Christian crosses on gangbangers - what's it about?

[blackout]

Symbols are open to everyone's use and interpretation.

Symbols alone say absolutely nothing.
It is people, who are 'saying things' through their own personal use of symbols.
What they are 'saying' is a reflection more of thier own psyche
than anything else.
People put their own spin on things.
(which is why I really would like all of my symbols put on a spinner)

 

[blackout]

Looks like Madonna.

That's what I thought at first too.
But I wasn't sure.

 

[blackout]

In my book, Madonna is far from an idiot.
She is a business woman of iconic proportion.


I wish I'd been half as smart at a young age.

 

[Father Heathen]

Many loudly profess to be Christians without actually practicing any amount of it, as if merely announcing it and displaying it suffices. Hypocrisy at its most blatant.

 

[Father Heathen]

Well, I mean come on. Look at this idiot:

Some people simply have no tact - and certainly don't seem to see the irony of their behavior.

Um, it's rather clear that she isn't feigning faith or piety here. Don't get me wrong, I detest pop divas, but I think it's silly to consider someone an "idiot" and having "no tact" simply for nothing giving a religion the undue respect you think its entitled to. I think using symbolism from religions in an untraditional, unconventional or even "blasphemous" way as a valid form of art.

But the pop genre is garbage, albeit for completely different reasons.

 

[Kathryn]

Um, it's rather clear that she isn't feigning faith or piety here. Don't get me wrong, I detest pop divas, but I think it's silly to consider someone an "idiot" and having "no tact" simply for nothing giving a religion the undue respect you think its entitled to. I think using symbolism from religions in an untraditional, unconventional or even "blasphemous" way as a valid form of art.

But the pop genre is garbage, albeit for completely different reasons.

I never said it wasn't art - but as we all know, art is subjective. What one person loves, another considers tasteless.

I consider Madonna's use of Christian symbolism to fall into the "tasteless" category. It's my right to think so, just as it's her right to use it, and your right to disagree with me.

My dislike of the pop genre certainly feeds into my distaste for Madonna - the ultimate queen of pop, and I don't mean that as a compliment.

 

[Kathryn]

Symbols are open to everyone's use and interpretation.

Symbols alone say absolutely nothing.
It is people, who are 'saying things' through their own personal use of symbols.
What they are 'saying' is a reflection more of thier own psyche
than anything else.
People put their own spin on things.
(which is why I really would like all of my symbols put on a spinner)

I'm just curious about something. What do you think of these symbols and their usage? And what would your reaction be to an artist who used them liberally in their stage shows, clothing, etc? Or in the case of the Koran, someone expressing themselves thru burning it?

Moderator cut: image removed

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm just curious about something. What do you think of these symbols and their usage? And what would your reaction be to an artist who used them liberally in their stage shows, clothing, etc? Or in the case of the Koran, someone expressing themselves thru burning it?

Moderator cut: image removed
Displaying a confederate flag or a swastika (which originally had nothing to do with white supremacy) doesn't offend me, but I assume those that do display such imagery are typically witless, inbred rednecks. Unless they're being used in an ironic and/or satirical manner.

 

[Kathryn]

Displaying a confederate flag or a swastika (which originally had nothing to do with white supremacy) doesn't offend me, but I assume those that do display such imagery are typically witless, inbred rednecks. Unless they're being used in an ironic and/or satirical manner.

I agree. And I think roughly the same about Madonna and her use of religious imagery.

Replace "redneck" though with "pretentious." Her fake British accent is ridiculous.

 

[nnmartin]

is Madonna a Christian in real life or not and

if so, how does she defend her usage of the cross?

(and how about 'like a virgin' - what is that song supposed to be about?)

 

[Father Heathen]

I agree. And I think roughly the same about Madonna and her use of religious imagery.

Replace "redneck" though with "pretentious." Her fake British accent is ridiculous.

Well, yeah, pop music is all about being shallow and pretentious.

 

[nnmartin]

it may as well just be called 'soft porn' with background music

 

[Me Myself]

(and how about 'like a virgin' - what is that song supposed to be about?)

I don´t know what is it "supposed to be about", but I´ve always liked the message I get from it.

Stop your bull of "in marriage only". Sex will feel holy with the right guy no matter how many times you´ve done it before.

Sex wont robb you of feeling sacredness when the sacred sexual act arrives.

If you really love him, it WILL feel special, and it won´t have to do with not having had sex before.

More to it, it´s easier to know if you already had sex before

 

[The Sum of Awe]

wouldn't the activities of your general gang member or street hood tend to go against the teachings of the church though?

Ah! You're talking about the stereotype of Gangbanger?

In that sense, none of them wear them, since none of them really exist.

 

[blackout]

(and how about 'like a virgin' - what is that song supposed to be about?)

I think it's pretty straightforward.

"Like A Virgin"


I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through
Didn't know how lost I was
Until I found you

I was beat incomplete
I'd been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
Shiny and new

[Chorus:]

Like a virgin
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
When your heart beats [after first time, "With your heartbeat"]
Next to mine

Gonna give you all my love, boy
My fear is fading fast
Been saving it all for you
'Cause only love can last

You're so fine and you're mine
Make me strong, yeah you make me bold
Oh your love thawed out
Yeah, your love thawed out
What was scared and cold

[chorus]

Oooh, oooh, oooh

You're so fine and you're mine
I'll be yours 'till the end of time
'Cause you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
I've nothing to hide

[chorus]

Like a virgin, ooh, ooh
Like a virgin
Feels so good inside
When you hold me, and your heart beats, and you love me

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Ooh, baby
Can't you hear my heart beat
For the very first time?

 

[blackout]

Unless someone is directly being intimidated,
made to fear for their actual safety
and equal protection and rights under the law,
I really don't care what anyone does with symbols.

I am not opposed directly to anything at all for reasons of 'sacrilege' alone.
I am however opposed to tactics of fear and intimidation.

If the two happen to come together,
I would be opposed on account of the fear and intimidation factor,
not the sacrilege factor.

I'm not emotionally attached to or effected by symbols.
(as cast by the minds of the masses to reflect 'this idea' or 'that')
Flags, shapes, anything mass produced (books included).
I do not see any of them as being any more or less 'sacred'
than any other piece of cloth, shape, or mass produced item.

People though, and what they do with 'things'
(in the name of the 'sacred')
how they elevate them,
think they own them,
feel the need to protect them,
even start wars over them....
I don't know. I find it bewildering.

But then this is coming from someone with the outlook
that either every'thing is sacred,
or no'thing is.
More succinctly perhaps, every'thing is of equal 'sacred' potential,
given that 'sacred' is a human experience/idea,
concieved in the mind,
not an intrinsic objective trait of a (particular) thing.
As well, I enjoy the art of finding transitory and intuitive meaning in things.
Of course this is an individual ... endeavor,
though it can sometimes be shared
if the interpretation is not of an extremely personal ('need to know') basis.

 

[blackout]

Sacrilege only exists
because people are steeped in their ideas of 'the Sacred'.

Without the 'Sacred'
there is no'thing to 'Sacrilege'.

Intelligent Sacrilege defies the notion
that the 'thing' is actually (Super) "Sacred"
to begin with.

Unintelligent Sacrilege is usually just a base attempt
at insulting/upsetting a group of people (you don't like).
Taken to far, as intimidation.

 

[nnmartin]

as far as I know, Nazi memorabilia and symbolism is banned in Germany - what do you make of that? (or perhaps just selling it is)

 

[blackout]

In the hands of the right artist,
comedian/lyricist/stage performer/visual artist
Sacrilege can be a way of opening people up
to their own folly/follies.

It's also an excellent tactic in symbolic rituals
that seek a certain kind of .... dislodging....

 

[blackout]

as far as I know, Nazi memorabilia and symbolism is banned in Germany - what do you make of that? (or perhaps just selling it is)

The masses are easily influenced (be it offended/led/in'spired)
by symbolisms that have pre-cast associations.
This is why 'patriotic symbols' exist.
They create automatic feelings of elevated loyalty and solidarity.


Countries also have a vested interest in maintaining an image.
(which, apparently, sometimes includes banning them)