Should Cinema Chains Rethink Their Refusal To Show A Christian Advert?

[sp1814]

The CofE are worried that their freedom of speech is being denied, because three of the country's biggest cinema chains have refused to broadcast an advert which features the Lord's Prayer:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/22/cinema-chains-ban-advert-featuring-lords-prayer

Is this a freedom of speech issue?

The cinemas claimed that they won't show the ad because they fear it "carries the risk of upsetting, or offending, audiences."

Laying my cards on the table, I wouldn't be upset or offended, but I think I would be irritated. In our house, Sunday evenings are always 'cinema night. We go to the cinema specifically to be entertained.

If I want to hear about religion, there's another place I can go to on a Sunday.

It has bells and a spire.

Your thoughts?

[sp1814]

Zac-Master

You asked

Can you imagine the reaction from certain ethnic groups to such an advert being screened in Birmingham or Bradford?

My guess is that the audience would probably talk through it, text or start working on the huge bucket of popcorn sitting on their laps.

Incidentally, when did it become acceptable for human beings to eat food...from a bucket?

Seriously.

If you want to talk about 'falling standards', perhaps we should ask ourselves why it's okay to eat like horses.

[Zacs-Master]

Ha sp! You're probably right. The bucket thing is another 'fun' American import.

[anotheoldgit]

Prudie

/// This isn't freedom of speech this is enforced listening. The cinemas are absolutely correct. Either they show adverts from all available religions or none at all. I too don't go to the cinema to be preached to. ///

Then perhaps cinemas should not show adverts per-Se after all isn't that their purpose to 'preach their products'?

[viv41]

This advert would not bother me at all.

[mushroom25]

//The cinema has to put the safety and wellbeing of its customers first.//

Safety, ZM? what are you expecting to happen that would make this a safety issue???

[Zacs-Master]

A Christian advert in a mainly Muslim area? What could possibly go wrong.

[sp1814]

Zac-Master

I'm not convinced that anything serious would happen.

Remember, this was supposed to be shown before Star Wars. So long as Jar Jar Binks doesn't make an appearance, I'm confident that there will be no rioting in any UK cinema.

[Zacs-Master]

What about the Jeddi's tho!

[woofgang]

There was an issue with “The Queen” at the end of films even when I was a child. People had busses and tubes to catch and so on and couldn’t always wait even two minutes longer, especially if the film ended late. I think that cinemas are very sensible refusing to run political or religious adverts and I am not sure what the C of E expect to achieve by it. A large charitable donation would have been a better way to spend the money.

[baza]

One report said that the Ad agency offered the C of E a discount on an advert to be shown prior to the Star Wars film. The Deputy Leader of the Muslim Council says he has no objection so who is putting themselves up for being offended?
Perhaps the cinema's should change their Ad agency.

[viv41]

That's nice of the Deputy leader of the muslim council !

[Zacs-Master]

I don't think 'the cinemas' have an ad agency baza.

[baza]

Z-M, only got the info from the newspaper, but then , they also advertise.

[jno]

good to see so many defending the right of audiences not to be offended. Funnily, some people say we're too easily offended already... but they must be different people.

[Zacs-Master]

OK baza (?).

[Hypognosis]

@sp1814

I don't think I would be 'offended', as such but, as an atheist, I'd probably go "tsk" and just wait for it to finish.

But my immediate thought would be "oh no, now all the other religions will follow suit". The Pastafarian one could be a hoot but I reckon advertising is outwith their financial reach.

[retrocop]

jno
As someone who is not easily offended and do not seek it where it does mot exist I do not want my beliefs shovelled down the throats of cinema patrons where it is not expected or wanted.

[ichkeria]

I actually think it is an extraordinary decision.
I would allow political and religious ads in the cinema
I can't believe it would be any more offensive than some other ads or some films. By all means don't just allow any old thing, but a blanket ban seems OTT

[woofgang]

the problem with the “don’t allow any old thing” thing is who is then to judge what is any old thing and what is allowable.

[baza]

Booze gets advertised and we all know the harm that can do, still no one objects to that, oh, wait a mo, we all like a drink, or do we?