This episode represents the teachings of Christ through a very different point of view. As examined in Mark Pinsky's article "Jesus lives in South Park", the character of Jesus is one very different than previously learned.
In the episode, "Jesus of South Park often admits that he doesn't have all the answers, and sometimes he simply declines to intervene in the world..." (Pinsky). Also, there are "Some very serious theological points are made, often by Jesus. People in South Park are concerned that the world might end at the turn of the millennium, so they pray for revelation and assurance" (Pinksy). This gives a very kind view point on the teachings of Christ, buy after the following speech by Jesus, the characters are quick with a rebuttle...
"God can't answer every prayer and suddenly give you everything you want...That takes all the living out of life...If God answered all our prayers there'd be nothing left for us to do ourselves...Life is about problems and overcoming these problems and growing and learning from obstacles" (Pinsky).
In response to that, a character shouts out "We've heard that crap for about 2000 years now...We wanna hear something new". Therefore, although they do their best to keep the religion sacred and with meaning, the show is quick in making clear their position. The position that religion is a confusing and, sometimes, not a very correct theology...
For more info on this particular episode in greater detail, please click here.
It seems that as South Park continues, the shows become much more controversial. Especially towards religion. "This episode revolves around a nearby town's discovery that a statue of the Virgin Mary has begun bleeding" (www.cbc.ca).
The episode gets worse from here. After the town discovers this bleeding statue, the townspeople consider it a miracle, and then this is followed by Pope Benedict XVI who claims that the statue is "menstruating".
Obviously, this is going to cause a lot of issues for viewers. Epsecially those who are devout religious followers.
The show was condemmed from viewing in Canada and the U.S. but still aired in New Zealand, where the episode drew in more than 6 times the normal audience. This goes to show was really sells in today's society.
The episode contained many disturbing images including:
- the statue of Virgin Mary bleeding from the rectum
- Pope Benedict XVI and other church leaders being sprayed in the face by the gushing blood
- sick and diseased people lining up to be "cured" by the statue
- Pope Benedict, in the episode, says "A chick bleeding out of her vagina is no miracle. Chicks bleed out of their vaginas all the time" (South, 2006)
This episode caused a lot of anger and frustration for Musilims, Jews, Christians, and other faiths.
It is obvious that this episode was probably not a good idea for the creators and writers of South Park. On the other hand, from all this controversy, they did gain a lot of attention from the public eye. Whether or not this attention is wanted or unwanted is up to the creators themselves.
The show quickly became banned by American cable channel Comedy Central after a public outcry and it was quoted that Bishops said the scenes displayed the Virgin Mary in a "tasteless and ugly fashion" (South).
For more info on this particular episode, please click here.
