Christianity Today Finds Title Good Christian Bitches in 'Bad Taste,' But Not Offensive

Christianity Today Finds Title Good Christian Bitches in "Bad Taste," But Not Offensive

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., May 9 2011 at 5:54 PM

Kristin Chenoweth, one of the would-be stars of Good Christian Bitches

I swear to Go ... well, OK, I promise there won't be an item about Sex and the City creator Darren Star's adaptation of Kim Gatlin's book every day. But perhaps you recall: Back in early March Donald and Tim Wildmon's American Family Association gave the series a pre-pilot publicity push by demanding an advertiser boycott and insisting that even if (which is to say when) ABC changes the name, "the content will still mock people of faith." The next day, the Parents Television Council came out and said, "The 'B-word' is toxic and is used to degrade, abuse, harass, bully and humiliate women. And the 'Christian' element only adds insult to injury."

Which is why, since it's looking more and more likely that ABC will pick up the Park Cities-set series, major media outlets are beginning to take note of the series and Gatlin's book (since most people aren't even aware the show's based on one). Hence today's Christianity Today editorial, which says, look, even though "the groups' indignation is understandable," maybe the title's not so bad after all.

The show is based on a book of the same name by Kim Gatlin, a professing Christian from Dallas, whose circle of Southern Baptist friends engages in a lot of gossip, some of it quite mean-spirited. "All Southern girls are taught to love Jesus, but just because we're Christians doesn't mean we're perfect," she told Newsweek. Gatlin says her book's title "is not mocking God. It's mocking those of us who love God and don't always make the best choices to honor him." On her website, Gatlin says she intends to "put a voice to the downside of gossip ... but with a message that she hopes will resonate with women everywhere."

Her book's title is in bad taste, but her subject demands our attention.

The book's title is arresting precisely because it should be an oxymoron. Unfortunately, even "good" Christians do and say nasty things, which look ugly to fellow believers and puzzle a watching world that rightly believes Christians should be above gossip, slander, and general meanness.

Read the whole thing here.

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Whatevs

I find Christians offensive and degrading for women.

Jack E. Jett

I think Kristen Chenoweth is so cute and wonder if straight guys find her attractive.

Yes, very much so. She also has the voice of an angel (no really, I'm straight).

Bill Lumbergh

So, in summary:

"We don't like the book title, but the title itself brings an important issue to light."

I suppose if we sanitized the title to something NOT controversial it would still get attention and thus the issue would still be brought to light? Or am I being generous? Seems to remind me about this phrase about shooting the messenger...

CrackerDaddy

Does anybody even really care?

Karen Zacharias

Thoughts on Good Christian Bitcheshttp://www.patheos.com/communi...

Lakewooder

People who grow up in trailer parks are "low class"? Really?

Wow, no wonder you take offense to this book. It hit a little too close to home.

amy

Vom, Karen. Nothing is more gross than Christians who profess to be persecuted. Um, when 90-some odd percent of the people claim to be "Christian" (in what ever incarnation they choose)...then it's likely that you're not being persecuted.

Get off the cross lady, we need the wood.

R Kirkland

Why is it that Christianity is always chosen as a laughing stock or mockery by many? I am a Christian and I am not trying to push my views on anyone. If you choose not to believe as I do, that is your own choice. We never hear anyone making fun of other faiths. Why is the show not titled " Good Muslim Bit**es"? The answer, the producers, actors, sponsors and everyone involved would be receiving death threats and they would cancel the show. I would be the first to admit that there are hypocritical people who are Christians and act, speak or do things they should not, according to their own claims of being a Christian. I am positive that I do or say things daily, that I shouldn't. Just because I am a Christian, does not mean I am, or claim to be perfect. Far from it. I am a Christian because God loves me even though I am not perfect. He does, however, want me to strive to be a better person and live as He would want me to. If everyone lived by this same mindset, would the world be better for it? If I believe in God and try to love and treat everyone else the way He wants me to and, in the end, there is no God, what or who has been harmed? As the worst case-scenario, I will have died as a person who tried to do for others and love them. If however, I live my life as if there is no God, paying no attention to how I interact or treat others, and, in the end, there IS a God, who is harmed? I will have died as a person who tried to do for others and love them. If however, I live my life as if there is no God, paying no attention to how I interact or treat others, and, in the end, there IS a God, who is harmed?