Christians, is this post offensive?

[mainer]

I posted this photo on a non-political forum because as a Mainer, I thought it was hilarious. (You have to be from Maine to get some of the inside jokes.)
Well, Christians are complaining that it's an attack on them, that it's blasphemous, and that I should know better. As an agnostic, I had no idea it would be considered offensive. But maybe that's just a blind spot of mine.
(Also posted in the Maine forum. Copied from someone else's post on X)

Link to tweet

[hlthe2b]

1. Amusing to me... Maybe offensive if you are a spelling/grammar NAZI (LOL)

and of course, if you are an RW Xian, everything is a slight to them.

[demmiblue]

2. So people can see it better:

[RockRaven]

3. When I was one I would have said no, but snowflakes and hypocrites will say yes.

[LuckyCharms]

4. I'm a Christian, and I'm not offended. n/t

[Irish_Dem]

5. I think it is hilarious, it doesn't offend me in the least.

[NoRethugFriends]

6. Not my style of humor but it's absolutely fine.

[shrike3]

7. I don't find it offensive. In fact, I think it's funny.

And quite topical considering what's currently going on.

[Biophilic]

8. No, the snowflakes don't own the 10 commandments.

Seriously it’s offensive only if you want it to be.

[anciano]

16. "only if you want it to be"....

Exactly, being offended is a choice.

[mainer]

9. If you can't read it...

I. Pabst Blue Ribbon is the beer, thou shall have no other beer before PBR.
II. Thou shall not commit adultery unless they are wicked hot.
III.Thou shall always give Reds Eats the finger upon passing. (Reds is a lobster stand)
IV. Thou shall not steal from thy neighbor's weed patch.
V. Honor thy mother and father and stepmother and stepfather, grandparents and guardians, foster parents, social worker, and parole officer.
VI. Remember the Sabbeth (sp) day and don't drive through Wiscasset.
VII. Thou shall not bear false witness against the neighbor unless it improves your view.
VIII. Thou shall not say God's name in Maine.
IX. Thou shall not covet items that cannot be purchased at Reny's. (A Maine discount chain.)
X. Thou shall not kill unless with road rage driving through Wiscasset.

[Retrograde]

23. i like this version - can we display it in LA schools?

Even though I'm a heretic and think PBR is swill. I especially like #VIII.

The only change I'd make is to put them more in the order of the original commandments - you can pick your favorite version.

[Attilatheblond]

10. Just keep in mind, a lot of 'Christians' in the US think they have a right to never be offended by freedom of speech

They think their sensibilities override your freedom of speech. They think they are being persecuted if they don't get to stuff their beliefs and feelings down your throat.

As my wise brother says: Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

[Irish_Dem]

13. The GOP uses freedom of speech to threaten to kill people

and overthrow the US govt.

Dems use freedom of speech to talk about helping fellow Americans
and make some funny benign jokes.

[Attilatheblond]

18. Yep, and when we talk about helping our fellow Americans and/or make a benign joke

they often resort to threats of violence in their feeble attempts to shut us up.

[Irish_Dem]

20. Yes good deeds are criminalized.

While their crimes are fine.

[sop]

11. "Angel's can fly because they take themselves lightly." G.K. Chesterton

Some christians take themselves way too seriously.

[Conjuay]

35. Did the truck get struck bylightening? No?

I don’t think offending any one else really matters.

[regnaD kciN]

12. Not at all...

I find it hilarious.

[Maeve]

14. Offensive is the guy in front of a cross saying some people should be killed

This is humor...big difference. Worshipping someone who has broken most of the big 10 and says he's never felt the need fir forgiveness..THAT is blasphemy, big time!
You're fine.
Added...and from a strictly Irish-American perspective..PBR is like making love in a canoe...f'ing close to water!

[Autumn]

15. Not offensive to me. I think it's funny.

[TexLaProgressive]

17. Those offended have a poor image of God

[musicblind]

19. I am a Christian, and I am not personally offended,

but I can see how this might offend others. In some contexts it could be seen as making fun of someone's religion, and making fun of something a person believes can be offensive to the person who believes it.

A good rule of thumb is to ask if this would be offensive to the followers of another religion if the same things were said about that other religion.

That said, I would not be personally offended by this because I am used to people making fun of my religion, and while it used to be hurtful, I've become numb to it after a while. Also, the intent matters, and you clearly did not intend to hurt anyone. That matters a lot, actually.

Thank you for coming on here to ask and for having an open mind. Few people in today's society actually keep their minds open because they see everything as black and white.

Oh, and for what it is worth, not all Christians believe their religion should have anything to do with the government, especially since so many of this nation's founding fathers were not Christian.

[mainer]

21. Thank you.

I find that humor is iffy. Some people roar with laughter and others get steamed.
The prime example is Frank DeLima in Hawaii, making fun of all the ethnic groups there. Every single one, from Hawaiians to Chinese to Japanese to Portuguese to Filipinos to white people. Folks in Hawaii love him, because we're all equal-opportunity targets. But it doesn't work on the Mainland where everyone's so easily offended.

[Sea A Chell]

22. Not for me

I'm a Christian and I'm not offended. Lots of people over the years have used the "Thou Shalt Not" format.
My only comment is...somebody really must not like Wiscasset!

[B.See]

24. Had no idea what Reds Eats, Reny, or

Wiscasset (?) was until I looked em up, but no, not offensive at all. In fact, with a few name changes, I can think of a number of places where that would be apropos.

[IcyPeas]

25. To me, its amusing and not offensive. I could hear it as a late night top 10 list.

I'm not christian though.

[GPV]

26. Current mainah, formah Xian

Seems all good to me.

[Jeebo]

27. I am a grammar nazi.

As one of the other posters in this thread put it. I am a retired newspaper man, 45 years at the same newspaper. I was a copy editor and proofreader, among other duties, for that newspaper. The only things that bother me about the image in the original post are the misspelled words. Call me a grammar nazi and I'll own it.

-- Ron

[rsdsharp]

28. I am greatly offended!

And as soon as I am done laughing I shall take you to task!

Be warned!

[delisen]

29. No christian or christian church owns christianity

They might try to claim ownership but it is an idea that each of us gets to define in our own way.
It is a concept too big to be corralled and too independent to be nailed down and tamed.

To paraphrase a figure central to the story of Christianity:
Let those who choose to be offended, be offended
Let those who choose to laugh, laugh

[Gore1FL]

30. Anyone offended by it wants to be offended.

You are doing them a favor.

[Scrivener7]

31. And ought to be offended.

[ForgedCrank]

32. You posted

that and were unaware that it was insulting and antagonistic?
Cool story

[Danmel]

33. So what's up with Wicasset?

This Jewish girl wants to know!

[chowder66]

34. I figured that if God existed it would have a sense of humor.

[keithbvadu2]

36. Christians who are offended.

[3catwoman3]

39. That picture is what is offensive.

Makes me want to hurl -

[JoseBalow]

40. From the expressions on their faces, it looks like everyone in that pic

is farting in unison

[MerryBlooms]

37. Meh. You posted it to get some reaction that you wanted,

Got the reaction, or whatever, or not. No way of knowing. Guess you want a thumbs up, from here? Okay! Good job! 👍😆

[mainer]

38. I posted it because I really am surprised

That a parody that seems as good natured as this is making people go all fire and brimstone on me. Folks in Maine get the humor. The outrage seems to come from away.
I’m sorry if somehow this seems to have offended you.