Let's Buy Jesus!, Religion & Consumer Products Options

[Comptine]

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?

[illumineering]

A pink Jesus is about consumerism. As I have been taught over the years, religious artifacts aren't purchased in Urban Outfitters, Pottery Barn or Ikea. Those are goods that have been marketed to a religious community with the intent of making money. Personally, I could care less. You can't buy a sacred object, nor should one ever be sold. That would be akin to auctioning the Shroud of Turin or the Holy Grail on eBay.

[NoSex]

I'de buy Jesus for like $5. No more, plenty less.

[sheridan_whitesi...]

Christianity is the next big marketing trend, as there are a ton of people who like to show off how christian they are (those of you who do, read up Matthew 6:1-8). Although you can't really buy religious objects per se at the mall, churches and convents often have gift shops where you can purchase crucifixes, statues of Mary, etc., but that money goes to the church or convent, not Hot Topic or T-shirt companies.

[*mipadi*]

And to think that at one time, religious icons were not only banned in Christianity, but smashed to pieces...

[sadolakced acid]

^ and modern day religion art is criticized as idol worship ( buddhist carvings)

hippocrites.

[coconutter]

Rofl, buying jesus?!!?!?!?!??!?!?!

[sheridan_whitesi...]

[Mulder]

ill take a jesus.

$10! thats extortion. screw you jesus.



(in no way did i mean to offend any christians out there )

[*RiC3xBoy*]

How much does a Buddha cost?

[steezahh]

its a joke as long as you disrespect it.

[Mulder]

its a joke as long as you disrespect it.

so you think people should be able to buy a jesus doll?

[*mipadi*]

so you think people should be able to buy a jesus doll?

Only if it's a Jesus voodoo doll.

[mzislandpinay]

hmm well i'm religious and the only thing that bugs me is "Jesus is my homeboy" shirt. I really don't knoe why but it just bugs me and feel like its disrespectable. Maybe cuz its sold from stores that also create "sin-like" things. (ex. Spencers) But i mean. Stuff lyk "Printed Verses on food items" I don't mind actually. It gets people to pay attention to the verse in the bible and stuff.

eh.. its jsut thes shirt.. LOL

[Mikael]

i would get the jew unit shirt and the jesus is my homeboy.

but, yes, i see that sometimes it can go to far.

[vash1530]

i've seen those jesus action figures in comic book stores

[yummy_delight]

^ And that contributes to this topic, HOW?

I think it depends on the product and what it's being used for. If someone is exploiting the likeness of Jesus for pure economic gain or for an illegitimate cause, then of course I'm offended by it. Personally, I'm not a fan of the "Jesus is My Homeboy" t-shirts. I think it brings Jesus down to our human level which isn't entirely accurate because He is holy and we're supposed to worship Him, not just chillax with Him. "Homeboy" gives more of a friendly and casual connotation; Jesus is supposed to be treated with the utmost respect, more like a father then just a friend. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's blasphemous, but I still don't think it's right. The biblical verses on the bottom of coffee cups and on clothing tags are alright because the stores/restaurants aren't using the verses as a selling point. If anything, the printing of the verses gets people interested in the Bible and, in some cases, gets them to read it, which isn't bad at all.

[fameONE]

Search 'Jesus' on eBay and without reading a word, you'll understand completely the future of Christianity in American society.

[sharpandcuddly]

i'm not religious, but it bothers me. i think mormons are the only ones who have it right. they don't sell religion, they give it away and suggest you read it. it's not force, you can say no, you don't have to pay for it, and nobody else has to know your views on it.
religion is supposed to be a sacred thing, and i see its cool that these christian/baptist girls where shirts with a bible verse on it. go them, that's great.
but people shouldn't profit off of it.
if someone makes a jesus doll, they should give it to a church.
and buddha statues. buddha isn't even a god. he never wanted to be, and people are exploiting him.
it is disrespectful to call jesus your homeboy. maybe your "pimp", i can see that, because jesus does have a lot of "hos" [not to affend any-christians out there, please!], but only as a jokingly manner.

[emazing]

Well, there are some points to it.
If you were to purchase those religious items & if you are a religious person, I suppose it wouldn't do much harm.
However, if you're one of those people who just want to follow trends and such, then I guess that would be idiotic.

it is disrespectful to call jesus your homeboy.

Mmmhm, I mean be respectful people.

[NoSex]

How much does a Buddha cost?

Buddha is a bit expensive for all of you materialists out there. He costs all your worldly possessions and a feeling of non-self.

(This is Wade at Nate's )

[Mulder]

ha. i was just at urban outfitters and a jesus 8 ball thing costs $18!

thats waaaaaaayyyy too much.

[_suzie_]

'' i think mormons are the only ones who have it right. they don't sell religion, they give it away and suggest you read it.''

what, the way they come round to my house, and try to ram a book (that isnt even the bible, its some dude's interpretations) down my neck?

Christianity needs to wise up. there are SO many denominations we're all bloody lost and cant see what we're really meant to be doing. Materialism is a factor of it, and its existed forever. people do it, so get over it. its on their conscience

[fameONE]

'' i think mormons are the only ones who have it right. they don't sell religion, they give it away and suggest you read it.''

what, the way they come round to my house, and try to ram a book (that isnt even the bible, its some dude's interpretations) down my neck? 

Christianity needs to wise up. there are SO many denominations we're all bloody lost and cant see what we're really meant to be doing. Materialism is a factor of it, and its existed forever. people do it, so get over it. its on their conscience

Ah, I love Buddhism.

[*disco infiltrator*]

Did you guys ever think that by wearing those shirts, these kids are making the religion more appealing to other teenagers, to get them more involved and interested in the religion? They see that these other kids are Christian and that it CAN be fun and not all just dull, boring crap, and they get interested and want to know what goes on in Christian settings. Doesn't this..help..the religion? All these products are just making the religion more appealing to the masses. Isn't that what Christians want? To spread Christianity? You would think that this would be the best thing anyone's ever thought of, not something bad.