Churches told to ditch 'Jesus on a cross' image

[Derec]

There is a article about how churches are urged to downplay the 'Christ on a cross' thing and focus on other aspects of the church "experience".

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_809012.html

Seems to me some of those PR folks have been watching too many Kevin Smith movies. :D

UMoC

[jkizer]

Hmm...ditching the Bible quotations and crucifixion paraphernalia is a start. Now if they replace the sermon with an actual stand-up comedy routine and the communion with hors d'oeuvres, expand the hymnals to include some Motörhead and Black Sabbath classics, and pad the pews, then maybe I'd start going again! :D

[Taffer]

I've always wondered why churches show off their messiah's suffering at every corner and glorify it at the front of every church. Sure, it's a wonderful sacrifice and all that, but I'd have just put up a statue of him hugging puppies or something instead of his mangled and bloody corpse hanging off a crude torture instrument.

[Amos]

It's not really their messiah but a reminder of the way to eternal happiness and for this reward we have to make the same sacrifice.

[Zucco]

I've always wondered what set the Jesus crucifixion apart from the thousands of other crucifixions that took place in that era. He wasn't the only one who made this "ultimate sacrifice," and while he got to rise again and ascend to heaven, I'm sure most of the other victims went straight to hell. That seems like a much greater sacrifice to me.

[Rusting Car Bumper]

Originally posted by UglyManOnCampus

Seems to me some of those PR folks have been watching too many Kevin Smith movies.


This is nothing new actually. Ditching the cross has been going on for quite a while.

Many of the feel good mega-churches basically concentrate on "god is really cool" and don't have the cross bantered about. The idea is to play to the lowest common feel good denomenator and not the doctrine and symbolism which might turn people off.

DC

[catmar]

There is no such thing as watching too many Kevin Smith movies, especially Dogma and Clerks!!

[catmar]

Originally posted by Taffer
but I'd have just put up a statue of him hugging puppies or something . [/B] Actually, that job belongs to St. Francis.

[Gothic_J]

come now - in the great words of rr, these are the watered down churches. what we're here for is to be *bathed* in *blood*! and our doctrine demands we bathe the world in it, too.

[ComestibleVenom]

Doesn't he just... POP?

[Shake]

Originally posted by DigitalChicken
This is nothing new actually. Ditching the cross has been going on for quite a while.

Many of the feel good mega-churches basically concentrate on "god is really cool" and don't have the cross bantered about. The idea is to play to the lowest common feel good denomenator and not the doctrine and symbolism which might turn people off.

DC Who's yer buddy?

http://home.cshore.com/bucwheat/wrkbn/buddy/bud1.jpg

;)

[B. H. Manners]

I'd love to have one of those plastic Jebus statues. I'd stick it right outside a Church of Christ near my neighborhood after everyone is inside worshipping. When the mostly older congregation comes out after hearing a sermon called "Why we are the one true church" or "Use Instruments in worship and lose your soul" they can see Jebus giving them a thumbs up.:p

[Kosh]

Originally posted by Taffer
I've always wondered why churches show off their messiah's suffering at every corner and glorify it at the front of every church. Sure, it's a wonderful sacrifice and all that, but I'd have just put up a statue of him hugging puppies or something instead of his mangled and bloody corpse hanging off a crude torture instrument.

the hospital where where my wife works has done just that (owned by Seventh Day Adventists). They've got this bronze sculpture of lifesize figures showing Jesus and (I presume) Mary playing with a coupla kids.

BTW - Mary has one helluva nice ass!

[The Other Michael]

It's a good thing the Romans didn't give Jesus bad water, and have him die as a result of severe dehydration from diarrhea.

On the other hand, that would let far more people feel closer to him, especially in the Third World, as they shared his death.

cheers,
Michael

[Primordial Groove]

Wearing a cross to remember Jesus is like wearing a rifle to remember JFK.

-horribly paraphrased from a comedian who's name I cant recall atm.