The first one (and less offensive of the two, in my humble opinion):
Now, I've said before in this blog that I have a close relationship with my view of God. I've read The Bible extensively and was raised with a great deal of formal religious training. I am 100% for people coming to terms with their spirituality, finding peace and comfort from a higher power, and having a solid belief system ... and if wearing something like a crucifix necklace or Kabbalah bracelet is important to them, more power to you.
That being said, however, my spiritual self takes major issue with the likeness of Jesus Christ replacing the Starbucks siren. As one who tries to live life in a way that mirrors Christ's teaching as set forth in The Bible, I think this sort of cheap commercialism is just ... tawdry.
That one bugged me, but what really drove me over the edge was:
To be completely honest with you, I really liked this shirt when I first saw it. In fact, I kind of wanted to get one of my own. Why? Because my life was saved by a blood transfusion after I experienced serious internal bleeding following surgery. It took me a few minutes to realize that, like the Starbucks rip-off, this shirt was commercializing religion. In my eyes, it was twisting something visually identifiable as one thing (donating blood through the American Red Cross, Starbucks, et cetera) into a religious farce. Because of my personal experience with blood transfusion, it hit me especially hard.
Perhaps I'd feel a bit mollified if I knew that the proceeds from these utterly tasteless mass-produced t-shirts were going to a cause that would be sanctioned by Jesus Christ Himself rather than going into the already deep pockets of enterprising and opportunistic companies.
Am I being overly critical here? Should I just get over it? Why am I so deeply offended here when I'm really pretty easygoing about most things? What does it mean that this is making me examine my own religious feelings?
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Depending on where I saw it, I might almost take the Starbucks one as tongue-in-cheek (i.e., deifying coffee and commenting on the omnipresence of Starbucks), even though it probably wasn't. The second one was very tasteless. I too take blood donation very seriously (both as a galloneer donor and a person with loved ones saved or helped by transfusions), and feel like this shirt would probably be worn by someone thinking themselves very witty. You know, it's the same school as the "my boss is a Jewish carpentar" shirts, exept that doesn't contain reference to something that really isn't a funny subject. The bumper sticker that I really find alternately hilarious (in a really ironic way) and maddening is the "in case of Rapture, this car will be abandoned" number. Arrogance about one's skill or stature or looks is one thing, but arrogance about one's piety is just funny.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I just realized that I spelled 'carpenter' wrong! Apologies from someone who is clearly not particularly witty.
ReplyDeleteI think the starbucks one is just stupid, not necessarily "offensive". I can't see the t-shirt well enough (too small) to form an opinion.
ReplyDeleteI like the second one! The first one sort of scares me and I'm a pretty strong Christian. I like the overall message, to make people do a double take. But...it does come across with a tad bit of 'tude, and Jesus was so humble.
ReplyDeleteI dunno! How's that for an answer? I realize someone's making money somewhere, but if it makes people feel good about their faith, then I don't see anything wrong with it. People take things differently, so it's really hard to say. I have a few Christian tee shirts and my favorite is just a black & white picture of some Levis with the knees torn out. It says, "Pray hard" on it. I guess everyone has different opinions on these sort of things.
ReplyDeleteNot much really offends me, well unless your the westboro baptist church and you are running around with stupid signs at soldier funerals, that only offends me it gets my blood boiling.
ReplyDeleteBut for the most part I'm not really offended by such things. There is a market for everything and if I don't like it I just don't buy it.
I used to let everything bug me, what other people thought of me, etc and so forth and I just realized it really wasn't worth it.
You totally have a right to be offended and be critical, but at the end of the day, your relationship with God is all that matters, not some tee-shirt.
mmay: One word--TOONA! : ) That bumper sticker ... yeah.
ReplyDeleteJJ: With the wisdom of morning, I agree with you about the Starbucks one. It is stupid. I stand by the other one, though :)
T.Anne: I think your point about Jesus being humble and these shirts being ... in-your-face ... is the crux of what I found so offensive. Thanks for clarifying :)
Rena: Good answer : ) The shirt you mention ("Pray Hard") is, in my view, more along the lines of a person expressing their relationship with God in a way that isn't violent (I got thinking about this in the shower this morning--the Starbucks shirt would scare the pants off my five-year-old, for example ... I can just hear her asking, "Why's there a dead guy on that shirt?" and having to have a conversation she is not ready to have). It's great to pray, and to pray hard, and expressing that isn't offensive to me--in fact, it's quite the opposite ... I find it comforting to know that someone is comfortable enough to express that. Am I defining the distinction effectively? It's kind of early in the morning ;)
Moonlight Dancer: As usual, your bottom line is spot on : ) Are you melting in this humidity?
Hey KLo, sorry I haven't commented in a while. Anyway, I completely agree with you. Though I have different views on religion than alot of people, I abhhor commercialization of it in any form. Religion (or spirituality) ought to be able to stand on it's own, without having to make it cool, hip, fun, etc. For me, religion is a very personal thing that I wouldn't want to wear on a tshirt anyway. I keep my beliefs close to my heart and try to remain true to them, and I don't think I have to wave a flag in front of everyone, shouting my beliefs to the heavens.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christian, but I'd have to agree about the "rapture" bumpersticker as well as ones like "Eternity: Smoking or Non-Smoking."
ReplyDeleteThere are a few passages in the Bible that talk about not being in-your-face because it backfires and creeps non-believers out. It's great to be a witness, but I think some things go from trying to show others how Christ has changed your life, into "Neener-neener, I'm Saved."
I believe that's where it gets irritating or offensive. When the meaning becomes not about loving the other person or honoring God, but about advertising your own piety, like mmay said.
I agree with the way Rebecca put it. I'm not so much offended by things like that as made uncomfortable. I think our religious ideals should uplift and be held sacred. I find that commercialization just cheapens the sacredness of holy things.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...Honestly the first one I thought was a starbucks logo until I looked at it closer. Someone walking down the street would see that shirt and want a coffee. Once I saw it was religious it did look kind of corny, and it was offensive because Jesus shouldn't be cheaply commercialized like that. I've seen it done on other shirts as well, to knock off movie titles and other popular logos, so this is nothing new for the Christian shirt market.
ReplyDeleteThe second one, I really don't think a lot of people would be upset about it. To most people it is just a simple reminder to donate blood. I don't really think of blood donation as advertising. Blood donation is helping out people in need, and it's nice to see a shirt that reminds people that others need help.
My fiance donates platelets on a monthly basis. He's done it for years and it takes it very seriously.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, he is not what you would consider a "religious" person. He does not donate blood because he's affiliated with any religious group. He donates because it's his way of helping others.
I haven't asked him, but personally I find the shirt a bit offensive... I feel like it implies that donating blood is a "Christian" thing to do, as opposed to a "human" thing to do.
However... whatever the reason a person donates... in the end, it doesn't really matter. Whatever gets them there, ya know?