Jesus being seduced by Judas on stage? A distinct lack of uproar.

Biblical figures being branded pimps? Barely a word of criticism.

So while anger has been brewing in Jewish and Muslim quarters about these "blasphemies", Christian leaders have appeared almost nonchalant.

Stephen Billington plays Judas Iscariot in Corpus Christi

New versions of three Books of the Old Testament, which condemn prophets as cheats and pimps, published this week by Canongate, contain new forewords by well-known artists and writers.

In the Book of Jonah, Glaswegian novelist Alasdair Gray, describes the subject as a "cowardly or childish man" who converses with God in a "self-pitying cackle" or a "dismal whimper".

Abraham and Isaac are called "polygamous nomads who get cattle or revenge by prostituting their wives or cheating foreigners or relatives".

But while Muslims and Jews united to dismiss the material as "insulting and offensive", and have threatened action against the publisher, what price the Christian conscience?

Similarly, last week's London première of Corpus Christi, in which Jesus is portrayed as a homosexual, resulted in a death fatwa being pronounced on the play's author, Terence McNally by a Muslim Shari'ah Court of the UK.

While lay Christians protested outside the Pleasance Theatre to register their disgust, any official rebuke was conspicuous by its absence.

Rev Leslie Griffiths, a former president of the Methodist conference, says the church authorities have softened in recent years as these sorts of "artistic attacks" has become more common.

"I think it is an indication of a resigned attitude. This is not the first or the last portrayal of Christ that is ... a product of people's imaginations," he says.

The Christian belief that God found a human form means it is more of a target for speculation about the character of Jesus.

"When God enters human history you must expect different cultures to turn that Christ into characters that suit them. That's the price you pay."

"If gay people are saying that Christ is making God accessible to them as gay people then that aspect is perfectly fair. Turning Christ into the person who represents your point of view is what it's about."

Of course, in the UK the Church of England is alone in having the protection of blasphemy laws. Under common law, blasphemy is defined as "contemptuous, reviling, scurrilous or ludicrous matter" relating to God, Jesus Christ or the formularies of the Church of England.

But blasphemy has not been enforced through the courts for more than 20 years and it is uncertain how it would square with European directives on free speech and human rights.

In any case, many Christians would think that an to prosecute would do more harm than good, and simply give more publicity to the "offending" material.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company portrayed Jesus as a Teletubby

However, not all Christians share Mr Griffiths's liberal interpretation.

Joanna Bogle, of the Association of Catholic Women, was "sickened and disgusted" at the thought of Christ being portrayed as gay.

She wrote to the Pleasance asking it not to stage Corpus Christi but insists she did not expect official condemnation from the Catholic Church, even though this would probably have carried more weight.

"Unless it was perhaps a major event at a major theatre, which this is not, it's not the job of church representatives," says Mrs Bogle.

"A bishop's job is to teach the Catholic faith. It's not really the sort of thing that I would expect bishops to get involved with."

But while Mr Griffiths acknowledges that the portrayal of Christ as homosexual could be seen as "regrettable" it does at least point to Jesus's enduring appeal, he says.