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.

Okay, if bully is a bit strong, let's just call it a cynical exploitation of the term "free speech" by people who should know better, but clearly don't give a fuck about any collateral damage.

Conflating "free speech" with "I get to have my say in any venue of my choice" is obnoxious when done by internet trolls. It's appalling to see it from the CoE. I thought they were better than that, but clearly they don't give a fuck as long as they get more market share.

All those railing against the commercials - does it not bother you that the CoE has clearly decided that cynical advertising tactics are the way to go? Manufacture some controversy and get your free coverage?

The advert wouldn't offend me, but it would annoy me.
I would feel cross if that was shown at the cinema before a film. It's just not appropriate for the cinema.

Commercial adverts are tolerated because, without them, the cost of going to the cinema would be astronomic. But of course they are subject to restrictions, both in terms of being legal, decent etc but also in terms of being unable to advertise things like cigarettes.

It's entirely appropriate to ban religious advertising for all the reasons people have given above. Additionally, I hate to think of the sort of problems that would be caused if adherents of a particular religion didn't think the rest of the audience was being sufficiently respectful whilst "their" advert was on. The whole thing would be a recipe for utter disaster.

YABU. This should not be in the cinema before a movie. I'm glad that religious and political advertising is banned in cinemas and it should stay that way.

I don't think it's a great ad either. It's getting a lot more attention than it deserves imo.

Thing is it's not really an advert at all. It's a prayer, a prayer that many of us were forced to say (or variants of) for years and so it resonates. I am sure it was carefully chosen for that reason too.

I don't mind adverts, they are at most irritating. At home I avoid commercial channels when I can, switch over or mute them. Occasionally some are even enjoyable. At the cinema I accept them as part of the cinema experience, and pay as little attention as possible really.

Suddenly being faced with a prayer would really jar. If the prayer were important to me I'd be upset that other people might well talk and be disrespectful. The Lords Prayer brings to mind a big chunk of my life when I was forced to worship, so not a good thing really. It would massively piss me off to suddenly and unexpectedly have a prayer forced on me and probably affect my enjoyment of the movie too.

If there is ever a time that we need Christianity, it's now!
I don't like the adverts for burgers popcorn etc, but I don't moan about them.

If there is ever a time that we need Christianity, it's now!

WTAF!!

Why?

Do people actually get to the cinema when the adverts are on?

If there is ever a time that we need Christianity, it's now!

Are you fucking kidding me? Why? Why do we need Christianity? What will asking your imaginary friend to help do?
Religion is the reason that there is terrorism!!

ozy "If there is ever a time that we need Christianity, it's now!"

If ever there was a time we needed people to just come together as human beings and keep their religion to religious services, it's now. As human beings we have so much in common and can do so much good - but labels don't help. We can all treat each other with respect and try to do things to help our fellow human beings. The only way to have this kind of neutrality is not to emphasise those labels and differences but focus on all the stuff we have in common.

Would find this annoying but am more concerned by prayers etc in community schools, mandated by law!

The prayer video is reaching far more people now than had it been shown prior to a single film.

Praise the Lord!

Well said lorelei

Lorilei- does this mean people who are visibly religious (Sikhs, Orthodox Jews and Muslims) have to pretend not to be, just so that we can fit in?

It's like the previous posts declaring that people should keep their religion at home. What exactly does this mean and what exact restrictions do you want to put on people to ensure their religion stays private?

True Christians cannot confine their beliefs to home/church. It's a 24/7 thing and pervades every aspect of life.

Where on the thread have posters suggested placing restrictions on people regarding religion?

GinandJag - even in the cinema?

"primary schools are actually under a statutory obligation to sing about a God, or at least pray to him......... Tell me about this ban.

What would you like to know exactly? They aren't allowed to do it, it's pretty simple hmm"

Minniedriver-what country do you live in?

Showing it in a cinema is offensive to me.

I don't want other people's religions rammed down my kid's or my throat thanks.

Adverts for upcoming films are annoying but they do at least have a purpose and the toothpaste ad does at least teach kids something...

I find it absolutely wrong that a cinema would show an advert for a religion. Completely wrong and it is not a freedom of speech issue, it would be an utter misuse of human rights law to allow the church to ram religion down people's necks in a totally inappropriate way such as this.