…or making light?

Earlier this week I blogged on my sceptical response to Apple’s latest advert, confessing that it left me torn between infuriation and admiration. At the time I was undecided as to whether the teenage star of the ad was a paragon of virtue or an example of phone-fuelled antisocial behaviour. For the most part, I have been persuaded that he was the former – playing a part in family life and expressing his love for those about him in his own particular way.

The advert below is sure to attract a similarly divided response. Erected by St Peter’s church in Guildford, it takes an SMS phrase which many would regard as blasphemous and turns it into a statement about Christmas. In the main I am pretty inured to people taking God’s name in vain. It happens so much that it grates a little at worst. I would far rather people didn’t do it, and I feel that they would never ever do it on broadcast media with the name of a deity from any other faith. However, it is not a big deal for me.

What about this advert, though? Is it a cheap shot or a clever cultural (and theological) reference? In essence all the figures around the manger of Bethlehem, from Mary and Joseph to shepherds, Magi and angels, were all saying ‘ O my God’ in response to what they saw.

What do you think?

Image:mydiocese.org.uk