The Christian Herald newspaper has condemned many Christians as being too hasty in rushing to criticise the BBC 2 television airing of 'Jerry Springer – The Opera'.
The newspaper described the way in which Christians went about making their opposition to the show well known as a "classic mistake". It reported that by "shouting blasphemy devoid of cohesive argument will only serve to reinforce stereotypes."
The Herald’s editorial stated, "Arguments have raged, sharpened on usual agendas and discrepancies. That Christians should only come to stand against the show, three years after it first debuted in the West End, is because our license fees fund the BBC. The corporation has maintained that, within context, the piece is thought-provoking and satirical.
"Sadly, far too few campaigners actually viewed the piece – the classic mistake for would-be apologists debating morality in the arts."
The outcry against BBC’s decision to show the Jerry Springer Opera was an unprecedented protest, which saw Christians burning their television licences, and exaggerated fact counting of expletives in the show in attempts to completely condemn the show.
Another UK-based Christian new service provider, Ekklesia, also commented within their editorial that, "In one sweep our loud accusations seem ill-informed, unbalanced and, at worst, vacuous to the onlooker. Jonathan Bartley, director of Ekklesia, despairs that Christians have missed a 'golden opportunity for moral and ethical debate' by not giving 'meaningful explanation' to their accusers.
"With faith being amputated from much of the arts, shouting ‘blasphemy’ devoid of cohesive argument will only serve to reinforce stereotypes, discouraging artisans from further exploring faith.
"Unless we treat others as we’d like to be treated, we have no grounds to complain when reactionary secularists attempt Christian censorship without proper reasoning."
