South Africa’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has instructed a TV commercial to be withdrawn as it could offend Christians.
The ad depicts angels falling from heaven because they are attracted to a man’s deodorant.
Catholics are outraged after discovering rosary beads – sacred jewellery used in prayer – are being flaunted as a fashion statement.
The strings of beads with a cross are now as likely to be found in cheap jewellery stores as they are in a church, with fashion franchise Diva selling three styles of a rosary necklace with a silver cross pendant for $14.99 each.
The beads are a hit with teenagers, but national president for the Catholic Women’s League Australia, Madge Fahy, said it was inappropriate for people to wear them as jewellery.
Muslims are predicted to account for 30% of the world’s population by 2025 — and marketers are taking note.
In a cover story Marketing Week writes: “Muslim consumers are a growing, influential and extremely loyal group, making them a desirable market for mainstream brands. But reaching them requires more than launching Sharia-compliant products. Making inroads to this sector takes deep understanding of the values of this community and building the brand from there.”
A Chinese clothing manufacturer probably thought it was on to a winner by exporting jeans bearing the Islamic expression “In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful” to Iran.
But an otherwise sound marketing ploy was undone by one embarrassing flaw: the phrase (Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim in Arabic), which graces each of the Qur’an‘s 114 chapters, was prominently displayed on the pockets of the jeans’ backsides, something likely to be seen as disrespectful by devout Muslims.
Incidentally, Buddhists have been similarly unamused at the use of their religion by merchants. So have Hindus.
“If there were no religious advertising, there would be no atheist advertising,” said Ariane Sherine in a phone conversation from her home in London. Sherine is a journalist who spearheaded the idea for ads saying, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
From a marketing perspective, however, the problem with the atheist brand may be that it is essentially selling nothing; not God, but no God.
About 200 Buddhist students held a peaceful protest rally outside an outlet of the international franchise Buddha Bar in the Indonesian capital on Thursday, accusing it of defaming their religion.
Avoiding alcohol and other intoxicants is the fifth of the “Five Precepts” that form the basic moral code of Buddhism.
Meanwhile the secretary-general of the Indonesian Pandita Sabha Buddha Dharma Foundation, said sealing off the bar was not the Buddhist way of seeking a solution. “Our way is never to force anything. A dialogue is needed,” he said.
Hindu believers are offended by images of Hindu dieties on underwear sold via CafePress.com
Norma Venning was surprised to encounter Mary, Moses and Noah in the toy aisle of her local Wal-Mart on a recent morning, but there was no sign of Jesus – the son of God had already sold out.
The pillaging of religious stories and symbols, long a staple of advertisers and marketers, is taking another twist, this time targeting Eastern religions.
Traditionally, the rosary is more about spiritual function than fashion. But these days the ordered string of beads is as likely to be found in a house of fashion as it is in a house of prayer.