Slayer's 'Christ Illusion' banned in India

As liberal society progressively moves in the direction of increased secularization, one would think that it would be easier to critique religions, including the promotion of material that might be considered offensive. This hasn’t been the case. In the past, as today, seriously scathing agitprop and art were considered by many to be sacrilegious (remember Piss Christ and Ecce Homo?) and anti-social. But these days, there’s the added fear of backlash and violence (witness the recent Idomeneo show cancellation in Germany).

Fear is starting to settle in.

This said, I suppose I should have seen this one coming: Slayer's latest CD, 'Christ Illusion,' has been banned in India because it is considered "offensive and in very bad taste."

Specifically, the album cover depicts a mutilated Jesus Christ, while the songs are overtly anti-religious. Song titles include "Skeleton Christ" and "Jihad." EMI India has banned and destroyed all existing copies, fearing that both Christians and Muslims would be offended (destroying the copies seems a bit excessive, but that's just me).

I blogged about this album when it was released back in August.

A censored version of the album cover has been produced, but EMI India has not indicated that they will be re-releasing the CD any time soon. It appears to me that they are doing this to avoid a potential row similar to the one created by the controversial Danish cartoons from earlier this year.

Mark this as another victory for anti-secular forces and a blow against free speech. By this action, EMI India is caving to the pressure of religious groups, particularly the extremists.

That's right, folks -- keep on pandering. Keep on giving inches. Keep on promoting the idea that anti-religious polemics are unacceptable and potentially "offensive." Keep cowering in the face of threats. Worry about offending the religious. Keep on giving them a sense of entitlement and legitimacy. And at the same time let's admit to having an inferiority complex and let's admit that we're scared shitless of religious groups and what they might do when they find some material "offensive and in very bad taste." Let's completely forgo the liberal mission to separate church from state and to protect people from the forces of evangelical religion.

And let's see where this all gets us.

Deservedly, Slayer gets to have the last word; "Jihad" is sung from the perspective of a religious extremist:

I have witnessed your death
I've seen it many times
Your tortured screams
Your decrypted little mind
A father's son
With pathetic eyes that bleed
Twins in the end
Begin and let the brothers fall

I will see you buried alive
Screaming for your God
I will watch you die again for him

God won't touch what I've done
He cries upon my feet
A privilege pain
Beneath buried are your dead
On splintered bones I walk
Sifting through the blood
Besieged in fear
Await the coming of the God

I will watch you die again for him

Blood is raining downward
The stain reflects the sun
Conquer divide within
Terrorize the mind
I have seen the end it's yours
Rosary in hand
Your selfish flesh it melts
Spilling from the sky

I will see you burn alive
Screaming for your God
I will watch you die

This is God's War
God's War
This God's War
God's War

War of Holy principles
I'm seeking God's help in your destruction
Slit the throat of heathen man
And let his blood dilute the water
Bury your dead

Fuck your God erase his name
A lady weeps insane with sorrow
I'll take his towers from the world
You're fucking raped upon your deathbed

This is God's War
God's War
This God's War
God's War
Fucking Holy War

[spoken]:

Be optimistic, happy and calm
Show no fear or anxiety
Smile at the face of God
And your reward will be eternity
Holy warriors
Your patience will be justified
Everything is for him
You must not comfort the animal before you kill it
Strike as champions at the heart of the nonbelievers
Strike above the neck and at all extremities
For it's a point of no return for almighty God
God will give victory to his faithful servant
When you reach ground zero you will have killed the enemy
The great Satan!