March 30, 2009

BNP to launch advertising campaign featuring Jesus Christ

The extremist British National Party (BNP) is to launch an advertising campaign featuring Jesus Christ. The Far Right party will use the advert which features a bible verse quoting Jesus' words about persecution, in the run up to the European Elections in June. It comes after the Church of England passed a resolution at its General Synod last month banning clergy from being members of the party.

The thinktank Ekklesia has monitored attempts by the BNP since 2003 to present itself as a ‘Christian Party’. It has also warned that misleading stories about ‘Christian persecution’ in the UK, as well as appeals by church leaders to recover the idea of 'Christian Britain', have played into the Far Right’s hands.

In recent years the BNP has used religious rhetoric with increasing frequency. In recent local elections, the party's literature included copies of the controversial Mohammed cartoons. It also helped establish a 'Christian Council of Britain'. The goal is to appeal to those in the population who identify with Christianity, but feel panicked both by 'liberal secularism' and the growth of Islam.

An analysis of the BNP membership list by the thinktank Ekklesia highlighted a number of members who were identified as Christian, taking part in Bible studies, running Christian businesses including bookshops or who were active in their churches.

In an email sent yesterday to BNP supporters, BNP leader Nick Griffin said: “The British National Party is the only political party which genuinely supports Britain's Christian heritage. It is the only party which will defend our ancient faith and nation from the threat of Islamification. What has become of the Christian church in this country? Instead of inclusively ‘embracing all’ which the church claims is its basis, certain groups within that body have banned people from their ranks simply because of their membership in the British National Party.

“Surely if God calls a man to his service, no church has the right to contradict HIS holy will! For many years, the churches in this country scrupulously avoided being politically biased. Nowadays however we see a small number of clerics and bishops openly preaching hatred towards the BNP. Church leaders actively shun the word of God on issues like sodomy, abortion and social justice. With this in mind I invite you to preview our European election billboard (pictured above) aimed at attracting even more Christian voters.

“Jesus was viewed as a revolutionary figure, hated and hounded to death, not by 'evil men' but by the corrupt hypocrites who ran the church. Has nothing changed in two thousand years? On June 4th, the leaders of Britain's churches will find out that millions of good decent people support the British National Party. It's not racist to support British jobs for British workers or to be opposed to militant Islam, it's just common sense and in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

But Jonathan Bartley, co-director of the thinktank Ekklesia said: “This is clearly a gross misrepresentation of both Jesus Christ and Christianity. Jesus was completely opposed to bigotry. He is recorded in the Gospels as challenging those who didn’t welcome foreigners - not as working for their exclusion.

“But the church must critically reflect on how it is aiding the Far Right. Leading figures within the Church of England have become far more vocal recently in their calls to ‘stem the tide of secularism’, and to defend the predominant 'Christian culture' of Britain. The uncomfortable fact is that this puts the Church into the position of arguing the same political point about national identity as the BNP.

“Of course the rationales of these messages are very different. The agenda behind the BNP's claims is essentially a cultural one - partly in opposition to an alleged liberal elite, and partly in an attempt to whip up fear of minority faiths. In contrast, few would question the commitment of the Church of England to combating racism. But the time has come to face the fact that when it uses 'Christian nation' rhetoric, it risks encouraging support for right-wing extremists.

“Church figures should also exercise caution in their uncritical backing for high-profile cases of ‘Christian persecution’ which have featured most prominently in the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail. These stories have often been misreported, but used nevertheless by church leaders as examples of a wider move of discrimination against Christians. This is creating a victim mentality which will only serve to drive people into the BNP’s hands.

“But the latest advert from the BNP which quotes Jesus Christ should be seen by the church as an opportunity for a new approach. Instead of adopting a defensive stance which pleases those seeking to make political capital out of civic 'de-Christianization', the Church should refocus on the vocation of Jesus, who clearly challenged bigotry in all its forms. Whilst 'Christian nation' rhetoric will only create more BNP support, a focus on Jesus Christ will undermine the party's ideology completely.”

Ekklesia

32 comments:

Jane (Preston) said...

I was going to ask if nothing was sacred. Clearly it isn't.

Anonymous said...

The only line that comes to mind is "thunderbolts and lightening" Queen seems appropriate to me.

tulip

No said...

"What would Jesus do? Vote BNP"

What and that's supposed to be from a Christian or pro-Christian party? It's filthy and if its on the truth truck in my area, I'll happily throw paint or eggs all over it.

Christian said...

I don't see how any real Christian could be anything but horrified at this. It really is despicable. I wonder how many of these professed Christians in the BNP will fall away because of this filth.

Anonymous said...

"Church leaders actively shun the word of God on issues like sodomy...."

Thats a bit hypocritical coming from Nick Griffin.

Democrat said...

There's a good comment on the British Democracy Forum

"If I was a Christian, I think I might be offended by this cack-handed tosh - unless I found its awfulness funny. Nonetheless, I hope this email is genuine! If it is, I shall now stop bothering about the BNP with immediate effect, because I'm happy to say that you ain't going nowhere! "

MB said...

Absolutly disgusting. The BNP should be ashamed.

Nicky Gwiffin said...

"Church leaders actively shun the word of God on issues like sodomy...."

Thats a bit hypocritical coming from Nick Griffin.

Someone else on that Democracy forum thought the same.

"Nick Griffin attacking "sodomy"????

Naughty! Naughty!

Step forward Uncle Martin..."

LOL

Anonymous said...

What would Jesus do? Vote BNP"

What and that's supposed to be from a Christian or pro-Christian party? It's filthy and if its on the truth truck in my area, I'll happily throw paint or eggs all over it.

always the answer from the reds, if i don't like something break the law.

Anonymous said...

Next week they'll be claiming that the Dalai Lama supports the BNP. Or possibly God himself.

Anonymous said...

This is possibly the most crass thing the BNP has done (in the last year or so).

Anonymous said...

"Jesus was completely opposed to bigotry. He is recorded in the Gospels as challenging those who didn’t welcome foreigners - not as working for their exclusion"


Absolutely spot on, and one of the reasons behind my decision to turn my back on racism and fascism. Griffin never had any time for Christians or the Christian faith. This for me is the lowest they have ever stooped.

Kirklees Unity said...

Thats a bit hypocritical coming from Nick Griffin.

Just a little hypocritical of Barnbrook as well seeing as he is stood underneath the banner.

Anonymous said...

"What and that's supposed to be from a Christian or pro-Christian party?"

Is it fuck a Christian party. Griffin just claims that so he can grab more sad old racists who are terrified of anyone who isn't a WASP.

Cheshire Cat said...

"always the answer from the reds, if i don't like something break the law."

It may be unlawful but it's certainly morally sound. It'd be worth a fine to show what we think of this blasphemy.

Fuck the BNP said...

"always the answer from the reds, if i don't like something break the law."

A million lies in the Racism Cuts Both Ways leaflet and elsewhere, years of attacks on 'Reds' and others who object to the BNP and its so-called policies and countless examples of dodgy accounting and bullshit from His Porkiness Nick Griffin and you rattle on about the law because someone wants to sling an egg at your lie lorry with this latest and worst pile of lying crap on it. You should be pleased - a few eggs covering that rubbish up will save you a lot of embarrassment.

Anonymous said...

I love it. Even when everything is laid on a plate for the BNP, it goes and spoils it by doing something so mind-buggeringly stupid that we all get a good laugh.

Expect its cock-ups to accellerate as we approach the Euro elections as it gets more desperate for a) votes and b) cash.

Dave T said...

There's a quote from Stormfront that you might like

"Is this actually a good idea? I don't think so, why? because I along with a large proportion of the population of this country view anything with religious overtones (or in this case outright religious content) with scepticism. What's next? the Monster in your closet will get you if you don't vote for them?"

Anonymous said...

the church of england is definately not a christian organisation its a marxist one they gave up any pretence years ago and like all religions they should be done away with lets face they are all just cults of varying degrees

Anonymous said...

"the church of england is definately not a christian organisation its a marxist one they gave up any pretence years ago and like all religions they should be done away with lets face they are all just cults of varying degrees"

You're the biggest cult on here, mate.

Green Gordon said...

Haha, those wacky Marxists in the CofE who won't make a woman a bishop. It's Religious Correctness gone mad, I tells ya.

Anonymous said...

18 out of 19 anon posts LOL
someone in lancasters been busy today!
is it raining?

Smiffy said...

Nice that Ekklesias called the BNP extremist. I'm glad someone can see it.

Anonymous said...

Truly you are an un-Christian mob. You exhibit the most unforgiving traits. You utter hypocrites. You have nothing to teach the BNP.

iliacus said...

Anon at 11.52 am :

presumably you belong to the "cannot spell and have no idea of how punctuation should be used" cult - like most of the dingbats on the extreme right ????

Jeffrey Marshall said...

It' s a fake, Ketlan - as you well know.

When you have finished laughing about it perhaps you will acknowlege this fact.

http://www.democracyforum.co.uk/british-politics-other-parties/59062-bnp-starts-lose-3.html

Brads said...

This is only half-genuine. That dopy bastard Simon Bennett roughed out a load of alternative skins for the lie lorry and this is one of the many that were possibles to be made up into actual skins. After all the fuss I don't think this one will ever see the light of day but the fact that it was seriously suggested is an indicator of Nick Griffins desparation to grab votes from anywhere.

Barbara Suzuki said...

According to the BNP, membership is limited to "The indigenous British ethnic groups deriving from the class of ‘Indigenous Caucasian’ consist of members of: i) The Anglo-Saxon Folk Community; ii) The Celtic Scottish Folk Community; iii) The Scots-Northern Irish Folk Community; iv) The Celtic Welsh Folk Community; v) The Celtic Irish Folk Community; vi) The Celtic Cornish Folk Community; vii) The Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Folk Community; viii) The Celtic-Norse Folk Community; ix) The Anglo-Saxon-Norse Folk Community; x) The Anglo-Saxon-Indigenous European Folk Community; xi) Members of these ethnic groups who reside either within or outside Europe but ethnically derive from them."
Therefore Jesus, as a semite, could not possibly be a member.
Now what was that about persecution again?

Jake S said...

From today's Scotsman

"THE far-right British National Party yesterday said it was considering a national billboard campaign in advance of the European elections, featuring a picture of Jesus and claiming the party is a victim of persecution.

A BNP spokesman said "one or two" of the billboards were already up and, depending on support and funds, it would mount a national campaign."

Someone's telling porkies then aint they. If some of the billboards are up, it's a genuine campaign and hence disgusting and blasphemous, if not the BNP is lying.

Green Gordon said...

So is the email genuine? It's clear the images were genuinely made for the BNP and posted online by Simon Bennett.

Anonymous said...

Ahh Dear, do I have to remind pepole just what the BNP is again,


http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2008/11/evil-paedos-are-secret-bnp-thugs_23.html

No wunder thier slogan is "People Like Us vote BNP""

BNP is the British Nonces Party

OLd Sailor

Odin Sucks! said...

It's a joke that the Odinist BNP (Lee Barnes has many times attacked Christianity for being anti-Odin) proclaim at election time to be Christian.

Oh and Jesus Christ was Jewish and not a Christian.