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« December 2007 | Main | February 2008 »
January 31, 2008
Don't put your head on Buddha, and don't mess around with Jim
A sign in Thailand warns tourists not to take a picture of themselves standing behind a headless Buddha sculpture.
Via Eyeteeth.
Nuns' nudes crude say prudes
"Banned in Boston" used to mean something back in the day; now, the most Catholics in the Bay State can do is issue press releases taking offense.
Above: an Equinox fitness center ad I never would have heard about had not Boston's Catholic coalition been so vocal in protesting it.
Equinox' response:
Our ad campaigns are based on personal motivation and fantasy, and throughout history, the body has been considered a form of art.
I think mine's somewhere between cubism and the surreal.
Miss Sparkle Sprinkles Magic
From a photo series based on children's drawings:
"...The power of a child's imagination is how it delicately refigures memory and real imagery into unreasonable and unexpected expressions and impressions. Children's fantasies spring from flexible interpretations of adult conventions. The challenge of photographically reconstructing these fantasies may reflect Jung's challenge of becoming a father in real life. It is not hard to imagine that he is inspired by the limitless imaginative power of the child playing before his eyes. This makes even more sense in light of Kristeva's comment that the child is the "mythical figure" of the imaginary. The adolescents who play-act for Jung take on the adult forms of their drawn figures, but with adolescent minds, and thus visually realize the fusion of fantasy and reality. These are works that gaze upon the world of adult reason with the pure, unsullied eyes of a child. Balanced between reality and fantasy, the deformed cartoonish world in "Wonderland" sways our values and beliefs."
Via Neatorama
January 30, 2008
In-Soul Bible-verse shoe inserts
I'm not sure what's more unusual about these Christian shoe inserts--the assumption that stepping on a Bible verse will strengthen your relationship with God or the fact that they're made only for the right foot.
Miniskirts for nuns
Minidresses inspired by a nun's habit, via Mini.
Charitable Buddha Box
Via nonprofit IT expert Beth Kanter, a photo from Cambodia "of the donation box at the Watt in Roteang Village where the Sharing Foundation has most of its programs." The inscription reads "donation to the Buddha."
January 29, 2008
Pope Eustace the First
From the New Yorker's Eustace Tilley contest Flickr pool.
Porn blessings from Thailand
One of my favorite Socratic dialogues is the Euthydemus, in which Plato explores the link between words and things. One of the limitations of language highlighted in the wordplay of this text is the way that one word can mean different things.
For instance, take the classical Greek verb "porneuo." In English we translate this most directly as "to prostitute", with its most common usage in the passive voice signifying "to engage in prostitution." Yet if we look at the most ubiquitous English cognate--porn--we find that it is rarely if ever used in reference to people classed as prostitutes, either by law or convention, despite the fact that any number of people depicted in pornography are doing so for money. Indeed, depending on the jurisdiction or observer the person depicted in the image need not be engaged in a sexual act at all; mere exposure of certain body parts may suffice.
Then there are other languages in which the word porn has no reference to sex at all--and that's the story behind the picture above. Design blog Eyeteeth explains:
One of the reasons my wife Mok goes by her nickname is that in the U.S. she's sometimes met with snickers when she says her given name: Julaporn.
But in Thailand, the word "porn" has a very different meaning. It's the name of the king's daughter (and technically, no one else is supposed to use it) and means "silk." Often a part of women's names, "porn" is a formal and somewhat antiquated word for a blessing from God. So the name literally refers to the ceremonial silk one would present to monks at a Buddhist temple: prayer silk, if you will.
For a complete explanation of Julaporn's neon sign, check out the rest of this enlightening post!
Too hot for Craft Magazine: What would Jesus sell?
Murketing has gone where Craft feared to tread: printing the censored article, "What would Jesus sell?" The title is actually a riff on a new Morgan Spurlock documentary; the article itself is not about Christianity. Rather, it's an inquiry into the commodification of handicraft, asking whether the market for handcrafted items is actually consistent with the movement's do-it-yourself ethic.:
But I can't help thinking: Isn't shopping, no matter how wonderfully crafty and politically correct still, well, shopping? Can you escape the so-called sin of consumerism by buying handmade? Isn't the whole point of modern crafting Do It Yourself--not Buy from Someone Who is Doing It Themselves? Not to be a total hypocrite; I shop Etsy and artisan crafters as well as buy the crap from China just like everyone else. It's just that I see a new trend, which is moving away from crafting and towards consuming. What's next? "Hip Craft" aisles at Wal-Mart?
The presumption--now denied--that the reference to Jesus would be offensive to Christians highlights an unintended consequence of protests against blasphemy: rather than speaking of Christianity more reverently, people might conclude that mentioning Jesus at all is more trouble than it's worth.
Barbie tarot cards
Although the righteous folks at Miss Toronto Tourism believe that tarot card reading is too "dark arts" for beauty pageants, the Barbie Tarot reveals that it may be a perfect fit.
January 28, 2008
Jesus loves me, this I know
'Cuz his light switch tells me so:
January 27, 2008
Cleaning up
One of two faith-related confessions on this Sunday's PostSecret.
Shrine to Brad Will
"He was an anarchist and an independent journalist who went to Mexico to document revolution -- and ended up filming his own murder."
January 26, 2008
From Magic Squares to Sudoku
One old model of secularization theory posits that an abundance of choices in the spiritual marketplace can create a spiritual aporia--there are so many viable choices that it can be hard to pick just one, thereby leaving us with nothing.
Whatever the value of that theory in understanding society, it sure applies to this site in regard to the C.B. Gardner Witches Mill Collection that's been selling on eBay, which has so many cool pieces that I've been dithering over which one to post. Be sure to click over to another of my favorite daily reads--AltReligion--for the scoop.
Why did I pick the image above? Well, it's a magic square, a wonderful example of a spiritual icon now reincarnated in a pop secular form. For an illustrated history of the link between magic squares and sudoku, check out this article from Plus as well as this fun page from EMAS Portsmouth, which integrates mathematical training with cultural traditions.
Peace is the word
AM New York has a feature on New York designers exploring the theme of peace. Tanya Farah's work--with words for peace in English, Hebrew and Arabic--wasn't illustrated, but it's something for which I'll be on the lookout. Rosena Sammi, designer of the Kismat collection, has this to say about her work:
"When your thoughts and feelings tend towards purity of mind/body, hope, and bliss," she says, "the effect on your life can be profound."
Who knew?
January 25, 2008
Nose, Iranian style
A fascinating documentary on the culture of nose jobs in Iran.
Documentary filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouei considers the epidemic of nose jobs in contemporary Iran, the world leader in rhinoplasty with an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 operations each year. In a country that discourages personal expression and disdains Western culture, young Iranians eagerly change their noses to model images in European and American fashion magazines. With a light touch, Oskouei listens to patients and surgeons comment on this enigmatic phenomenon.
First Saudi female soccer team
Via Sabbah's Blog:
The first soccer match between female teams has taken place in Alkhobbar (Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province). The match was held between two teams of university students. The Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University team defeated their guests, the Al Yamamah College.
Although the match was held at a 35,000 capacity stadium in al-Dammam, no men were allowed in the stadium, and the referee and her linesman, as well as the fans, were also female.
Nihilism wrist band
Available at Accoutrements
January 24, 2008
The Inspiration of St. Matthew for geeks
Jesus and the Bear by Jim Woodring
For an exegesis and (print!) of this painting, read the artist's post and comments.
Iranian sneaker punk
From Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis:
January 23, 2008
Lego Stephen Hawking talks about God
"Einstein was wrong when he said "God does not play dice". Consideration of black holes suggests, not only that God does play dice, but that He sometimes confuses us by throwing them where they can't be seen."
Check out The Land Salmon for the original pic and more cool Hawking quotes.
Donald Duck Church
To understand why folks call Columbia, Missouri's First Baptist Church the "Donald Duck Church," look carefully at the steeple.
Notice the dark eyes . . .
The corner forming the beak . . .
For another angle, click here.
DUCKBURG EXTRA:
There's actually an even more famous Donald Duck Church--the original building for Jerry Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church, which was a converted (ba dum bump!) Donald Duck soda bottling plant.
January 22, 2008
Voice of the Mummy
Speaking of Tech_Space, this post noting the excavation of an undisturbed Egyptian tomb immediately got me thinking about things I always think about when reading about Egyptian tombs.
Partly lamenting the disturbance of the inhabitant's ka and hoping beyond hope that Osiris isn't real, because if he is we are so screwed.
Partly meditating on how Egyptian tombs functioned as mnemonic proto-hologram projectors (no kidding--if you've ever been in one that hasn't been stripped, you'll see what I mean).
And above all, recalling my favorite board game as a child, filled with sacred jewels, mysterious hieroglyphics, eerie spirits and vengeful gods: Voice of the Mummy!
Darkness into light
Gawker has footage of the scene outside Heath Ledger's apartment as his body is being wheeled out to an ambulance, an iconic dance of darkness, light, death and immortality.
Another photographer was struck with the import of it all. He crossed his chest. "You heard about this already? Jesus. This is tragic." He looked down mournfully. "I should have brought my cross."
PostSecret Christian Stick-ems
A confession from this week's PostSecret:
Name is fate--DNA craft bracelet
Angela Gunn is a science writer whose informative and engaging Tech Space blog (inter alia) has been a daily read for a while now, not least of all because she has a sharp eye for cool stuff like what you see pictured above: an ID bracelet with a name encoded into DNA. Marshall McLuhan liked to quip that name is fate--our name, like any other medium, shapes who we are--but this takes it to a whole new level!
The meaning of life in a Doctor Who forklift
Humans have an innate drive to rise above the mundane. Not just poets, painters and priests--everyone, from cubicle workers to
Today's example: forklift operators, celebrating the central role played by a Hyster lift in helping the Doctor save Earth from certain doom over Christmas.
Malaysian kryptonite
In the U.S., Playboy's painted Wonder Woman cover has sparked heated protests. Muslim Malaysia is in the throes of a similar controversy, except the offender is a reality-contest runner-up who--no kidding--shocked the country by imitating in a televised performance the iconic S-painted-on-Tom-Welling's-chest scene from the Smallville pilot.
AP story after the jump.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A popular Malaysian rock singer has been banned from appearing on television entertainment programs for three months after he sparked an uproar by baring his chest during a live TV concert, reports said Saturday.
Faizal Tahir — one of Muslim-majority Malaysia's most exuberant stage performers — stripped off his jacket, undershirt and belt and flung them into the audience at a Jan. 13 concert in Kuala Lumpur. The moves revealed a bright red Superman logo painted on his chest.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission slammed Faizal's premeditated stunt as "insensitive" to viewers and Malaysian culture, the New Straits Times said.
"It is a serious offense in a live entertainment program," the commission was quoted as saying in a statement.
Malaysia's government has strict guidelines for entertainers, who must cover up from chest to knee onstage. Jumping, hugging, kissing and throwing objects at the audience are prohibited.
Private television network 8TV was banned from broadcasting live and delayed telecast concerts for three months for flouting rules for live telecasts, it said in the report.
Commission officials, Faizal and 8TV personnel couldn't be immediately reached for comments Saturday.
Faizal, 29, who shot to fame in 2006 when he was the runner-up in a reality singing competition, has apologized for sparking an uproar in Malaysia.
8TV, which has said it was shocked by Faizal's stunt, has put him on six months' probation during which he cannot appear on the network's shows and must take part in 8TV community projects.
In 2006, the Malaysian organizer of a Pussycat Dolls concert was fined after the group was accused of flouting decency regulations.
January 21, 2008
The genetics of faith
From Elizabeth Svoboda, a picture of the "the monastery in Brno where Gregor Mendel worked out his theories of genetics 150 years ago."
SCIENCE AND HEAVENLY SPHERES BONUS:
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away I studied law with a professor who helped pioneer the law of outer space. For an interesting look at the latest goings among those who want a mansion on the moon, check out Svoboda's latest article in Salon.
January 20, 2008
Touchdown Jesus
In honor of the today's U.S. football playoffs, here's the storied gridiron icon of the University of Notre Dame.
The Petulant Virgin--Crossdressing and Islam in Turkey
Pictured left: The Huysuz Virjin, a seventy-six year old crossdressing celebrity in Turkey.
Or at least that's what he used to be. The "Petulant Virgin" claims that the country's Islamic government is pressuring broadcasters to clamp down on immorality.
The Economist offers a fascinating peek into this culture clash, including an unexpected endorsement of the ruling Islamic party from designer Cemil Ipecki:
"Cemil Ipekci has declared that AK is the best government to have ruled the country in the history of the republic and that, had he been born a woman, 'I would have covered my head [ie, Islamic-style].' Pressed to explain, a demure Mr Ipekci says 'I am a conservative homosexual.'"
January 19, 2008
Pagan Wagon
As the owner notes and a fellow-traveler sympathizes, not every community welcomes cars decorated with pagan symbols:
I just had another 400ish dollar paint fix-r-up due to some overly-convicted thumper. I will keep you all updated as more and more Christ-Inspired vandalism occurs!
kiraroofus says:
I feel your pain..... My pentacle has been scrapped off, torn, spray painted, defecated on, oh and my back window taken. Lucky for me soft tops are cheap. I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and the mormon missionarys hunt my Isuzu for sport. But I must say I love your Element and I hope nothing else bad happens to it. Blessed be!
January 18, 2008
Sacred geometry
Christian math vs. the Force
Although one might be tempted to think of mathematics as a wholly secular discipline, historically that's far from accurate.
Today we have two different but essentially related perspectives on spirituality and math. Pictured above: math majors and professors from Asbury College. On the "First Friday" of every month, they get together in thematically related costumes and jewelry, such as in the Star Wars pic above. One math student explains her devotion as follows:
“I lot of people think I’m crazy for it,” said Kelly Christensen, a junior mathematics major from Canfield, Ohio. “They say, ‘Do you really enjoy pain?’ It is hard, but we like to think of math as the language of God. Mathematics can be seen throughout creation.”
Of course, some people extend the creation metaphor to the fullest. Sharon Robbert, a professor of mathematics at Trinity Christian College, has placed on the web an array of math-related meditations. Under such categories as "multivariable calculus" and "discrete structures" you can find such devotionals as "Secant Lines and Sanctification" and "God's Zero Tolerance for Error."
January 17, 2008
Feast day of Ogoun
AltReligion has more.
Coca-Cola altar candle holder
January 16, 2008
Halal cosmetics
Today's Faith Central had an interesting post on the debate over whether botox is Halal (a Malaysian fatwa council says no). In it: a link to TheIslamicMarketplace.com, which sells Halal cosmetics, including this eyeliner.
OOPS I DID IT AGAIN APPEAL:
A while back I received a nice note from an overseas Islamic fashion entrepreneur whose site I intended to feature, but it looks like I accidentally deleted the email. If you're that person--or even if you're not and you have something you think might be good for the site--please contact me at jeff dot trexler at gmail dot com.
The cosmic dance of Varuna Djani
From India, a divine ad for Varuna Djani. "Varuna has used diamonds of the best quality in this line inspired by water, which incidentally is also what her names stands for. Water, the elixir of life and a major component of this earth, also symbolizes continuity and purity."
January 15, 2008
Hindu Super Mario tattoo
A wonderful creative mashup by Jason Lambert of Eye Candy Tattoos. It may seem like an odd combination, but the commonalities between Hinduism and Super Mario have actually been a topic of discussion for some time.
The Real Religious Housewives of New York City
Who says New Yorkers are just a bunch of cynical secularists? Among the cadre of women featured on the upcoming Bravo TV series "Real Housewives of New York City": a religious fashion entrepreneur. The bio below claims that the website above is her line; seems a bit incongruous, but what do I know?
Ramona Singer is a busy entrepreneur. She owns her own business, R.M.S. Fashions, a jewelry line, truefaithjewelry.com, a clothing line “True Faith,” and is developing a skin care line as well. She and her husband Mario, a third generation jeweler, and their 13-year-old daughter Avery, live in a striking four-bedroom condo in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. They also have a beautiful second home in Southampton directly on the water. Ramona is an avid tennis player and loves to entertain and is constantly organizing dinner parties and social events.