Religious Thread

[Fish-Bait]

I heard about this up in New York or something...what's the deal with it ?

[Hermione]

They cancelled the exhibit. I thought it was incredibly stupid and disrespectful.

[LipsofanAngel]

Hawk- do you have a link to this? I hadn't heard anything about it...

[zorro]

If it were made of stone would it be disrespectful? Was it the artists use of chocolate as a medium that makes it offensive?
Let's see if you can figure it out from the quote below:

He used 200 pounds (90 kg) of chocolate to make the sculpture which, unusually, depicts Jesus without a loincloth.<!-- E BO -->

[LipsofanAngel]

so is it the fact that there is no loin cloth that's offensive?

[zorro]

Hawk- do you have a link to this? I hadn't heard anything about it...
Lips, here's one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6509127.stm

[EricStratton]

I thought the exhibit closing was ridiculous. It may have been different if the guy was trying to "poke fun" at Jesus or Christians in general, but the artist is a professed Christian (a Catholic, nonetheless).

I didn't see anything wrong with the piece itself. I could have done without the exposed genitalia and didn't ever understand his reasoning behind that, but I didn't think it was offensive to me as a Christian. I'm just not that interested in seeing Jesus' or any other man's junk.

[Astra]

Eh, naked guys are part of classical art. Would it have been more disturbing if Jesus was built like a Ken doll?

[EricStratton]

I thought the name of the piece, "Sweet Jesus", was just downright hilarious!

I think you're right, Hawk. The price of this piece of chocolate heaven just has increased substantially in the last 12 hours.

[Conveyor Belt]

http://www.nbc10.com/2007/0330/11442998_240X180.jpg

I don't think the imagine is offensive... no one has a problem with the little naked baby jesus dolls in the nativity displays, but it's SO wrong to have a naked chocolate Jesus? Seriously... if it was in some sexually explicit pose, I could see the controversy, but he's in a pose like he's on an invisible cross...

[Hermione]

But why chocolate? I think the medium is more offensive than the statue itself. "Chocolate" equates Jesus' death on the cross with children's candy.
However, you guys are right that this would probably be best ignored. Gosh, though, I missed the part where mobs of rampaging Christians took to the streets in protest and threatened to kill the artist.

[fuzzis]

While I haven't read the artist's thoughts about it, I can see an analysis that says something about how the holiday (much like Christmas) has become more about the goodies in the Easter basket (personally...my favorite part) than the message of resurrection. :smt102

fuzzis

[SoMissTV]

The artist works in food medium. His other installation projects included covering a hotel room in melted mozzarella and hanging 315 pounds of sliced ham on a 4 post bed.

I am, surprisingly, NOT making this up.

[EricStratton]

The artist works in food medium. His other installation projects included covering a hotel room in melted mozzarella and hanging 315 pounds of sliced ham on a 4 post bed.

I am, surprisingly, NOT making this up.

Damn, I'm fixin to go to the Waffle House!

[Fish-Bait]

I thought the name of the piece, "Sweet Jesus", was just downright hilarious!

I think you're right, Hawk. The price of this piece of chocolate heaven just has increased substantially in the last 12 hours.
Although I havent read the entire thread, and with that being said....I think I will go and machine out a little chocolate Jesus mold and market it, "with the loin cloth that is".

COME RIGHT OVER FOLKS AND GET YOUR LITTLE CHOCOLATE JESUS FOR JUST $4.99...:)

[firefly]

Zorro's falling down on his job. How many are pissed about Chocolate Jesus? (Sweet Jesus)

And, I thot only the Muslims got PO'd about effigies?
WHAT???!:smt118

[firefly]

Lips, here's one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6509127.stm
Thanks for the link, Zorro! I hadn't heard anything about this, but from what I saw on that link, it is HIGHLY OFFENSIVE to me!!!:smt118

[EricStratton]

There was a story on CNN today about a sculptor who created an image of the crucified Jesus out of chocolate with his (Jesus') gentitals exposed.

[zorro]

There was a story on CNN today about a sculptor who created an image of the crucified Jesus out of chocolate with his (Jesus') gentitals exposed.
That's what this thread has been about.

[EricStratton]

That's what this thread has been about.

I know. I was explaining that to Firefly. Thanks for lookin'm out and trying to make me look like a burro.

[zorro]

Thanks for lookin'm out and trying to make me look like a burro.
Actually, I wasn't trying to do that; however, it is kind of catchy -- "zorro & burro" :laugh:

[Conveyor Belt]

Although I havent read the entire thread, and with that being said....I think I will go and machine out a little chocolate Jesus mold and market it, "with the loin cloth that is".

COME RIGHT OVER FOLKS AND GET YOUR LITTLE CHOCOLATE JESUS FOR JUST $4.99...:)

Too late...
http://chocolatefantasies.com/crucifix_small.jpg
$4.50... and they even come with a RIBBON!!!

http://chocolatefantasies.com/religious.htm

Do any of you who find the sculpture offensive find these offensive as well? What about those sweethearts on valentines day with religious messages on them?

[Hermione]

Actually, I do find the chocolate crosses offensive. Not to mention, cheesy. The candy part of Easter is pagan but fun (yes, we have egg hunts at our church). The religious part of Easter is a whole 'nother thing.

[Conveyor Belt]

Thanks for being consistent...

[Hermione]

Btw, I asked my priest this morning if she thought the chocolate crosses were offensive and she said yes, for the same reason, that it confused the sacred with the profane (in the old sense of profane, that is, worldly.)

She also thought they were cheesy.

[wilebill]

Some people think a woman priest is offensive.

[Conveyor Belt]

I think there are some big ole' fuzzy lines out there with people and their religion... I'm not Christian, but I find these rock Chrisitan groups and rap Chrisitan groups offensive... I also find non-melodic percussion in church offensive, but that's just me...

I think those 'precious moments' figurines are religiously offensive, were I Christian. And those people who print stuff about God/Jesus on T-shirts... that's offensive, too... And all those knock off Christian logo's with a religious message... offensive... and those people who make profit off selling those things... I gotta go to work...

[LipsofanAngel]

are you being sarcastic CB? just wondering...

[Astra]

You know what I've been pondering...

I eat chocolate bunnies starting with the ears. Where would you start eating a chocolate Jesus?

/that will be 1 ticket to hell, coach

[Hermione]

Some people think a woman priest is offensive.

That's true, it's been a very divisive issue in my church.

[Conveyor Belt]

are you being sarcastic CB? just wondering...

No, I'm completely serious. I take religion seriously, even though I prod you Christians with my pitchfork every now and then. I think worship and mention of your god should be with the utmost respect, not putting the word 'Jesus... The REAL One' in a Pepsi bubble... or the No Fear shirt knock offs, or I could just go on and on, but you get the picture... That's just me... apparently, most other people feel differently about the issue, else there'd be a lot less drums and Jesus Rocks shirts going around...

[Astra]

There was a booth in the mall this weekend selling a bunch of those shirts. I'm not a fan - I don't find them clever, I really think a lot of them are quite tacky. I once complimented a girl on a shirt with some cool "Star Wars" artwork on the back of it, only to have her turn around to reveal it actually read "God Wars" across the front. I'm not even quite sure what that was supposed to mean. Somehow I doubt LucasFilm approved that product.

I guess it gets attention, but it's kind of disappointing when I see someone wearing a shirt for what I think is a favorite game or a TV show and I think "Hey, they like it too!" only to realize that the tiny print under the big logo reveals it to be some kind of religious parody.

[LipsofanAngel]

I re-read your post again, and thought about it for a moment... I can definately see your perspective. I agree on the tshirt thing- I've never been a big fan. As far as the music, I guess I'm different... just because I think that not everyone worships the same. I don't find old slow hymns being sung to the organ to offer any type of praise or worship to God.... seems a lazy waste of time (for ME).

One thing I know for sure... we'll probably all be really shocked when we get to Heaven and see that our earthly configuration of what angels or worship look like, are in fact NOTHING compared to what's really gonna be there.

[Conveyor Belt]

One thing I know for sure... we'll probably all be really shocked when we get to Heaven and see that our earthly configuration of what angels or worship look like, are in fact NOTHING compared to what's really gonna be there.

That's for sure, because no matter what anyone says, no one's been there and come back, that we can verify. Our ideas are ideas of man, not of God, despite what some may think. I could get on a wild hair, start pouring scripture from my mouth in beautiful torrents, have people going to Jesus right and left, but I'd just be a man saying God told me to do this or that or showed me this or that. I'm very sceptical of people who use God as a shield for the rest of the world, and those who hold it over your head. There's only one relationship that matters with God, and that's the relationship between you and God.

[TamHill]

The Muslims went nuts over the cartoon in Europe.They are an emotional lot. Some people are also offended at the sweet Jesus and have a right to be. I personally think it is a stupid "work of art", and I am not "religious". The Christian forces have a different way of expressing their disregard, through political pressure and the pocketbook. I certainly prefer the latter to mobs in the street and threats of death-much more dignified and in keeping with our cultural norms. But-despite the difference in displays of outrage, there is a common element, isn't there? No one can make light of another's religion? Should this be the case? In a democracy? Would it be better to just ignore the rude ones?

[Hermione]

TamHill, think of it this way. Jesus is someone Christians love and respect. Now think of a human you love and respect (a parent, a sibling, etc.) Now imagine someone making a nude chocolate statue of that person to publicly display as "art."
There's also a difference between government suppression of that art, and personal disagreement or dislike. Just as the artist is free to create, I am free to dislike and to say so. Just as long as I don't go slash his tires or throw rocks at his house, I can use all the pocketbook pressure at my disposal.

[aaron]

Funny exchange about this on CNN

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/31/the-daily-donohue-rantings-of-a-lunatic-bully-over-a-chocolate-jesus/

[SoMissTV]

As far as the music, I guess I'm different... just because I think that not everyone worships the same. I don't find old slow hymns being sung to the organ to offer any type of praise or worship to God.... seems a lazy waste of time (for ME).

Good point. I find much more value and meaning in singing older hymns with harmonies, melodies, and complex structure, rather than singing melody with a 20 year old who plays four chords on his guitar over and over.

To each his own.

[TamHill]

There's also a difference between government suppression of that art, and personal disagreement or dislike. Just as the artist is free to create, I am free to dislike and to say so.

Absolutely Hemione. I do agree. If the offensive object is to be bought and sold or presented to the public as a article for commerce then certainly a boycott or expressions publicly of displeasure are in keeping with our traditions. If it is libelous or slanderous the courts can be used. However, if it is an expression only whether art or writing or pictorial presentation, then do we put pressure on local gov't or media or public newspapers or museums to ban the offending piece? Wouldn't the right of free expression be more important than someone's being offended? I think the offendee has every right and even a responsibility to express displeasure, but should the media, public institutions, and protectors of our freedoms concede to them in the end?

[Augustus McRae]

Just returned to MyH.com after a several day "sabbatical" (I could just "sense" how much I was missed!). Just finished reading this entire thread to get "caught up." I'm left with three thoughts: 1) Statues of Jesus are extremely common throughout the history of art - the medium for this one just happened to be chocolate - I find that "artsy" and interesting, but not offensive; 2) I heard a GREAT sermon yesterday about Simon the Cyrene carrying the cross of Jesus after Jesus weakened under the load. A line from that sermon I remember vividly is that "..we must remember when Jesus walked among us, he WAS a mortal man...." The genetalia, while not necessary I don't think, confirm Jesus' manhood - plus the display of genetalia in sculpture throughout the history of art is not uncommon either; 3) I have to admit to you, I was MUCH MORE OFFENDED by the patently unnecessary and unfounded "gruesomeness" in the movie, Passion of the Christ, than I could possibly be by of a statue of Jesus made of chocolate.