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n2doc

(47,953 posts) Sun Apr 13, 2014, 12:01 PM Apr 2014

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Statue Of A Homeless Jesus Startles A Wealthy Community [View all]

A new religious statue in the town of Davidson, N.C., is unlike anything you might see in church.

The statue depicts Jesus as a vagrant sleeping on a park bench. St. Alban's Episcopal Church installed the homeless Jesus statue on its property in the middle of an upscale neighborhood filled with well-kept townhomes.

Jesus is huddled under a blanket with his face and hands obscured; only the crucifixion wounds on his uncovered feet give him away.

The reaction was immediate. Some loved it; some didn't.

"One woman from the neighborhood actually called police the first time she drove by," says David Boraks, editor of DavidsonNews.net. "She thought it was an actual homeless person."

That's right. Somebody called the cops on Jesus.

more

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/13/302019921/statue-of-a-homeless-jesus-startles-a-wealthy-community

122 replies

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Statue Of A Homeless Jesus Startles A Wealthy Community [View all] n2doc Apr 2014 OP

Unbelievable how someone would call the cops on a homeless person trying to sleep Reter Apr 2014 #1

It must have offended her sensitivities. Blue_Adept Apr 2014 #2

I do that here from time to time Warpy Apr 2014 #3

I agree here Dorian Gray Apr 2014 #95

I'm sorry to say, Never, imthevicar Apr 2014 #117

Death by cop Warpy Apr 2014 #118

Really!? imthevicar Apr 2014 #122

I have called the cops for a welfare check irisblue Apr 2014 #19

Curious about Tent City safety seveneyes Apr 2014 #111

Homeless people are illegal in some states, IIRC. Oh, no, it's FEEDING the homeless valerief Apr 2014 #39

If they look injured, or its very cold or hot, or whatever IronLionZion Apr 2014 #96

I cannot recommend this highly enough... NYC_SKP Apr 2014 #4

I agree with you... TeeYiYi Apr 2014 #8

Completely agree! marew Apr 2014 #40

Because it speaks the TRUTH... elzenmahn Apr 2014 #20

I agree. It's rather amazing. Chemisse Apr 2014 #51

Hey, you! NYC_SKP Apr 2014 #52

How fabulous. I wonder how that woman feels. WhiteTara Apr 2014 #5

Wonderful. Now we need a beggar statue of Jesus on Wall Street. jwirr Apr 2014 #6

That is a fugging excellent idea! CFLDem Apr 2014 #7

Well, they've got the Merrill Lynch bull... elzenmahn Apr 2014 #18

Occupy Heaven demwing Apr 2014 #24

I'll chip in for that one. Curmudgeoness Apr 2014 #64

Certainly. Maybe we will have to make it a banner to hang from a window. Wasn't there a protest jwirr Apr 2014 #101

And we have our thread winner. Brigid Apr 2014 #66

A gallows pole would be better, right next to that bull nt pragmatic_dem Apr 2014 #85

Better yet: Brigid Apr 2014 #113

Bankers aren't particularly religious. nt IronLionZion Apr 2014 #97

That is for sure. jwirr Apr 2014 #100

I'd prefer one of Jesus using a whip and driving the money changers out of the temple Larkspur Apr 2014 #107

Bingo. jwirr Apr 2014 #108

Good PD Turk Apr 2014 #9

K & R malaise Apr 2014 #10

This is the nature of the total disconnect between Christ and his followers...... Swede Atlanta Apr 2014 #11

It goes beyond the privilege of the clergy and sits in the pews as well. Skidmore Apr 2014 #13

And which churches do you base THIS on...? regnaD kciN Apr 2014 #82

I've had plenty of contact with flocks Skidmore Apr 2014 #92

The use of the Bible to further a particular agenda... elzenmahn Apr 2014 #22

Exactly ! geretogo Apr 2014 #44

Matthew 25:40 eom MohRokTah Apr 2014 #12

Welcome to DU, MohRokTah! calimary Apr 2014 #34

And for the statue to be placed in front of Wall Street: Brigid Apr 2014 #112

Hey Jesus! Get a job!! LuvLoogie Apr 2014 #14

lol Jefferson23 Apr 2014 #15

Damn hippie demwing Apr 2014 #25

wow. K&R and hope this idea spreads. Whisp Apr 2014 #16

K&R nt avebury Apr 2014 #17

I don't recall reading that Jesus as an adult EC Apr 2014 #21

That's correct.... elzenmahn Apr 2014 #23

Judas was a Publican demwing Apr 2014 #27

+1... elzenmahn Apr 2014 #35

Wrong... regnaD kciN Apr 2014 #83

You're right demwing Apr 2014 #99

More about Judas demwing Apr 2014 #30

Excellent ! geretogo Apr 2014 #42

I especially like the moneybox reference demwing Apr 2014 #45

Park benches are a snap to build and they say he was a carpenter. Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2014 #31

Matthew 8:20 Xithras Apr 2014 #81

Beat me to it. Yes, he was. But some fundie preahcers now say he was well off. Poor = Sin! n/t freshwest Apr 2014 #121

K & R SunSeeker Apr 2014 #26

suttree michijo Apr 2014 #28

Welcome to DU, michijo! calimary Apr 2014 #36

Some people believe being homeless should land you in jail. Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2014 #29

Especially if they are privatized . geretogo Apr 2014 #43

I've heard people say it's a GOOD thing for us to have prison labor.... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2014 #46

It's coming to our local communities soon , courtesy of the Koch brothers . " Work has value " ; geretogo Apr 2014 #59

That was "Arbeit Macht Frei": "Work Makes (you) Free".... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2014 #79

Thanks for the edit . I think the plantation owners in the pre civil war South thought the same in geretogo Apr 2014 #80

Perfect. YoungDemCA Apr 2014 #32

Now, Jesus, how many times have I explained you can't sleep out here, go home, Jesus! drynberg Apr 2014 #33

This is completely unacceptable npk Apr 2014 #37

The good Christians of the community awoke_in_2003 Apr 2014 #38

Fortunately it's on the church's property. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2014 #47

Well, hopefully the parishioners... awoke_in_2003 Apr 2014 #54

If you don't think this statue was pre-approved by "the parishioners"... regnaD kciN Apr 2014 #84

You're right awoke_in_2003 Apr 2014 #115

It's been endorsed fairly high up the food chain...the Vatican is installing one as well. MADem Apr 2014 #90

Gets the point across better than words could . Send this picture to Paul Ryan . geretogo Apr 2014 #41

Better yet, put one on his front lawn. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2014 #48

Brings to mind this song Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Apr 2014 #49

Was this after his wife threw him out? HipChick Apr 2014 #50

What is the mayor... butterfly77 Apr 2014 #55

Doesn't anyone else think $22k could have helped some actual homeless individuals? kjones Apr 2014 #53

Well, yes and no. Lady Freedom Returns Apr 2014 #61

Except that things like that don't often seem to change minds. kjones Apr 2014 #65

It is very personal to me as well. Lady Freedom Returns Apr 2014 #67

Sometimes a powerful message can go a lot farther than its immediate expense. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2014 #70

"Dirty f/ckin' hippie." blkmusclmachine Apr 2014 #56

Social Justice & Jesus Beartracks Apr 2014 #57

I think this is a good place to point out that Jesus was actually homeless baldguy Apr 2014 #58

I think Jesus would have liked it. Lady Freedom Returns Apr 2014 #60

Wow classykaren Apr 2014 #91

Sooooooo stealing that!!! nt msanthrope Apr 2014 #106

What a beautiful statement and worthwhile work of art! K&R n/t passiveporcupine Apr 2014 #62

This reminds me of a story I once read. Curmudgeoness Apr 2014 #63

which reminds me of a similar story somebody sent me a while back Bodhi BloodWave Apr 2014 #73

LOL. Just as true Curmudgeoness Apr 2014 #76

That is one of the reasons i like using it Bodhi BloodWave Apr 2014 #77

Why can't God send my soul mate to my door? :pout: Curmudgeoness Apr 2014 #116

maybe the woman was asking the cops to do a welfare check. BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2014 #68

Jesus was, essentially, a homeless person agbdf Apr 2014 #69

Welcome to DU! FailureToCommunicate Apr 2014 #104

Thank you agbdf Apr 2014 #105

You found the right place! Welcome! LongTomH Apr 2014 #119

I guess some people never read Matthew 25:40. WinkyDink Apr 2014 #71

As a born again Evangelical Christian daybranch Apr 2014 #72

Well put! agbdf Apr 2014 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author Egnever Apr 2014 #75

Did anybody shout "get a job, you lazy bastard!" at Homeless Jesus? Ken Burch Apr 2014 #78

Kick! Heidi Apr 2014 #86

K&R Very powerful visual message. nt UtahLib Apr 2014 #87

Sounds like Rev. David Buck actually READ the New Testament.... Junkdrawer Apr 2014 #88

Article from last year with pic of artist: MADem Apr 2014 #89

Do I need to say it? Enthusiast Apr 2014 #93

I love the statue Dorian Gray Apr 2014 #94

why do I think this woman was concerned about the "man" on the bench? This is my take on this secondwind Apr 2014 #98

The rich offer 30 pieces of silver to make it go away. L0oniX Apr 2014 #102

'Screw Jesus. I just want to get into Heaven. Meeee!' chrisa Apr 2014 #103

This is why I love my church wryter2000 Apr 2014 #109

Arma get it on father founding Apr 2014 #110

A lady called the police because she saw a homeless person? She didn't feel any empathy? Screwed up. tofuandbeer Apr 2014 #114

I'm going to play devil's advocate here.... AlbertCat Apr 2014 #120