ALT-1 Chocolate Jesus for Easter Blessing or Blasphemy
I personally don't feel as though a chocolate Jesus is a blessing nor is it even blasphemy. It is art in certain cases and just a yummy reminder in other cases of a Christian holiday that is saturated with commercialism. For every holiday that originated in paganism, in which Christians evolved it to meet with their religious beliefs, you would think Christians would rejoice for a chocolate Jesus. Apparently, that is not the case.
First let me address what seems to have everyone in an uproar. In 2007, an artist by the name of Cosimo Cavallaro, created a 200 pound, 6 foot tall, anatomically correct sculpture of Jesus made out of chocolate. Cosimo Cavallaro is known for using food ingredients in his art. This sculpture, entitled "My Sweet Jesus", is the primary focus of controversy with the Catholic League.
Bill Donahue, head of the Catholic League, is the main voice of the protest. Although Cosimo Cavallaro, a Christian himself, maintains the fact that this was his way of expressing his love for Jesus, Bill Donahue continuously headed verbal attacks toward the artist. Mr. Donahue stated that was "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever." He even went on to verbally attack Mr. Cavallaro on CNN with name calling and other personal attacks. He even threatened Mr. Cavallaro physical harm. Mr. Donahue continuously argued with Mr. Cavallaro, saying he was not a Christian. In my opinion, it is Mr. Donahue that failed at exhibiting Christian attributes. I surely don't believe that Jesus, himself, would behave in such a manner and if he would, I denounce myself as a Christian.
Apparently, Mr. Donahue was not the only one who shared this view of hatred toward Cosimo Cavallaro. Mr. Cavallaro had received several death threats leading up to the opening of the exhibit. It didn't stop there. The Roger Smith Hotel, that houses the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan, decided to cancel the exhibit after receiving numerous calls from Cardinal Edward Egan and other outraged Catholics, some of which were quite threatening. Also as a result of the threatening phone calls, Matt Semler, the gallery's creative director, resigned.
How is this Christian behavior? I believe the outrage may have been because this chocolate Jesus was anatomically correct and the artist had no intentions of using a loin cloth. That leads to another question. Why is it that these Christians are so offended by nudity, as if being nude is sin? I guess they sin every time they bath or simply change their clothes. Nudity does not always lead to the topic of sex. Nudity does not always represent that temptation. We are all born nude. I personally, prefer clothes but I am not offended by nudity.
Take out the anatomically correct part; add a loin cloth, would it still be a focus of controversy? If so, I just don't understand their way of thinking. Every year at Easter, you will find chocolate crosses, chocolate praying hands and even a chocolate Jesus featuring Jesus from the shoulders up. Shall we protest that too? In my opinion, it is better to have Christian candy than commercialized candy of bunnies and chicks.
One final thought. Do these Christians realize that they are giving the Christians who actually follow Jesus' teachings a bad reputation? I have said over and over that if being rude, uncaring to your fellow man, being violent and condescending is what it means to be a Christian, count me out. I will, however, continue to tell people the message that Jesus tried to bring to the world. In that, I will not jump on the condemning wagon and judge someone nor their art, when it is not my place to do so. The only judge I know that can pass judgment on this is God. For it says in Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get."
