The Religious Right is very unhappy with Capt. Jack Sparrow, or at least the actor who plays him in movies. Focus on the Family, the evangelical lobbying group founded by James Dobson, is saying "we are sickened by Mr. Depp's behavior," but Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition goes even farther. According to them, Depp has condemned himself to eternal damnation. “I’m sure he thinks he’s being very funny but he’s simply a disgrace. One day, Johnny Depp and his cronies will face the judgment of our Lord and they will burn in hell for this filth,” said spokesman Lee Douglass.
Why? Because of a song.
Johnny Depp lent his voice to one track in a new release by British indie rock band Babybird. The song, which is Christmas-themed, is called Jesus Stag Night Club. In it, a disreputable Jesus look-alike is hired to appear at a bachelor party. Here are some of the lyrics:
Saw a man in the bar with his hair like a lady
Bloody thorns 'round his ear like he was a crazy
He had holes in his hands and a cross for a spine
Crushed a berry in his Perrier and called it wine
By the end of the song, it's discovered that the drunken look-alike is actually the real Jesus "lying on the floor beaten up" with "a fish finger sandwich and a yellow M coffee cup..."
You can hear the song in the audio at left.
Jesus Stag Night Club is already a hit single in the UK but conservative Christian groups like Focus on the Family and the Christian Coalition are calling it "filth" and "blasphemy" and want it taken off the air.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, according to the Bible, is the one unforgivable sin (If you commit genocide or child-rape but accept Christ and are truly repentant, apparently you can still be aces with God). Johnny Depp, who also contributed to a song for Haitian earthquake relief in 2010 and just this September, helped underwrite a show for cancer charities, has, according to this viewpoint, put himself forever beyond the pale. News sources report that Depp is "not concerned" with the controversy the rightwing religious groups are kicking up.
Stephen Jones, frontman for Babybird and writer of the song, is somewhat less sanguine about it. In a December 3rd "tweet," he wrote:
Christians go to heaven. Sinners go to hell. This is their message of peace. Oh yes and gays can fuck off too. It's a beautiful world Jesus.
(Thanks and a tip of the Hatlo hat to the Friendly Atheist blog for some of the links)
If you enjoy my articles, you can click on "subscribe" at the top of the page and you'll receive notice when new ones are published.
Comments