Christian Bigots Attack Elephant at Secular Institution

[Asher]

Unbelievable!

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/09/24/calgary-zoo-elephant-sculpture-christians-ganesh.html

Christian group condemns zoo's elephant sculpture

A Christian group is calling for the removal of an elephant statue, modeled after a Hindu god, from the Calgary Zoo calling it "selective religious partiality."

A three metre-tall tall statue of a dancing elephant was donated to the zoo for the opening of its Elephant Crossing exhibit in 2006.

It was commissioned to look like Ganesh, a Hindu god worshipped as a remover of obstacles. But Laurie Herron, a Calgary Zoo spokeswoman, said all religious symbolism on the statue was omitted before it was allowed to be displayed.

Jim Blake, national chairman of Concerned Christians Canada, sent a letter to the zoo on Thursday, calling for the sculpture to be removed.

"The zoo is not a place of religious indoctrination, it is supposed to be a safe family environment free of religious icons and selective religious partiality," Blake wrote.

"The displaying of different gods in a public place like this is an offence to our beliefs and does not represent the diversity of views that should be reflected."

If the zoo wants to keep the statue and "[embark] on teaching the public about world religions, Blake suggested that the facility also erect the cross of Jesus Christ, the Ten Commandments and Noah's Ark

"The display of foreign gods is offensive and does not reflect the views of the majority of Canadians," he continued.

Reached by CBC News late on Thursday, Herron told CBC News she and the zoo's board of directors had not yet seen Blake's letter.

But she said the statue, given to the zoo by a private donor, was intended to reflect the cultural symbol of elephants, and not any religious icon.

[duke o' york]

"The display of foreign gods is offensive and does not reflect the views of the majority of Canadians," he continued.

He sounds a really Christian guy. I don't remember Jesus being Canadian, or did I miss the fifth gospel, the one with the bears, the moose and the chapters in French, eh?

[Guaymiester Schwengel]

If the zoo wants to keep the statue and "[embark] on teaching the public about world religions, Blake suggested that the facility also erect the cross of Jesus Christ, the Ten Commandments and Noah's Ark

One elephant vs. the whole Ark. Christians win!

"The display of foreign gods is offensive and does not reflect the views of the majority of Canadians," he continued.

Manitou!

[OzzyKP]

Imagine the uproar if they had put up some big cross at the zoo.

[Asher]

Imagine the uproar if they had put up some big cross at the zoo.

Are you serious? You're comparing this, AT A ZOO, to a Cross?

[Guaymiester Schwengel]

Imagine the uproar if they had put up some big cross at the zoo.

With a fat elephant on the cross. Win -win.

[duke o' york]

Would give the monkey house a new plaything.

[Elok]

Pshht, what a disappointing thread. I was expecting a mob of nuts throwing rocks at a zoo (or better yet, climbing into the pen to charge the beast), and instead there's just a bunch of fringe nuts whining about something insignificant.

[bumfister]

I rather like his trunk.

[Asher]

fringe nuts

They're called Christians. There's no reason to be offensive.

[Elok]

Are you serious? You're comparing this, AT A ZOO, to a Cross?

Well, I would protest that on grounds of taste. Bloody thing looks like it's disco-dancing to me, and in drag to boot.

[Guaymiester Schwengel]

Christ does not dance. You do the limbo with a cross on your back.

[Kontiki]

I dunno about anyone else, but I have the sudden urge to become a Hindu. Or maybe just drive a taxi.

[Asher]

Meanwhile, Christians in Toronto keep busy also:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/700283

Bishops make pitch to startled commuters

Idling taxis, hot dog stands and four smiling Anglican bishops in full regalia. That was the sight greeting sleepy-eyed commuters leaving Union Station during this morning's rush hour.

Sporting long, damask robes of pearly white or sky blue, heads topped with pointed bishop's hats, the clergy passed out cards encouraging the Bay Street hordes to make their way to a house of worship this Sunday. Most people accepted the handout drowsily, without comment; others seemed startled or amused at the group's elaborate outfits. A few passers-by stopped for quick chats before scurrying along to their offices.

"You invite people to baseball games or to the movies," said Bishop of Toronto Colin Johnson. "Traditionally, we've not been good at inviting people to come to church."

Johnson oversees the 211 parishes of an area that stretches from Mississauga to Brighton and north to Haliburton; in total, 80,000people are on the church's rolls. This morning's outing was modelled on the United Kingdom's "Back to Church Sunday" a two-year-old program that encourages regular churchgoers to invite friends to join them.

Although the foursome represent the 254 congregations of the Golden Horseshoe, Johnson stressed that they were encouraging Torontonians of all faiths to reconnect with their own traditions. "Faith gives life perspective, shape, direction and hope," he said. "It helps people see they're part of something larger than themselves."

Most who stopped to chat with the bishops seemed to be regular churchgoers already. Making his way from Whitby to Bay Street via GO Train, Gerald Godinho stopped to debate with Bishop Linda Nicholls about ordaining gay and lesbian priests, a contentious issue that has led various international Anglican Communion members to threaten fissure from the central church.

He said he has invited a friend with him to Carruther Creek Community Church in the past. "A single friend of mine, about a year back," Gondinho said. "I introduced him to the pastor of our youth group and I think he liked it. He lives downtown, so I set him up with Meeting House in Toronto."

Chartered accountant Bruce Armstrong exclaimed happily at running into Bishop Philip Poole-the two sang in the choir together at Wilfrid Laurier University, back when the school was known as Waterloo Lutheran.

"I've got a spring in my step this morning," said Armstrong, who still sings in the choir at his current church, Armour Heights Presbyterian in north Toronto.

[bumfister]

Christ does not dance. You do the limbo with a cross on your back.

He might not dance but Chewbacca does.