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Offenders of the Faiths: Films, fans and fatwas

Published September 15th, 2012 - 02:35 GMT

With September 11's 2012 anti-Islam movie mayhem for Muslims in the Middle East, we take a look at some other noteworthy examples of films or publications that have caused uproar and maximum offense to religious beliefs in the past.

The movie trailer of the "Innocence of Muslims" was enough to induce protests and killings globally. Other films, books or works have been accused of blasphemy, and sometimes with varying degrees of consequence. Scandal-mongering films or cartoons have often resulted in life and business losses around the globe.

The most inflammatory of these pieces of art often deliberately intend to challenge taboos, rituals and customs of the world’s most subscribed to religions. 

Some films consolidate the beliefs of certain religions either intentionally or unintentionally through offending its audience. 

Al Bawaba's picks of films and works offending the Abrahamic faiths: The movies in this cross-section fully expected and possibly depended upon offending religions in order to succeed or make a point. 

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Scene from anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims

Despite wooden performances and crude production, the 14 minute (trailer for) Islam-insulting film wonder has become one of the most talked about movies as of September 11, 2012. "Innocence of Muslims" has been universally slated for being an abomination, against more than just the Prophet Muhammad and his Muslim followers.

Anti-Semitic? Passion of the Christ caused offense to Jews and Christians

Passion of the Christ: This controversial movie had Jewish communities alarmed by the prospect of an anti-Semitic backlash. Mel Gibson's film may have scored well at the box office, but it mortally offended two faiths in one fell swoop and didn't do much for its allegedly 'anti-Semetic' film maker's PR rating.

Salman Rushdie brandishes his novel Satanic Verses

Salman Rushdie: Satanic Verses was the book that offended many more Muslims than would ever get round to read this stodgy esoteric tome by the British Muslim author. The fatwa-inducing text provoked protests from Muslims globally and landed Rushdie a pretty serious duty death threat issued by Ayatollah Khomeini 1989.

Black Jesus: Madonna offends Christians with Like a Prayer

Madonna's passion for Christ: Like A Prayer's music video landed the Evita-star in hot water for scenes deemed sacrilegious. The religiously-stage-named singer was no innocent Lady Madonna as she subverted the Catholic faith to the tune of Like a Prayer, making her moves on a black Jesus surrounded by burning crosses.

Theodoor van Gogh offended Muslims through Submission

Theodoor "Theo" van Gogh: The late Dutch film-maker offended Muslims with his controversial 'Submission', and paid gravely for his freedom of film. Van Gogh was assassinated by a Dutch-Moroccan Muslim.

Al Pacino from Godfather 3 disses the corrupt pope

Godfather 3: While this gangster trilogy is considered one of the finest pieces of cinema, it still manages to insult the Christian faithful who are less than impressed by reminders of papal corruption. The third in the sequel cynically depicts the Pope taking bribes.

The Last Temptation of Christ

Martin Scorsese's Oscar winning film got itself blacklisted by some Christian viewers. Adapted from Nikos Kazantzakis's novel, the Last Temptation of Christ upset believers by focusing on a Christ grappling with sexual temptations and vices. In a departure from the Gospels, this fictional fancy outraged the devout.

Danish cartoons offended Muslims

Danish Cartoons: The Scandinavian caricaturists caused an international scandal and had Muslims up in arms over a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) wearing a bomb. In a religion that shies away from publishing any depictions of the Prophet, such a mockery was anathema for the masses.

Bruce Almighty sees Morgan Freeman as God

Morgan Freeman as God Almighty: Some Muslim countries banned the fantasy film Bruce Almighty for daring to portray the Lord in mortal form.

The Da Vinci Code offends Catholics

The Da Vinci Code: The Vatican took an instant disliking to the conspiracy-laced novel by Dan Brown and film adaptation. The Da Vinci Code suggests that the Catholic Church is involved in a cover-up to keeping secret Jesus Christ's alleged marriage and fatherhood in order to retain supreme power.

Scene from anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims
Anti-Semitic? Passion of the Christ caused offense to Jews and Christians
Salman Rushdie brandishes his novel Satanic Verses
Black Jesus: Madonna offends Christians with Like a Prayer
Theodoor van Gogh offended Muslims through Submission
Al Pacino from Godfather 3 disses the corrupt pope
The Last Temptation of Christ
Danish cartoons offended Muslims
Bruce Almighty sees Morgan Freeman as God
The Da Vinci Code offends Catholics
Scene from anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims
Despite wooden performances and crude production, the 14 minute (trailer for) Islam-insulting film wonder has become one of the most talked about movies as of September 11, 2012. "Innocence of Muslims" has been universally slated for being an abomination, against more than just the Prophet Muhammad and his Muslim followers.
Anti-Semitic? Passion of the Christ caused offense to Jews and Christians
Passion of the Christ: This controversial movie had Jewish communities alarmed by the prospect of an anti-Semitic backlash. Mel Gibson's film may have scored well at the box office, but it mortally offended two faiths in one fell swoop and didn't do much for its allegedly 'anti-Semetic' film maker's PR rating.
Salman Rushdie brandishes his novel Satanic Verses
Salman Rushdie: Satanic Verses was the book that offended many more Muslims than would ever get round to read this stodgy esoteric tome by the British Muslim author. The fatwa-inducing text provoked protests from Muslims globally and landed Rushdie a pretty serious duty death threat issued by Ayatollah Khomeini 1989.
Black Jesus: Madonna offends Christians with Like a Prayer
Madonna's passion for Christ: Like A Prayer's music video landed the Evita-star in hot water for scenes deemed sacrilegious. The religiously-stage-named singer was no innocent Lady Madonna as she subverted the Catholic faith to the tune of Like a Prayer, making her moves on a black Jesus surrounded by burning crosses.
Theodoor van Gogh offended Muslims through Submission
Theodoor "Theo" van Gogh: The late Dutch film-maker offended Muslims with his controversial 'Submission', and paid gravely for his freedom of film. Van Gogh was assassinated by a Dutch-Moroccan Muslim.
Al Pacino from Godfather 3 disses the corrupt pope
Godfather 3: While this gangster trilogy is considered one of the finest pieces of cinema, it still manages to insult the Christian faithful who are less than impressed by reminders of papal corruption. The third in the sequel cynically depicts the Pope taking bribes.
The Last Temptation of Christ
Martin Scorsese's Oscar winning film got itself blacklisted by some Christian viewers. Adapted from Nikos Kazantzakis's novel, the Last Temptation of Christ upset believers by focusing on a Christ grappling with sexual temptations and vices. In a departure from the Gospels, this fictional fancy outraged the devout.
Danish cartoons offended Muslims
Danish Cartoons: The Scandinavian caricaturists caused an international scandal and had Muslims up in arms over a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) wearing a bomb. In a religion that shies away from publishing any depictions of the Prophet, such a mockery was anathema for the masses.
Bruce Almighty sees Morgan Freeman as God
Morgan Freeman as God Almighty: Some Muslim countries banned the fantasy film Bruce Almighty for daring to portray the Lord in mortal form.
The Da Vinci Code offends Catholics
The Da Vinci Code: The Vatican took an instant disliking to the conspiracy-laced novel by Dan Brown and film adaptation. The Da Vinci Code suggests that the Catholic Church is involved in a cover-up to keeping secret Jesus Christ's alleged marriage and fatherhood in order to retain supreme power.

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