Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Toilet paper bearing Biblical quotes withdrawn following protests

A Finnish toilet paper maker has removed quotes from the Bible, including the words of Jesus, that it inadvertently placed on its rolls after protests from some Norwegian church leaders.



Metsa Tissue was trying to convey messages about love but accidentally included lines from the Gospel of Matthew and First Corinthians on toilet paper sold in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. The firm selected the quotes from Facebook submissions, including one from Jesus: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

It only realised its mistake when it received feedback. "People like to read small, happy messages while sitting on the toilet," Christina von Trampe, a spokeswoman for Metsa Tissue, which produces the Lambi brand, said. "The vast majority of the feedback has been positive. Our intention was to spread love and joy, not religious messages."



Laila Riksaasen Dahl, the Bishop of Tunsberg in protestant Norway, was not amused. "This is bad taste and show lack of respect," she said. "Bible verses do not belong on a roll of toilet paper." The company, whose toilet rolls in the Nordics regularly feature witty quotes, poetry or philosophical messages, said it would continue the product line but with more stringent vetting.

3 comments:

Ratz said...

Shame, thick though they are, bibles are a bit rough on the (w)hole, so loo roll bibles would be great.

There's a quote from Zach Galifianakis that goes something along the lines of: "Sometimes, I like to read the bible in public places and when people notice me I mutter out loud 'Oh Bullshit..'"

BoS said...

"show lack of respect"

Could someone give me one good reason why a book of folk tales (which includes many, many factual errors and outright lies) written by ignorant, uncivilised, goat-herding Bronze Age savages should be given a single iota of respect?

Anonymous said...

Because regardless of who has written it, to some people it's really important. To a vast majority of people it's really important, and even if you don't believe in it, other people have a right to, and wiping your ass with someone sacred book is a little disrespectful...