Cinema ban on the Lord's Prayer

[Leafitout]

Surely if anyone finds this advert offensive they can choose not to watch it. I can't see the problem with showing it.

Completely inappropriate advert for the location. I completely back the decision not to show it.

The problem is that you can't see the the problem with showing it.

That is the real problem.

It's not the actual words of the prayer that are offensive, it's the idea that it's perfectly ok to inflict it on people who want no part of the belief system it's part of. It's inappropriate for the setting.

I can't ask a cinema not to push a 4x4 at me, or a particular brand of perfume on the grounds I don't want them

Yes, but those things exist...

If anyone finds it offensive they can choose not to watch it? What, by shutting their eyes? What a very silly thing to say.

Although I am faintly astonished at the "Why would anyone be offended?" remarks...on this site of all places! I thought offending anyone at all, in any way, particularly in regard to religion was the sin to end all sins?

Maybe some of us would be "offended" by having time we've paid for...even a moment of two...taken up by having to listen to the nonsensical rambling words Christians use to talk to their BFF in the sky.

Maybe. I'm not, but if the law is that no political or religious messages should be broadcast in cinemas, then why does the CofE think it gets a free pass?

I don't find it offensive but do agree it should be banned. I don't want religion spouted at me when I can't easily walk away or turn the channel over.

A advert for a website encouraging people to pray?! Nope, not appropriate for the cinema.

I'm happy it's been banned.

Would wonder how it stacks up with the ASA as its about something that's intangible and in a lot of people's eyes doesn't exist.

As people have said if you want to belief in mythical beings please go to church and don't ruin my cinema experience

Isn't it entirely obvious that the only reason they're refusing to show it is because they don't want to alienate any of the cinema audience and therefore make them less receptive to buying things? It's just a hardheaded business decision, not one made on any kind of principle.

I was really relieved to see this

I have been struggling, with post-Paris stuff, because everything seems to be about "praying" and "multi-faith". There seems to be a huge amount of concern about not offending any one of any faith, but no concern at all about not offending atheists. Why can't we have "humans get together" vigils?

I'm not one of the "professionally offended" brigade - I just don't understand all the concern around offending religious people when there is no concern at all about offending non-believers.

I don't want to go to the cinema and have anyone's god shunted at me. Keep it for services. It's quite true that allowing this would mean the next cinema visit featured other religious advertising. I don't go to the cinema expecting to be confronted with party political broadcasts either.

It's not a "ban", though, is it? A decision not to show something is not "banning" it. One assumes not many churches are showing "Star Wars" trailers, either, but that doesn't mean they've banned it.

as a pagan, i'm sorry, but it would piss me off.

i go to the cinema to watch a film, not have another religion force fed to me.

I don't think it has a place in a cinema and if cinemas started to allow these things then I wouldn't go and I don't think I'd be alone. If they allow a Christian one then all other religions would be allowed, quite rightly, but it could mean a religious advert starts every film off which would stop me going to the cinema if I ever went

If you don't want adverts for religion pushed down your throat, you won't want to sit through adverts for burgers or 4x4s either. They are equally not part of the film you went to see, and they must be causing offence to vegetarians or greenies. I don't see why that advert should be any different.

horrible horrible horrible, I felt offended and upset when I looked at it to comment. O do not want a religious that has caused so much damage in the world shoved down my throat and normalised when I'm out trying to enjoy myself.

I say the Lord's Prayer at home and at church, but agree with everyone that there is a time and a place, and the cinema is not it. These things are always counter-productive and it amazes me people are 'outraged' that everyone doesn't want to hear their particular prayer.

I don't want a religious message when I go to the cinema- of any variety. Especially if I'm there to watch a Christmas themed film

You may not find this offensive. But you may find a UKIP or Mormon cinema advert offensive. They are right not to pick and choose. Easier to just say no religious or political adverts.

Skullyton "as a pagan, i'm sorry, but it would piss me off"
don't apologise. I think we've got to stop apologising to be taken seriously

Sallyingforth - "I don't see why that advert should be any different."
If we lived in a place where secular education was the standard, where the BBC didn't have a specific allocation for religious programming, where the bishops didn't automatically get allocated places in the House of Lords, I might agree. Advertising the Church of England, an organisation which would want more members in the same way the National Trust might run a cinema advert, would make sense. But because they are already afforded so much privilege to influence daily life, it seems unfair to allow them another channel of doing this, especially as I can't walk out.

if you went to the cinema and saw an advert for a cult or something that you considered to be dangerous, how would you feel? (I don't feel the CofE is particularly dangerous btw but I think if we get into people's beliefs, there is often a worry about danger and influence).

I find most religious stuff irritating, so although I wouldn't be offended, I would be irritated, and that would spoil my enjoyment of an activity I'd paid for. I think this was the right decision.

One assumes not many churches are showing "Star Wars" trailers, either, but that doesn't mean they've banned it

this! Absolutely stupid to say they 'banned' it

Everyone saying that the Lord's Prayer is 'harmless' may not be so tolerant of other religions' marketing ploys.

Couldn't give a shit what religion it is. It is all meaningless to me.

Maybe some of us would be "offended" by having time we've paid for...even a moment of two...taken up by having to listen to the nonsensical rambling words Christians use to talk to their BFF in the sky.

No more than any other advert which would have equal meaning. Besides, if there were no adverts "taking up time we've paid for", I imagine ticket prices would be even higher.