Fox Sports Rejects Super Bowl Commercial Featuring Bible Verse (VIDEO)

Fox Sports has rejected a proposed Super Bowl commercial featuring a reference to a Bible verse, John 3:16, that has been part of the culture of football in America for decades, according to Fixed Point Foundation, the producers of the commercial. The organization says that even though fans see the verse everywhere -- on signs in the end zones after field goal attempts, on players' tape and tattoos and in the eye black of faithful players like Tim Tebow -- many don't know what it means.

The commercial is meant to encourage fans to look up John 3:16 and consider its meaning. The spot ends by directing viewers to a website where the verse appears along with a simple explanation.

According to Fixed Point, Fox Sports rejected the commercial on the basis that it contained "religious doctrine." In spite of Fox Sports' rejection, the ad will air in some regional markets, starting with the state of Alabama, as part of an initiative called "LookUp 316."

What do you think? Should Fox have rejected the John 3:16 ad on this or any basis?

WATCH:

Comments

[Pembrokelib]

05:10 PM on 02/05/2011

I am astounded that Fox actually did something that makes sense. If only it
Would last!

[Indon]

06:48 PM on 02/03/2011

If Fox didn't reject this, they might be pressures to honor commercials that exalt _other_ religions, and I'm sure they couldn't have that.

[jay7308]

04:14 PM on 02/03/2011

John 3:16 basically says God sent His son on a suicide mission. Is this really a good message for prime time tv?

[iLdoRight]

03:48 PM on 02/03/2011

If one does not know what John 14:12 says and John 4:24 and Matthew 4:4 one will not know what John 3:16 means because they will not know what Jesus believed. That is extremely important if one does not want to go through life contradicting Him. Right ? Can one get very far in life contradicting the boss, especially if the boss is right ?

[jay7308]

03:41 PM on 02/03/2011

Yes, it's just a commercial and it's just Christianity but I'd like to see the reaction for an ad quoting the Qur'an: "there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger"

Let's leave religion out of sports...except for Budweiser, the "King" of beerz.

[thebigdr]

09:30 AM on 02/04/2011

I didn't see anywhere in the commercial where there was any quote from the Bible. It directed viewers to a website. Did you watch the video? I bet Fox would accept this for a NASCAR broadcast.

[ninetailedfox]

04:41 PM on 02/04/2011

Right.......most everyone who knows about christianity knows about John 3;16/. I dont know what kind of BS youre trying to pull.

[xrails]

10:26 AM on 02/03/2011

It's just a commercial, like any other that would air. it's nothing to get worked up about one way or the other. If you don't believe, just ignore it like you would any other commercial trying to sell you something you don't want. do you get worked up over Doritos trying to shove their latest taste sensation down your throat - they're unhealthy - i'm offended!! no, you just ignore it if you're not interested. same with this - if you're not interested go get a yummy snack of doritos while it airs.

i really don't understand why people get so mean when it comes to religion. relax - to each his own.

[born 2b different]

01:25 PM on 02/03/2011

it's offensive to jews, muslims, and anybody else who isn't christian

[negirl]

03:40 PM on 02/03/2011

So are the naked women in half the commercials that will air that evening. So what? Let it air if they paid for their spot.

[thebigdr]

09:31 AM on 02/04/2011

And if it's offensive to Christians?

[DANOSC]

01:55 PM on 02/03/2011

There are religious networks and shows. If one wants to watch those broadcasts, then they are free to do so. However, I'm sure neither Fox nor the NFL want to turn anyone off from watching the Super Bowl. There are quite a few people I know, Christian and non-Christian, who would find a religious message intertwined with other commercials to be a turn-off from an afternoon of football that is meant to be an escape from the usual controversies of the day, including religion. Smart business move.

[thebigdr]

09:31 AM on 02/04/2011

Haha! You actually watch the commercials? Oh man!

[PedroLeon]

06:08 PM on 02/02/2011

I'm not the least bit offended by the commercial because I don't find religious texts offensive. I do wonder why John 3:16 "has been part of the culture of football in America for decades." I know the verse and I know football, but I don't see the nexus. Ideas, anyone?

[Gnostradamus]

06:18 PM on 02/02/2011

Because of Rollen Stewart, the 3:16 guy.

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

[michelesda]

04:06 AM on 02/03/2011

Seems like this guy alone would be reason enough for Fox or anybody else to reject the ad.

[Wholly Guacamole]

03:39 PM on 02/02/2011

Gee whiz, there's a church of one sort or another every block in the city where I live. If people want religion, it's readily available and people know where to find it. But that's not good enough for the churches -- they want to force it on us in every available venue: they want to be in the schools, in the government, in sports. Enough already!

[humansareinsane]

04:11 PM on 02/02/2011

"they" also knock on my door about 8 times a year regardless of my no soliciting sign.

"We are not soliciting" they say.
I say, put down your bible for a change and pick up a dictionary.
Jeez!

[Julie Chohan]

10:11 PM on 02/04/2011

"they" are not Christians, "they" are mormons or jehovah's witnesses...very different...

[okakura]

12:40 AM on 02/02/2011

Nothing offensive about the ad so why the censorship? For the record I also didn't mind the Tim Tebow as last year, either, even though I am pro-choice.

I wish more progressives would stop imitating the ideological intolerance that we detest about conservatives. Let's act like grown-ups and model the behavior that we expect from those across the political aisle -- whether they reciprocate in kind or not.

[humansareinsane]

03:41 PM on 02/02/2011

Believe or die is not offensive to you?

Go figure.

[okakura]

03:53 PM on 02/02/2011

Not at all. I simply don't believe their proposition...and people that do don't bother me.

The First Amendment is not for the thin-skinned.

[Mabo]

09:42 PM on 02/02/2011

If you don't believe it...why is it offensive?

[Indon]

06:53 PM on 02/03/2011

Probably because Fox doesn't want to open up the floodgates of _non-christians_ airing ads on the Superbowl.

[Ryosuke91t]

09:07 PM on 02/01/2011

It'd be cooler if it said Austin 3:16

[UnderTheHedgeWeGo]

07:31 PM on 02/01/2011

What would Jesus do?

What would Jesus do when he was confronted with the choice of spending $2.7 million on a television commercial or feeding the poor?

[Atomicjim]

08:21 PM on 02/02/2011

Excellent point. Just think about how much good that money could do if it were in vested in the poor and hungry. I'm not a Christian, but I think that feeding the poor would be more conducive to bringing people to Jesus than a multi-million dollar commercial. Let Christians should show there compassion in action rather than talk about it in a high-price TV ad. Oh yeah; your'e fanned, too, even though I think I've disagreed with you in the past on other subjects.

[DANOSC]

02:19 PM on 02/03/2011

'Been a long time since Christianity was concerned about what Jesus would do.

[UnderTheHedgeWeGo]

07:19 PM on 02/01/2011

It has always seemed to me that John 3:16 pointed to the fundamental hypocrisy of Christianity.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..........". We are told later that Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God. How is it God "gave" anything. When a son or daughter is "given" in war they don't come home. Ever. He allowed his son to be tortured? How is that valuable? Why is that a good thing? How does that "sacrifice" by God compare with the pain and suffering of the 480,000 people who died horrible deaths in earthquakes and tsunamis in the past couple of years? Like the rest of the myth, it males no sense.

[libdude]

05:48 PM on 02/02/2011

I'm with you on the "doesn't make sense" part. I have read the bible, but it's been so long ago that I can't quote anything specific. But, I do remember that it contained non sequiturs along the lines of: 'He was impure because the locusts flew before him,' or some equally ridiculous nonsense that wouldn't see the light of day in a society that had an educated public. Well, wait a minute, wait a minute! I forgot about the Tea Party!

The cool thing about fiction, at least from the writers view, is that they can make up any damn thing they want to. That's half the fun! The other half must be in having so many people believe it.

[Atomicjim]

08:26 PM on 02/02/2011

Maybe we didn't disagree before. I agree. Christians call earthquakes and tsunamis "acts of God," and then pray to Good to save them, and thank God for allowing them to survive. I remember seeing a news segment where a church was completely destroyed by a hurricane. The congregation met near the church to thank Good that they had survived.

That would be like me putting you in a dangerous situation, then saving you from it, and expecting you to thank me for saving you. Not the best analogy, but I hope you get my meaning.

[850R]

09:00 PM on 02/02/2011

"That would be like me putting you in a dangerous situation, then saving you from it, and expecting you to thank me for saving you. Not the best analogy, but I hope you get my meaning."

You're right - They tell you your bleeding from a cut [That you never knew you had btw] & then offer to sell you a band-aid.

No thank you.

[JHKH]

05:50 PM on 02/01/2011

It's good to see that Fox Sports rejected this ad. I can imagine the hue and cry that would result from those christians if in another Super Bowl a "religious" ad from, say, Scientologists or Hindus or Buddhists or Muslims or Atheists were to air with a football context.. Football, and all sports, is a secular past-time. Let's keep it that way.

[okakura]

01:01 AM on 02/02/2011

Not completely secular, though, given the nod to civil religion that we make before each game via the National Anthem.

And why, by the way, don't we sing the anthem or recite the Pledge of Allegiance before, say, a movie or a concert? Why only sporting events in the ocean of live entertainment? Odd...

[Billy Fritts]

04:01 PM on 02/01/2011

John -3-16--For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son-that whosoever believeth in him should not perish-but have ever lasting life----------------------------------Thank you lord Jesus--

[Atomicjim]

08:38 PM on 02/02/2011

And? Because you say it doesn't make it true. Nor does the fact that it is written in the Bible, another work in which man creates God in his image.

"Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of its validity." -- Dan Brown, "The Lost Symbol"

[born 2b different]

01:28 PM on 02/03/2011

so jews don't go to heaven?

[American Air]

02:58 PM on 02/01/2011

Sheesh! get out of christianity for Gawd's sake!