Is Jesus Christ Superstar (the musical) suitable for Christians?

[Oricolt]

I have extra tickets to go and see the show. Was thinking of inviting dd's friend and her mum - but they are Christians and I obviously don't want to invite them to something that they will find offensive. I saw it years ago and I don't think it's offensive, but then I'm not a Christian. Friend and mum are not super evangelical or in a weird cult or anything - they're just ordinary people who go to a Baptist church service most Sundays.

Totally depends on the person and their humour, personally I’d find it awful and wince a bit. Am religious, not heavily so but not a fan of the poking fun thing, especially when afterwards people inevitably start making I can’t believe people believe comments

I’m a Christian minister and I absolutely love it. It’s one of my favourite musicals. Yes it’s not absolutely true to the Bible but it’s an artistic depiction of the Bible events, like lots of others in music and art. Approach it in that spirit and you shouldn’t be offended.

I'm Christian and had a c of e upbringing. so would say it's okay. It is just the an interpretation of the Easter story. Very moving at the end.

I love it. It is the last week of Jesus life from Judas' point of view. I'm sure some people get offended but in all honesty it's a fairly faithful condensed adaption, of what's written.

I think a lot of the time they frame it as a group of hippies / outsiders / alter active lifestyle people re-enact ing the Easter story.
Not a fan of the period in the early 2000 when they were all in leather coats.

Depends how determined they are to be offended.

I’m an absolute atheist and have tickets for the summer 😀. To me it’s just a good story with some great songs - I’ve always loved the music!

Yes, they stick to the book pretty closely. We are considering staging it one Good Friday in church

I am not Christian or indeed religious at all, but I bloody love JCS - the songs are great and I think it tells the Easter story with real compassion and humanity.

It is in the long tradition of Passion and Mystery Plays that depict the Easter abd other biblical stories in an accessible way, often weaving in contemporary themes.

I think only very austere fundamentalists would object to it.

I think it's completely subjective.

From my perspective (lapsed Catholic, now agnostic), it's an all round great show. My very Catholic Grandparents loved it and saw various productions between the 70s and the last West End production in the 90s and had the concept album before they even saw it.

I don’t think it is poking fun, particularly.

It depends if the DD is / was allowed to play Minecraft and watch Harry Potter. I know a few C of E families who believe these are against their Christian beliefs. So their children have been banned from taking part in Harry Potter plays and not allowed to join the schools Minecraft club etc

You may be able to suss out whether they'd like it or not. Enjoy the show! 💐

I think it’s better for Christians. I took my DC and they didn’t really understand who people were.

Who does it poke fun at? Herod. Can't think of anyone else.

Do you think Gethsemene is poking fun? I think you'd have to live on an entirely different planet to view it in that light - it's one of the most moving songs in musical theatre! Could We Start Again Please, which is shortly after Peter's denial? When Judas sings the reprise of I Don't Know How to Love him or Damned for All Time?

Have you even seen the show?!

How devout are they? I am Christian and it is my favourite rock opera. If they are fairly liberal they should enjoy it, i don't believe there is anything truly offensive in it but they may feel differently, bear in mind it is told from the POV of Judas, the disciple that betrayed Jesus. I love it. I have the soundtrack on vinyl I has the DVD and I've seen thd stage show twice. My old very high church vicar took us to see an amatuer production of Godspell for our last server outing.

I’m an atheist and I would rather gnaw my legs off. I can’t speak for Christians, but it’s definitely not aimed at me.

PersephonePomegranate

not this version so that’s fair enough but I found it to be poking fun at Jesus and how people followed god, maybe I read into it differently than others and shouldn’t have gone in the first place but even the irreverence of the vibrancy of some of the songs just irritated me. Other people read different things into films/ musicals etc do I get everyone’s different but it did offend me a bit.

That's Joseph. Potiphor is not in JCS.

Yes, as you can see I have been corrected many times!

They staged an amateur production (church theatre group) of it at our local church.

I don't see how JCS is poking fun at people who follow god.

It is exploring the story from the persepective of Jesus' enemies and followers. Many of Jesus' contemporaries would have had very human doubts about his leadership and teachings. Don't forget some expected Jesus was going to be a rebel leader who would lead an uprising against the Romans and were disapointed that was not his plan.

Naturally if that was your hope you would question whether you had done the right thing in throwing your lot in with him, especially if it brought you in to conflict with the Romans and Jewish establishment.

How does it show?

I agree it isn't poking fun or satirical.

Have we gone back to the 70s when groups of nuns protested about JCS having not actually seen it? It's one of the best rock operas going with a well known story which helps. It does not make fun of the protagonists. Sam Ryder as Jesus has to be worth seeing. He is amazing live and has a fantastic voice.

Agree - its isn;t even vaguely poking fun or satirical. its quite emotional even if you're not religious

If it helps, I went to a catholic primary school and we went to see it on a school trip - all our teachers were nuns and they loved it!