Jesus film ‘offensive, inaccurate’

Wellington pastor Ross Smith says Christians are ‘‘soft targets’’ as he condemned Netflix’s ‘‘gay Jesus’’ film as ‘‘blasphemous’’.

‘‘I hate it,’’ Ross, from the pentecostal Celebration Church, said to Stuff of the film.

‘‘I find it offensive, irreverent, inaccurate and blasphemous.’’

More than 2 million people have signed a petition to have The First Temptation of Christ, a Brazilian comedy that paints Jesus as a closeted homosexual, banned and for its producers to be ‘‘held responsible for the crime of villainous faith’’.

Smith said he wouldn’t call for it to be banned because of his commitment to the principles of free speech.

‘‘I’m not a fan of banning this, that and the other. I am all for freedom of speech. But it is saddening, particularly at this time of the year, to see such blatant lies and twisted innuendo.’’

However, he said Christians were unfairly victimised because they were considered ‘‘soft targets’’ that carried ‘‘no deterrent factors’’ to bigoted attacks.

‘‘A ‘turn the other cheek’ response might not be so forthcoming from other faith groups if they were to be denigrated to the same degree.’’

The First Temptation of Christ producers Porta dos Fundos – ‘‘Back Door’’ in English – defended its film on the same grounds, saying the company ‘‘values artistic freedom and humour through satire on the most diverse cultural themes of our society and believes that freedom of expression is an essential construction for a democratic country.’’

The Brazilian outfit, which won an International Emmy Award last month for another comedy special, The Last Hangover, is known for irreverent humour often based around religion.

Smith said that Porta dos Fundos made a ‘‘foolish choice’’ in producing the film, but said what he viewed as attacks on Jesus were ‘‘nothing new’’.

‘‘His name has been abused and misused since day one.’’

Netflix declined to comment.