Tony Hendra makes the provocative argument in his recent jeremiad against silicone valleys:

In a sermon several years ago—one he quoted again in October at Larry King's behest—evangelist Joel Osteen urged the ewes of his flock to shop at Victoria's Secret. The reason for this apparent lapse from the Christian right's typical white-lipped terror of sex? Flirty underwear helps wives better please their scripturally mandated lords and masters.

Once you get past the pseudo-feminist claptrap, women who boost their boobs don't seem a whole lot different from Joel's ewes. Heidi, et al., are the real boobs, obediently conforming to some caricature of beauty fantasized by traveling-salesman types. Face it, O lovely woman: That shiny new bosom was fashioned by, and for, men. And you will wear it in public as long as men approve. You could say über-boobs are Western Civ's equivalent of. . . a burka.

Posted by jat at 03:02 AM | Permalink

OK, so this article about developer Soheil Mosun, Ltd., isn't actually all that salacious, but it does provide an instructive look at the folks who built the Baha'i Temple for South America, as well as a couple of mosques and a Jewish memorial:

In essence, the firm makes jewellery for high-end developments. It's the "bling" in buildings.

Posted by jat at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Sometimes religious unity takes shape in a distinct spiritual tradition, such as the Bahai faith.  And sometimes it is a simple cri de couer. 

Look closely at the above necklace & bracelet and you'll see symbols of three different religious traditions:  a buddha head, a cross and a Star of David.  This is Unity jewelry by LA designer Jessica Elliott, whose jewelry-making hobby has become a highly successful full-time enterprise.  As Jessica says in the description, "Can't we all just get a long?  Hope this helps."

For more of Jessica's jewelry featuring variations on crosses, keys, rosaries and other symbolic archetypes, check out her collection here.

Posted by jat at 07:26 AM | Permalink

And lest we think religious rap is an exclusively Christian (and silly) domain, here is a more serious "Bahai -style" rap that's been getting some attention on Youtube.com.

Posted by jat at 02:25 AM | Permalink

A few days ago on the B of G we featured a nine-pointed star tattoo designed by member of the Baha'i faith.  A Baha'i blog has followed up on this post with another creative photo & a description of what the star means.

Don't want a tattoo?  Here's the same symbol on a pendant once offered at 95 Prayers.

Posted by jat at 08:12 PM | Permalink

greg's engagement ring,
originally uploaded by Rather Salty.

Posted by jat at 03:42 PM | Permalink

A charity auction isn't the only measure the Pope could take to counter criticism that his lavish fashion sense is too materialistic.  He could also replace his expensive bling with a far cheaper tattoo. 

As this newspaper article observes, religious tattoos are on the rise in the U.S., from the Bible verses on Duke's J.J. Redick and to the Hindu lotus flower.

Just we have long worn clothing has as "an extension of the skin" both to warm our bodies and to define ourselves, many now freely using their skin as an extension of their soul.  This should not come as no surprise.  Back in 1964 Marshall McLuhan observed that

After centuries of being fully clad and of being contained in uniform visual space, the electric age ushers us into a world in which we live and breathe and listen with the entire epidermis.

The Bahai tattoo above represents the fundamental unity of all religions, but it could also symbolize what McLuhan referred to as the "all-at-onceness" created by electronic technology.  People, places, objects, time--everything now flows together, smashing the divisions and taboos of the literate West.  Which also brings with the supreme irony of our technological age--

by immersing us in a world in which every surface is a communications medium, computers and the Web have actually helped revive our tribal spirit.

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"It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."  This quotation from the Writings of the Baha'u'llah underlies the pendant pictured below, and it is one of the core beliefs of the Baha'i faith.

As the designers of this pendant explain, little on this piece of jewelry lacks symbolic significance.  Its eighteen background lines represent the eighteen steps to the main floor of the Bahai House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.  The "Ringstone Symbol" in the foreground 

represents the worlds of God, His manifestations & humanity, linked by divine messengers. 

At a time when many in the West associate monotheism with intolerance, Baha'i is a reminder that exclusionary religions can also give rise to more universal values.   Global peace, the elimination of prejudice, the fundamental unity of all nations and religions in one God--such are the core principles of the Baha'i faith, which has spread far beyond its Middle Eastern roots to count among its members world leaders in law, politics, education, journalism and entertainment. 

Posted by jat at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (2)