Forty years on from its original release, there is still nothing to celebrate in this 'rock opera' that purports to represent the last seven days in the life of Christ.

Through this vehicle, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice present Jesus as a mere man and as an impure man, engaged in an illicit relationship with Mary Magdalene.

Each of these allegations is contrary to the biblical description of the Lord Jesus Christ - a calculated attack on One who is, "Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26).

Given the fact that other statements and suggestions that lie at the heart of Jesus Christ, Superstar plumb even deeper depths of blasphemy, this opera is a seriously corrupt aberration and shameful misrepresentation of the Christian message.

No Christian should have anything to do with it. And production theatres should consider that this idiom, characterised by such inaccuracy and blasphemy, is most inappropriate for teaching our current generation.

IAN BROWN

Convenor of government and morals committee, Free Presbyterian Church