There is a nude sculpture of Jesus being crucified that was made entirely out of 200 pounds of chocolate.  Many Christians are screaming foul about this.  (BBC News:  Storm in US over chocolate Jesus)  The artistic community says it is entirely coincidental that the timing is right before Easter.  No one is that stupid to believe this is nothing more than savvy timing.  But, what is all the fuss really about?  Do we really care that some guy sculpts a Jesus out of chocolate, degrading our Lord to that of the Easter bunny?  Of course, this is sacrilegious, but what more can be expected out of those who do not believe.  And, as followers of Christ we should be used to the scorn that comes with our beliefs rather than become enraged and militant.  The average Joe and Jane who lives in the main-stream post-Christian America really cannot resonate with either side.  Religious people cry foul often and are hypersensitive about everything to them it seems. 

As a follower of Christ in a post-Christian America, I think that I really do not care much for or about the chocolate Jesus.  I rather care more about those who have never heard lovingly the name of Jesus.  They might not care whether or not he is made of chocolate.  If I scream with rage and disgust at how an artist purposefully degrades the person and deity of Christ, I am also screaming into the ear of the ignorant so that every time the name Jesus is brought up in our culture a scream accompanies the message.  Let’s steal the thunder of apparent religious bigots by banishing bigotry.  Jesus, I think, would much rather have it that way.

By the way, the show has been canceled.  (AP:  Chocolate Jesus Show Canceled)

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2007 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Art, Culture, Current Affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.