Apple Rejects Sacrilegious iPhone App

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Apple Rejects Sacrilegious iPhone App

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Apple doesn't just reject pornography [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91508-Apple-Blocks-Obscene-Newsreader-App] as "objectionable material," [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91422-Apple-Pulls-Plug-On-Nine-Inch-Nails-App] it shoots down graven images, too.

The delightfully named "Me So Holy" app was rejected by Apple on the basis that you could take a snapshot of yourself and crop it onto figures of Jesus or other religious figures, which it felt some people might find "objectionable."

The developer, Benjamin Kahle, was rather upset by the rejection and posted the following on his blog [http://mesoholy.com/]:

Our question is, is religion really to be placed in the same category as these violent apps? Sex, urine, and defecation don't seem to be off-limits, yet a totally non-violent, religion-based app is.

Given that Kahle is pushing this as a religious app, perhaps he should look at the Ten Commandments, namely:

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

So, let's hear your thoughts: Is Me So Holy offensive blasphemy, or a harmless bit of fun?



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[Galletea]

Well it depends if you're religious or not doesn't it? There's certainly the scope for being offensive, in much the same light as the boobies from The Sun as was mentioned before. However there are many, many things that could be seen as offensive and these restrictions do seem to be somewhat excessive.

 

[Baby Tea]

Our question is, is religion really to be placed in the same category as these violent apps? Sex, urine, and defecation don't seem to be off-limits, yet a totally non-violent, religion-based app is.

Which only shows how he is probably not religious, and has no idea how closely people can hold their faith to their hearts. This could easily be seen as extremely offensive to multiple faith-based groups all at once, which begs the question: Why even make something so pointless and obviously offensive?

But the guy can ***** all he wants. Apple has the say, and I think they are absolutely right in this case. Are their other apps that are offensive and pointless that are permitted? Perhaps, but those aren't in question. This one is, and I agree with Apple.

 

[Caliostro]

Given that Kahle is pushing this as a religious app,

religion-based app is.

Religious-BASED. Not religious. Big difference. Get your facts straight.

On that note, the whole "offensive" thing is retarded from the start. If anyone was forced to download and use this, then I'd understand it being removed, but seeing as it's usage is ENTIRELY OPTIONAL people who push to have this product removed because they don't like it should kindly drop dead, because I don't like them, and according to their retarded logic this is good enough reason.

 

[ontherisess]

Apple Rejects Sacrilegious iPhone App

Given that Kahle is pushing this as a religious app, perhaps he should look at the Ten Commandments, namely:

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Permalink

It's a harmless bit of fun. The ten commandments aren't laws if you don't believe in them you shouldn't have to follow them simple as. Personally I think it's stupid and anyone willing to waste money buying it is also stupid but if they want to let them. I find people that find it offensive, offensive.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Apple is now experiencing the joys of being a major company having to babysit its overtly sensitive public. They should just give up and give exclusive license to Disney just in case.

It's just like politically correct nursery rhymes. Say one bad thing and all hell brakes loose.

 

[RikSharp]

On that note, the whole "offensive" thing is retarded from the start. If anyone was forced to download and use this, then I'd understand it being removed, but seeing as it's usage is ENTIRELY OPTIONAL people who push to have this product removed because they don't like it should kindly drop dead, because I don't like them, and according to their retarded logic this is good enough reason.

totally agree, its a choice to download and use so if it offends you, dont download and use.

i always believe that the best way to argue is to use ludicrous extremes:

i'm offended by gps and map apps and i think they should all be pulled.

 

[Karyuu]

Religion deserves no more respect, for being religion, than any other part of human culture. We put it on a pedestal and bend over backwards to please the "faithful," even when they try to govern all our lives by rules only they follow.

This might offend some people? And I might be offended by an app that pokes fun at the Flying Spaghetti Monster - my poor sensibilities will be disturbed and my world will be in shambles. Is my faith of no more importance? What of a practitioner of Pagan faiths, that becomes irritated at a game that puts Thor in a pansy light. Will Apple reject it too, on the basis that Pagans across the world might be upset?

Get outta here.

 

[oneplus999]

Is Me So Holy offensive blasphemy, or a harmless bit of fun?

Since when are those are two different things?

 

[Xaositect]

Personally, I think religious people should count themselves lucky. If people took offence to some of the whacked out crazy make believe shit thats written in their holy books, to which many people do, and it actually had to be stopped because of it, religion would be a thing of the past.

I imagine homosexuals for example find many things in the Bible or Koran offensive, but are they censored on the grounds that some find it "objectionable"?

 

[crackdealer]

Wow, does anyone remember when Apple used to be cool? Back in the day they would have made this app, not their getting rid of it.

 

[TheBluesader]

Wow, does anyone remember when Apple used to be cool? Back in the day they would have made this app, not their getting rid of it.

Crack is right, but the original question as Root posted it is strange. What does it matter if people think the app is sacrilegious or just harmless fun? Apple made the call themselves and cut it off. And isn't that the problem? Why can't consumers choose which apps they want for themselves? Why does Apple have to babysit? Are they really that concerned about a religious minority getting all flustered? They're not exactly in dire financial straits at the moment.

It is of course their product in question, and as a private company, they can do whatever they want. Fine. But shouldn't we be more upset about their hyperactive babysitter's banhammer, treating us like children who need protected, than whether everyone dislikes what they've specifically banned or not?

 

[Zorg Machine]

Wow, does anyone remember when Apple used to be cool? Back in the day they would have made this app, not their getting rid of it.

they have too appease the people currently wavering away from PC's

 

[Tavion]

I'm not much of a man of faith, but I can understand that the applications that Apple accepts does reflect on their own morales and a universial brand like Apple does try to appeal to everyone. When it comes to their apps, it requires a certain ammount of cropping of questionable material.

I believe that there shouldn't be really much of a case to revoke a decision made by Apple, it is their business and they should be able to stand for what they believe to be moral, after all they are only defending their ideals and beliefs on what they think is right (or safe). When it comes to applications, it is easy to see that this application fall under the category of 'want' rather than 'need'.

Personally, I believe the designer of "Me so holy" shouldn't be kicking up dust just because Apple doesn't wish to hang it's neck out the window for such a meaningless application. I believe through Apple's disapproval, this application has probably become more noticed than it ever would have if it had been approved.

As matter of fact I'm not quite sure what the designer really expects from a big business like Apple. Businesses always like to play it safe and not take unnessary risks and in this case 'unnessary' and 'risks' are the two key words which could relate to this application.

Meanwhile violent applications are getting being greeted with open arms, well that is probably because that is what the masses enjoy. As I said businesses try to apeal to their customers wants and violence is one of the things that are considered more of a novelty rather than a serious matter now. I consider business's standards and morals to be a reflections of societies morals, which is rather embarassing for all of us.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Given that Kahle is pushing this as a religious app,

religion-based app is.

Religious-BASED. Not religious. Big difference. Get your facts straight.

Had this argument. Still hold to my guns.

 

[Flunk]

Technically all depictions of Jesus are blasphemy. If you actually pay attention when you read the bible there are a lot of things that devout Christians do on a regular basis that are blasphemous. But it shouldn't matter, it's not like religion is worth a damn anyway. It was designed as a way to control the masses and the sooner you drop it the better.

I can understand why Apple wouldn't want this on their store but I think they need to realize the controversy sells and if they do put up things that may offend people that they will make a lot more sales and get way more coverage in the media.

 

[Baby Tea]

Technically all depictions of Jesus are blasphemy. If you actually pay attention when you read the bible there are a lot of things that devout Christians do on a regular basis that are blasphemous.

False and false.
Poor theological understanding and hermeneutics are poor.

Is there any way we can have a news story or article that somehow, in some way, has a religious theme without people bashing religion as a whole? I'm starting to think there isn't. Which is a real shame, because this anti-theist internet-back-patting is pretty ridiculous. Why can't we just get along?

 

[Karyuu]

False? Not so. There are indeed lots of things Christians do on a regular basis that the bible frowns upon. And there is a lot that the bible states they should do, that they somehow brush off as barbaric in the same breath - while it is often in the same section of their holy book.

Perhaps religion would be bashed less if it didn't attempt the sorts of ridiculous stunts we often hear about in the media. Trying to ban this or that, trying to decide how people of other faiths should behave, trying to worm its way into public schools, etc., etc.

So until that ceases, I feel quite comfortable not getting along with such kind at all