I found my friend's observation insightful, and I expand on it here. (Standby for the random Star Wars analogy at the end.)
First off, it is a great tragedy that people are not reverent to name of Jesus Christ (though all will be some day--see Philippians 2:10-11).
However, it says something about Christians themselves that they tend to tolerate (in the fullest sense of this word) such irreverence. In contrast, many followers of Islam will not tolerate such irreverence to Muhammad (though even this intolerance is improperly placed, as the prohibitions against depictions of Muhammad are meant to deter worship of him). You see, in this instance, the creators and producers of South Park are not avoiding reference to Muhammad out of respect to Islamic tradition and law, but rather out of a fear for their own well-being and for those who work with the show. Literally, their lives are at stake.
I'm about to draw a strange parallel, as a similar lesson was not lost on C-3PO:
Chewbacca: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh!
C-3PO: He made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you.
Han Solo: Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee.
C-3PO: But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
Han Solo: That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
Chewbacca: Grrf.
C-3PO: I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, R2; let the Wookiee win.
I'm okay if Christians are the droids and Muslims are the Wookies. True Christian tolerance is a good thing.
However, it says something about Christians themselves that they tend to tolerate (in the fullest sense of this word) such irreverence. In contrast, many followers of Islam will not tolerate such irreverence to Muhammad (though even this intolerance is improperly placed, as the prohibitions against depictions of Muhammad are meant to deter worship of him). You see, in this instance, the creators and producers of South Park are not avoiding reference to Muhammad out of respect to Islamic tradition and law, but rather out of a fear for their own well-being and for those who work with the show. Literally, their lives are at stake.
I'm about to draw a strange parallel, as a similar lesson was not lost on C-3PO:
Chewbacca: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh!
C-3PO: He made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you.
Han Solo: Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee.
C-3PO: But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
Han Solo: That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
Chewbacca: Grrf.
C-3PO: I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, R2; let the Wookiee win.
I'm okay if Christians are the droids and Muslims are the Wookies. True Christian tolerance is a good thing.
