Jesus replaced with a Gregg's sausage roll.

Offensive is allowed if you actually believe in free speech.

Which I do. Why shouldn't gods be insulted?

That's OK Annie
I suppose using beef sausage would only be singly offensive.

I still don't know what they were thinking!

baggs it’s a girl!

If I was a god I would find far more to be offended at than some silly advert.

Baggs, I agree. We have discussed 'snowflakes' and there does seem to be an ability to be offended easily.

However, the whole country, Christian or not, is by and large gearing up to celebrate the Christmas season, weather religious or not. We have Christmas because of Christ and religious or not, most people recognise that even if they are scornful.

To subject the 'reason for the season' to ridicule is offesnsive to so many and their feelings DO matter imo.

Thought so, ww. ?

Further to my previous point about gods, I think that any god or goddessworth their salt (aka love, reverence and adoration from humans) ought to be able to take a bit of offence, well, any amount actually. Otherwise their 'godness' is fake, I reckon. Maybe that's why people take offence on their behalf. Just musing.

x posts, day6. Will read yours now.

This isn't about Christ being offended it is about his followers being offended

Yeah, but Gods don't have our human frailties whitewave and if I were a God I'd give people a conscience about picking on one religious group because they are an easy target.

You condone bullying?

We have Christmas as it is now because of Christ, I agree. But we had midwinter celebrations before him and the Church purloined those for their own use, as they did with other celebrations of nature. So, really, we don't have Christmas because of Christ. We have Christmas because we have midwinter and the turning of the shortest day.

Those of you who have never been to Greggs are missing a treat. Their cheese pasties are delicious.

Yes, annie, that is my point. Why do people take offence on behalf of immortal beings?

But if god isn’t offended why should his followers be? isnt that being a bit precious?

Oh I think I’ve said what baggs said in a different way

I like the sausage rolls cold. Minibaggs likes them any old how (best sausage rolls in the world, she says, and she's tested enough!). Mr Baggs likes their steak bakes.

The coffees pretty good too. And cheap.

Whichever PR company suggested it to them has earnt their fee. National coverage for an advent calendar, lots of social media and now we're talking about them too.

Blimey day that’s a massive leap from Greggs sausage roll, to me bullying someone

Sneer away whitewave

The point is to pick on a soft target because they won't fight back is a lousy example of marketing and advertising.

Christians are good for insulting? God any good Islamic jokes whitewave ? Let's have them then.

It offends a group of people who see the manger scene and the birth of Christ as the religious reason for Christmas.

You wouldn't offend Muslims and neither would I whitewave . I wouldn't offend Christians either. That's the difference.

A sausage roll in a crib is not picking on people. It's picking on an idea, the idea that once it was a god in that crib. Billions of people don't believe that idea. Millions do. It's still only an idea. Ideas can't be bullied.

Why are people assuming it was meant to be insulting?

Besides, as I said, ideas can't be insulted. Neither can gods.

I’m not sneering!! I do however think that you are over reacting.

Best to drop it now as it is getting silly

People who get violent when they feel their god has been insulted are the ones in the wrong (not suggesting anyone on here is getting violent; yous'll all know to what I'm obliquely referring).

I suppose it depends if you think the portrayal of the manger scene is an essential part of the christian faith. If it isn't and arguably the scene is entirely fictitious and largely a construction developed through the Middle Ages and victorian times then really all it is is a sausage roll in an animal feeding trough.
If the manger scene is a vital part of the faith then perhaps it is unacceptable, but then how far could you take that? Would a baby figure with some disfigurement be acceptable?

It is difficult to compare faiths especially as Islam condemns any portrayal of human beings as unacceptable.

Sneering, mocking , defending the hurting of people is the new way whitewave ?

"I suppose it depends if you think the portrayal of the manger scene is an essential part of the christian faith."

It is.

We could argue about the validity of all faith, but FAITH is the crucial component. Are you also saying people of faith (whatever faith) are to be ridiculed because they choose to have that faith, to and value their holy books?

If that is the case and it's all nonsense, why is the "Christian nonsense" the only religious target?

Play fair. If one religion or faith is open to insult and ridicule, then all are, surely?

Do you really thing Greggs advertising will soon depict Muslims breaking the fast of Eid with a table laden with their meat-filled pastries?

Well?

If all religions aren't fair game for insulting images then Greggs advertising team are thoughtless cowards who'll pick a soft target for their fun.

Not clever or nice in my book and I hope the campaign backfires on them.