ESSENCE Poll: Should Religion Be Off Limits in Comedy?

The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder is back with a new sitcom called Black Jesus coming to Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim this August.

The show features “Jesus” living in present-day Compton, California and working “on a daily mission to spread love and kindness throughout the neighborhood with the help of his small but loyal group of downtrodden followers.”

In the extended trailer above, “Jesus” is just one of the guys. He curses, smokes marijuana and justifies it to his crew by saying, “You do know I died for all of your sins right?”

Public response to the show has been mixed. While some are excited for McGruder’s return and for another Black sitcom, others are offended by a show that appears to make a mockery of Jesus. Petitions have even popped up on change.org in an effort to get Cartoon Network to cancel the show.

Of course this isn’t the first, nor will it be the last time comedians make fun of religion on television. Shows like Family Guy and Saturday Night Live regularly spoof religion. Should we laugh it off or is religion off limits in your book? 

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