NEWS & ANALYSIS

"Reason’s Jesus shock!" – Daily Sun

"Rapper’s artwork for single causes hell!" – front page lead, July 22 2015

Daily Sun (July 22 2015) - RAPPER REASON’S new freestyle hasn’t even come out yet, and already his critics are spitting fire.

The artwork for the single shows Jesus in dark glasses with a naked woman slung over each shoulder.

IT GOES BY THE TITLE REAZUS CHRIST IS CUMMIN’.

“This is my own version of how I relate to Jesus Christ,” Reason told Daily Sun.

For his new song, to be released on Friday, the Ekurhuleni born-singer goes by the name Reazus Christ.

Reason said he was not calling himself Jesus Christ.  “I’m on a journey to be as perfect as Jesus Christ,” he said.  “I see myself as a child of God, but the world I live in has thrown so many evils at me, like women,” he said in an interview with News24.

Reason said he uses the picture because it described the content of his upcoming song perfectly.  “People will understand what I’m talking about as soon as the song is out,” he said.  “While growing up, Jesus was my superhero.” He said he admired Jesus because He did good deeds and was humble and giving. “I’m trying to be as good as He was.”

He said he has been in the music industry for three years and has seen a lot of good and bad. “There are things I think I am now ready to talk about,” he said.  “I’ve been told the best way to get to heaven is to tell the truth and I’m being very truthful.”

Gauteng provincial secretary of the South African Council of Churches and spokesman Gift Moerane said using an image of Jesus like this was shameful. He said the people who posted the image on the internet must remove it and apologise.

“Even in a free society we really have to respect religious symbols. We condemn these people because this is pure blasphemy. It goes against everything that Jesus Christ stood for,” he said.  “We are not happy at how this person portrays women. These are our mothers and sisters we are trying to protect. How are we going to protect them if they are portrayed this way?”

Pastor Daniel Mogotlane told Daily Sun this was blasphemy.

“It’s nonetheless not surprising because the Bible already predicted these things as a sign of the end times,” he said. ) Some Facebook comments from SunReaders:

Sibongile Segalo: “As a Christian I am offended by it. Just because Kanye West calls himself Jesus does not mean we will also accept this. This is clearly a mockery of Jesus.

Racquel Dos Santos: This is mocking God and God is not to be mocked.”

Themba Mhlongo: “Reason, I never thought you were this immature, baba. You lost another supporter here.”

Molwedi Ramoeletsi: “People are angry with Reason but some people make millions with gospel using God’s name.”

Lucas Motshwene: The White man is not Jesus.”

Jim Themba: “Jesus is white. We are black. What’s the noise about?”

See the Daily Sun’s new website for more on this and other stories....

 

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 274 165 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2nd Quarter 2014) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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