I’m a bit concerned about the lack of critical thinking in the world, especially when it comes to what offends people. Public discourse is becoming coarser and yet, something as benign as a CD mentioning Jesus is supposed to offend people.

As examples of the coarsening of public discourse, two of the Democratic candidates for President have used foul language during their campaigns. Wesley Clark said that he would “kick the shit” out of people that question his commitment to the military and John Kerry said that Bush would “f*** up” Iraq’s reconstruction. I guess a new strategy for the Dem candidates is to appear tough by using foul language. I guess they think that foul language would energize Democrats to vote. Whatever.

But I do are about the next news story. The Scotsman.com reports:

The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh yesterday confirmed it has banned the distribution of a charity Christmas CD because it mentions the baby Jesus.
…
“We could not just hand out the CD,” a hospital spokeswoman said. “If it went to every child it could cause offence to those who are not Christian.”

What is offensive about Jesus? Is it the part where he asks people to forgive and love one another? Is it the part where he says to turn the other cheek? Is it the part where he says to help the poor? What’s so offensive about Jesus?

For lack of evidence to the contrary, it appears to me that people aren’t offended by Jesus, but rather, they are scared of religion. How else do you explain why kicking the shit out of someone isn’t offensive, but loving them is?