Jesus action figure. Wrong?

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For Christmas one year my cousin went with “strange” gifts. For me, I got four action figures. Albert Einestine Benjamin Franklen, William Shakespeare, and finally Jesus.

Let me set the scene before passing judgement.

Shakespeare looks as you would expect, wearing the clothes from that famous portrait. There is a sticker on the front that boldly proclaims “With removable book and quill pen!” The cardboard backing is decorated rather smartly, looking like a scroll where fancy cursive gives a quick bio and facts. And finally, famous quotes from Shakespeare line the cardboard. It’s obviously a parody of action figures but it doesn’t paint Shakespeare to be something he wasn’t. It’s not trying to even suggest faux combat, or even to use the figure in a “fight” against other action figures as you would X-men or the like.

Ben and Al were similarly designed, Ben with “Real kite with key!” and Al with “Chalk and lifelike hair!”.

Now Jesus was also decorated as the others were. Not trying to paint him as something he wasn’t. He had a peaceful face, wearing a soft smile. Open hands which he held out (No stigmata or anything like that) He wore a white robe with a purple sash, sandles. He looked like that classic picture of Jesus we all know, with the blonde/brown beard. His cardboard backing only had bible verse quotes, decorated to look like they were chiseled in stone. I really liked it. It was clever, inoffensive and it was an interesting way of putting Jesus “out there” for the world to see.

However, a few people I showed it to got really mad at me, and called it blasphemy and sacrelige. I don’t see how it was. I look at this action figure and I see nothing but respect by the creators and designers. Even the marketing as it was only available in specialty stores where more clever things can be found.

What do you all think? Blasphemy?
 
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Rhubarb:
What do you all think? Blasphemy?
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I think it would be similar to those statues of a child playing soccer/baseball/football with Jesus cheering along beside them. Those are sold in Christian stores. I see nothing wrong with it.

Were the people calling it blasphemy Catholics?
 
No. They were non-denom protestants I think. Now that I think of it, they weren’t especially “good” Christans. With the gossip, and the lying, and the spite and hate.
 
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Rhubarb:
No. They were non-denom protestants I think. Now that I think of it, they weren’t especially “good” Christans. With the gossip, and the lying, and the spite and hate.
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I was guessing they were probably non-denoms if anything. You know how our statues set their thoughts rolling to idol worship.

Now as a Catholic I don’t know how I feel about the Protestant action hero, ‘Bibleman.’ That stuff is a little weird to me! I don’t know if he has ‘super powers’ or ‘magic powers,’ but it still looks strange to me.
 
I looked at the product website. Where’s the Mohammed action figure?
 
Hmm. I see they also make a bobble-head “Jesus Nodder,” a “Nun Punching Puppet,” and the infamous “Nunzilla.”
 
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marvin:
I looked at the product website. Where’s the Mohammed action figure?
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They probably don’t dare make one for fear of the threat of “jihad.”
 
Well I do too. I just mean I can see why some people might think that one is a bit too much. But the regular one seemed perfectly acceptable.
 
I really like these figures, but the “glow in the dark” hands on the deluxe model might give the impression of a miracle as being magical to a child.
 
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Honoria20:
I really like these figures, but the “glow in the dark” hands on the deluxe model might give the impression of a miracle as being magical to a child.
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Once I saw the glow in the dark hands, I burst out laughing. Pretty funny.
 
I’m sorry, but to me the idea of selling the likeness of Jesus as an action figure is disrespectful; if people want an image of Christ, there are many religious statues and icons available that do not have poseable arms and wheels in the base for smooth gliding action :nope:
 
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Pious:
I’m sorry, but to me the idea of selling the likeness of Jesus as an action figure is disrespectful; if people want an image of Christ, there are many religious statues and icons available that do not have poseable arms and wheels in the base for smooth gliding action :nope:
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How is this any different than having a statue?
 
What do you do if a child deliberately smashes it to get back at a parent for something, knowing it will upset the parent?

I think statues are different in that ‘action’ figures are meant to be played with. I can’t see how they will inspire piety, but I can see how they could reduce Jesus to the level of a plaything, breeding disrespect.
 
That is pretty dang cool. I bet Jesus would whoop Cobra Commander!
 
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