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Let's Buy Jesus!, Religion & Consumer Products
Comptine
post Dec 12 2005, 05:18 PM
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I was shopping at Urban Outfitters and was browsing their non-clothing section. I look around and see a giant pink thing. Upon closer inspection, it was a giant, pink Jesus. The little place tag in front of the item said Eight Ball Jesus. So I shake it and flip it over. Sure enough, it was an eight ball. When I put it down, I felt as if I disrespected one of the most important religious figures in Christianity (I'm not religious). Also, when I browsed through the tees at Urban Outfitters a little later, I found a tee that proclaimed 'Jesus is My Homeboy!'

I've been noticing lately how much of our consumer products are geared towards religious people (Not just Christianity. There was an Eight Ball Buddha and a Jew Unit shirt). Starbucks even started to print phrases from the Bible on their coffee cups.

If you are religious, are you happy to see your religion on products or do you feel as if it's disrespectful? If you aren't religious, do you feel uncomfortable about the influence of religious views?
 
 
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innovation
post Dec 20 2005, 09:39 PM
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I agree with Sammi. It's all about the intention behind the consumerism. Besides, I don't think it's even possible for the consumer market to be censored by eliminating all merchandise labeled as religiously immoral. Then again, I'm sure that when an object is blatantly sacrilege, the public's reaction will be enough to censor it (i.e. the Abercrombie tees--but that was more of a cultural thing).

This is an awesome topic for my theory of knowledge class during our ethics unit. Hmm...
 
illumineering
post Dec 20 2005, 11:18 PM
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QUOTE(perplexism @ Dec 20 2005, 10:39 PM)
I agree with Sammi. It's all about the intention behind the consumerism. Besides, I don't think it's even possible for the consumer market to be censored by eliminating all merchandise labeled as religiously immoral. Then again, I'm sure that when an object is blatantly sacrilege, the public's reaction will be enough to censor it (i.e. the Abercrombie tees--but that was more of a cultural thing).

This is an awesome topic for my theory of knowledge class during our ethics unit. Hmm...
*


The intention of consumerism is profit! Whatever is being produced needs to be done in such a way that it will create a brand identity and loyalty. Marketing spirituality is the creation of an identity that people buy. Spirituality isn't bought or sold in a store and has nothing to do with brand identity. It's quite the opposite. Religious/spiritual values derived from the purchase of goods does not suggest immorality or the need for censorship, either. A simple lesson in values may be in order. Consumerism and religion are not synonymous.
 
innovation
post Dec 21 2005, 10:02 PM
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QUOTE(illumineering @ Dec 21 2005, 12:18 AM)
The intention of consumerism is profit!  Whatever is being produced needs to be done in such a way that it will create a brand identity and loyalty.  Marketing spirituality is the creation of an identity that people buy.  Spirituality isn't bought or sold in a store and has nothing to do with brand identity.  It's quite the opposite.  Religious/spiritual values derived from the purchase of goods does not suggest immorality or the need for censorship, either.  A simple lesson in values may be in order.  Consumerism and religion are not synonymous.
*


I meant the intention of the consumers themselves, not the producers of the items. Perhaps "consumerism" was the wrong word to use, but I meant the intention of the consumers in purchasing these products. If their only intention is to create a superficial identity, then it is not in accord with their faith.

Newsweek and TIME have also been accused of "commercializing" religion because well, it sells. However, many religious leaders have been opposed to this because it encourages "snapshots" of religions rather than attempts at truly understanding them.
 
illumineering
post Dec 21 2005, 10:28 PM
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QUOTE(perplexism @ Dec 21 2005, 11:02 PM)
I meant the intention of the consumers themselves, not the producers of the items. Perhaps "consumerism" was the wrong word to use, but I meant the intention of the consumers in purchasing these products. If their only intention is to create a superficial identity, then it is not in accord with their faith.

Newsweek and TIME have also been accused of "commercializing" religion because well, it sells. However, many religious leaders have been opposed to this because it encourages "snapshots" of religions rather than attempts at truly understanding them.
*


Ahhh...that makes sense. Good point!
 

Posts in this topic
Endless_Symphony   Let's Buy Jesus!   Dec 12 2005, 05:18 PM
illumineering   A pink Jesus is about consumerism. As I have been...   Dec 12 2005, 05:47 PM
Acid Bath Slayer   I'de buy Jesus for like $5. No more, plen...   Dec 12 2005, 05:53 PM
sheridan_whiteside   Christianity is the next big marketing trend, as t...   Dec 12 2005, 06:18 PM
mipadi   And to think that at one time, religious icons wer...   Dec 12 2005, 07:46 PM
sadolakced acid   ^ and modern day religion art is criticized as id...   Dec 12 2005, 07:54 PM
c0cONuTTeR   Rofl, buying jesus?!!?!?!?!??...   Dec 12 2005, 07:56 PM
sheridan_whiteside   RE: Let's Buy Jesus!   Dec 12 2005, 08:00 PM
insomniac   ill take a jesus. $10! thats extortion. ...   Dec 12 2005, 08:32 PM
RiC3xBoy   How much does a Buddha cost?   Dec 13 2005, 12:29 AM
Acid Bath Slayer   QUOTE(RiC3xBoy @ Dec 13 2005, 12:29 AM)How mu...   Dec 18 2005, 01:24 PM
celticsluvr   its a joke as long as you disrespect it.   Dec 13 2005, 08:24 PM
insomniac   QUOTE(celticsluvr @ Dec 13 2005, 8:24 PM)its ...   Dec 13 2005, 09:27 PM
mipadi   QUOTE(insomniac @ Dec 13 2005, 9:27 PM)so you...   Dec 13 2005, 09:32 PM
mzislandpinay   hmm well i'm religious and the only thing that...   Dec 13 2005, 09:38 PM
instantmusic   i would get the jew unit shirt and the jesus is my...   Dec 14 2005, 05:42 AM
vash1530   i've seen those jesus action figures in comic ...   Dec 14 2005, 07:38 AM
yummy_delight   ^ And that contributes to this topic, HOW? I thin...   Dec 14 2005, 06:42 PM
BrandonSaunders   Search 'Jesus' on eBay and without reading...   Dec 14 2005, 07:02 PM
sharpandcuddly   i'm not religious, but it bothers me. i think...   Dec 15 2005, 02:30 PM
emazing   Well, there are some points to it. If you were to...   Dec 18 2005, 01:05 PM
insomniac   ha. i was just at urban outfitters and a jesus 8 b...   Dec 18 2005, 10:46 PM
_suzie_   '' i think mormons are the only ones who h...   Dec 19 2005, 12:54 PM
BrandonSaunders   QUOTE(_suzie_ @ Dec 19 2005, 11:54 AM)'...   Dec 19 2005, 04:05 PM
disco infiltrator   Did you guys ever think that by wearing those shir...   Dec 20 2005, 07:55 PM
kryogenix   QUOTE(disco infiltrator @ Dec 20 2005, 7:55 P...   Dec 20 2005, 09:28 PM
monde libre   I agree with Sammi. It's all about the intenti...   Dec 20 2005, 09:39 PM
illumineering   QUOTE(perplexism @ Dec 20 2005, 10:39 PM)I ag...   Dec 20 2005, 11:18 PM
monde libre   QUOTE(illumineering @ Dec 21 2005, 12:18 AM)T...   Dec 21 2005, 10:02 PM
illumineering   QUOTE(perplexism @ Dec 21 2005, 11:02 PM)I me...   Dec 21 2005, 10:28 PM
Endless_Symphony   QUOTE(perplexism @ Dec 21 2005, 11:02 PM)I me...   Dec 21 2005, 10:32 PM
disco infiltrator   But their religion is their identity. That's w...   Dec 21 2005, 01:45 AM
illumineering   QUOTE(disco infiltrator @ Dec 21 2005, 2:45 A...   Dec 21 2005, 02:33 AM
Spirited Away   QUOTE(illumineering @ Dec 21 2005, 2:33 AM)Yo...   Dec 21 2005, 10:39 AM
illumineering   QUOTE(Spirited Away @ Dec 21 2005, 11:39 AM)I...   Dec 21 2005, 11:30 AM
Spirited Away   QUOTE(illumineering @ Dec 21 2005, 11:30 AM)I...   Dec 21 2005, 12:16 PM
disco infiltrator   QUOTE(illumineering @ Dec 21 2005, 2:33 AM)Yo...   Dec 21 2005, 01:42 PM
illumineering   QUOTE(disco infiltrator @ Dec 21 2005, 2:42 P...   Dec 21 2005, 02:13 PM
monde libre   People have suggested a mandatory "world cult...   Dec 23 2005, 04:48 PM
f4113n   some religions consider it sacreligious to have an...   Dec 26 2005, 10:49 PM
The Corpse Bride   Even though I'm not the very religious type (I...   Dec 28 2005, 05:19 PM
acid_high   I think it's great that people have got off it...   Dec 30 2005, 12:46 PM


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