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Original poster

Catholics -how do you feel about kitschy religious things ?

42 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2008 10:11

Was in Paperchase looking at Christmassy things and saw the glittery flock statues of Jesus and BVM - I do like them,along with all kinds of other religious kitschy artefacts, yet can't bring myself to buy them because of a feeling inside that it might not be right and I may well be struck down...does anyone else share this dilemma ?

OP posts:
frogs · 10/11/2008 10:15

Fine if bought from Church shop or souvenir stall in Lourdes etc. Just wrong if bought from paperchase, because you know people are buying it in an ironic post-modern sort of way.

Arf.

My non-catholic dh had to bite his tongue very hard when ds for his 7th birthday asked for:

A rugby ball
A basketball
A cricket bat (spot the theme)
A statue of the Sacred Heart from the church shop

I quite fancy one of those Sacred Heart statues with the light-up heart, but dh protestant tastes couldn't possibly countenance it. If feeling v. uncharitable I could possibly get one to annoy him...

Annthecat · 10/11/2008 10:17

I'm a catholic, but mainly only cling to Jesus' central message about Love, so really can't imagine that God is going to be that worried about kitsch statues.

If Jesus returened now would he be off to paperchase to rid the world of kitsch statuettes or would he be in Africa admonishing the world for neglect of AIDA orphans?

Buy one if you like them!

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2008 10:18

yes,think you're right there - I feel I can have my baby Jesus statue but Paperchase one would be wrong. Love your ds asking for Sacred Heart statue !

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Annthecat · 10/11/2008 10:51

paperchase probaly only source them from the same place as the gift shops in Lourdes which contain all the kitsch holy souvenirs you could wish for.

My friend has virgin mary toast stamps bought at Lourdes.

Honestly they're all factory made whether bought in a piety shop or paperchase. Loudres don't have a covent of praying Nuns making those light up Our Ladies you know!

be rational, hard for a ctholic , but try!

frogs · 10/11/2008 11:30

I know there's no difference in the actual item, but it's the spirit in which they're sold that makes a difference. Or something. Paperchase buy/sell them in a 'ooh, look at this cute exotic cultural artefact' kind of way, which is just wrong. Sister Dymphna in the church repositary sells in them in an entirely straight, non-ironic way, which somehow makes it all right.

And oi, I may be a Catholic, but I'm perfectly rational, thank you v. much.

onager · 10/11/2008 11:36

Oh I saw a nice statue of jesus the other day.

Here, but you may have to scroll down a bit

Annthecat · 10/11/2008 12:31

I love the resolving to only buy non ironic holy tat. Very devout.

Hmmm, the can you be a catholic and still call yourself rational, debate is one I have been in before on here (on you side) and not a can of worms I think we should open again.

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2008 12:55

onager - that is a brilliant light switch !!!!! what were they thinking ! Thing is,I'm caught between liking the glittery flock covered purple Virgin Marys because they are ironic and the latent Catholic school girl within. I have St Teresa picture and medal ( bought non- ironically from repositary at Westminster Cathedral) which has a certain kitch charm to it, ditto my rosary beads which hang over my desk.

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jamescagney · 10/11/2008 12:58

if you like it buy it. How many people have Buddhas all over the place and think Nirvana were just a band? But, make sure you don't go too far and end up with a house like Father Teds!

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2008 13:00

I have a buddha too - a non-ironic buddha - but I do have an interest in Buddhism as a way of living,which I weave into the remnants of my lapsed Catholicism !

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pinkmagic1 · 10/11/2008 13:02

I'm not Catholic, but know the sort of thing your on about, there was loads in a shop on a recent trip to Ireland and personally think its a bit tacky.

marialuisa · 10/11/2008 13:32

I quite like it, it's strangely comforting, but like Frogs would struggle with buying it from Paperchase. DD is upset because the statue of her patron saint, made from Etna lava and covered in glitter, didn't survive its fall from the top of her bookshelf.

IorekByrnison · 10/11/2008 14:38

I love all that stuff. I'm with frogs too about where you get the stuff from, although I'm not sure it's a question of morality. But it's certainly much classier to get it from a church shop than Paperchase imo. They do fabulous red lightbulbs with crucifixes inside at my local.

cornsilk · 10/11/2008 14:43

Yes I know what you mean. They're a bit nostalgic. Very Madonna like as in 'Like a prayer.'

LynetteScavo · 10/11/2008 14:46

I'm soooo with Annethecat. The day I realised that catholic "ornaments" were man made was a bit like finding out FC wasn't real when I was a child.

Does it make any difference where you purchase a statue of Jesus from. I think Jesus would just be chuffed you had a statue of him. Anything that reminds us of the true meaning of christmas has got to be a good thing, I think.

LynetteScavo · 10/11/2008 14:48

IorekByrnison I beg to differ about church shops being classier - I've seen some shocking stuff at places like Notre Dame.

cornsilk · 10/11/2008 14:50

My mum bought me a really old style nativity a few years ago complete with baby jesus. Am looking forward to putting it out - forgot last year.

Rhubarb · 10/11/2008 14:51

I had a crucifix once that had a glow in the dark Jesus on it.

But then his arms fell off.

I don't 'do' religious objects anymore really, I don't see the need for them. But some things do make me laugh! Best one I saw was a little Lourdes grotto with an image of Mary that kept popping up!

LynetteScavo · 10/11/2008 14:53

A very religious friend of mind had glow in the dark virgin mary in her bedroom. I nearly PMSL when I stayed the night.

OK, so you had to be there.....

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2008 14:54

but Catholics, do you have them because they are religious artefacts but also because they are a bit kitsch-y - it';s a wee bit of both with me. I'd love on one hand to have a red light qwith crucifix inside because it wouldf make me laugh, but at the same tim e I'd feel bad about mocking an image of Jesus, iyswim

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Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2008 14:55

Rhubarb - was the arms falling off a sign, do you think /

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Rhubarb · 10/11/2008 14:57

I wouldn't get them tbh. They make me laugh, but as you say, if you are using them solely for the purposes of mockery (inadvertently or otherwise) then it seems wrong.

If you have a little figure of Martin Luther King that glowed red where he was shot that would be distasteful no? The only difference with God is that some people think He's not real, and that to mock him also makes light of those who do believe in him.

LynetteScavo · 10/11/2008 14:58

I'm not Catholic, but DH is - we are bringing DC's up Catholic.

I love the style - I don't just have kitch stuff, and use Christianity as an excuse.

Tortington · 10/11/2008 14:58

i love the kitch stuff

the 'Jesus may love you but i think you're a c*nt' t-shirt...are great.

but for the life of me can't find things like life of brian singing on a cross funny. and i think i am the only preson in the world who thinks like that.

Rhubarb · 10/11/2008 14:59

MaryAnn - I dunno, probably! I had it for ages on my bedroom wall with just one arm broken, but when both went, it just wasn't the same having Jesus's hands nailed to the cross but his arms dangling by his sides!