An online petition has been started by the American Family Association's One Million Moms calling for Fox Network to scrap its plans to air a new television series called "Lucifer" in 2016, saying the program "mischaracterizes" Satan and "mocks the Bible."
The series portrays Lucifer as a good guy who is simply bored and unhappy in the realm of hell, and that is why he decides to leave it and find excitement in Los Angeles, known to be the City of Angels. There, he opens an upscale nightclub called "Lux" and "gets his kicks helping the LAPD punish criminals."
Fox even describes the character of Lucifer as someone "charming, charismatic and devilishly handsome" who is enjoying retirement on Earth by getting his fill of "wine, women, and song."
At the same time, the series shows God being unhappy that Lucifer has retired from hell, and so He sends an angel named Amenadiel to help convince Satan to go back to where he belongs. But Lucifer seems adamant to stay put on Earth, especially since he has grown very intrigued by the goodness and purity of a female detective.
"The program previews mischaracterize Satan, departs from true biblical teachings about him, and inaccurately portrays the beliefs of the Christian faith," the petition for Fox Network CEO Peter Rice reads. "By choosing to air this show, Fox is disrespecting Christianity and mocking the Bible."
Those who have signed the petition are also against the violent and sexual nature of the series, since "previews of the pilot episode depict graphic acts of violence, a nightclub featuring scantily-clad women and a demon."
The upcoming television series is loosely based on the comic book series "The Sandman" and its spin-off series "Lucifer," which was created by bestselling author Neil Gaiman and written by Mike Carey.
