Apple rejects 'Jesus Face' iPhone app

Ten days ago, it was one of the gods of rock. Now it's, well, God.

An iPhone app called "Me So Holy," that allowed you take a face shot and insert it into a portrait of Jesus or some other religious figure, has been rejected by Apple's tasterati.

Apple seems to have rejected the app with the same arguments it used to initially reject the Nine Inch Nails app update (which it subsequently approved).

It is not always easy to judge what is religiously tasteful. And what isn't.

(Credit: CC Simone Hudson/Flickr)

Section 3.3.12 in the iPhone agreement states: "Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users."

The "Me So Holy" developer, Benjamin Kahle, is wondering just what was so offensive or objectionable.

On his own site, he wrote: "You may be familiar with recent snafus over the baby shaker app and the rejection of the Nine Inch Nails apps. Our question is, is religion really to be placed in the same category as these violent apps? Sex, urine and defecation don't seem to be off-limits, yet a totally non-violent, religion-based app is."

He added: "We feel that Apple is being too sensitive to its perceived user group and are disappointed that this otherwise creative, freethinking company would reject such a positive and fun application. The message to developers is that they should think inside the box, rather than outside it.

Clearly, such apps are suffering the after-effects of the Baby Shaker eruption. Oh, Lordy.

[ikramerica--2008]

I'm not religious, but even I can see how this would be deemed offensive by many people. In some religions, such an act is blasphemy. I personally think people should lighten up, but Apple has no obligation to approve ANY application for the iPhone, because they will be the ones required to sell it, so if they say that dogs with sweaters on is offensive (and I think it is, to the dog), then they don't have to approve an app that lets you take a picture of a dog and put a sweater on it.

Nobody is forcing anyone to buy and iPod touch or iPhone. The iPhone isn't even the #1 model of phone, let alone the #1 platform for phones, and certainly not the #1 platform for computer software in general.

Me So Holy can be distributed on 98% of the other computing devices in the world that aren't iDevices, so why complain about the 2%?

[avitous]

I'm not religious either, but I'd lay odds the biggest reason this was rejected wasn't because of any message about religion, but instead about a way of casting a message about religion using a meme construed by some to be offensive in other ways:

1. Name was a superficial translation of "Me so *****", a stereotypical phrase attributed to sex workers of certain nationalities

2. Religious types would naturally -- those I know anyway -- be offended by images of their savior(s) associated with the activity referenced in #1.

YMMV

[TekNoiz]

Agree! 2% vs 98% ... i was not going to buy an iPhone but due to this considerate choice by Apple, i will definitely be choosing an iPhone this summer.

[Mergatroid Mania]

You have done such an excellent job explaining why Apple shouldn't be allowed to have a monopoly on Apple compatible aps.
I don't understand why anyone would pay for a device with only one source for applications, and that source censors what's available.
Next they'll be paying Apple to hold their hands for them, and read them a bedtime story.

The really funny thing is that Apple seems to have convinced them that they like it that way. "If I want your opinion I'll give it to you". There's one born every minute.

And why do you call them iDevices? You DO KNOW that Apple stole that name, right? Oh right, see line above...

[karpenterskids]

Oh, it's definitely offensive.
Not in the same way that the baby shaker was, but still...yeah, I'm glad Apple rejected this app.

[Angmarr]

man...and I though SOME Firefox addons were just plain stupid!
But @ least Firefox has a MAJORITY of killer addons

So...I wonder how many of these iphone apps (out of the 1 billon or whatever) are actually useful (in any sense of the word useful)?

[baconstang]

Apple dodged a bullet there. The FSM folks would have ripped them a new one.

[kpkilburn]

It's not even about it being offensive. I personally don't care about the app itself. It's about the creator trying to stir up trouble. He has malicious intent.

He knew that Apple would reject it yet submitted it anyway. He then went public and in mock disbelief asked, "What's so offensive about it." "Me so holy" doesn't sound anything like "Me so *****" (from Full Metal Jacket) does it?

He's just a punk trying to get some attention (which apparently worked because we're here commenting on his antics).

Time to grow up and realize the world isn't just about him .

[Jerryc123]

Me So Holy - not good, especially by a Jew who does not believe in Jesus.

[inachu1]

Typical neocon ideological values being presented here.
Just like Hollywood. Christianity is being attacked by all sides in movies and tv shows but we never see muslim faith or the hebrew faith being attacked but for some reason its ok to attack the christian faith.

[mcduarte]

Actually it should be ok to attack any faith.

[Everlovin G]

"When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity; when many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion."     ~Robert Pirsig

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."     ~Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

"We are all atheists about most of the gods humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further."     ~Richard Dawkins (1941-)

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."     ~Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[LandMineHare]

"...those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy, the most sublime & benevolent, but most perverted system that ever shone on man, endeavored to crush your well earnt, & well deserved fame." - Thomas Jefferson

[Jatajo22]

You have never seem the MUSLIM faith attacked??? Was this a joke?

[sanjayb]

If you attack the Christan faith, the pope or church will denounce you in a written statement. If you attack the Muslim faith, there will be protesting in the street, death threats and a possible jihad placed on you.

[billallis]

Kudos to the iphone folks! No one should insinuate they are even remotely on par with any religious figures. It is just obscene. The kids that developed this should really look at their motives, might also want to pray a bit before they release new apps just to see if they pass the tasteless test if nothing else.

[coolkev99]

Me so Holy? How about, you so stupid? Of course this is going to be offensive to some people. The dev is only fooling himself if he thinks otherwise. What if it wasn't Jesus but Mohammed instead?? I think you'd see about 10x the reaction that even this got.

[xcal78]

Denied because Apple would only allow you to insert your face into an Apple logo or Steve Job's not some religious figure. Let's all just sit back, relax, and wait for Apple to censore the world for us. I guess we deserve this since we give kids $400 dollar iPhone's these days.

[DigitalRAGE]

Yes this me so holy app is offensive. There is no argument about that. My question is who cares. If you want the offensive app. Just jailbreak your iphone and get it.

[MrBoomshadow]

Having solved all our other problems, Apple seeks to become our iNanny. The idea of one source for all content is not a good one, whether on the iPhone or in general.

[B-McGee]

"Need to sensor your entire life? There's an app for that..."

[johnqh]

Simple app to do, useless, and totally offensive to some people.

[GlennAllen]

There's nothing in this world that isn't offensive to someone. Personally, I'm offended by someone else thinking they can decide what may be offensive to others. Generally, I find everything about Apple "i" products to be offensive. :D

[myles taylor]

What annoys me about these articles that latch onto everything Apple approves or disapproves is that it makes it a bigger deal than it is. There is no way to please everyone! Just look at the discussions following the baby shaker app. Some people were outraged that Apple allowed it in the first place and others were outraged that they pulled it. You can't please everyone and the media just makes it worse by taking about it every time Apple makes a judgement call.

[amontoya6]

What is the deal..., what is so offensive? The Bible makes the claim that humans alone are "created in the image of God."... So put my face in a "representation" of Jesus does not offend to anybody, not even God!
Please wake up people. The only thing to be sacred and respected and revered is life itself! The fact to be a living body... Everything else changes...

[Farthing Haypenny]

Wow, not even the Bush administration tried so hard to spin censorship as a good thing. Apple is like Hugo Chavez. Popular yes, but still a Dictator. I'm sure they really appreciate the sympathy you have for Apple putting themselves in the position of being the arbiter of good taste.

[BPrince6]

Ironic, isn't it ? It's usually the censorship of conservatives because they dare defy the "political correctness" litmus test that liberal society has put in place, not of liberals. No, this is a rare example of liberals being censored by the very P.C. rules they set up to silence conservatives and have a monopoly on the speech. Sucks, doesn't it ??

[dfinniga1]

Thank you Apple for showing some taste. Contrary to a lot of people's opinions, I'm glad apple is choosing to reject certain apps! They don't HAVE to appease everybody's tastes and accept everything because its THEIR app store and THEIR product! Plus, most of the offensive ones rejected are useless and tasteless in the first place!

[B-McGee]

Apple should make the cheapest app in the app store cost around $2.99 - this would by default remove the majority of the worthless fart apps and apps like this one that do nothing to advance the platform.

[jackamus]

Umm.. Who cares?

[selfkill]

I concur. How about some real news?