Posted on 11/14/2006 12:56:01 PM PST by Alex Murphy
A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program.
A suburban Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the foot- tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia- based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on Biblical figures.
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.
My definition would be something along the lines of any created person or thing to which one could assign specific power or authority it does not possess. In slight contradiction to my original assessment, the doll is personally NOT an idol to me as an individual, but I know many who might stumble over such things and therefore I classified it as such.
I've got the one of John Paul II, he stands in a place of honor on my mantel and NO ONE is allowed to touch him but me! He stands by photos of my family and my porcelain unicorn. I'm looking for a pelican, the symbol of martyrdom, to go with him.
I've got the one of John Paul II, he stands in a place of honor on my mantel and NO ONE is allowed to touch him but me! He stands by photos of my family and my porcelain unicorn. I'm looking for a pelican, the symbol of martyrdom, to go with him.
;'}
Byzant-Constan-Istanbul ...
Why they changed it I can't say
Maybe just liked it better that way.
Oh, take me back to Constantinople,
You can't go to Constantinople,
It's Istanbul, not Constantinople...
Byzant-Constan-Istanbul ...
Why they changed it I can't say
Maybe just liked it better that way.
Oh, take me back to Constantinople,
You can't go to Constantinople,
It's Istanbul, not Constantinople...
You have reason to believe the Marines would do so, or are you just feeling slanderous tonight?
305 comments over here. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738506/posts
Can we lock this stupid thread? Enough slander of the Marines on the other one already.
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