"Blasphemous" T-shirts?

Question

I have a t-shirt that says "Music Is My Religion." When I wore it to my family reunion (all my relatives are super conservative southern baptist) one of my aunts told me it was a blasphamy.

My boyfriend has a t-shirt that says "Jesus is F***ing METAL!" Someone stopped us on the street one day and told him he should be ashamed.

What do you think? Are our t-shirts blaspemous or cause for shame? I'm not going to stop wearing my shirt because I love it and I really don't care what my relatives think, and my boyfriend is Athiest so he dosn't care, but I'm curious to know what others think.

To the several people who've said that the "Jesus is F***ing Metal" shirt is blaspemous... why? Saying that Jesus is metal is a complement coming from my metal-head boyfriend. It's like wearing a shirt that says "Jesus is F***ing COOL!" Is it simply because it has a curse word? Just to make it more clear, the shirt dosn't have the actual word on it, it's got the asterics just like I typed.

Answer 1

Some folks take their religion too serious, also alot of folks out there mistake believing in God, for being God. I really think it's rather arrogant to set there and say, "you're going to hell", "That shirt is blasphemy". Really it isn't their decision to make.

Sides God has a darn good sense of humor. The platypus, wombats, and other creatures. I really suspect marijuana was created just to annoy republicans.

Answer 2

Part of growing up is thinking about what we wear...and the messages we give. I'm truly not sure what the message means...does it mean that Jesus is cool ?...being METAL, or whatever? Or, since your boyfriend is an athiest, maybe it is a negative message.

Anyway, we all are treated with respect or disrespect by the things we say, things we do, things we write on our bodies, messages we wear...etc. It's the way of life.

I guess, what message do you want to give?
How about wearing a Tee Shirt that says, "(my boyfriend's name) is a F***ing HOMO". In my opinion, that would be very inappropriate...but according to your perspective, I guess it would be OK? What do you think?

It is hard to think of the consequences of our actions when we are young, but you write very articulate...and thought provoking, and I want to encourage you to take your words and think about what you wrote, because you wouldn't have written what you did if you really did not care about what your relatives think.

PS....they probably really love you...unlike the boyfriend who will more than likely be outta your life within a year.

Best to ya as you mature.

Answer 3

Of course you're free to wear and offend anyone you want to. This is after all, a free country.

But, would you wear something politically incorrect? Like say, "Kill the baby seals?" or "Al Gore is a Left wing Extremist?"

See, it all depends on your point of view. If music is your religion (or even if it isn't, and you're messing around), it's not blasphemy. Blasphemy is a contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. You may be stretching the definition by calling what you wore blasphemy.

Your boyfriend, on the other hand, did have a blasphemous shirt on. But again, this is America, and he can do as he pleases. But, as with any free speech issue, you may subject yourself to consequences, such as having people tell you to be ashamed.

UPDATE to your recent question: Even though there are asterisks on the shirt, everyone knows that means the word they replace is profane. Profanity + God = Blasphemy.

Answer 4

Your T-shirt is not blasphemous, what is written on it is a metaphore. And even if it wasn't, it doesn't insult any religion, after all, it creates a new one (lol).
Your boyfriend's T shirt is rather blasphemous, because it refers to Jesus about something irrelevant to him and in inappropriate language. I am not exactly religious, but your boyfriend being an atheist does not make it OK to wear that. It is not nice to insult the faith of others, even if you don't believe in it. I am Christian, but I wouldn't wear something insulting the Buddha, it is sacred for many people, so your boyfriensd should respect the religious feeling of others.

Answer 5

I'm an agnostic... and to a reglious person, yes, I think the tshirts are blasphemous. But that would only apply if you are religious. If you want to cause a ruckus at your family reunion, wear them again and forget about it. If you want to not offend someone at an event, don't wear them.

My husband and I sell atheist and liberal tshirts... and there are many I wouldn't wear out in public. Not out of shame or anything but I'd be afraid of being killed or assaulted by the God folk.

Answer 6

Conservative Southern Baptists think everything is blasphemy. I wouldn't worry about it. Honestly, your shirt seems harmless. I can understand why someone might be offended at your BFs (although I personally think they're being a bit uptight) but your shirt is simply stating a facet of your personality. I can see your shirt being worn equally by Christians and non-Christians.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry about other people. I don't believe there is a devil and the only demons out there are the ones inside ourselves. People blame the devil because they don't want to accept their own actions and thoughts.

My husband's family is Catholic, so I am a the anti-christ for thinking this since it goes against the Bible.

Who cares, there will always be someone will think what you think or do is wrong anyways.

Answer 8

The persons who accuse you of 'blasphemy' (which actually means 'disrespect for God, or for something sacred'), are just parroting whatever rubbish was dinned into their immature and under-developed minds by some Preachers, or Evangelists - who are PAID fancy sums, to ensure that such persons remain as dumb as they currently are !
The next time when someone comments on your clothes, say it quite aloud, that 'Oh Lord, forgive these fools - for they know not what they do !'
But your boyfriend is definitely insulting others' beliefs - which he also has NO right to !

Answer 9

I think that's just a little uptight, if you ask me. Express how you feel in whatever way you want. It's not like either of those statements says anything directly against God or Christianity. People need to be more worried about themselves and what they believe instead getting so caught up in what other people think, say, and do.

Answer 10

Obviously you care, or you wouldn't be asking this question.

Deep down, you also know that a shirt that says something like Jesus is F***... is rude, crude, offensive, and blasphemous. He should be ashamed of wearing something that degrades the very person who laid down His life so that you, your boyfriend, myself and all mankind could be restored.

Grace and peace to you.