A Life of Faith Dolls

Usually religions amuse me. Sometimes however, they frighten me. Oh yeah, you might say, like when religions call to forsake your friends, regard others as enemies and act with violence against those who do not share their views. No, that's not what I'm talking about at all, I'm talking about something far worse. The first time I ventured into this dark side was when I was talking about Clowns for Christ. Yet there is a phenomenon in this world - indeed the playground of the dark prince - that rivals even that in terms of scariness. I'm talking about dolls.

I don't know why, but there is something terribly terribly wrong with dolls. Perhaps it's the unlikely combination of the idea of warm love and hard plastic. Maybe it's the dead look in their eyes in combination with the irremovable yet awkward smile on their faces. A dead object made to resemble a living human being? I don't know exactly what it is, but at the very least dolls are unnerving I'd say. And now I run into this, the Life of Faith dolls. Dolls as an evangelical tool. I don't know about you but that makes me think of Jesus as a sick, twisted puppeteer. I think these dolls are doing nobody a favor.

There is actually another layer of sickness to these lovely ladies. That is nostalgia in service of nationalism. The dolls are made to resemble girls from the 18^th century that are said to be God fearing. There is a certain assumption there that life in America in the 1800s was better than it is now and people were more devout – and perhaps to wrap this reasoning around, life was supposedly better in the olden times just because of that devotion. It romanticizes the past and also the country, sort of hinting at the idea that it would be simply marvelous if things could be like that again. Perhaps the dead eyes of the dolls, their frozen stance, and their blissful smile reflect an obsessive longing for a paradise lost that never was.

Website: http://www.alof.com/

Messengers of Faith Dolls

I think it's time for some toys. Love these. Jesus and Moses are looking quite badass. I think Jesus is trying to give me that Clint Eastwood look. I can hear him now: "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel saved? Well do ya, punk?"

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.

Huggable Buddha

Have you followed the eightfold path? Have you severed all ties with family? Have you not spoken in years? Have you given up all your belongings? You've reached Nirvana and it sucks big time? Then have no fear for the Huggy Buddha is here, to give you a great big hug!

Order yours today! http://www.bigbuddha.nl/

God-Jesus Toy

This must be without a doubt the weirdest toy ever made.

I particularly love that he is holding flowers on that box. Someone actually thought "oh hey, you know what would really nail this packaging? That's right, you guessed it!"

God's Girlz Toy Dolls

There is a line of toy dolls called God's Girlz, published by the company Kerusso, which seems actually to be more of an inspirational T-Shirt printing company. In fact, the girlz seem to be wearing miniature versions of their T-Shirt prints. Cunning, very cunning. I wonder what makes these girls religious though. They wear some Jesus shirt, yes, but that seems to be it really. Other than that they seem in style indistinguishable from you average Barbies and Bratz. What's the point of creating a Christian alternative if that supposed alternative isn't all that different from its secular counterparts? Tribal pride is a silly thing perhaps. Finally, when you look for God's Girlz, you will also run into something quite different, the godsgirls.com alt porn website images. The fact that you'd find good clean and wholesome Christian toy dolls that are supposed to be an alternative to the secular slut dolls and simultaneously find all this alt porn happily juxtaposed of course is very funny.

Noah's Ark Toys

Book: Toying with God by Nikki Bado-Fralick and Rebecca Sachs Norris

Nikki Bado-Fralick and Rebecca Sachs Norris. Toying with God. The World of Religious Games and Dolls. Baylor University Press. Waco, Texas, 2010.

While searching the internet for blog inspiration I came across this book, Toying with God, by Nikki Bado-Fralick and Rebecca Sachs Norris. Immediately I knew I had to have it! My birthday was coming up so I sent my sister on a mission and she got it for me. Thanks sis!

To be honest, what I didn’t expect was an academic book. But it is. I don’t know why but I expected it to be a tongue-in-cheek journalistic journey through the wonderful world of religious entertainment. Probably the topic just put me on the wrong track. In fact the authors themselves point out this tendency to underestimate the topic when they say that “when we started to research this book, we were told by many [...] that the study of religious games and dolls was not proper scholarship.” (p. xii) A prejudice I very much fight against yet still seem to hold myself. Nice glass of cold water in the face to begin with.

All the better for the academic character I’d say, since I like it best when a book cares to ask questions and seeks answers to those questions about the nature of what it is dealing with rather than to just give a freak show like overview of things that are out there. Yet, and this is turning into a bit of a mantra in all of my book reviews, it is at the same time a great source of inspiration. Lets get this out of the way first. Ladies and gentlemen, gather round and behold! The spectacular world of religious toys and games, such as Fulla the Muslim doll, Holy Huggables and Mormonopoly! You will not believe your eyes as you look up one2believe.com. Yes ladies and gentlemen, even though it is a book with serious analytical aims, the material it analyses is just too juicy not to enjoy.

Now then, what about the analysis? First a word on method. I am not completely sure, but this book seems to be somewhat immersed in theory that aims to expose dualistic ideas that are taken for granted to be cultural agreements. This is not exactly my academic cup of tea. First because the factual basis for an analysis with such an aim usually tends to be suggestive, which makes the actual worth of it debatable. Second, and more importantly, because it can turn the cultural product that is under scrutiny into a political tool with which to prove a point. The political agenda then can take over and mute what is being examined. Colleen McDannell in her book Material Christianity carefully avoided this trap but Bado-Fralick & Sachs Norris seem to occasionally fall victim to it.

The authors take on different perspectives throughout the book. Sometimes they seem (pop)culturally pessimistic when they write for instance “[We agree] with Postman [who says] that the ability to think deeply and rationally about a subject is hampered by superficial education and media geared toward novelty and easily digestible sound bites.” (p. 28) At other times the authors take on a more relativistic perspective, when they state for example that  “Children seldom stick to scripted actions in play, no matter how solidly both they and the script are rooted in religious values.” (p. 54) The ambivalence of their judgements is actually enjoyable. It adds some depth to the book, something the authors themselves, along with Postman, might take as a compliment.

I just highlighted some of the themes the book touches on but it is far more rich. Perhaps this is simultaneously both its strength and weakness for although the depth is enjoyable, at times the matter seems to be buried under theory. Still I enjoyed the book very much, it encourages critical thinking about the subject, and the the fact alone that it showed me the way to the Noah and the whale bible toy will make me forever grateful.

Judaikitsch: Tefillin Barbie

Turns out Fulla the Muslim doll has a friend from across the border. Meet Tefillin Barbie!

Jonah and the Whale bible toy

http://www.bibletoys.com/product-p/tog85065.htm

Holy Huggables

There is a line of toys formerly called the Holy Huggables, now called the Holy Folks apparently. It includes Jesus, Mozes, Noah (with elephants!) and Mary holding the baby Jesus. The website is under construction but will probably materialize at holyfolks.com.

Don't they look happy!? Looking for them, I also came across some other plush toys on Christianbook.com, one of which I also wanted to include, one of the lion and the lamb.

The product description reads: "An adorable portrait of heavenly peace! [...] Wind-up music box plays, "Jesus Loves Me," and the figure moves with the music."

Fulla the Muslim Doll

Some or perhaps all of the Fulla dolls also recite the Islamic opening prayer when you push a button on the back.