For centuries, blasphemy laws sought to suppress diverse expression by criminalizing any statement, spoken, written, painted, or otherwise presented, that diverged from traditional dogma, symbols or concepts. Blasphemy laws fell out of practice through the 19th and 20th centuries, as society became more secular and tolerance for diversity increased. Today, new angles have been employed to censor expression that contains unorthodox views, the most pervasive being restrictive funding practices. Religious groups finding offense with a play, film, painting, or book attempt to pull the rug out from under the artist or writer by using the “not with my tax dollars” argument, which criticizes governmental support for art that offends some members of the public.

Conflict arises when traditional religious values are challenged or confronted in an unorthodox manner. Artists struggle with their beliefs and may manifest their struggles and questions visually in order to explore their fears, the dogma, and the contradictions. They ask questions, provoke thought, and sometimes incite more conservative representatives of a religious tradition to heated protest. What is it about this art that has created such controversy? Chris Ofili’s multi-media work, The Holy Virgin Mary, showed the Virgin as black, with a three-dimensional breast made from a ball of elephant dung. Some Catholics were outraged. They saw a shit-smeared holy icon - a defaced Virgin. What they neglected to discover was that Ofili himself is a Catholic, and that he drew upon his African roots to represent his idea of the Virgin Mary. The elephant dung symbolizes fertility and the Earth in Ofili’s culture.

When groups impose their interpretation upon a work of art, a misunderstanding might emerge that can lead to accusations of blasphemy and inappropriateness.

It is not only in the visual arts that controversy arises. Religious groups have protested plays, films, and books, magazines, texts, sex education, and courses available in the nation’s schools. Religion, however, like any aspect of society, is fair game as a subject for commentary, artistic representation, and yes, even criticism. In a diverse community, it is inevitable that conflicts of beliefs will arise. Just because the work doesn’t comport with the dominant religious viewpoint does not justify attempts to prevent it from being part of the cultural fabric.

Below are some examples of religiously “offensive” art and resources exploring the intersection of free expression and religion.

» NY Theater Workshop Postpones Play About Rachel Corrie Artistic Director James Nicola cited religious sensitivities in his decision to delay the staging of "My Name is Rachel Corrie."

» An Art Exhibit, Made in Palestine.
showing the work of Palestinian and Arab-American artists about the Palestine-Israel conflict at the Westchester, NY County Center, was attacked by the district's assemblyman as "anti-Semitic," and for "promoting terrorism." The legislator tried to cancel a fund-rasing event the group had scheduled and the exhibit itself, but was overruled by the County Executive.
[CN #97 Spring 2005]

» In Portland, Oregon, Douglas County Commissioners
asked the museum to remove a display of the pagan goddess, Hebe, which was part of an historical exhibit. Some viewers considered paganism offensive. Under public pressure, the Commissioners reconsidered.
[CN #97 Spring 2005]

» ABC affiliates refuse to air the Academy Award-winning film, Saving Private Ryan
Issue #96: Winter 2004-2005
The Sinclair Broadcast Group and dozens of other ABC affiliates refused to air the Academy Award-winning film, Saving Private Ryan-a searing portrayal of the trauma of war. The affiliates were afraid that the salty language of World War II soldiers and depictions of wartime violence would trigger FCC fines for "indecency." Most of ABC's 225 affiliates commemorated Veterans' Day by airing the film.
In deference to the religious right, CBS and NBC refused an advertisement from the United Church of Christ, claiming it is "too controversial." The ad states that: "like Jesus-the United Church of Christ seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance, or sexual orientation."

» A 12-year old student was expelled from St. Pius X School in Portland, Oregon
for listening to rock music at home. The principal told the parents that their son is "a moral and spiritual detriment" to the student body for listening to Rage Against the Machine and Korn.
[CN #93 Spring 2004]

» Sandi Simcha DuBowski's Trembling Before G-d a documentary delving into the confused and conflicted lives of homosexual Orthodox Jews, draws protest from the Orthodox community while simultaneously receiving support from others in that same community. » Transcript of a Q&A session with DuBowski

» Christopher Durang's Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You a play "explaining" the Catholic dogma in a humorous manner, was protested by the Catholic League as "anti-Catholic" despite the playwright's admitted affiliation as a Catholic.

» Holt, Rinehart and Winston, publishers of a biology textbook
under consideration by the Texas Department of Education, has revised the text under pressure from those who claim that Darwinism "is a theory in crisis." The publisher has added a suggestion to "study hypotheses for the origin of life that are alternatives" to evolution. A HRW spokesperson calls the changes "minor," and denies that they undermine the theory of evolution.
[CN #91 Fall 2003]

» Grand Rapids Community College found itself in a bind
when a legislator on the finance committee called to find out if state money was being used in a local theater group production of Corpus Christi at the college. Constituents complained that the play is sacrilegious. Rather than risk the legislator's ire, The Actors' Theatre moved the play to the Fountain Street Church; its Reverend Judith Walker Riggs said, "The great figure of Christ...cannot be harmed by a few words spoken by a few actors in Grand Rapids, MI. But some of our own hearts might be encouraged to move away from narrow-mindedness, hatred and violence." The college maintains its sponsorship of the Actors' Theatre.
[CN #89 Spring 2003]

» The Supreme Court ruled in Virginia v. Black that states may ban cross-burning if the intent is to intimidate, although part of the Virginia statute was found unconstitutional because it presumed an intent to intimidate from the mere act of cross-burning, even if only meant as symbolic expression and not a true threat.
[CN #89 Spring 2003]

» In South Carolina, a production of Arthur Miller's 1972 play, The Creation of the World and Other Business
a dramatic comedy based on a non-traditional interpretation of the Book of Genesis, was canceled by Greenville Technical College, after a complaint about the play's content. NCAC and PEN American Center both sent letters of protest.
[CN #90 Summer 2003]

» In March 2003 Glyn O'Malley's play, Paradise, an examination of the impact of war on Israeli and Palestinian youth, was scheduled to tour high schools near Cincinnati but was cancelled because Cincinnati Muslims protested its portrayal of a teenage girl as a jihad-bomber.

» ACLU Says Texas Police Violated Art Gallery Owner's Freedom of Expression Pilot Point, TX 2003
A mural depicting the large hand of God pointing to an apple and a nude figure of Eve was targeted by local police officers who threatened to charge the building's owner with violation of a law against corrupting minors by showing them hard-core pornography.

» Antonin Miralda's Active Ingredients, an installation featuring figurines of cultural icons including the Pope, sitting on toilets riles the Catholic League in January 2002. Catholic League Objects to Traditional Figurines in Art Installation

» A federal appeals court in California caused a political firestorm when it ruled that public schools may not include the words "under God," which were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, when students recite the Pledge. The Ninth Circuit has stayed the decision; an appeal is expected.
[CN #86 Summer 2002]

» When Mayor Carolyn Risher of Inglis, Florida issued a proclamation to ban Satan from Inglis city limits because "God told her to," some residents hoped that crime rates would drop, but religious endorsement by government officials offends the First Amendment. Urged by the ACLU, the City Council repudiated the Mayor's acts, required her to reimburse expenses, and removed the Satan-banishing signs.
[CN #85 Spring 2002]

» Prayer in public schools in Louisiana, has been ruled illegal by a federal district court. In spite of the Supreme Court decision of 1962, which found organized prayers in public schools unconstitutional, the Louisiana legislature passed a law in 1999 requiring schools to permit prayer or meditation. In December, the federal district court found the law wholly religious in nature and therefore unconstitutional. The state is planning to appeal.
[CN #84 Winter 2001-02]

» Christ Community Church in Alamogordo, New Mexico was the site of a bonfire of Harry Potter books, works by Shakespeare, and other "masterpieces of Satanic deception."
[CN #84 Winter 2001-02]

Alma Lopez's Our Lady, a digital image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a "bikini" of roses instigated both protest and strong support after its exhibition in the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM in 2001. » Press Release from the NCAC » NCAC's perspective on the controversy, including links to further information

» For applying chaotic thinking to terrorist chaos, Jerry Falwell takes the cake
On Pat Robertsons' show, The 700 Club, he said, "What we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be minuscule if, in fact, God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve...God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say 'You helped this happen.'" Despite his apology, his comments will go down in the annals of zealotry. [CN #83 Fall 2001]

» Terrence McNally's Corpus Christi Under Attack in Indiana July 24, 2001
At Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, a student produced version caused heated controversy. Protestors intend to file a law suit if the play is not banned. The University won't cave. "We still believe that the First Amendment and academic freedom apply," said Chancellor Michael Wartell.

» Arts and Free Speech Groups Support the Manhattan Theatre Club Oct. 13, 1998
A statement issued by artists, writers, and organizations dedicated to free expression, art, and literature in support of the Manhattan Theater Club's decision to run McNally's play.

» New York Audiences Get A Choice...Will San Antonio and Anchorage Be So Lucky? Censorship News Online Issue #70
Summer 1998
The controversy raised by the Manhattan Theatre Club's decision to first cancel, then reinstate Corpus Christi may have implications for other venues around the nation.

» Pat Payne's Violence in Religious and Sexual Imagery, a series of works blending both religious and sexual images, was removed in March 2001 from public display at Santa Fe Community College due to protests about the perceived religious criticism and disrespect. See Censorship, Not Curatorial Discretion

» Nassau Community College (NY) president, Sean Fanelli, received this year's William J. Brennan, Jr. Award for his refusal to cancel Christopher Durang's play, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All To You in spite of bitter protests. His leadership in protecting a course on human sexuality that critics called "pornographic" and "anti-Catholic" also prompted the award from the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
[CN #81 Spring 2001]

» School vouchers
Many free speech advocates follow school voucher controversies, not just because of their church-state implications, but because of concern that government-funded education in religious settings may inhibit both secular and religious speech. In a recent decision in Ohio the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, 2 to 1, that the Cleveland school voucher program violates the First Amendment. The court upheld a lower court ruling that the program, providing parochial schools with public funds for educating thousands of children, violated the separation of church and state because benefits flowed principally to sectarian schools. The case may present an opportunity for Supreme Court review. In other recent developments, Michigan and California voters resoundingly rejected school voucher ballot initiatives.
[CN #80 Winter 2000-01]

» Denial of Supreme Court review leaves standing a 5th circuit decision that a Louisiana school district's use of a "disclaimer" about evolution is unconstitutional because of its religious intent.
[CN #78 Summer 2000]

» Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Science v. City of New York and Rudolph Giuliani 64 F.Supp2d 184 (F.D.N.Y. 1999)
Then-mayor Giuliani and New York City, offended by piece in the Brooklyn Museum's exhibition "Sensation," attempted to revoke federal funds previously designated for the museum and eject the museum off the city-owned land. The painting in controversy was Chris Ofili's The Holy Virgin Mary, depicting a black Madonna with cut-outs from pornographic magazines and elephant dung.

» In a new twist in the battle against evolution creationists in Kansas hope to convince the Board of Education to drop evolution from the curriculum! Since it is unconstitutional to teach religious theory in the schools, creationists argue, evolution must also go. Shades of Isaac Asimov, who punned: "I'd let them teach creationism in the schools if they let us teach evolution in the churches."
[CN #74 Summer 1999]

A Bedford, New York school district was charged with teaching "satanic rituals and cult worship." A federal district judge rejected 12 claims of violation of students' religious freedom rights, but accepted three. He ordered the school to bar lessons that incorporate religious symbols or routines, such as allowing children to make "worry dolls," to repeat "creeds" in Earth Day celebrations, and to construct paper models of Ganesha, the Hindu god. A Court of Appeals may disagree.
[CN #74 Summer 1999]

» National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley 524 U.S. 569 (1998)
The landmark case challenging the constitutionality of the NEA guidelines for selecting art for funding where the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the "decency and respect" provision, partially to save the NEA from being shut down.

Andres Serrano's Piss Christ, a photograph of a crucifix submerged in a red-orange liquid, drew heavy criticism as an anti-Christian act in 1989. » Brief entry on the Censorship Timeline » General description of the work and the controversy it incited

» Malagoli's The Pregnant Virgin a painting of a pregnant Mary, has been refused entry into solo and group exhibitions in France and Belgium. The artist wanted to explore the strange lack of images of Mary's pregnancy, compared to the extensive material on the Immaculate Conception and Jesus's birth.

» Cynthia Karalla's photographs of statutes of saints for an exhibition at the Sassi in southern Italy was cancelled after residents of the small town heard of the subject matter of the photographs.

» Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, a movie exploring the human aspects of Jesus, created controversy even before it was made because of its non-traditional look at Christ and speculation about his possible fallacies, including day dreaming about having sex with Mary Magdalene.

» Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson 343 U.S. 495 (1952) The New York State Board of Regents revoked the license on Burstyn's movie, The Miracle, which told the story of a woman impregnated while drunk who believes the pregnancy was an immaculate conception. The Court held the revocation unconstitutional, as the statute providing for licensing operated on prior restraints, which prevents speech from ever reaching the public.

» Unintelligent Design Spring 2005 by Jim Holt
Is the "intelligent design" theory just creationism masquerading as science?

» Creationism by Any Other Name... Spring 2005
Brief examples of the battle between creationism and evolution.

» Netizen Report on Religious Right Connections to Major Internet Filters
As the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Free Expression Policy Project have extensively reported, Internet filtering systems routinely censor artistic and literary sites, human rights information, and communications dealing with public health and sexuality education. (insert anchor) (See Internet Filters: A Public Policy Report for more details.) NCAC supporters may now be interested to know of another bias in filtering systems: religion. Nancy Willard at the University of Oregon's Center for Advanced Technology in Education recently published a paper called: Filtering Software: The Religious Connection, which exposes the unsettling relationship between some prominent filtering companies and conservative religious groups. In it, she notes that several filtering systems with a major presence in public schools have a history of functioning as religious Internet Service Providers and/or espousing conservative philosophies. NCAC and FEPP believe that this delegation of educational decisions to companies with religious agendas poses a great danger to the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state.
» Read Willard's report in its entirety

» Exhibition of Greek Goddess Cancelled, Then Approved
Roseburg, Oregon
February 25, 2005
Officials of the Douglas County Museum were planning an exhibition on Hebe, a character of historical significance to the town, until several Douglas County Commissioners ordered the exhibit to be canceled believing it could "drive a wedge" into the commmunity.

» Has His Penis Gone to His Head? Spring 2004
Jerry Boyle's sculpture, Holier Than Thou, provoked heated criticism that it is offensive to Catholics because the Bishop's miter is overtly phallic and his expression too dour.

Art, Religion and Censorship A Roundtable of Artists, Authors, Critics and Directors, including Svetlana Mintcheva, Andres Serrano, and Christopher Durang, amongst others, discussing the intersection of religion and artistic expression. From Conscience: A Newsjournal of Catholic Opinion, Vol. 24, Issue No. 1 Spring 2003 (available to order from the NCAC, contact ncac@ncac.org)

» Education Held Hostage Fall 2002 by Joan E. Bertin
Describing the issue of academic bias when dealing with the Middle East and Islam.

» Let's Pledge Common Sense Fall 2002 by Norm Pattis
An editorial on the 9th Circuit ruling on "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and Congress's likely response.

» How About An Old-Fashioned Book Burning? Spring 2002 By Lisa DeHart
An article ridiculing efforts to ban Harry Potter because of wizardry, and illustrating the slippery slope of book banning because of perceived anti-religious themes.

» The Miracle: Film Censorship and the Entanglement of Church and State by Marjorie Heins
Through exploring the history of film censorship by the Catholic Church in America, Heins directs our attention to the dangers of intermingling church and state in other areas.

» Joint Statement of Free Expression and Arts Organizations Opposing Mayor Giuliani's "Decency" Subcommittee April 4, 2001
Spurred by two controversial exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, Mayor Giuliani appointed a cultural affairs "decency" committee whose purpose appears to be to restrict artwork on display throughout the city. This joint statement recognizes the dangers of such a committee.

» Decency Revisited: New York's Mayor Is At It Again Spring 2001
The continuation of Giuliani's campaign for decency in New York. Spurred by the Sensation exhibit and now Renee Cox's Yo Mama's Last Supper, both at the Brooklyn Museum, Giuliani instituted a "decency" commission to police such matters.

» Anti-Censorship Sex Ed Campaign Taking Off Spring 2001
Describing the NCAC's Joint Statement, which focuses on abstinence-only education as censorship, as an affront to the principle of church-state separation.

» Network Opposes Potter Policy The Holland Sentinel April 19, 2000
A letter to the editor opposing the restrictions placed on the Harry Potter book series in Zeeland Public Schools under the justification of protection the rights of those whose religious views may be offended by the books.

» Supreme Court Speaks On Religious Speech Summer 2000
The Supreme Court ruled that pre-game student-led prayers were an inappropriate crossing of church and state, as it could be perceived as an endorsement of a religion by the school district.

» Giuliani, Decency, the Arts and the First Amendment An essay overviewing the "decency standard" and arguing for the values of art that critiques, offends, questions, or otherwise provokes a response.

» Abstinence-Only Education: Why First Amendment Supporters Should Oppose It A comprehensive overview of abstinence-only education from its religiously based foundation to its current consequences.

» Is Harry Potter Evil? Winter 1999 by Judy Blume
Harry Potter receives more opposition for its occult, wizardry content. In Minnesota, Michigan, New York, California and South Carolina, parents who feel the books promote interest in the occult have called for their removal from classrooms and school libraries.

» Weird Science Fall 1999 by Katha Pollitt
An op-ed article on the Kansas state education board's decision to remove evolution from the mandatory curriculum in its schools.

» Culture Wars Come to New York (Along With Mosquitos) Fall 1999
Another article describing the Giuliani/Brooklyn Museum controversy over the Sensation exhibit, especially Chris Ofili's The Holy Virgin Mary, a multi-media (including elephant dung) painting that depicts Mary as black.

» Free Expression and Arts Groups Applaud Brooklyn Museum of Art September 30, 1999
The Brooklyn Museum challenged then-Mayor Guiliani's opposition to the Sensation exhibit that ignited controversy with Chris Ofili's black Holy Virgin Mary.

» Academic Freedom Survives Court Battle Spring 1999
The Family Living &p; Human Sexuality course at Nassau Community College survived an attack by conservative religious groups who complained the course rejected traditional Judeo-Christian values and advocated anti-religion by teaching about abortion, homosexuality and birth control.

» Do Teenage Girl Magazines Belong On Middle School Library Shelves? Newsday
March 1, 1998 by Joan E. Bertin
Teen magazines such as Seventeen were removed from a middle school library after criticism for promoting ideas contrary to traditional moral values.

» NCAC Letter to Long Island School District Superintendent About Removal of Three Magazines February 13, 1998

» Oh! klahoma City's Censorship Battle Fall 1997
Religious groups take credit for a crusade against local merchants selling "obscene" materials. Their tactic includes identifying "obscene" materials, pressuring government officials to take action, and ultimately remove vendors of "smut."

» A Band to Scare Parents With May 18, 1997
By Neil Strauss
Marilyn Manson is opposed by those who believe he worships Satan and promotes anti-religious ideas.

» Gay Family Exhibit Draws Fire and Support Summer 1996
Opponents of an art exhibit depicting happy gay families claimed that the display violates their religious and moral beliefs and would "irreparably harm" their children.

» Religious Right Group Seeks College Control Fall 1996
The American Family Association's long-running attack on a human sexuality course at Nassau Community College is based on its opposition to the course material's inclusion of non-traditional families, contraceptives, and "wife-swapping and fornication."

» Sticky Solution: Glue the Pages Winter 1996
Textbook pages depicting the Big Bang theory were glued together under the idea that if creationism could not be taught, then neither could the Big Bang.