The Passion Rotterdam

No, not about Mel Gibson's movie. It's about a local production, The Passion, provided by the Dutch Evangelical Broadcasting Community with some support from the Roman Catholic Church and the Dutch Protestant Church. It was huge and spectacular. 1.7 million people watched it on television, more than 10% of the total Dutch population. I read nothing but praise about the technical aspect and the delivery. The artists were all local celebrities. Personally, this is an instance where two loves meet for not only am I fascinated by popular expressions of religious sentiment, I do have a weak spot for Dutch local artists too. There is something pathetic and familiar about it that strangely warms my heart just as much as Christian sentiment is able to. If Christ doesn't feel strangely familiar to me then at least the Dutch artists certainly do. And here they are, celebrating the story of my buddy Jesus!

But what do I see? In 2012? Nothing but criticism from both the secular and the religious sides it seems. Most striking is that the secular side is complaining about this story being portrayed irreverently. What! If anyone the secular side should be able to recognize that the idea of religious integrity is suspect at the very least. Either the non-religious have not yet completely emancipated themselves from religious sentiment or they abuse an idea of religious integrity to bash a type of popular entertainment that they can't stand, for of course it is the intellectuals that complain about this. Most likely a combination of both.

But even from the theological side I hear complaints. Really? Well go ahead and dig your own grave with complaints for shovels then! If popular culture is seen as something that can only corrupt religion then pretty soon that religion will be over and done with. I would like to see how someone from the United States would react to this European type of criticism. "Are they crazy?" My fictional evangelical American friend might ask. "The Gospel should be told and made heard, whatever it takes," he would argue. I guess the US has more of a tradition of catering to popular sentiment, making use of popular entertainment and modern media. Also in the US the religious emphasis seems to be more on experiencing religion than subscribing to a set of beliefs. The reasons for things growing differently in the US and in Europe are many but the bottom line is, if the EU clergy isn't going to wise up they might keep an eye on the classifieds ads printed next to their angry letters in the newspapers.

Trailer of the show.

The whole thing can be seen on the website: http://www.eo.nl/evenementen/thepassion/

Bobbleheads

Probably the central symbol of the commodification of religion: the bobblehead! Lets see what we can dig up.

 Some Jesuses first then.

 Swing it, Jesus!

 Add a little bit of Moses.

 Add a little bit of pope.

 This Rabbi looks like he had a hard day at the synagogue.

 Buddha? Buddha!

Precious Moments Bible

I talked before about Precious Moments. But the book Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, by Randall Balmer, made me see that there is besides the revoltingly sweet figurines also a Bible produced by this company. Kickass! You might want to crank the brightness/contrast settings on your computer to be able to see them though, given how nearly see-through the front covers are.

If you're not a Catholic, you'll explode if you read this one.

Saints Bracelets

Jesus Hanger

A quick autobiographical one today. I saw Jesus at a flea market. 1€. I couldn't resist.

Hmmm. By the look of things, I might have better spent that one euro on fixing my wall.

Christian Touch Lamps

So I recently got carried away when I wanted to write about this. But today is the day!

Website: http://www.circleonestore.com/religionlargetouchlamps.aspx

Vintage Chalk Jesus Lamp

This was not what I had in mind initially, looking more for Plokhorst lamp shades, but hey, who am I to argue with the Divine revelations that God had in mind for me? So this beauty came to me in my Google. In case you were thinking of buying it, I have bad news for you, it's already sold. Not to me though, unfortunately.

Source: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63828096/vintage-chalk-jesus-lamp

Jesus Christ Eastpak

From my high-school days do I remember there were some people that had this particular Eastpak. Usually it was a bit tongue-in-cheek, sort of making fun of how eccentric it was by wearing it. Perhaps the high-school playground conversation would go somewhere along the lines of someone half-laughingly asking "oh so you're a Christian?" and the wearer of the backpack answering in just as half-laughingly a tone "oh yeah I'm a tótal Christian" after which everyone would nervously laugh their pubescent identity crises away. Lately I've seen it again, when on my way to the university I frequently see a girl that has this one. Somewhere deep down in my heart of hearts I sort of hope that she did not choose this particular Eastpak for it's kitschy, campy, tongue-in-cheek qualities, that she is even blissfully unaware of such qualities and motivations, and that she just really loves Jesus. I'd imagine her getting her books from her backpack in preparing to study and then putting the backpack in a spot where she can still see Jesus and she would smile at him kindly. I hope she is comforted by the thought that no matter what happens, Jesus got her back.

Virgin Mary Bikini

Just one more. One more for Jesus!

From My Own Backyard: Heart Hangers

We got these in some time ago. I really wonder under what neon-color paint explosion Catholic rock they find these things. It's really an assault to the eyes. And in case the title made you wonder what purpose these things serve, let me tell you: none whatsoever. They are just there to destroy your eyesight.

Virgin Mary Sex Doll

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Christian Embroidery

It's not uncommon to run into those framed embroidery renditions of Christ or the Virgin Mary when you walk around sometimes, usually you see it hanging in someone's hallway or when you look inside someone's house, usually hung in a place of pride. I can very much imagine old 80 year old ladies patching away their retirement days. Found dead one day with their needle still in their rigor mortis hand. The ones I found just now are nice but I've seen far better in the wild. Striking that a lot seem to be from the Orthodox Church rather than from the Catholic or Protestant.

Chocolate Cross

So tonight, here in the Netherlands, we have a celebration thing, the night of Sinterklaas, comparable to Christmas eve. Saint Nicholas sends his black slaves down the chimneys to give presents to the children who have been good. It's racist and it instills fear in the hearts of many children. True tradition! So as part of this we have these chocolate letters (letters as in the letters of the alphabet). Usually you get the first letter of your name at the night of Sinterklaas. More than one letter if you're rich, no letters at all if you're poor, crappy faux-chocolate carob letters if your parents are spiritual and oblivious, in which case it can be doubted if you're getting anything during this Catholic festivity night, leaving you be the laughing stock the next day at school when everybody got an abundance of goodies and you got zilch. Again, true Dutch tradition, that brings out the best in our nation. Anyway, I saw a chocolate character sign (the '&') fly by and I never really thought of any chocolate symbolic renditions beyond the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet. But then what symbol did come to my mind? Why the cross of course. Could there be? Of course there was!

From My Own Backyard: Nativity Scene Pop-Up Cards

Among the loveliness we sell are some great nativity scene pop-up cards. Ever wondered about the many layers of meaning of the Gospel? Well I've got three lovely layers for you right here! They are from a production company called Hollyoak Publishing and they seem to get the sentimentality with a hint of Catholicism just right. Surprisingly, though, I can't find their website.

Vocation Dolls

And if it's Catholic love you're after, why not get yourself one of these Vocation Dolls! Father Juan Pablo will... teach you all about... the rich tradition of warm love of the Catholics... in all it's facets... let your children be touched by the tender care of the Roman church... Oh folks it's so hard not to make any politically incorrect jokes about this but I'm trying! I'm trying!!!

By the way I love that they stitched a pair of glasses on his head.