Christ-like anti-rape poster row

This poster is awesome, I'm printing one out for the local church...ohhhh, lets do this shoot again but with a little boy, I bet that will get the church's goose cooked.

I am a feminist and a women's rights activist, and I am NOT a christian, yet I can still see how this could be considered offensive or disturbing to a religious christian who is walking down the street and sees this poster on a bus stop. There are powerful ways to get your point across that don't involve making little old rosary-carrying italian women cry.

Then again, if the target audience for this print ad was heterosexual men with strong christian convictions, they did a good job.

I hope this ad actually works to reduce rape in Italy. A little "blaspheming controversy" isn't the worst thing in the world.

This is blasphemous how, exactly?

I didn't realise that referencing Christ imagery at all (and in a good cause, too) was blasphemous. Silly me!

Never mind the fact that blasphemy is a victimless crime, anyway.

If the catholics/christians in Italy are truely religious they will understand the idea behind the ad, it's not gratuitous and it needs to have a small level of shock value to get the point across. Im all for it.

I thought that was actually Jesus at first. I was thinking... is he sleepy??

Regardless of how offensive the poster might be to some people, it's still a very powerful message. And it's beautifully done.

Christ is a myth, Rape is real

Damn you milan, now i get turned on every time i see a dead jew crucified to a stick. Thanks A LOT

I can see how people would see it as offensive....religious views, or the lack of them, are as personal as it gets and are therefore worthy of respect, whatever you subscribe to. Just my personal view and where my lines are. Art is the expression of the soul and that right is to be respected as well, but it is made for an emotional reaction, and it should be no surprise when it generates one.

Beautiful potent piece, but I can understand how some people see this as offensive.

What's interesting about the poster--other than its' obvious natural beauty, of course--is the success of its' intent of incite discourse (as evidenced above).

After 2000 yrs of criticism, conflicts, and crusades, i think the catholic church has to start doing a lot less bitching about sensitivities, and more activism towards human rights. Jesus Christ supposedly died for everyone, not just christians.

@PoisonTheMonkey: well said

How ironic and so incredibly true that they consider anti-rape blaspemous.

Why value women, anyways? It's so un-Christian.

Right right, I've heard it all before. I'm some kind of extremist because I don't believe in god. I'm a bleeding heart liberal. Etc.

Let's start this convo off properly. What do you find offensive about this ad? Is every image that references Jesus offensive? Is it the nudity? What's the deal?

Also,
" they must ALWAYS have LESS TOLERANCE for folks who are religious?" How have I not shown you tolerance? I didn't say anything about anyone's right to believe in god or even protest this ad, I didn't make any offensive remarks about jesus, god or believers, so what's your problem?

Delia,

To an extreme Liberal EVERYONE who isn't an extreme liberal is conservative.

Likewise, to and extreme Conservative, everyone who isn't is an extreme Liberal.

Sorry but you are an extremist too:)

Why is it that folks that are not religious feel that they must ALWAYS have LESS TOLERANCE for folks who are religious?

I find this most offensive as most Christians would:(

Can any of you explain this?

I think it's a very provocative and creative use of the imagery. It really is a sublime piece of art / graphic design.

It would be sad to lose such clever marketting just because some conservatives automatically object to it because of its reference.

I agree with TrikyNiki, job well done. Art is supposed to be visually interesting, provocative and ask questions about society. I think the poster is beautiful and "who pays for man's sins" is a powerful sentiment to go with the picture.

Religious conservatives find pretty much anything offensive.

It's provocative, starts conversations, and gains publicity... The poster done it's job. Well done.

Blasphemy is by definition impossible.

And the promotion of rape crises centres are far more important the the sensibilities of the religulous.

Well, it got attention and the word out!

Ingenious use of crucifixion imagery. Blaspheme away!