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Steveo · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:34 am Post subject: Chocolate Jesus

In the news lately, there has been an uproar over a Chocolate Jesus sculpture:

NEW YORK (AP) -- A planned Holy Week exhibition of a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ was canceled Friday amid complaints from Catholics, including Cardinal Edward Egan.

The "My Sweet Lord" display was shut down by the hotel that houses the Lab Gallery in Manhattan, said Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director. Semler said he resigned after officials at the Roger Smith Hotel shut down the show.

The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate and features Christ with his arms outstretched as if on an invisible cross. Unlike the typical religious portrayal of Christ, the artwork does not include a loincloth.

The 6-foot sculpture was the victim of "a strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing," Semler said. "They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions."

But word of the confectionary Christ infuriated Catholics, including Egan, who described it as "a sickening display." Bill Donohue, head of the watchdog Catholic League, said it was "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever."

The hotel and the gallery were overrun Thursday with angry phone calls and e-mails. Semler said the calls included death threats over the work of artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who was described as disappointed by the decision to cancel the display. (Watch Cavallaro touch up the sculpture, explain its purpose )

"In this situation, the hotel couldn't continue to be supportive because of a fear for their own safety," Semler said.

The sculpture was to debut Monday evening, the day after Palm Sunday and just four days before Roman Catholics mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit was planned for Easter Sunday.

Cavallaro is best known for his quirky work with food. Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.

Personally, I see NOTHING wrong with our Lord being made into a sculpture of chocolate. Yes, it is a nude sculpture, but wasn't customary to crucify people like that back then? Whats the big deal with the anitomical correctness? Jesus was a man, and a man has genitalia. The piece was done tastefully (no pun intended) and respectfully. These over zealous Catholics are just making a big deal out of nothing. Some other things I hear is that alot of the uproar over this is that it was made of dark chocolate, which turns the topic to the racial aspect of the matter, which is a totally whole other subject altogether. I will say this much, Jesus, who was from the middle east, was dark complected as was all the people from that region. Regardless of that issue, In my belief, Jesus is our Lord and Savior. I personally don't care what race he was anyhoo. Back on topic, as I said before, I see nothing wrong with a choco Jesus at all. Even Bishop Egan condemned the work as well. He shouldn't even have a say as far as many people are concerned. He was one of the clergy who KNEW about the many priests who were doing all that nasty stuff with children, and hid them in other dioceses.

In comment on the last paragraph in the story..... HUH??? waste of perfectly good food.

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Rocky Sullivan · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:33 am Post subject:

he sort of looks mouldy

as in he's bald, like bob mould
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dynamite spoony · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject:

I don't think Jesus would be offended. I mean, who WOULDN'T want a chocolate statue in their image?

They're just upset because it's not white chocolate. Silly racist stupidheads.
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DJ The Stick · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

I think they just want to eat it.

-DJ
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dodger · Gender: Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 2136 Status: User

My guess is that the zealots-at-large failed to grasp the idea behind the piece (surprise!).

Easter is the most important Christian holiday, but it has fallen victim to commercialization. Even moreso than Christmas, even though Christmas isn't nearly as important an observance. At Christmas, we hear "Keep the Christ in Christmas!" and tons of bitching about how the holiday has been turned into a commodity. Those same voices seem oddly quiet around Easter.

The commercialization of Easter is an even bigger affront to Christianity, because Easter is not as purely celebratory. It's a much more solemn occasion (I mean, we are talking about crucifixion). I understand that a lot of the traditions surrounding both Christmas and Easter are based on pagan rituals, but somehow Santa Claus and gift-giving seems less out-of-touch with the occasion as pastel rabbits, egg hunts, and loads of candy.

I think the artwork has a pretty obvious message: "Easter Sunday, the observance of the murder and resurrection of Jesus Christ, has been turned into a cuddly, candy-filled, for-kids holiday." Feel free to tell me that I'm off-base, but I'm pretty confident in my interpretation.

If this is the case, Christians should be the last people complaining about this. As for Jesus being depicted naked, there should be nothing wrong with that either. For starters, it's historically accurate. Secondly (and biblically), nakedness is reserved for the innocent... and in that case, ain't nobody more entitled to be naked than Jesus.

THEN AGAIN, when have bible-belters ever thought anything through?

Sorry about the rant, but every year I get more and more irritated with the popular version of Easter (bunny, candy, eggs, etc.). Not that I'm a Christian... it just bothers me, okay?

Hooooomsar · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject:

Jesus was black and conservatives are fucking morons.
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Steveo · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject:

Damn Dodger.
As a Christian clergy, I'd say that you hit the nail on the head with your rough interpretation. Religious zealots seriously need to get a life. And also, It is sad that these holidayys are so over commercialized. Thanx for your contribution.
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Mavhunter · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:01 am Post subject:

Jesus: also available in Obama version!

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ZealousDemon · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:27 am Post subject:

I'm trying to figure out exactly what everbody is angry about.

If it's about the fact that he's nude, than they're just being "historically" accurate.

If it's about the fact that he's made of chocolate, which is edible, I'm pretty sure people "eat the flesh and blood" of Jesus at communion.

If it's about the fact that he's black, than they're just being fucking racist.

dodger · Gender: Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 2136 Status: User

Maybe, except Jesus wasn't black.

ZealousDemon · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:36 am Post subject:

dodger · Gender: Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 2136 Status: User

Mavhunter · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:51 am Post subject:

Jesus was an Aborigine.
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Tacofiend · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:55 am Post subject:

Think of Tiger Woods...

Oh my God, I'm going straight to Hell for that.

Its_The_Sneak!!! · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:03 am Post subject: