An article by 
Dec
9
2004
9
2004
Uncategorized
Sacred Cows
So as some of you may or may not know, Madame Tussauds (the wax museum in London) recently unveiled a new display: The Nativity Scene. However instead of using faceless shepherds and a glowing angel, they decided that it would be funny if they used current figures and celebrities. Left to right: Samuel Jackson, Hugh Grant, Graham Norton, shepherds. David, Victoria Beckham, Joseph and Mary. Tony Blair, Duke of Edinburgh, George W. Bush as Wise Men. Kylie Minogue as Angel.
Personally for me, this totally cracks me up. I am sure that Madame Tussauds thought it was a hook. But now the Vatican is all in an uproar, people in the Christian community are all pissed off.
Talk about total hypocrisy.
You can have the sleaziest most sinful people playing the roles in the Pasion of the Christ, but God forbid (and I do mean that) a wax representation of a Spice Girl be used for Mary and holy hell breaks loose.
I don’t know what’s wrong with the religious community but where in the world is your sense of humor. The good Lord gave you one, perhaps its time you used it. I’m tried of narrow minded tightwads who’ve got their underwear crammed so far up their buttocks they can use it as a snifter. The Life of Brian is a great movie, the Jesus in South Park is a riot, and the Church Lady is an all time classic. I love to see little fish with legs on it that say Darwin. I think turn about is more than fairplay.
I think Jesus was a person of tremendous humor, loved to laugh, loved to enjoy life and we have worked hard for nearly 2000 years to suck all of the joy out of this existence he has given us.
“I have come to give you life, and life to the full” – Jesus, The Bible
Somebody pass me a double cheese burger will ya and be sure to add bacon.
While I’m on this little rant, I *still* hate stupid church signs. This one comes from the Lutheran Church on the corner of Cook and Coldwater:
Faith is not taught, it’s caught.
Catch it.
WOW, that’s total news to me. Here I’ve been under the impression that my believe in God was grounded in knowledge, hope and personal experience. Come to find out it’s mearly a communicable disease that is spread from one unwary person to the next. Immunize now! Beware, faith is spreading. It’s going to turn out to be a major pandemic. Disco Fever – Catch it.
Did you enjoy this article? Share it!
About the Author: Bob Soulliere
22 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- Don Quixote on Wii would like to play
- -Derezz- on Wii would like to play
- -Derezz- on Fun on Friday
- Ben on Big Bang, Best on the Block
- Commish on What’s on the Tube?
The thing that has me really pissed off is that it was the wrong spice girl. I think that is why the Christian community was in an uproar. And really, what the Catholic church is protesting is why wasn’t Madonna cast as Mary? Hello, use some common sense will ya?
I wish they would’ve used Sinnead O’Connor as Mary.
Is there a larger picture of that somewhere on the internet? I want it for my desktop.
I can certainly get you one
Having a sense of humor and knowing how to use it are two entirely different things.
I am not cracking up at this. It is not funny to me. I do not think the church should be up in arms. I think we should expect it. What bothers me is the intent. It was done to be funny, i.e. mocking.
Consider this: What would have been the reaction if it had been done during Ramadan and it was a display showing an obese celebrity playing the part of Muhammad? Wouldn’t that have been funny? No… and people would have died as a result.
The nativity scene at one time was something the world would not have considered mocking. Why does it so easily do so now? The Python boys themselves said they could not mock Jesus after reading the gospels, so they decided they would mock the church for not getting it.
There were funnier, more obscene people present at the real birth of Jesus than those depicted here. That is precious. But just because some people get upset about this scene does not mean all of them have no sense of humor. Some are disapointed that Jesus is so misunderstood. And while I think Jesus did laugh, there are a lot more references in scripture to his sadness at being misunderstood.
I know you are tired of narrow minded tightwads… but remember from whence you came. It was not that long ago you were one as well. And we are all on a journey and many of us have to circle around two or three times before we get back on track. Please, be patient with us.
Hey Frank, it’s always good to see you alive and kicking. My biggest problem with this while uproar is that I have yet to see the offense. Christ isn’t mocked at all, if anything those people who are portrayed into the nativity (Bush, Jackson, etc) are the ones being mocked.
Sign me up also for a wallpaper version.
Yes. I also would’ve been more offended if they made the baby Jesus have the face of David Beckham. I think this actually makes the reality of the whole scene more dynamic. I could be wrong because I wasn’t offended.
Another thing that I just realized from looking at this picture is how real to life it really is. Too often we focus on celebrities and not upon Jesus.
And, not to beat a dead horse, but I just want to point out that I was not offended… at least not by the circumastances.
What could offend is a statement that would assume people do not have a sense of humor if this nativity scene bothers them. This simply is not true and could be in contradiction to the very spirit of the post… not taking things too seriously.
And yes… always kicking, sometimes alive.
You think God wants us to use are sense of humor to mock him? I should think not!!!
Hey Frank, I would have to agree with you that my statement that if someone would be offended it would because of a lack of humor. However, I’m still trying to figure out why it would be offensive. If I showed that picture to my mother, she wouldn’t know how a single person was (GWB aside) and therefore would think it was a normal wax nativity.
Dear Anonymous, the Bible is very clear that God shall not be mocked, but I digress, that is neither here nor there. If you find this scene offensive, why?
What would you think if that was your son and your sons mother they where making fun of? That is my God and I find it offensive,even for just the fact of lack of respect for him.
Well, explain to me how this is any different than any other “fake” manger scene or a manger scene in a movie? What is it about seeing it in a modern context that upsets you so much? I’m not trying to be antagonistic, I’m trying to understand how you see it as offensive.
It is the type of people they used,and what kind of life style thay are known for that I find offensive.I would also find it offensive if the town drunk was up there. It is not funny to make light of such a special moment(or thought) in time. What ever happend to keeping God holy? I also think it is the lack of respect for God.Somthings are special to people like (to me) the birth of my children and I think of it by how It would seem if it happend to me and also from the point that the birth of God and all that is surrounding it was special and amazing and should not be taken so lightley.
I agree that it’s rather tasteless, but at least it gets people talking about the real meaning of Christmas, not just Santa and presents. The choice of Wise Men leaves something to be desired, though – I think people missed the word Wise!
Bizarrely, I blogged about this just the day before you did! (at dafyd.me.uk/blog)
A BBC News article caught my eye: Victoria and David Beckham’s wax doubles have been given starring roles in a celebrity nativity scene at Madame Tussauds in London. The pair play Mary and Joseph, while Tony Blair, George Bush and…
Okay, what type of lifestyle are the people in there known for? How is that different than the original line up? What do you know of the original wisemen (again, not that they were there in the first place), or of the shepherds? Lets say I owned a comic book store (since many of you do out there) and I wanted to create a manager display with what I had online. Perhaps Chewbacca would be a wiseman, Lea as Mary and Han Solo as Joseph. People are people and I do not believe that they choose people they thought were of objectionable character. I mean honestly they could have placed people dressed in bondage and nipple clamps and put something horrid for the baby Jesus. But they didn’t the used what they had and I think it’s keeping with a modernization of the nativity scene. But in the end, to each his own. Oh, as a side note, DO NOT WATCH Jesus of Montreal. In it two porn star voice actors play Jesus and other important people in the life of Jesus.
Well, here is the thing that hit me this weekend. My wife’s father and step-mother saw it. This is what she said: “It really connected with me that it could happen today. I realized that the First Christmas was real and it made it that much more real.” So, the thing I see is “To the pure all things are pure.” To those looking for a laugh, it will receive a laugh. For those looking to be offended, it will be offensive. And I hope and think that was the gist of what Bob was getting at. Christians need to stop looking for things to get offended by. It just reminds me too much of how quickly ACLU people get about “Merry Christmas”.
I figured you might find this interesting. . .
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=5&u=/nm/20041213/od_nm/odd_beckhams_dc
If celebs and wax are too much for you, go here for a sweet nativity.
http://www.boingboing.net/2004/12/13/smores_nativity_kit.html