"It makes me smile because this is typical of what the world wants to do, make money on everything," said Debbie Stone, a manager at Spencer Gifts. "Why not make money on Jesus?"
Visit a Spencer Gifts or on-line novelty store and you’re sure to find Jesus on just about any trinket you can think of.
"Action figures, bobble heads, you name it we’ve got it," Stone said.
There’s "Hope on a rope" a Jesus-shaped bath soap, a perfect to cleanse the body and soul.
"Actually, these have sold better than the devils," Stone said. "So, that’s a good thing."
Or, how about a dashboard Jesus? Enlightenment on a spring. You can buy "Jesus freak" flying discs, cocktail coasters Or a "God is groovy" t-shirt for the family pet.
And celebrities such as Ben Affleck and Jessica Simpson have been spotted sporting a "Jesus is my homeboy" t-shirt.
But the most controversial spiritual merchandise may be a Jesus g-string available on the internet for $15.
"In my opinion, it is definitely poor taste," said Brian Jones, Henderson Hills student pastor. "Yeah, it blasphemes because that’s not what Christ stands for. Christ on the panties or on the shower curtain. That takes Christ and cheapens who he is."
Manufacturers say it’s impossible to create an object without offending someone. And this may just be the beginning: a movie that grossed more than $600 million elicits "passion" in many to capitalize on the image of Christ. [Source]
One odd item I saw a couple of weeks ago coming out of Mass was a Confederate Battle Flag rosary. This was in a P.T. Cruiser decorated with the Marlboro Man motif and this rather odd rosary was hanging from the mirror. The flags on it to mark in between the decades were about one inch in size. Now I for one do not automatically equate the use of the Confederate flag with racism and that in some instances it is seen by the user to represent Southern pride. Regardless I think it is in pretty poor taste for a rosary and I think that even a American flag used the same way would be inappropriate.
I guess I should be happy that the Jesus hope on a rope is outselling the satan soap. And if you are interested you can buy Pope On A Rope for $9.95.
6 comments
I think it’s tacky to misuse religious symbols this way.
‘[A] movie that grossed more than $600 million elicits “passion” in many to capitalize on the image of Christ.’
Tacky? Try appalling. May God have mercy on the people who are doing this.
Regarding the Confederate Flag Rosary, how is it different in principle than something like this:
Irish Rosary with Shamrock Beads available from EWTN?
Shamrocks were first used as a description of the Trinity by St. Patrick. Only later were they identified nationally with the Irish. So Shamrocks have a valid theological context.
Regarding the Trinitarian symbolism of the shamrock:
One might say the same thing about a white saltire on a blue field, St. Andrew’s Cross, which later became associated with Scotland and used by the Army of Northern Virginia on it’s battle flag (I am assuming that by “Confederate Flag” we mean the battle flag, not the Bonnie Blue Flag, the Stars and Bars, the Lilly White Banner or the Blood Stained Banner). As for shamrocks today, I think it can safely be maintained that they are symbols of Ireland primarily; we do not, after all see them being used as Trinitarian symbols outside an Irish context. In contrast, we do see the use of a fluer de lis as a Trinitarian or Marian symbol outside of a French context (probably because of the disappearace of the French monarchy). All of this is dicta, however since I do not think that there can be any serious doubt that in this particular EWTN Rosary, the use of shamrocks is to appeal to Irishness. It is, after all, advertised as an “Irish Rosary.”
Are we arguing that because Ireland has traditionally been a Catholic country, the use of a national symbol with a religious origin on a devotional object is appropriate whereas a national symbol with a religious origin for a country that was not traditionally Catholic on a devotional object is not kosher? Are you suggesting that a Catholic of Irish extraction may appropriately manifest his pride in being both Catholic and Irish in a single Rosary whereas a Catholic from South Carolina–which contains the second oldest Diocese in the United States (Charleston) and home of the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independance (Charles Carrol)–may not manifest his pride in being both a Catholic and a Southerner in a similar way? It seems to me that unless we are giving a pass to symbols of traditionally Catholic countries, then one should be opposed to the Irish Shamrock Rosary if one is opposed to the Confederate Flag Rosary.
I have to say I think this isn’t all that totally cut-and-dried. At least in an American context, the shamrock isn’t a massively divisive symbol. The same cannot be said for the Stars and Bars.
I do realize that the Stars and Bars can stand for more than pure-and-simple racism–hey, I live in South Carolina myself! But the divisiveness remains, nonetheless–witness the recurring struggles over flying the Stars and Bars on the grounds of the S.C. State House. Shouldn’t we be sticking to the essential offensiveness of the cross (crucifix) on the end of the Rosary, instead of adding a potential offense that isn’t essential to the message of the Cross?
Of course, in a different context (maybe Northern Ireland or somewhere), where perhaps a shamrock might be a divisive symbol and the Stars and Bars pretty much a curiosity, the calculation would go differently. But it does seem like there’s a consideration of the weaker brother/sister that might apply here.
FWIW.
Peace,
–Peter