Letter Of The Month: Shut Up Christian?

By Linda of Clovelly on February 21, 2012 in Other

Since you made me sound like such an idiot, I believe it is fair that I have the right of reply. A Christian who has an emotional attachment to sacred images trying to explain to atheists why it’s an issue; not an easy task.

Firstly, there is the question of whether or not it is appropriate to use sacred imagery for commercial purposes, from product design through to marketing.

The Commonwealth Bank has used part of Michelangelo’s artwork from the Sistine Chapel to market its credit card; Dangerfield had a Bigger Than Jesus sale, or some such thing, to name just two. Then there’s the whole wearing of certain imagery. Is that what they were intended for? Really? I have no problem with someone getting a tattoo of whatever if that’s meaningful for them, but the whole commercial enterprise is a different story.

The thing is, sacred imagery is not just a bit of fun, and it was never created to generate profits, or for the latest uber cool trend.

For Christians, this guy Jesus, and his mum, are powerful and loving additions to our lives, not just historical persons but real and alive today. For some, Jesus and his mum helped free them from addiction to drugs and alcohol, or deal with devastating stuff, or figure out how to live life in a more loving way, or even healed them from disease. You’ve heard the stories. Some Christians have even died for this guy Jesus, rather than renounce their faith, not just in times gone by but today.

Christian imagery is serious stuff. Not the stuff of merchandising, or supposedly clever marketing techniques.

But, for people without an emotional connection to Christian imagery, anything goes, and all that I have written makes no sense at all.

The other point I would like to make is some imagery is not cross-cultural. If it were, then the world would be a truly global space. Although technology is changing things, culture will always be the domain of a particular geographical area.

Santa Maria della Muerte is part of this cultural phenomenon. To my knowledge, this image is not used for worship in the Roman Catholic Church in Australia. Essentially, in our culture, images that depict skulls and skeletons are generally understood to be icons of rebellion, and even anti-Christians. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to use it here (unless of course we were inundated by Mexicans who brought their culture with them, as is the case in the US).

Cultural appropriateness is a basic understanding, something we apply when we travel. Should we go to a Muslim country and dress provocatively and kiss passionately in the street? When we’re arrested do we say they’re idiots because it’s a common practice in our country?

At the end of the day, this is just another case of shut up you Christian.