Church Life

Commercial Brake

Advertising for a Church of England diocese equates Jesus’ crucifixion to body piercing

Advertiser

The Church of England, Diocese of Birmingham

Setup

“Body piercing?”

Tagline

“Jesus had his done 2,000 years ago.”

Rationale

Diocesan communications director Arun Arora: “The purpose of these posters is to try and grab the attention of a group of people with whom the church has lost contact.”

Rebuttal

Christian Institute spokesman Ian Bainbridge: “The poster … trivializes the crucifixion of Jesus.”

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

The Diocese of Birmingham‘s official Web site has an image of the poster and explanation of what it means. The Body Piercing ad is one of four posters put up to advertise the diocese’s Web site to 16 to 24-year-olds. Other posters include: Asylum Seekers, Drugs, and The Church is for Life.

Related articles include:

Church unveils ‘body piercing’ crucifix poster – Ananova (Dec. 4, 2001)

In December, Commercial Brake looked at a wine company who launched a “Jesus was born in a trough” campaign.

Also in this issue

Is the God of Muhammad the Father of Jesus? The answer to this question reveals the heart of our faith.

Cover Story

Is the God of Muhammad the Father of Jesus?

Missing God at Macalester

Afghanistan: Entrapment Suspected

North Africa: Interest in Satellite TV Up Since 9/11

Philipines: Missionary Couple Remains in Limbo

Church Leader Gets Reprieve

Kenya: Christians Flee Rioting

Quotation Marks

Today's Sermon: Thou Shalt Not Steal

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The Holy City

Southern Baptists: SBC Agency May Revoke D.C. Funds

Outpaced by Islam?

Bad Priorities Can Kill

In the Word: The Jesus Scandal

God's Mission

The Long View: Wielding the Sword

A Quiet Compromise

Tall Tales

Was Just Wondering…

The 10,000-Mile Courtship

Whatever Happened to Repentance?

News

Coming to a Screen Near You

News

The Lowdown on Downloads

News

Go Figure

Does God Hear Muslims' Prayers?

One African Nation Under God

Fire in the Sky

"Big, Soft Targets"

The Agony of the Families

News

No Longer Just a Rock Band

A Daily Repentance Workout

Classroom Corrections

Still Somebody

Only God Is Free

Midterm Exams

September 11: Church Binds 9/11 Wounds with Quick Cash

Mining Controversy: Robertson Takes Flak for Gold-Mining Venture

Rite of Passage: Promise Keepers Begins to Evangelize Boys

Bible Translation: Revised NIV Makes Its Debut

View issue

Our Latest

New Archbishop of Canterbury Steps into Anglican Divides

Conservatives call on Sarah Mullally, the first woman at the spiritual helm of the Church of England, to uphold biblical faith amid same-sex blessings debate.

News

FDA Approves Generic Abortion Pill

Students for Life leader calls the move “a stain on the Trump presidency.”

News

John Cornyn’s MAGA-land Challenge

The incumbent senator is up against his strongest challenge yet in populist-right leader Ken Paxton.

Fighting Korea’s Loneliness Epidemic with Cafés and Convenience Stores

Seoul recently introduced free public services to tackle social isolation. Christians have been doing that for years.

You Haven’t Heard Worship Music like This

John Van Deusen’s praise is hard-won and occasionally wordless.

Excerpt

‘Don’t Take It If You Don’t Need It’

The Trump administration releases new recommendations for Tylenol use during pregnancy.

The Russell Moore Show

BONUS: Lecrae on Reconstruction after Disillusionment

 Lecrae joins Russell Moore to take questions from Christianity Today subscribers

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube