There has been outrage from the Muslim community after the animated comedy television series South Park depicted Muhammad in a bear suit. The Guardian reports on the situation:

South Park Muhammad episode censored
The Guardian, 22nd April 2010

"South Park is not known as a show that shies away from controversy, but last night its creators appeared to bow to threats of violence from a US Muslim group by censoring a typically irreverent episode about religious leaders, including Muhammad.

Wednesday night's show was labelled with the word "Censored" after the words Prophet Muhammad were beeped out during broadcast and images of the prophet in a bear outfit were substituted with ones of Santa Claus in the same costume.

But whether the changes were intended to acquiesce to the threats, or make fun of them, was not immediately clear. In the first part of the 200th episode screened last week, Muhammad appeared several times inside a bear suit, while the leaders of other religions were also depicted irreverently, including a scene which showed Buddha snorting drugs.

Before last night's show was aired, Islamists warned its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, they could face severe retribution for repeating the depiction of Muhammad in costume.

A posting on the website of the US-based group, Revolution Muslim, warned Stone and Parker they would "probably wind up like Theo van Gogh" if the images were broadcast.

It posted a graphic photo of Van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who was stabbed to death in 2004 by an Islamic militant over a movie he had made that accused Islam of condoning violence against women. The post, which has since been removed, also included a link to a news article which contained details of a house in Colorado that the writers are thought to co-own and listed the addresses of Comedy Central's New York office and the show's production office in California.

Written under the name Abu Talhah al-Amrikee, the post said: "We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."

Amrikee later said the posting was not an incitement to violence but had been published to raise awareness of the issue and to prevent it happening again...."

Click here to read the full article.

What should be our response, as Christians, be to the depiction of Muhammad by South Park? To the threats towards the South Park creators? Have your say on our forum.

Article by Cameron Spink

Reports have littered news websites that Noah's Ark, mentioned in Genesis, has been found on one of the peak's of Mount Ararat in Turkey. This is encouraging for Christians as it provides us with some evidence confirming the biblical story. This discovery can have great effect confirming the historical integrity of the Bible to the world.

Richard Dawkins, the world's foremost atheist, has stated today that he will assemble a legal team to charge the Pope with crimes against humanity, news.com.au reports.

Richard Dawkins promises to arrest Pope Benedict XVI
news.com.au, April 11, 2010

"Atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins has vowed to arrest the Pope for crimes against humanity.

Professor Dawkins has hired a team of lawyers to see if Pope Benedict XVI can be charged over his handling of the sexual abuse scandal engulfing the Roman Catholic Church, according to The Sunday Times.

Professor Dawkins, who wrote The God Delusion, claims that the Pope has shielded paedophile priests from the authorities.

However, he and fellow writer Christopher Hitchens believe they can make a case for arresting the Pope during the Pope's planned visit to Britain in September.

Among the human rights lawyers they have hired is Australian-born barrister Geoffrey Robertson.

They do not believe the Pope will be able to claim diplomatic immunity because he is not recognised as a head of state by the United Nations...."

Click here to read the full article.

How do you stand on this issue as a Christian? Is Dawkins right to try to charge the Pope or has he let his hatred of religion blind him? Have your say on our forum.

Article by Cameron Spink

Article by Bill Muehlenberg

"With a major atheist revival meeting currently being held in Melbourne, all the true unbelievers have come out in force, emboldened to proclaim their faith. Plenty of media attention is being given to their religion, with its high priests given a very good run indeed.

Thus Richard Dawkins (‘There is no God, and Dawkins is his prophet’) is getting a dream run with Australia’s mainstream media. No wonder that, since so many of the MSM are themselves card-carrying atheists and God-haters.

Even before the weekend conference began, the Dawkins’ disciples were pushing their creed. For example, on Wednesday a Herald Sun columnist felt empowered to push her anti-God agenda. With a piece strangely entitled, “We atheists are not all godforsaken,” Cheryl Critchley seeks to enlighten us all on the wonders of misotheism.