Statue Of A Homeless Jesus Startles A Wealthy Community - Polidicks

[QUOTE][IMG]http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/04/12/photo-1-63e351216d206d8e07c3a0047cda6ca0e7154c9b-s40-c85.jpg[/IMG] [I]Rev. David Buck sits next to the Jesus the Homeless statue that was installed in front of his church, St. Alban's Episcopal, in Davidscon, N.C.[/I][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]A new religious statue in the town of Davidson, N.C., is unlike anything you might see in church. The statue depicts Jesus as a vagrant sleeping on a park bench. St. Alban's Episcopal Church installed the homeless Jesus statue on its property in the middle of an upscale neighborhood filled with well-kept townhomes. Jesus is huddled under a blanket with his face and hands obscured; only the crucifixion wounds on his uncovered feet give him away. The reaction was immediate. Some loved it; some didn't. "One woman from the neighborhood actually called police the first time she drove by," says David Boraks, editor of DavidsonNews.net. "She thought it was an actual homeless person." That's right. Somebody called the cops on Jesus. "Another neighbor, who lives a couple of doors down from the church, wrote us a letter to the editor saying it creeps him out," Boraks added. Some neighbors felt it was an insulting depiction of the Son of God, and what appears to be a hobo curled up on a bench demeans the neighborhood. The bronze statue was purchased for $22,000 as a memorial for a parishioner, Kate McIntyre, who had loved public art. The rector of this liberal, inclusive church is Rev. David Buck, a 65-year-old Baptist-turned-Episcopalian who seems not at all averse to the controversy, the double-takes and the discussion the statue has provoked. "It gives authenticity to our church," he says. "This is a relatively affluent church, to be honest, and we need to be reminded ourselves that our faith expresses itself in active concern for the marginalized of society." The sculpture is intended as a visual translation of the passage in the Book of Matthew, in which Jesus tells his disciples, "as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me." Moreover, Buck says, it's a good Bible lesson for those used to seeing Jesus depicted in traditional religious art as the Christ of glory, enthroned in finery. "We believe that that's the kind of life Jesus had," Buck says. "He was, in essence, a homeless person." This lakeside college town north of Charlotte has the first Jesus the Homeless statue on display in the United States. Catholic Charities of Chicago plans to install its statue when the weather warms up. The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., is said to be interested in one, too. The creator is a Canadian sculptor and devout Catholic named Timothy Schmalz. From his studio in Ontario, Schmalz says he understands that his Jesus the Homeless is provocative. "That's essentially what the sculpture is there to do," he says. "It's meant to challenge people." He says he offered the first casts to St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Both declined. A spokesman at St. Michael's says appreciation of the statue "was not unanimous," and the church was being restored so a new work of art was out of the question. That statue found a home in front of the Jesuit School of Theology at the University of Toronto.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.npr.org/2014/04/13/302019921/statue-of-a-homeless-jesus-startles-a-wealthy-community[/url]

Insulting? Demeaning? These idiots must be confusing the poor, vagrant Jesus I remember reading about with Xerxes. I like the statue, reminds you that homeless people are still people.

Wich is why ive always found Catholicism ridiculous.

What kind of asshole calls the police to report a homeless person sleeping on a bench? Jesus.

[QUOTE=anis;44536267]What kind of asshole calls the police to report a homeless person sleeping on a bench? Jesus.[/QUOTE] I think if they got locked up, at least they'd have a place to sleep and food to eat

[QUOTE=anis;44536267]What kind of asshole calls the police to report a homeless person sleeping on a bench? Jesus.[/QUOTE] Old rich fucks, that's who.

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

So glad someone called the cops on that homeless jesus statue, he might've prevented fat people from sitting on the bench

Don't care if it rains or freezes? What you need is Homeless Jesus!

[QUOTE]"We believe that that's the kind of life Jesus had," Buck says. "He was, in essence, a homeless person."[/QUOTE] He was a rich and white gun owner.

[QUOTE=outlawpickle;44536228]Insulting? Demeaning? These idiots must be confusing the poor, vagrant Jesus I remember reading about with Xerxes. I like the statue, reminds you that homeless people are still people.[/QUOTE] Nah i'm pretty sure the version they believe is the version where jesus protects the rich and keeps the homeless immigrants away from the riches stash they "Rightfully" gained is the more accurate version (sarcasm)

[QUOTE=Sprockethead;44536242]Wich is why ive always found Catholicism ridiculous.[/QUOTE] Somebody got picked on at Sunday school

[QUOTE=anis;44536267]What kind of asshole calls the police to report a homeless person sleeping on a bench? Jesus.[/QUOTE] This really angered me. And I try not to get angry.

[QUOTE][t]http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/04/12/photo-1-63e351216d206d8e07c3a0047cda6ca0e7154c9b-s40-c85.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] The reverend looks like Gary Sinise

[QUOTE=MendozaMan;44536281]Old rich fucks, that's who.[/QUOTE] There's plenty of young rich fucks who would do that, too. They're the people who get offended over anything else that shatters their perfect little perception of the world and demands it be removed.

[QUOTE=gary spivey;44536818]The reverend looks like Gary Sinise[/QUOTE] And a bit like an elderly Jeff Goldblum

[QUOTE=gary spivey;44536818]The reverend looks like Gary Sinise[/QUOTE] More like Alan Arkin.

[QUOTE=Sprockethead;44536242]Wich is why ive always found Catholicism ridiculous.[/QUOTE] There's a million potential reasons you could dislike the catholic church, but out of all of them, that might just be the most ridiculous one I've ever heard.

Francis likes it: [IMG]http://catholicphilly.com/media-files/2013/12/SCHMALZ-HOMELESS.jpg[/IMG]

What a dick, I know some homeless that would've wanted to sleep on thag bench themselves. Thanks jesus

[QUOTE=01271;44537696]What a dick, I know some homeless that would've wanted to sleep on thag bench themselves. Thanks jesus[/QUOTE] At least jesus is always open to spooning

[QUOTE=Griffster26;44537578]Francis likes it: [IMG]http://catholicphilly.com/media-files/2013/12/SCHMALZ-HOMELESS.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] That a photoshop? The bench looks really off.

[QUOTE=01271;44537696]What a dick, I know some homeless that would've wanted to sleep on thag bench themselves. Thanks jesus[/QUOTE] One of the major reasons the piece is causing controversy is because it's in an affluent area, full of rich people, with very few homeless people. So no, I don't think there will be many vagrants wanting for a place to sleep.

[QUOTE=KommradKommisar;44537738]That a photoshop? The bench looks really off.[/QUOTE] It's a model of it but point still stands.

[QUOTE=Explosions;44536284]"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."[/QUOTE] I was waiting for the out of context Bible verses. Why don't we continue with that quote and see the disciples response to that statement: "When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, 'Then who can be saved?' 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" The end point is that no one can work their way to heaven, especially those who are rich.

[QUOTE=Griffster26;44537765]It's a model of it but point still stands.[/QUOTE] Oh okay, it's all clear now.

That is one dumb statue. Imagine if Michelangelo made stuff like this instead of Pieta or David ? He would be long forgotten...

[QUOTE=Explosions;44536284]"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."[/QUOTE] Always hated that verse. What about charitable rich people?

[QUOTE=Riller;44537964]Always hated that verse. What about charitable rich people?[/QUOTE] If they're truly charitable, I'm sure they'll give away all their fortune. By the time they would reach heaven, they'd be rich, no more.

[QUOTE=Riller;44537964]Always hated that verse. What about charitable rich people?[/QUOTE] There's also the parable of the rich man who gives just a smidgen of money to the temple, then the old widow who gives her only coin. Basically, if you're rich, give what you can as much as you can. Don't keep it as your own.