Good God

I thought I'd heard everything until yesterday.

When I read that the vicar of St Mary's Church in Radcliffe-on-Trent - the Reverend Graeme Anderson - had complained to the BBC about the use of 'blasphemous' language by Jeremy Clarkson - presenter of Top Gear.

Reverend Anderson claimed that Jeremy Clarkson had "trivialised and cheapened" Christianity - with outbursts of "God Almighty" and "Jesus wept" while presenting his popular TV show.

Good God - how precious and over-sensitive can you get?

But Reverend Anderson was deadly serious would you believe - and went on to say in his complaint to the BBC:

"There are many normal, honest people who I think would have been offended. I think there is a cultural expectation that Christians are meant to be tolerant, and that is right to a point. But even Christians are allowed be offended, too."

Sometimes the Church and Christians are belittled and cheapened, and sometimes we deserve it, to be honest. But this is different.

I complained, and drew attention to double standards, as I see it, between the way the BBC deals with Christianity and Islam."

What worries me is that the vicar seems to be admiring the kind of 'respect' - which is demanded by organised religion in some extremely intolerant Islamic countries - which Reverend Anderson seems to admire.

Countries where the vicar wouldn't be allowed to build his church - it has to be said - ar attract any converts to Christianity.

Countries where women are treated as second class citizens - where homosexual behaviour is against the law - punishable by death even.

To its credit the BBC told the vicar where to get off - although in the kind of polite language and measured terms - you would expect from the BBC.

But I think he should grow up and get a life - maybe even watch Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' while doing his his best not to laugh. 

All I can say is thank heavens (if that's not a 'blasphemous' term) - that organised religion has been relatively tamed in this country.

Because if people like the Reverend Anderson got his way - I imagine we'd all be heading for the stocks - or even worse if we lived in a country where fundamentalist Islam rules the roost .