Rev Alice Goodman of Cambridge, England has stirred up a religious storm with her controversial 'WTFWJD?' car bumper sticker which stands for 'What the F*ck Would Jesus Do?'
The female American-born vicar, however, believes that the eye grabbing sticker, which is a play on the Christian motto 'What would Jesus do?' is not offensive or sinful in any way.
The vicar, who has had the sticker on for seven years until someone clicked her red Subaru Legacy recently with the sticker and sent to local newspaper citing Bible's prohibition in the use of cuss words.
Reacting to the complaints, Goodman said her detractors should 'get a life' as the sticker was harmless and simply "urges people to wake up and take notice."
Further explaining on her use of the cuss word, the 54-year-old told South West News Service (SWNS), "F*** is not a blasphemy, it's a vulgarity, an Old English word."
"I've never had a complaint about it before. I would suggest that anyone, who thinks it is inappropriate should get out a little more."
Goodman feels that the matter has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion as she her superiors had expressed no such issues. "My bishop knows I have the sticker on my car, and has no difficulty with it, and I've had the former Archbishop of Canterbury in my car, Rowan Williams, and he didn't raise an eyebrow," she told SWNS.
The vicar, who is married to Sir Geoffery Hill, famous poet and Oxford university professor, had also previously landed in controversy for an opera which she wrote in 1991 where a disabled Jewish man is murdered by Palestinian terrorists.
Goddman, who is rector of the parishes of Fulbourn, the Wilbrahams and Six Mile Bottom, has found support of the locals over use of 'WTFWJD' sticker.
Former Cambridge mayor Jenny Bailey was quoted by a website as saying, "I'd like to support the Rev Alice Goodman on this. I sincerely believe that a God/Teacher worth our adoration has a sense of humour and would understand our love and frustration with our fellow human beings."
The Venerable John Beer, Archdeacon of Cambridge, too extended his support said, "'It sounds like the Rev Alice Goodman has responded in all good conscience to the criticism of this anonymous newspaper reader."
"Perhaps a way forward may be for the vicar and the reader to meet together to discuss it further. Christianity has a long tradition of open debate where people can bring their differing views and share their perspectives."
