Comments on: Chocolate Jesus Bites The Dust

New York Gallery Cancels "My Sweet Lord" Show Amid Flood Of Protest

[duhrer]

Once again, the hypocritcal christians. (in this case catholics) have bullied an art institution because their display offends their sensibilities. If you don't like the display, don't go see it. Why did the art director have to lose his job over this? So much for home of the free. I have an idea... if you believe in your religion strong enough, you don't have to worry about everyone else trying to tear you down. Sounds like more christian paranoia invading our secular society. Last time christians got a wild hair about stuff like this, they burned a bunch of people in the name of God. When will they ever learn?

[me4prezz]

Also passerby2, it is possible to dislike the actions of a person and not dislike the person. I may personally disagree with homosexuality, but I will not condone or hate a person for choosing to be homosexual. Some of the greatest people I have ever known are homosexual and that is their choice. If a woman chooses abortion, while I oppose it, does not mean that I will hate that person. If you have children, you will know what I mean. We may not like what our children do at times, but that never changes our love for them. This is the same thing. Those that choose to murder or choose to destroy buildings, homes and lives, are people who choose a life outside of christianity. So please, do not condemn all of christianity for the actions of a few who choose hatred and act out on that hatred.

That is what has happened to the Middle East. The hatred of a group of people is spreading like a disease and the hatred of those individuals (I do not believe all muslims are of the same ilk, again, religions of all kinds have those who are just evil and that has nothing to do with the idea of the faith of the mass at all, but is twisted into something unrecognizable to fit the political ambitions of a few) is killing thousands.

[me4prezz]

Yes, the chocolate Jesus is beyond tacky, but it is still art. And the sanctimonious whiners who can't understand that are what is wrong with America.
Posted by thenamesdave at 07:32 PM : Mar 30, 2007

There is a lot wrong with America, but a lack of understanding of what art is not one of them. The right to freedom of speech does not imply a right to trample on the ideologies and beliefs of others. That is just ethics. Just because you could, does not mean you should.

[me4prezz]

passerby2:

How do you know it didn't happen? Research it and science is starting to prove stories of the bible more and more each and every day. Do you have traditions or stories that are passed on from generation to generation? I trust it and believe in it because that is what faith is. A belief in something unseen and hard to define or even undefinable, but something tangible in the hearts of those who believe. I know it happened because I have faith in the words of the bible. If you don't, that is your choice. But, do not trample on my belief because you choose not to.

As for passerby2, it isn't just "christians" who are opposed to homosexuality, who are opposed to abortion or what ever topic of debate you choose. That would be people-of all religions, faiths and walks of life. Also, just because we are Christians, does not imply that we are all of the same religion. There are hundreds of religions out there, do not confuse them and punish all for the statements and actions of a few. Furthermore, it was not me or anyone I know or anyone in my area who made the death threats. Again, do not punish the mass for the actions and words of a few.

[thenamesdave]

Yes, the chocolate Jesus is beyond tacky, but it is still art. And the sanctimonious whiners who can't understand that are what is wrong with America.

[king77shaw]

strange - it seems as if a chocolate Christ is more offensive than hundreds of pedophile priests ... hmmm, if they had only acted on that issue with the same vigor ...

[puzzler125]

Frankly I think it was rather a waste of 200 pounds of good chocolate! To each his or her own and I'm not easily offended.

[dumbfounded5]

At least they got his color correct. Not shay-whitey with blue eyes...

[feelfree1]

retmilspouse,

Re: "Some of these comments are pure evil."

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

May he (she) who is without sin, cast the first stone.

What does your church have to say about the illegal war and mass-murder/torture crusade against Iraq?

[retmilspouse]

Some of these comments are pure evil. This is sheer proof that there is the devil lurking inside of humans on this earth. To make a joke out of this is so wrong on all levels. And for the people who made death threats against the hotel and the art gallery staff they are not true Christians, just a bunch of nut jobs. But I will say that the timing of the display and its outcome have given the gallery staff the media coverage that it was looking for. I will pray for them as well as all of you who have made such a mockery of this event.

[lucyfeo]

I am Catholic and can say there are fanatics in every group, even among atheists and those who have no particular beliefs at all,like those commenting so passionately here. I am not sure why the Cardinal finds this art so distasteful...I would think the artist is the only one who can answer for his intention for creating.....it. I think many times artists are just trying to be edgy to gain attention so they can keep their grant status and to keep interest in their work. I love Jesus with all my heart, and I could not sit by and allow someone to mock Him and what He did for me, I would fight to the bitter end. His death has been portrayed in a violent way, because His death was violent....it is not mocking Him to portray what historically may have happened. I can only say that any offended Catholics have to speak out if they feel the Glory that belongs to God is not being respected and maintained. How could they not care, if they love him. Death threats/violence is a sad reflection of all societies.

[passerby2]

Free speech is important. Freedom of artistic expression is important. But human rights & respect for diversity are also important. I stop people in the street for saying %u201Choly cow%u201D because it is offensive to my Hindu friends. I stop people from saying xenophobic and disrespectful things about Islam because it offends my Muslim friends. For the same reason I must protest the display of a chocolate %u201Csweet%u201D Christ during Easter. We can engage in artistic expression without mocking that which is sacred to others. Profanity or mockery of that which others deeply revere isn%u2019t art; in fact, it represents the very absence of creativity.
Posted by read-a-book at 05:31 PM : Mar 30, 2007
+ report abuse


Do you even know what freedom of speech is? You stop people from saying holy cow because it offends someone? What if saying "hello" was offensive to some people? you would stop them too? You sound more like a communist. Christians are able to hold signs telling homosexuals to go to hell, but when some puts jesus in chocolate they get offended. what gives them the right to offend others but not be offended themselves. biigest hypocrites I've ever seen. It's okay for them to trample all over everyone else's beliefs, but when it's their beliefs that are being trampled on they start crying and handing out death threats.

[susanhelit]

Yeah, right. No "Holy Cow" because it might offend Hindus, no dressing up as a witch because you might offend Wiccans, no gay marriage because it offends Christians, no advertisments for hamburgers because it might offend vegetarians, no political cartoons featuring Mohammed because it might offend muslims - I don't think so.

Let's just agree that we're all going to be offended here and there, and relax about it already! Unless someone is forcing you to take part in their religion, just relax, and exercise your own freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the very important freedom of where I spend my money and what I watch, to express what offends you.

[read-a-book]

Free speech is important. Freedom of artistic expression is important. But human rights & respect for diversity are also important. I stop people in the street for saying %u201Choly cow%u201D because it is offensive to my Hindu friends. I stop people from saying xenophobic and disrespectful things about Islam because it offends my Muslim friends. For the same reason I must protest the display of a chocolate %u201Csweet%u201D Christ during Easter. We can engage in artistic expression without mocking that which is sacred to others. Profanity or mockery of that which others deeply revere isn%u2019t art; in fact, it represents the very absence of creativity.

It is culture war posing as art.

A commitment to diversity includes tolerance towards all belief systems -- even those in the majority where we happen to live.

I%u2019m disappointed in Lab Gallery. I%u2019m disappointed in the Roger Smith hotel. And I%u2019m disappointed in the "art director's" lack of judgment and lack of respect for diverse religious tradition. Times may change, but even-handed respect and courtesy towards diverse beliefs of all kinds will never go out of fashion.

[passerby2]

The Passion of the Christ was the most accurate depiction of what actually happened to Jesus.
Posted by me4prezz at 05:07 PM : Mar 30, 2007

Oh come on man, most accurate depiction???What are you comparing it to, do you have actual footage of what happened. This event supposedly took place 2 thousand years ago. I doubt you can barely remember what you did last week, much less rely on hearsay of a few cult leaders of an event 2000 years old. Even in this age of technological advances, information is being mishandled and altered to suit peoples ambitious needs, how can you trust stories passed along by word of mouth.

[hypnotoad72]

**GAH!!** Where am I today; it's Daniel Craig! (Who's Michael Craig?!)

[hypnotoad72]

Now that looks more like Michael Craig than Jesus...

But I digress. Having seen a different pic of Choco J(tm), I had this to say:

During World War II, chocolate was so rare it was used as currency.

Now we make idols out of it. Who'll be idolized in chocolate next, that American Idol guy Sanjaya?

What a senseless waste. For either case.

Even His hair is way too short compared to the real Jesus.

At least the skin color tone is nearly right, I'll grant them that much...

Choco Jesus doesn't look naked; it looked like a loincloth-like shape was chiseled out of the big-arse hershey bar too.

[feelfree1]

SusanHelit,

Re: "How is a piece of chocolate destroying the Christian religion?"

That comment is quite humorous. Bravo.

[passerby2]

what easter is about jesus? all this time i thought it was about the easter bunny coming to give us chocolate easter eggs. The easter bunny told me god isn't real. He also told me to build him a temple, worship him, and he'll bring me chocolate easter eggs every year.

[me4prezz]

death threats?? Proving that Christians are just as violent as Muslims. It's sickening to me that the same people were all titillated over a movie depicting two solid hours of the bloodiest, most brutal violent acts against their God, (Passion of the Christ) but seeing that same god's pen*s is horrible to them. So violence = wonderful, but God-given anatomy = horrible. Got it. Great values, folks.

The Passion of the Christ was the most accurate depiction of what actually happened to Jesus. Sickening??? Yes. Disturbing? You betcha. Makes you realize even more how much He went through to save all of us. That has nothing to do with this. Saying that what happened to Jesus is equal to showing his *** is stupid. It is not his nakedness that is the problem. It the crude way in which the depict a sacred symbol and turn it into a Hershey bar free for all. They made light of a something important to all Christians and they did it during the most important week of the Christian faith. Had they released this at another time of the year, it might have been overlooked more. But why choose to make light of a critical time in the Christian faith? It was in bad taste and it was of even worse timing. That is the issue, not his ***.