@al3699 - Well in the UK, obviously religion is no longer the ultra-heated social problem it was for so long. You've evolved over there. lol
Here in the USA, it's almost a war. We have lots of reasons to join groups, but mostly it's to hang out with people who think like us. We can't do that in any church.
We don't really have support groups. I honestly think that religion inserts an artificial need for "support" from the community. We aren't so focused on making sure our emotions rule.
I am also an atheist and when I saw this waste of time, space and money I had to stop and take some pictures. Nothing is more screwed up then someone yelling in your face. If this isn't someone yelling to make themselves feel better. Imagine how many people he could have feed and clothed if he would had feeling for his fellow man instead of his stupid religion.
The same concrete cross is in Effingham, ILL. I've drove by it several times. The first time I saw it, I was like.......WTF!!?? It is gross; in-you-face, creepy, vulgar and represents all the hypocrisy and falsity that is christianity.
Shows how much you know! The church did not fund this. A private citizen has donated the land and another private donator has done the construction and designing of it. Other donations have gone into building the rest of the site. So before you decide to comment on something next time, try researching!
Building Statues does not make you a Christian. A way of life does. America seems to believe that if they make the biggest noise they have "God on their side". Pure commercial bullshit! I agree with "GoshJosh"'s statement i.e. ... Shame that the sculptor's talents were wasted on these.
The sculptor was delighted to "donate" much of his talent to this project. It's a shame you talentless people have to put down what you can't accomplish yourself.
the cross is present from the most aincent civilisations, aincent sumer, babylon, egypt, precolumbian culture. Its very important and has many meanings just search for it. Many stories from the bible come from aincent mesopotamia, people made crosses but forgot their meaning, its sort of tradition now, but its a long story , i could talk for hours...
Sure, many ancient civilizations used symbols that we use today, and many have been forgotten forever. Many have been misused and soiled, like the swastika.
People make symbols important, or not. It means lots of different things to lots of different people. I got that.
When a symbol is used for harm, it can become a symbol OF harm, to those who were harmed under it. Like me. Like millions of other non-willing participants in Christianity. But only that one religion seems to push it now.
I don't respect any hollow scam that's caused a ton of harm. Can you give me any reasons to?
I was a slave to Christianity for 9 straight years. It's a scam that harms people, and a harmful addiction to those who enjoy it. No one should respect that.
ok now I know where you come from. I came from a very religious christian family myself, that is a sort of "extreme living ", with all respect, but what you are doing now tells me that either you are too young or you fell on the other end of the "extreme spectra". I consider as being open minded and balanced. I advise you to take in consideration all aspects of a problem not only those that were harmful to yourself.This kind of aproach, take humanity usualy from bad to worse. Think about it :)
Speaking out against extremely harmful acts takes humanity from bad to worse? How?
You want me to just ignore what's causing these problems? I can't. I was raised to care about people.
It scares me that this sort of communication seems so wrong in comparison to the violent act I'm referring to. Priorities ought to be in better order than that.
Religion makes people blow off actual harm. Screw that.
true... religion killed a LOT of people, but a cross is a cross nothing more. I think I understand your point... but now we have internet so our children's children will grow up searching the "truth" for themselves LOL
"many ancient civilizations used symbols that we use today, and many have been forgotten forever. Many have been misused and soiled, like the swastika. "
If the jesus character had come about in a more modern age, and was killed in an electric chair, you suppose xtians would be wearing little chairs around their necks? :p
I stand corrected: 150 foot eyesores. Check your email for a link to the story. Looking at the website for Grace Church Houston, I don't see anything about the crosses any more. I'm "praying" it's not going to happen. Plenty of people spoke out against them.
Houston is supposed to be getting 2, two hundred foot monuments to ignorance sometime in the future on I-45. What would Jesus do, spend money on huge crucifixes or help the poor and sick?
The huge, winged, mythological creature praying over you is hilarious!
pmarie2003 - I'd like to know more about that, and picket the construction. Since Christians are SO powerful, and really don't have any competition or challenges to deal with, it'll go up, but they can't keep us quiet.
A lot of skill, time and effort went into those sculptures and displays. I'd say they did an impressive job overall and I just might go and visit it. We don't believe in the Greek gods, but we still revere the impressive statues of their gods that are left behind. We don't believe what the Egyptians believed about the afterlife, but we preserve and protect their idols. These monuments are worthy of appreciation, even if the beliefs behind them are not.
cerebulon - Did you ever see a statue of a Greek or Egyptian god that involved graphic violence? How about a series of such statues, designed to drive home a variety of violent images? I have never seen a non-Christian image that involved so much blatant lust for violence. So what's noble or impressive about that? What is there to appreciate about them? To me, it's a slap in the face to humanity, since only humans appear in the images, either sadisically or suffering. Not good.
Violence and death permeates all the art of every culture throughout history and Greeks and Egyptians were no different. Take a look at "Laocoon and Sons," or "Hercules And Lichas." While non-violent, "Romulus and Remus" is a pretty disturbing image as well. They Egyptians never created statues with violence, but their steeles and hierophyphs are rife with scenes of death, beatings and beheadings. Surely you are not taking the position that all violent art is an affront to humanity?
cerebulon - No, I'm taking the position that pointless violence is not art-worthy. This particular display is way over the top with glorification of violence. It's like some folks aren't impressed with WHO's being beaten, but the act of the beating itself. Since it repeats about a dozen times in this one display, it's beyond overkill. Again though, I don't see other religions glorifying violence to this degree. It would be hard to find your other examples in the first place.
I would disagree that it is "over the top." The stations of the cross are based on the Christian mythology, with each station described in the text. This monument is only being accurate to the text. If it were depicting other tortures, then I would agree. It may be hard to find the examples I cited today, but those statues once stood in Nero's home and in front of Titus' palace. 2,000 years ago, they were world-renown. I doubt this cross will ever achieve such standing.
cerebulong - Yes, the monument is being accurate to the text. That I don't disagree with at all. The reason I call this over the top is because it's all over the top. The monuments, the text, the religion. If you read about how Jesus was tortured to death, you MUST get the sense that it's exagerrated beyond reason, or else you are a very violence-minded person in the first place. Titus and Nero's images were never forced on me, so I'm really not repulsed so much by them. And what "standing"?
All myths are violent. How is the crucifixion any more disturbing than the Egyptian story of Horus and Seth, who castrated and blinded each other? Or the Greek story of Prometheus, who is eternally tortured by having an eagle eat his liver every single day? It would seem that you personally find Christianity offensive, and subsequently anything touched by those myths is offensive and horrid to you. Perhaps if you could look past your prejudice, you could appreciate the underlying art itself.
cerebulon - You're just listing reasons to avoid learning about those other religions. Christianity is the only one that's been forced on me. But more to the point of this video, it's the only religion splattered all over the area in question. All myths are violent? I disagree. We can make up non-violent myths anytime. For now, Christianity is the dominant myth in Texas. Those other stories aren't pushed, so they're not relevent to this.
JaMoond: They most certainly do support capital punishment and many of them are very pro-war. You're lucky if you've never received an email from one of these nuts with God, Jesus, crucifixes, fluttering American flags, and soldiers all in one package. These emails always ask that you pray for OUR troops, but never ask that you pray for the enemy, which is what Jesus taught. It's fun to send them the Bible verse that says they should pray for the enemy. Silence will follow.
D@mn, I wish I would have been the one to build that monstrosity. Can you imagine how much money this guy made off of the douche that had him do it?
Who cares what they waste their money on, at least it wasn't on more outings with young boys or to pay off some politician.
I'll take their money and use it for something useful like a new Corvette or a new pool in my back yard.
gmltw 10 months ago
Great video! Very funny. We have a giant eyesore of a cross by the same dick douche bag guy here in Chattanooga, TN.
benjiboy5311 10 months ago
please don't think i'm being disrespectful
i'm from the uk, don't believe in god but i don't feel the need to join a group of like minded people.
when a group of people congregate together it does become something similar to a church.
are atheists segregated that much in the us that they need to form support groups?
i only ask because it really isn't an issue here
al3699 1 year ago
@al3699 - Well in the UK, obviously religion is no longer the ultra-heated social problem it was for so long. You've evolved over there. lol
Here in the USA, it's almost a war. We have lots of reasons to join groups, but mostly it's to hang out with people who think like us. We can't do that in any church.
We don't really have support groups. I honestly think that religion inserts an artificial need for "support" from the community. We aren't so focused on making sure our emotions rule.
aajoeyjo 1 year ago
I am also an atheist and when I saw this waste of time, space and money I had to stop and take some pictures. Nothing is more screwed up then someone yelling in your face. If this isn't someone yelling to make themselves feel better. Imagine how many people he could have feed and clothed if he would had feeling for his fellow man instead of his stupid religion.
I
petphotog 2 years ago
The same concrete cross is in Effingham, ILL. I've drove by it several times. The first time I saw it, I was like.......WTF!!?? It is gross; in-you-face, creepy, vulgar and represents all the hypocrisy and falsity that is christianity.
PaineLover 2 years ago
What do you want , gold ? Give them some money then.
cm21961 2 years ago
Money = religion?? Where does the greed of religion end?
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
Just shows how much money is wasted by the citizens for the church to fund this crap. And yea I'm aware this isn't even the worst of it.
Brewhahh 2 years ago
Shows how much you know! The church did not fund this. A private citizen has donated the land and another private donator has done the construction and designing of it. Other donations have gone into building the rest of the site. So before you decide to comment on something next time, try researching!
texassireen 2 years ago
I think Brewhahh meant that citizens funded it, but FOR the church. In this case, the church refers to the Christian churches in general.
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
Building Statues does not make you a Christian. A way of life does. America seems to believe that if they make the biggest noise they have "God on their side". Pure commercial bullshit! I agree with "GoshJosh"'s statement i.e. ... Shame that the sculptor's talents were wasted on these.
HippyJohnWales 3 years ago
This exhibit seems to be overtly sectarian (i.e., Roman Catholic). The one in Effingham, Illinois is clearly fundie in its orientation.
BenAliGtor 3 years ago
hysterical.
bradreed 3 years ago
A shame the sculptor's talents were wasted on these.
goshjosh182 3 years ago
The sculptor was delighted to "donate" much of his talent to this project. It's a shame you talentless people have to put down what you can't accomplish yourself.
cm21961 2 years ago
We've accomplished a lot, but we wouldn't put up a giant torture device. What's so great about this cross display?
I have a talent for bringing to the world videos showing such nonsense. People need to see how bad religion can get. Even some Nazis were artists...
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
the cross is more important then you think, and is not only jesus, or the bible
dumbnetworks 2 years ago
dumbnetworks - Please explain.
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
the cross is present from the most aincent civilisations, aincent sumer, babylon, egypt, precolumbian culture. Its very important and has many meanings just search for it. Many stories from the bible come from aincent mesopotamia, people made crosses but forgot their meaning, its sort of tradition now, but its a long story , i could talk for hours...
dumbnetworks 2 years ago
Sure, many ancient civilizations used symbols that we use today, and many have been forgotten forever. Many have been misused and soiled, like the swastika.
People make symbols important, or not. It means lots of different things to lots of different people. I got that.
When a symbol is used for harm, it can become a symbol OF harm, to those who were harmed under it. Like me. Like millions of other non-willing participants in Christianity. But only that one religion seems to push it now.
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
chritianity is a heritage from our ancestors, so lets respect it for what its worth
dumbnetworks 2 years ago
I don't respect any hollow scam that's caused a ton of harm. Can you give me any reasons to?
I was a slave to Christianity for 9 straight years. It's a scam that harms people, and a harmful addiction to those who enjoy it. No one should respect that.
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
ok now I know where you come from. I came from a very religious christian family myself, that is a sort of "extreme living ", with all respect, but what you are doing now tells me that either you are too young or you fell on the other end of the "extreme spectra". I consider as being open minded and balanced. I advise you to take in consideration all aspects of a problem not only those that were harmful to yourself.This kind of aproach, take humanity usualy from bad to worse. Think about it :)
dumbnetworks 2 years ago
Speaking out against extremely harmful acts takes humanity from bad to worse? How?
You want me to just ignore what's causing these problems? I can't. I was raised to care about people.
It scares me that this sort of communication seems so wrong in comparison to the violent act I'm referring to. Priorities ought to be in better order than that.
Religion makes people blow off actual harm. Screw that.
aajoeyjo 2 years ago
true... religion killed a LOT of people, but a cross is a cross nothing more. I think I understand your point... but now we have internet so our children's children will grow up searching the "truth" for themselves LOL
dumbnetworks 2 years ago
"many ancient civilizations used symbols that we use today, and many have been forgotten forever. Many have been misused and soiled, like the swastika. "
If the jesus character had come about in a more modern age, and was killed in an electric chair, you suppose xtians would be wearing little chairs around their necks? :p
PaineLover 2 years ago
@PaineLover
LOL
gmltw 10 months ago
I stand corrected: 150 foot eyesores. Check your email for a link to the story. Looking at the website for Grace Church Houston, I don't see anything about the crosses any more. I'm "praying" it's not going to happen. Plenty of people spoke out against them.
pmarie2003 3 years ago
nothing some tnt won't fix
Mahoivlich 3 years ago
Houston is supposed to be getting 2, two hundred foot monuments to ignorance sometime in the future on I-45. What would Jesus do, spend money on huge crucifixes or help the poor and sick?
The huge, winged, mythological creature praying over you is hilarious!
pmarie2003 3 years ago
pmarie2003 - I'd like to know more about that, and picket the construction. Since Christians are SO powerful, and really don't have any competition or challenges to deal with, it'll go up, but they can't keep us quiet.
aajoeyjo 3 years ago
A lot of skill, time and effort went into those sculptures and displays. I'd say they did an impressive job overall and I just might go and visit it. We don't believe in the Greek gods, but we still revere the impressive statues of their gods that are left behind. We don't believe what the Egyptians believed about the afterlife, but we preserve and protect their idols. These monuments are worthy of appreciation, even if the beliefs behind them are not.
cerebulon 3 years ago
cerebulon - Did you ever see a statue of a Greek or Egyptian god that involved graphic violence? How about a series of such statues, designed to drive home a variety of violent images? I have never seen a non-Christian image that involved so much blatant lust for violence. So what's noble or impressive about that? What is there to appreciate about them? To me, it's a slap in the face to humanity, since only humans appear in the images, either sadisically or suffering. Not good.
aajoeyjo 3 years ago
Violence and death permeates all the art of every culture throughout history and Greeks and Egyptians were no different. Take a look at "Laocoon and Sons," or "Hercules And Lichas." While non-violent, "Romulus and Remus" is a pretty disturbing image as well. They Egyptians never created statues with violence, but their steeles and hierophyphs are rife with scenes of death, beatings and beheadings. Surely you are not taking the position that all violent art is an affront to humanity?
cerebulon 3 years ago
cerebulon - No, I'm taking the position that pointless violence is not art-worthy. This particular display is way over the top with glorification of violence. It's like some folks aren't impressed with WHO's being beaten, but the act of the beating itself. Since it repeats about a dozen times in this one display, it's beyond overkill. Again though, I don't see other religions glorifying violence to this degree. It would be hard to find your other examples in the first place.
aajoeyjo 3 years ago
I would disagree that it is "over the top." The stations of the cross are based on the Christian mythology, with each station described in the text. This monument is only being accurate to the text. If it were depicting other tortures, then I would agree. It may be hard to find the examples I cited today, but those statues once stood in Nero's home and in front of Titus' palace. 2,000 years ago, they were world-renown. I doubt this cross will ever achieve such standing.
cerebulon 3 years ago
cerebulong - Yes, the monument is being accurate to the text. That I don't disagree with at all. The reason I call this over the top is because it's all over the top. The monuments, the text, the religion. If you read about how Jesus was tortured to death, you MUST get the sense that it's exagerrated beyond reason, or else you are a very violence-minded person in the first place. Titus and Nero's images were never forced on me, so I'm really not repulsed so much by them. And what "standing"?
aajoeyjo 3 years ago
All myths are violent. How is the crucifixion any more disturbing than the Egyptian story of Horus and Seth, who castrated and blinded each other? Or the Greek story of Prometheus, who is eternally tortured by having an eagle eat his liver every single day? It would seem that you personally find Christianity offensive, and subsequently anything touched by those myths is offensive and horrid to you. Perhaps if you could look past your prejudice, you could appreciate the underlying art itself.
cerebulon 3 years ago
cerebulon - You're just listing reasons to avoid learning about those other religions. Christianity is the only one that's been forced on me. But more to the point of this video, it's the only religion splattered all over the area in question. All myths are violent? I disagree. We can make up non-violent myths anytime. For now, Christianity is the dominant myth in Texas. Those other stories aren't pushed, so they're not relevent to this.
aajoeyjo 3 years ago
great video. powerful, yet humorous =D
next time im within a 100 miles, i will make it a point to go see that, looks very interesting.
thx for the vid.
sheepwshotguns 3 years ago
We can finally crucify those damn giants! Also notice that Christian artists never really get the Romans right?
rjbonacolta 3 years ago
So I guess the pro-life people in Texas also support capital punishment? I guess we shouldn't call them "pro-life", but more like "anti-choice."
JaMoond 3 years ago
JaMoond: They most certainly do support capital punishment and many of them are very pro-war. You're lucky if you've never received an email from one of these nuts with God, Jesus, crucifixes, fluttering American flags, and soldiers all in one package. These emails always ask that you pray for OUR troops, but never ask that you pray for the enemy, which is what Jesus taught. It's fun to send them the Bible verse that says they should pray for the enemy. Silence will follow.
pmarie2003 3 years ago
LMAO
Odin4President 3 years ago
Your buddy in the tomb made me crack up.
TheBlueHour 3 years ago
Eww! ;)
ShortbusMooner 3 years ago