Weekly Poll: Should Museums Display Art That's Pro- or Anti-Religion?

of course they should display both parts; after all art is an expression. there is a lot of religious work in museums but i haven’t seen much anti-religious (maybe is because if we don’t believe in a magical being we aren’t prone to draw it)

Of course they should.

Provided, of course that for every piece like Rubens’ “Christ and Saint John with Angels”, right next to it they put something like Mapplethorpe’s “Piss Christ”.

Teach the controversy, since the religious believe in it so much.

It’s sad to see anyone not support displaying anything and everything in an art forum, so long as the presentation isn’t based upon exploitation for the purpose of the display. So, for example, a display depicting children being harmed, if it is showing a real-world issue where kids were harmed, but not harmed in order to produce the display, I would support. But harming children in order to produce the images for display, I would be against.

But if it’s just an expression of opinion, why not have it “out there”? I don’t care what people express–express whatever you like. What someone thinks or says doesn’t “break my arm or pick my pocket” (a paraphrase of a good Jefferson quote).

I was in NYC when the Maplethorpe display was on. I went to see it only because it had generated so much controversy. In my hometown at the time, there were actually people insisting we should stop government funding for the arts or not fund exhibits that are “offensive” to some. So, I guess public funding can only go to happy portrtait and landscape paintings?

Gov’t money goes to loads of things I don’t personally support. Part of living in a democcratic republic is understanding that our gov’t has to represent a load of diverse views–some of which I will disagree with. I don’t live in Tracie-topia. I live in the USA–where everyone can and should be able to at the very minimum express an idea–for goodness sake…!

I voted ‘no’ because there was no option in the poll for “yes, as long as ‘anti-religious’ art receives no discrimination”. I have no problem with art which portrays religious beliefs being displayed as long as art that is anti-religious or derogatory in concept to a religion is allowed as well. I just don’t think that is possible in our society at this time.
That tolerance among religiosiity doesn’t exist!

Art is meant to be diplayed and provoke reaction. Artists often express views and feelings the observer is unable to express themselves.
Regardless of the subject, you will always find someone who feels offended by something in the display.
( I’m sure must be some sourpusses out there finding landscapes or flowers objectionable!)