You might’ve heard about this one by now, but we couldn’t resist. The headline of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s web site on June 14 read: Act of God Destroys Jesus Statue. Here’s the story, courtesy of RoadsideAmerica.com.
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The congregation of the Solid Rock megachurch in Monroe, Ohio, will have difficulty explaining it: a lightning bolt from heaven — favorite weapon of a wrathful god — has destroyed the church’s “Touchdown Jesus.” (Though if it is a “sign” of some sort… sorry atheists!)
The giant Jesus was built in 2004, appearing to erupt from the ground at the end of the church’s baptismal pond, facing traffic on I-75. Officially titled “King of Kings,” the statue quickly acquired its “Touchdown” nickname, as well as “Drowning Jesus” and “Big Butter Jesus,” the title of a novelty song.
A lightning bolt is believed to have struck the 62-foot-tall statue around 11 PM on June 14, 2010. The plastic-resin-and-styrofoam-Savior burst into flames, a fate similar to the one suffered by the former World’s Largest Turkey. By dawn, all that remained was Christ’s scorched steel framework.
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God: Make fun of my son, will ya? What next–flash his picture up on the scoreboard when the Bengals score a touchdown? I’ll show ya’ll–heathens, Christians, atheists alike.
Rob: The irony in this scenario is as thick as the oil spewing in the Gulf of Mexico. In a followup article, Christian believers are sounding like atheists, saying that it was just a random lightening strike. Meanwhile, atheists can only keep their mouths shut for fear of sounding like believers. Let’s face it, folks, God is the ultimate trickster.
A final thought. Could this be the beginning of an annual festival in which the burning/cleansing act will be repeated? It could only be called Burning Man-God Project.
AFTER…
…And Burning Man below…no touchdown.
AFTER
Totally agree about the ironic symbolism. Don't know how long the Jesus statue had been there, but yes, the timing of the incident is ironic (synchronistic??) Unfortunately it reminds me of the burning at stakes of the "witches" in Salem and other places. Has that look about it in the photos. On that issue, I've read in several historical materials that Christians burned in excess of three million women over a period of time all over the world, accusing them of practicing evil witchcraft when they were actually the "wise women" healers of the towns and villages. And now we see an effigy of Jesus burning in a similar fashion. HHmmm. Weird. cjc
But there is a certain ironic symbolism that can't be denied. Plus, a lightening strike doesn't necessary explode into flames. – R
wv:monumpro – pro-monument?
Ah, an RV. Yeah, I could do that. If we had one!
Connie – I'm with you. I never bought into the wrathful god stuff.
Hahaha! I love it.
I was AT Burning Man the year that they had that exact man you pictured.
I think you might like Burning Man, Trish and Rob- but if you don't want to tote in all your water, I would suggest an RV. :o)
Leave it to me to pour cold water on the lightning strike of the Jesus statue! But simple physics offers an easy explanation. The interior of the statue was made of metal, and obviously there was no lightning rod used, as architects put on tall buildings to deflect lightning and even the surge protectors we put on our electronics to protect them from such acts of Nature, so the statue was just waiting for a perfect lightning bolt to find it. The metal frame was the villain, I susopect, and not an "act of God", angry or otherwise! But it made for a fun and intriguing story! yeahm I know…stodgy old practical me! cjc
When I saw this story I also thought of burning man and then the next thought was one of the commandments (?) not to idolize false prophets/gods.
Maybe god didn't like the statue.
Wow. Interesting theory. And probably true!
I noticed that the report said that the fire started at 11:14, which made me wonder if the lightning might have struck at precisely 11:11.
Hadn't heard about James Caviezel. Does make you wonder. I like your take, Terri.
Hadn't seen this before – made me smile. Poor Drowning Jesus, who can you trust ..
This situation reminds me of the news a few years back that Jim Caviezel was struck by lightning during the filming of "The Passion of the Christ."
I'm hoping that this situation will stop the claims of overly religious people that God will send lightning bolts your way if you "offend" God.
My, what ever happened to miracles? How do we explain this? Believer or not, this shuts us all up.
I have a plethora of active Catholic friends and family in Ohio. They are delighted at the wrathful god who made the statement of taking out "Touchdown Jesus". Their personal delight is two-fold.
1. TJ was a road-hazard and the product of enthusiasm by a newbie Christian who hasn't gotten the whole message yet.
2. TJ was a reminder of how the Browns always seem to miss that final TD to win the game.
With TJ gone now, as an act of a vengeful god, some of my friends and family wonder if the Browns will have a better season. 🙂
WV: ridlyan
We have a friend who goes every year, too. The idea of bringing in shower water doesn't appeal to me in the least!
It really is ironic. I thought the same thing when I first read it. On another note, I have never attended Burning Man, even though it is only about 100 miles from Reno. Many of my friends go every year and wouldn't miss it. It amazes me how many people come from all over the world to camp on the Black Rock Desert, carrying in and out all water "products." Even shower water has to be carried in and back out. On second thought, maybe that's why I've passed on going.
STOOOOOOPPP IT!!! MY RIBS HURT!!!!!
and i can't help but mention the whole thing of "a lightning bolt from heaven — favorite weapon of a wrathful god" striking the BP rig the other day – remember? i meant to comment on it then, but goodness, there's just so much one girl can do with so much fodder for comments!!!
oh, and just as i was [for some reason] thinking of S Palin this moment in terms of my little comment, i see the wv is PALAB – which may be taken a number of ways –
neat post, you two!
ROTFLOL!