Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Talking Jesus Dolls - WWJD ?
Toys for Tots
Perhaps there are no limits. Anything goes. Beverley Hills Teddy Bear Co., a company based in Valencia, California, got rebuffed when they offered 400 "......foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season." The crassness of those who resort to such means to indoctrinate kids is sickening. However, not all Christian organizations follow that path. In the San Francisco Bay area there are quite a few food kitchens run by religious organizations. I serve as a volunteer in one of them (this is my 14th year). We serve hot meals to the poor and homeless. All comers are greeted cordially and with respect, no questions asked about their religious affiliation and no one tries to make them see the light. I have never heard or seen a church official or a volunteer make any efforts to proselytize. The day I do will be my last as a volunteer there.
A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program. But the charity balked because of the dolls' religious nature. Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va. As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family." Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity's decision left him "surprised and disappointed." "The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible." According to the company's Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus, dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals, recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." It has a $20 retail value. Grein also questioned whether children would welcome a gift designed for religious instruction. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun," he said. The program distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children in 2005. |
