Jesus Idol: Contestants Ask WWJD? I Ask WTF???
Did you see American Idol last night? OMG, you didn't? Okay, watch this clip and then let's talk.
On second thought, I don't know if I can even talk about this. I'm speechless. I think my feelings can best be summed up by YouTube star "Sexman":
You know that feeling you got in your stomach when you saw those cheerleaders beating up that poor, defenseless 16-year-old girl? Or when you saw that student beating up her teacher? That knot-in-your-stomach feeling is what I have right now.
What the hell happened to my favorite karaoke show? First Kristy Lee Cook vomits out "Proud To Be An American" and America eats it up and votes the hell out of her. Now we've moved on to singing praise to Jesus? Why be so specific? There are plenty of ridiculous Christian songs that are just as corny and awful that don't resort to dropping JC's name.
But I guess I just need to face the facts and move on. American Idol is going evangelical on us. Fine. Then the rest of the show has to hold up to this new squeaky clean image. Sure previous shows have featured contestants who have posed nude on the internet (Frenchie Davis, Antonella Barber), been arrested for cocaine possession (Jessica Sierra), and even been locked up after beating up their own family members (Corey Clark), but that's all in the past. New, clean Idol from here on out.
Whoa, who were those celebrities dancing for Idol? In just a few seconds I saw a guy who's most famous role is that of a gigolo (Rob Schneider- the guy who mimes grabbing boobs in the video), a basketball player who cheated on his wife and put her through a grueling rape trial (Kobe Bryant), and a guy who's just a plain ass (Dr. Phil). But that's gotta be the worst of it... Right?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Idol producers followed up that terrible Jesus song with Kim Kardashian? Her only claim to fame is that she has a big ass and starred in a sex tape. Seriously, that's it.
So American Idol has once again left me offended, embarrassed, confused, and somewhat turned on (who wouldn't fall for Rob Schneider's wonderful sense of humor?).
Now for all those evangelical wackos who will probably flood the comments section with your classic ad hoc arguments, I'll let Sexman wrap up this post with a few words for you to think about:
Related:
Michael Giltz: American Idol "Jesus" Controversy and Results
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Idol is for idiots.
Religion is for idiots.
It's the perfect fit.
I just posted on another blog that my catholic husband quit his church after the molestations of thousands of children by priests was reveled. He made the MORAL decision to not be a follower of an institution that was criminal in it's aiding and abetting of the perpetrators. We have the right to question the morality of any catholic or anyone who would turn away and allow these hideous crimes to go unpunished, as they have. Religion is evil. Read Bill Maher's new rules in the Huff Post.
"Pedophilia (the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child) among priests is extremely rare, affecting only 0.3% of the entire population of clergy. This figure, cited in the book Pedophiles and Priests by non-Catholic scholar, Philip Jenkins, is from the most comprehensive study to date, which found that only one out of 2,252 priests considered over a thirty-year period was afflicted with pedophilia. In the recent Boston scandal, only four of the more than eighty priests labeled by the media as "pedophiles" are actually guilty of molesting young children. " Crisis Magazine
If you don't like American Idol then you can turn the channel. I listen to Boston Legal give a very one sided liberal view in every show. I don't agree with some of their positions and they every right to state their position.
I am a Christian. I do believe in God.
Why should my rights be stomped on as a Christian? It was a beautiful song.
Why does the blogger have less rights than you when it comes to having an opinion? Why are your "rights" being "stomped on" just because someone has an opinion that religion has no place on this particular television show?
You're a Christian, FINE. Go to church or watch the religious channels - there are plenty of them on the tube. There is no need - and no excuse for - a bunch of jaysus freaks mucking up what is supposed to be a singing contest.
If the good christians of this country spent as much time living the teachings of Christ(ie=-helping the poor,etc) as they do whining about their rights and playing politics, the world would truely be a different place.
There can never be Freedon of Religion unless there's also Freedom From Religion.
WHJDL?
What has Jesus done lately?
spoken so arrogantly. tut tut tut so little respect. didn't your mama ever tell you that if you cannot speak good of anyone, not to speak it at all. you are a servant of your own words. Jesus died for all us, you were not on another planet at that time!!! Ever met Him??? If you haven't, do not speak so looselipped and why don't you try Him???????
tut tut and tsk tsk. Believe all you want, but try to get out of the typical religion of feeling you MUST force those beliefs on others. Your ilk make me sick.
What is the big deal? During the course of that show there were performances by many artists and celebrities, some good, some with their own controversies. With the nearly 80% of Americans who are from a Christian denomination, and according to the latest poll 76% believe that Christ arose, some of this was probably deemed innappropriate, yet nobody clamors to remove Ben Stiller from the show because he may use bad language.
In an inspirational evening of songs from rock, pop, country, folk, etc. of course gospel is another form of American music. It has a very strong American heritage, it is a huge selling form of music these days, and it was only one song. It WAS a Jesus song, but Maria Shriver talked about Ghandi. If Brad Pitt had spoken of the Dalai Lama or a Buddhist philosophy, no one would have balked. But because of one song, which is not obscene to the vast majority of Americans, even if it's not their favorite music, why are we so sensitive that we can't hear anything that doesn't fit our secular mold. This is American Idol....not really that big of a deal. And if someone had chosen to sing a Buddhist chant, as an inspiration moment for the plight of the less fortunate, or a Hebrew song of inspiration, it would have been billed as an international moment of understanding and diversity. Why do we then get so upset over this instance?
How sad that because it was an American gospel song, we can't accept it. We have to stop dismissing everything that we don't like or disagree with as something we should not ever have to hear. That would be what's really wrong here. Rock on Jesus.......American Idol mentioned you once in seven years and after hundreds of millions of viewers and active voters..........you finally got your name mentioned by the whole group once. What a concept!
Bet they didn't play this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osADtNycznA&feature=related
The show is now openly pandering to a certain demographic because they vote (and watch) a lot. David Archuleta sings like the solo in a christian boys choir and they eat that crap up. I watched the year Mandesa was on -- and she was booted off due to her churchy song choices, and I agreed with that. If I want to hear gospel, I'll go to church. That said -- I wouldn't have minded the song choice on the "Give Back" show, if it wasn't so smarmy. Then they had to bring it back for an encore -- YUCK! Not satisfied to merely turn the channel, I literally leaped up off my chair to turn the TV OFF at the unit! This is faux sanctimony on the part of producers who, like the rest of greedy corporate America, aren't satisfied with the show's already insane popularity and piles of cash -- they want more. I'm done. I won't be a part of mass manipulation for profit -- we got enough of that from Bush. But I do feel bad for the contestants. They deserved better from a show that is using them to make millions from their desire to make it in a tough business. But what else should I have expected from FOX, afterall.
Just what America needs - more faux Christianity to go with all our faux Patriotism
Like the author, I was also in quite a bit of shock over Idol's Christ-on-a-stick schtick.
I wondered, in a meandering sort of way, what America's response will be when next week Idol's group song praises Allah. After all, America is, indeed, a melting pot....
American Idol sums up everything that is wrong with this country.
American Idol and Dancing With the Stars are two of the most watched programs on TV... Every Season and Week after Week...
I personally did NOT think this years Idol Give Back Show was as good as last years Show... Nor their song choices... I personally do not agree, or believe in Organized Religion (my choice)... However, I am delighted they take the time and effort to support actual working programs helping people... Both in Africa and the USA... GOOD work people!
As to ALL the Elitist replying below... Dahhlings... I'm sure you're way above all those millions of pedestrian people Worldwide who watch these shows... Probably way to far above in Class to send money to needy peasants also... After all, singing a song about "Christ" matters, not all those children in Africa dying from malaria, starvation and aids... And those American children staying in school, getting an Education... Who cares... Jobs are going overseas anyway...
(BIG Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....)
As Americans, we have a choice to make. Yes, America was truly settled by Anglo-Saxons *at the expense of countless Native Americans* but it we are truly that 'melting pot' then we gotta give. Just because it says 'In God We Trust' on a quarter doesn't mean it happens to be the God we worship. I am an aethiest and honestly, I could care less where your morals come from so long as you have some. And that is getting harder and harder to find.
I work in a podunk town and am sick of having to pretend I'm a Christian because some people can't accept that you are able to have morals without sucking up to Jesus.
To those of you out there you truly truly believe in God, I admire your faith and would never ridicule you. Atheists *the normal ones* have never claimed to be superior to any god; they just don't believe in one. And before you all talk crap, next time you face a tough situation, try to get through it believing in nothing but yourself. It's hard.
So please, I respect your religion and it hurts me for religious people to be so crass as to denigrate me for not believing in their god. Maybe I'm going to hell but I'll try to be the nicest person on the way there.
Phoenixfire089,
You say that you don't care "...where your morals come from so long as you have some".
Part of the problem is what a person defines as "morals". Unfortunately, what most religious people equate with morals are approaches to the world that are destructive and divisive. The problem is that they separate morals from human suffering. They do not recognize that causing the suffering of others is immoral. One great example is the Christian tenet that other species do not have souls and are less worthy than our own species.
Unlike you, I do not respect these organized religions -- they are a plague upon the earth. All mankind would benefit from eradication of dogmas that do nothing for letting societies PROGRESS, but rather hinder that achievement, and in some cases aid the regression of society, as witnessed in our own nation over the past 20 or more years.
I am an ANTI-theist. Belief in a god is a backward, destructive tool used by some to control others. Society at large has no real use for such a belief. Humans have at our disposal the tools needed to improve the world, but there are forces that hinder that process, one of which is organized religion.
It's a nice PC gesture extending the proverbial "olive branch", but we've done that for far too long; it is time for thinking people to start moving religion to the fringes where it belongs. Get it out of our daily societal discourse.
Boy am I glad i don't watch that claptrap. I watch other claptrap, but not jesus claptrap, and certainly not that Gong Show for the 21st Century, American Idol-idiotry.
This post illustrates the selectivity of the definition of tolerance depending on ones world view. In the case of this author it is perfectly reasonable and justifiable for him to be intolerant when describing this issue. The rub comes of course when the same individual(s) then view others with disdain and label them intolerant because they disagree with their preferred world view.
This is, of course, one of the oldest, and weakest, forms of defensiveness against the anti-religious backlash that derives from the centuries of religious interference in societies' efforts to progress towards a better humanity. This is an argument that says, intolerance of intolerance is still nothing more than intolerance of the same sort. It is much like saying persecution of those who persecute is no better than the original persecution.
What non-religious people rail against is the fact that orgainzed religion is one of the greatest impediments to human progress that has ever been divised. History bears this out beyond refute, and those who insist that society cannot survive without religion, or that religion is somehow essential to society, are simply part of the problem. For religion to have any value at all, it must be solely on an individual level, and it should be kept on that level, and out of the greater social institutions.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
