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?

[anotheoldgit]

He has a point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/12010720/Ban-Christmas-ads-if-you-dont-like-religion-Church-tells-cinemas.html

[naomi24]

Gromit, if that's^ meant to be a joke, it's a sick one.

[jourdain2]

He does have a point. Christmas being a Christian festival, should mean that the 'no religion' bit should apply to any Christmas adverts - and the same should apply to the other religions and their festivals. I would not mind sitting through Diwali or Eid adverts. (I ignore 99% of ads anyway.)

[maggiebee]

Went to see the latest James Bond film earlier this week. Start time 8 pm. It actually started at 8.30 pm. Had to sit through half an hour of trailers, adverts etc. Most of them just went right over my head and I fear this will be the same for the Lord's prayer. If you're not interested you just ignore it. I have more objections to folk who can't sit for a couple of hours without munching their way through giant tubs of popcorn, crisps, rustling sweeties etc. Have your meal before you go our or eat afterwards! Rant over.