More (Lots More) Nude Christian Calendars

LeonKJ wrote (in Menj's blog): "My friend, it’s unfair not to differentiate between Christianity and its self serving heretics. Christianity is very unanimous against porn, and this movement is very likely a small deviationist group."

Leon was writing in response to Menj's post, "Biblically-sactioned porn," which was in reference to the nude calendar a German Christian youth group published and was recently reported on the BBC website. I brought up this topic on December 4th with my own post, "How does one say, "I am a Christian Degenerate" in German?" Two people, "Celestine" and "LeonKJ," complained to Menj for his linking the making of the nude, pornographic calendar with Christianity (as I did with my post). My response to both of these people is, "Too bad. Menj and I are only speaking the truth."

While many Christians may very well be against pornography, the fact of the matter is that this particular calendar was made for the express purpose of luring young people to church. Sex sells, and this German Christian youth group was using it to sell Christianity to teenagers and young adults. Celestine and LeonKJ might be offended by the fact that Menj and I are calling a spade a spade. However, as the Qur'an says, "And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is)." (2:42)

As for Leon's other point, that "...this movement is very likely a small deviationist group," that may very well be so; however, if Leon had checked out the BBC webpage more carefully, he would have noticed that there were four other links to more cases of Christians either making or promoting nude calendars. This "movement" is not confined to one small group, but appears to be spreading, especially in Britain. Following are some quotations (and pictures) from the four articles:

"A Gloucestershire vicar is lending his support to a nude calendar by displaying the images in his church. The Rev Stephen Earley from St Martins in Horsley, launched 'Exposed 2005' after a service on Sunday commemorating the genocide in Rwanda, Africa. 'I've been very impressed by the calendar, the pictures have all been very tastefully shot,' he said." (Vicar's support for nude calendar)


"A curate from Suffolk and a number of his parishoners have defrocked themselves to raise money for charity. Assistant curate John Buchanan, of Holy Trinity Church, Barsham, hopes to raise £90,000 for the organ restoration fund by posing nude for a calendar." (Curate is defrocked for calendar)

"The stars of a calendar featuring semi-naked builders, produced to raise cash for a north Cornwall parish, have defended their vicar from criticism. Reverend Christine Musser, 48, who took over the seaside parish of Boscastle last year, revealed on Wednesday that she had received letters calling for her to resign after backing the calendar. Divorcee Mrs Musser, star of BBC's A Seaside Parish, said criticism over the calendar was 'inevitable.' Calendar producer Raymond Rogers praised the bravery of Mrs Musser, who appears on the front of the calendar backed by partially-clothed local builders. 'There's no way we would do anything to embarrass the Church.' ... Mrs Musser has said she will be staying put, despite the hostility. She said: 'I thought I was going to come in for some flak from it because, if you put yourself in a public role, I guess you are going to find others that disagree with you. But the overwhelming response from the majority of people far outweighs the negative responses. Nudity and the Church are not traditionally linked, but to my mind, it was a group of guys who don't come to church, but are very much part of the community who wanted to show their support for their community church. How could I not support them?" (TV priest backed over calendar)


"Male members of a cathedral choir have stripped off for the second year running to produce a saucy calendar for charity. The 'Heavenly Hunks' of Portsmouth Cathedral Choir Association are back by popular demand, according to the group. The calendar, which has the backing of the Bishop of Portsmouth, shows eleven young men from the choir revealing their hidden talents against the backdrop of the cathedral. ... 'It is a refreshing story about the Church of England and a great example of some young guys doing something fun because of their membership of the church and of Portsmouth Cathedral Choir.' The Bishop of Portsmouth, The Right Reverend Kenneth Stevenson, said: 'I support anything that involves young people having fun as part of the church and congratulate these lads who have bared more than their souls to raise money for these charities.'" (Cathedral choir strips for calendar)

Of course, these are just the calendars that are being published and supported by Christians. Other, secular groups are promoting their own nude calendars: the Paralympic Games (Games hope rides on saucy calendar), the Royal Air Force (Aircrew bares all for calendar), and ambulance crews (Ambulance crews strip for calendar). Surprisingly, there is one British charity that has refused to be associated with a nude calendar, the Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society (Charity says 'no' to saucy calendar). But this last group appears to be the exception rather than the rule.


LeonKJ also wrote: "We all have problems with people like this, in Islam, you have Salman Rushdie and Osama Bin Laden, both, with diametrically opposed ideologies, that makes the average Muslim reject one, or both as lunatics who should not be allowed to carry the label."

I'm glad to hear you say this, because a Christian has finally realized that his religion can be "highjacked" for the wrong reasons. However, I hate to say it but, it's too little, too late. Christians deserve to be criticized for being decadent. It's you who have the problem, not us. Clean up your own house.