaginary friend in the clouds”. He is an atheist you see, so he is more obsessed with religion then most religious people.
One day at work, after listening to his verbal diarrhea for months on end I asked him “why don't you ever mock Islam? I never hear you making fun of Muslims. Why is that?”
His immediate knee jerk response, without even thinking he blurted out “oh, well.. Muslims are violent”
Mind my tagline. It is a true story