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I Need This Book!!!
http://www.westgaz.co.uk/displayNod...ntentPK=7093335
JESUS DIARY IS 'UTTERLY STUPID' SAY CHRISTIANS
BY HUGO BERGER STAFF REPORTER
15:40 - 18 September 2003
Outraged Christians have called for a novel depicting Jesus as a foul-mouthed, promiscuous, pot-smoking youth to be banned from shelves of a local bookshop. This week The Utterly, Utterly Private and Confidential Teenage Diary of Jesus by cult author Paul Murphy went on sale at Ottaker's Book Shop in Middle Street, Yeovil.
Mr Murphy's account of Jesus' adolescent years is vastly different from the Bible, portraying him as a typically-confused teenager.
In the diaries Jesus calls the Virgin Mary a "frigid bitch", and describes his experiences of taking marijuana and LSD and having sex with Mary Magdelene.
Mr Murphy of West Camel believes most people will not take offence and is a fierce defender of free speech, but church leaders in Yeovil have condemned the book as blasphemous and threatened to boycott the store.
He said: "Times have relaxed, you walk into any pub on Saturday and there will be somebody telling a joke about Jesus or the Pope.
"I do not think that people who will pick up this book will be offended by it. I think the people who will find it offensive will not pick it up in the first place.
"I personally find sawing sheep in half offensive but I would fight to the death for people to be able to do that in a democracy.
"I am sure God had a sense of humour, how else do you explain the Welsh?
"If one looks past the surface the book makes pointed remarks about religious intolerance, holy wars, blind faith in leaders, even the Gulf War and to be frank, I have used the lowest common denominator to make some sincere comments."
Steve Hart of the Yeovil Community Church said Christians would oppose the sale of the book at Ottakers.
He said: "From what I have heard of it it sounds very offensive to Christians. Anything which is contrary to the Bible is heretical. If it is contrary to what is taught in the scriptures then it should not be on sale in Yeovil.
"It is amazing that someone can be so derogatory about Jesus."
The Rev Will Thompson of Yeovil Baptist Church said: "I would imagine that a lot of Christians would be very offended by the contents of this book.
"Jesus Christ is someone of importance and to be made a fool of with no authority and justification is disappointing. I do not go around asking for books to be banned but I will definitely not be buying it.
"Our Lord has been portrayed in many guises and he is better than all of them."
Local Church of England spokesman John Andrews said: "It sounds too ridiculous for words. It is very stupid and cheap and shows a real lack of imagination if this is all he can think to write about. He is obviously trying to court controversy."
Preston Community School headteacher Reg Jones said the book would not be welcomed in the school's libraries.
He said: "From what I have heard about it I would have reservations about it being available in school. Although parts of Shakespeare and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are rather risque they do have educational purposes.
"With the proviso that I would have to look at it first, I would not really want a book like this in the school."
Ottaker's manager Marcus Bishop defended the sale of the book, saying: "I have not read it, but if we did get any complaints about it I would consider taking it off the shelves.
"But we are a local bookshop and we do try our best to promote local authors."
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Retro ...
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I stopped going to church after that hehe. 
