Warr Acres, OK — Churchgoers are outraged over a crucifix in a Catholic church that they say shows an image of genitalia on Jesus. The controversial crucifix has caused a deep divide among members of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, where it hangs above the main altar. GetReligion has some coverage on the story. I'll note that, having looked at the icon, I don't see what they are talking about.
Friday, April 16, 2010
An icon of Christ causes a sensation
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I'm afraid that I do see it and it does make me uncomfortable. I know that it is supposed to be abdominal muscles but the shape makes it look very little like abs and is very suggestive of something else altogether. It is clearly based on the original San Damiano Cross where the abs also have a similar sort of shape. However, the original has much, much less definition and does not appear obscene as a result.
ReplyDeleteThat said, this style of abdominals is not unknown in iconography. I was taken aback some time ago to find a Theophany icon on the Failblog, for the same reason. However, a quick google image search suggests that the majority of Theophany and Crucifixion icons show abdominal muscles that look very different from this particular example so it is perfectly possible to paint icons without that obscene sort of shape.
I should point out that I would have relatively little problem with the Saviour being depicted naked on the Cross. This would be, in all likelihood, more accurate historically, (although a departure from the iconographic tradition). And we have icons of our first parents naked in Eden, in their innocent state. I think that people's upset is caused by the fact that the icon in question appears to show, (and I hope you will forgive me), a state of arousal. I can very much understand their reaction in light of this and I, too, would be hesitant about having something like that in church.
It took me a minute to see it, but now it is fairly obvious and hard to miss.
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