Giant Jesus statue completed in Polish town

[onehandle]

Source: AP



SWIEBODZIN, Poland – A gigantic statue of Jesus that Poles claim is the world's largest rose majestically above a small town on Saturday, as the grandiose dream of a local priest finally came to pass. The white statue with outstretched arms and golden crown rising above the western Polish plains in Swiebodzin provides competition to Rio de Janiero's iconic Christ the Redeemer.

The mayor of the western Polish town, Dariusz Bekisz, claims it is now the world's tallest. Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki, the 78-year-old priest who created the statue said it rises 108 feet, or 33 meters — one meter for every year that Jesus lived. Other members of the construction team, however, gave differing figures. One said it rises 167 feet (51 meters) if you include a mound it sits on and the crown on the head. By comparison, the statue in Brazil's Rio is 125 feet (38 meters) tall.

While it wasn't possible to verify the exact height of the new statue, there was no doubt that "Christ the King," as the golden-crowned Polish statue is called, cut an imposing sight as it was finally completed.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101106/ap_on_re_eu/eu_poland_giant_jesus_17

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They can build this statue to simulate their local economy, but a Republican prick won't let us build a tunnel that will create 44,000 jobs.

______________

[Taitertots]

1. What a hilarious ethnically inaccurate face

Looks more like a backstreet boy than someone from Jerusalem.

[Lorien]

9. Exactly my first thought as well. Way too Germanic, no hint of His Jewish heritage. nt

[Ken Burch]

20. Gee...I can't imagine why anybody in Poland would want to deny Jesus' Jewishness....

Why would they POSSIBLY do that...I wonder...

:sarcasm:

[Kolesar]

24. Remember that panel in Schindler's List saying only 40,000 Polish Jews survived?

...when there were millions of Polish Jews before the Holocaust*. Steven Spielberg knew how to shape the message.

*not sure about the population numbers, but...

[Name removed]

89. Deleted message

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[mwb970]

32. That's what I thought the second I saw it. /nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

49. You're right...he looks nothing like what we think a Jew should look like

:eyes:

[Taitertots]

75. It looks nothing like people in that region in that time period

Rolling your eyes isn't going to make Jesus look like you want him to.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

110. well said

[pitchforksandtorches]

73. It is really Kris Kristofferson n/t

[Ken Burch]

80. Well....Jesus WAS a Capricorn, after all...

[struggle4progress]

121. Also, Jesus wasn't that tall

[Mimosa]

129. That's what whites said when Haitian artists had painted Jesus in the Port au Prince Cathedral

Our images of God, Christ, gods and goddesses reflect us in our various ethnicities. Personally, I like the early Byzantine based on a certain canon which may have come from contemporary descriptions of the Rabbi, Yeshua.

Haitian artists (I've studied and collected Haitian art) have depicted many Jesus images. *smile*

[emilyg]

2. Good. Poland is

very Catholic.

[madmax]

10. I love pierogies. nt

[Kolesar]

25. And Polish girls

:)

[thereismore]

72. Those are a Russian invention anyway. Nothing against the Poles. nt

[Rhiannon12866]

74. The filling is different.

The Polish ones are filled with kapusta (sauerkraut) and the Russian pirogies are filled with potato. My aunt explained that to me, since she makes them both. My Polish grandmother always made the kind with kapusta :9, while my aunt also learned to make them with potato from her Russian MIL. :)

[thereismore]

82. I am from tose parts. Kapusta is a wonderful food. It is a native food to Europe, about

the only food that provided vitamin C during winter months before they brought potatoes from America. I love it.

[Rhiannon12866]

94. My grandmother was from Poland, was a wonderful cook

And she added kapusta to a lot of things. Now I know why... Thanks for the info! :hi:

And I don't mind pirogies made with potato, but it's not at all the same for me. Wish I had learned how to make them from my Babci, since my mother never did. *sigh* :(

I love kapusta, too. My grandmother used to rinse it before cooking with it, but when I was a kid, I would snag a little dish, before rinsing, and eat it on the spot... :9

[Occulus]

31. I wonder how many people the money that built that monstrous sacrilege could have fed or housed. n/t

[Dreamer Tatum]

50. I wonder how many that non-sacrilege DID feed and house.

:eyes:

[Taitertots]

76. Just like building the pyramids helped the Egyptians

Seems like a fairly weak argument to defend massive resource usage.

[Dreamer Tatum]

81. Glad they did it if it tweaks people like you. nt

[Taitertots]

85. It doesn't bother me at all

I'm not going to pretend it is helping anyone, but I could care less if they do it.

[Name removed]

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[xor]

127. Can't we say that about anything that doesn't feed and house people?

[Zhade]

87. And there are no non-Catholics living there who might find this imposing?

NT!

[Warpy]

3. The town approved it, hoping tourists would revive the economy there

and knowing religion always sells well in Poland, especially in the countryside.

I have never seen an article that mentions what it's made of. Jesus didn't much like his last "Touchdown Jesus," and destroyed it with lightning. The local townspeople had better hope this one is fireproof.

[Ter]

4. Wow, how beautiful

Good for Poland.

[Dreamer Tatum]

53. +1

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

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[BakedAtAMileHigh]

108. White is Right!

Jesus was NOT white. The statue is a lie and lies are never, ever beautiful.

Try again.

[Courtesy Flush]

115. It's a lie, no matter what face you put on it. n/t

[msanthrope]

117. Yes, this. n/t

[Ter]

128. He's perceived to have looked like that for at least 1,500 years

Accurate or not, it's irrelevant. It's what we're used to, and what He looks like in every church I've ever been to.

[-..__...]

5. Zardoz speaks to you, His chosen ones.

[Hissyspit]

11. I love that movie.

[Ian David]

40. Bow before Zardoz Jesus!

[mudplanet]

47. I don't object to the statue, but it would be neat if a giant voice boomed

out periodically and little candies spewed forth.

[Turborama]

113. How about lasers coming out of his eyes, like the Merlion in Singapore...?

Or water coming out of his mouth...?

[Odin2005]

6. Nordic Jesus? Ethnocentrism FAIL!

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. 'Nordic'? 'Germanic' from someone else above? Poles are Slavic

and I think they'd be pretty pissed off if you told them it looked like the people who invaded them and killed a few million of them. The most you can say is it look 'European', and, without any skin or hair colouring, it's arguable you can't tie it down that much.

[Ken Burch]

21. It's Jesef Christz

Born in a manger in Cracow.

[chidy]

102. made of

WIN! your comment is.


everyone knows long, straight hair and big wide robes like medieval monks is EXACTLY what ancient, semitic middle eastern "jeebus" looks like. darnit. never mind that part in the BuyBull that says something about His wooly hair or bronze colored feet n stuff.

[RZM]

44. Agreed

It's interesting too given where the statue is, since 'Swiebodzin' was once 'Schwiebus' and belonged to Prussia and later unified Germany until 1945, when it was given to Poland by the Allies.

[mudplanet]

48. Poles are overwhelmingly slavic, but there are other ethnic and racial

groups in there as well. What was Prussia is in Poland.

[Odin2005]

55. I was talking about physical apperance, not lingustic backgrownd.

Plenty of Poles have the stereotypical "Tall, blonde, blue eyes, lantern jaw" look. While plenty of people of Germanic background don't (I'm short, heavily built, with ashen brown hair and green eyes, my ancestors came from Western Norway).

[L.Torsalo]

61. Actually,

Poles are Slavic, but it could be said Christianity has successfully invaded them and, tangentially, killed many of them...Pan Tadeusz

[bowens43]

7. How freaking ridiculous is this monstrosity?

Just when you think the thumpers couldn't get any sillier they do this.

[bowens43]

8. .

.

[waddirum]

12. pretty clear violation of #2

Commandment #2: "You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them."

[laconicsax]

15. You're assuming that they've ever read their holy book.

Welcome to DU.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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[msanthrope]

118. People often fail to read the directions....n/t

[Divine Discontent]

16. yeah, I guess they don't care about that... because it's so big & all & will bring tourism! ha

totally not mocking those of us who love the Lord, I'm pointing out the strangeness of making such a large re-creation that seems to smack up against one of the 10 commandments and all...

[joeglow3]

92. Actually, commandment #1

These are Catholics creating the statue.

[Mimosa]

130. Thank goodness people violate it or we'd have no art! n/t

[David__77]

13. Catholicism wow!

I like this one better!

[saigon68]

90. Large Statues

[saigon68]

91. The Muffler Men

[Occulus]

119. I'm sorry- is that a GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE FACE in the top picture?

He must have gone hunting with Cheney at some point.....

[Divine Discontent]

14. I know I wouldn't make such a thing, but hey, if it floats their boat, just unsure if this doesn't

break the spirit of the commandment about no graven images?

[Brother Buzz]

17. Beats the Hell out of Big Butter Jesus

Even in it's glorious demise







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mf2u9VWAhM

BIG BUTTER JESUS
by Haywood Banks

In southern Ohio, just north of Cincinnati
I beheld a vision, next to the expressway.
Was a 60 foot jesus, with his hands in the air
looks like he’s carved out of butter,
just like at the state fair.

Big butter Jesus
Sweet cream Jesus
Oh country fresh Jesus
Unsalted Jesus
Oh Promise Jesus
Imperial Jesus
Can’t believe it’s not Jesus
Oleo Lord.

Well you see him from the chest up
like he’s about to do a back flip,
like he scored a touchdown
or maybe melting or about to drown.
Well I’ve been to the state fair
seen a cow made out of corn cobs
Garth Brooks made of string cheese
and the virgin out of olives.

Big butter Jesus
Sweet cream Jesus
Oh country fresh Jesus
Unsalted Jesus
Oh Promise Jesus
Imperial Jesus
Can’t believe it’s not Jesus
Oleo Lord.

Shipped in pieces on a flatbed
staring backwards was his big head
Driver stuck in traffic backups
desperately avoiding eye contact
Well don’t make no graven images.
That’s one of the 10 commandments
I hope the grading curve is kindly
You get to heaven with a 90

Big butter Jesus
Sweet cream Jesus
Oh country fresh Jesus
Unsalted Jesus
Oh Promise Jesus
Imperial Jesus
Can’t believe it’s not Jesus
Oleo Lord.

Can’t believe it’s not Jesus,
Oh spread the word.

[Ken Burch]

22. Or Jesus With A Gun:

[enuegii]

23. Remember: He killed for your sins.

[Ken Burch]

28. "this is Hot Lead..eat it, in memory of ME, punk!"

n/t.

[KansDem]

69. "I know what you're thinking. 'Did he fire six shots or only five?'..."

Yeah, I know. The picture shows a semi-auto so the riddle of the revolver doesn't come into play...

[melm00se]

29. Can you explain this one?

I read the Bible, don't remember Jesus killing anyone.

[Kolesar]

26. Heavenly Father, give me some relief ... for this foot fungus ... eom

[Bozita]

18. Why do I keep thinking Tom Monaghan has something to do with this project?

[boppers]

99. More likely Rydzyk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadeusz_Rydzyk

[Kolesar]

27. Chicken ala King

Could have bought many meals for the unemployed with the money they spent.

[Xipe Totec]

30. While it wasn't possible to verify the exact height of the new statue...

What an embarrassing display of ignorance, coming from the birthplace of Copernicus.

[Thor_MN]

35. But take back one cabda to honor the one...

Have to read the back side also...

[MilesColtrane]

33. "My God's bigger than your God. My God's bigger than yours."

"My God's bigger cause he eats Ken-L-Ration. My God's bigger than yours."

In your face, Rio!

[Dr.Phool]

34. When did Oral Roberts move to Poland?

[ixion]

36. I'm sure Jesus is very, very unimpressed by such a display

...just sayin'...

[Javaman]

37. who gets the condo in his head? nt

[SemperEadem]

38. um, isn't the second commandment something about not worshipping graven images?

so what's up with putting up a graven statues of jesus? You need that to remind you of who you're supposedly worshiping? That's weak.

[xchrom]

39. i think about the Pieta or the David -- and then i look at that ugly thing.

it says so much about the time we live in.

[Odin2005]

56. Or the Rio Jesus, that statue has character and flair.

I'm a Atheist and I just LOVE the Rio Jesus! :D

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

104. Me too. It no longer means Jesus or religion, it means Rio.

I recommend going up the mountain to see it up close and personal. It's one tourist trap that's actually worth it. The view is gorgeous.

[Ian David]

41. ...

[Uncle Joe]

63. Well that guy could be Jesus, he's been spotted everywhere.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3971375

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

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[Raster]

43. Ghee-Zus! Wouldn't you like to have the candle franchise at the base of that puppy!

[Jennicut]

45. That's nice but it isn't Jesus. Funny they spent all their money to put up a statue of

someone that looks like some Nordic king.

[AlbertCat]

46. Did Albert Speer design it?

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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[LibDemAlways]

54. I don't see a lot of criticism here of Christ the Redeemer, which is

an iconic image in Brazil. While I don't think the Polish statue is particularly attractive, it will attract tourism to the area in a very Catholic country.

Point well taken.

[defendandprotect]

58. I don't think DU is much for any male-supremacist religion ... but I may be wrong?

Wicca is based on "NO GODS" above --

"NO GODS" below --

Why would anyone still be supporting religions which deny the full personhood

of females?

[Dreamer Tatum]

59. Yeah, that's it.

:eyes:

[defendandprotect]

65. Are you saying Catholicism isn't a male-supremacist religion .... ???

:eyes:

[defendandprotect]

66. Also see here ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9506749

[proteus_lives]

62. +1

Ha! You're right.

[defendandprotect]

57. Increasingly confident secular Poles have "mocked the statue project as tacky" --

It has divided Poles and underlined the deep cultural divide between a deeply Catholic population and an increasingly confident secular society — with many mocking the statue project as tacky.

When people can get out from the oppression of organized patriarchal religion they

begin to THINK -- and therein lies the danger for patriarchy and its underpinning ...

organized patriarchal religion -- and it's economic system -- capitalism!



Patriarchy and its underpinning =

Organized patriarchal religion and its economic system =

Capitalism =

The Unholy Trinity

[emilyg]

60. This Pole is not

mocking it.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

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[truthisfreedom]

68. "Jesus was a white guy."

Yeah right.

[Zhade]

88. "Jesus was" -- yeah, right.

Remember, kids, Josephus' "mention" was a forgery!

[Concordia]

70. It's sad, but...

I have to admit that statue stomps a lot of hideous American religious supermonuments into the ground, aesthetically.



I live near that awful thing. It's insulting on so many levels.

[tabasco]

71. What a waste.

People are stupid.

[LanternWaste]

83. Darn shame we don't all conform to your dogmatic absolutism.

Thank goodness we have you to tell us what is or is not a waste on every level-- aesthetically, morally, financially...


Darn shame we don't all conform to your dogmatic absolutism.

[tabasco]

96. Damn shame you don't like my opinion.

Tough shit.

[pettypace]

77. Jesus is a very handsome man

Always loved his hair.

[durkermaker]

78. Oral Robert's Jesus was 900 feet tall

sometimes i wonder ir oral just took some LSD and was looking at tulsa's golden driller (just across town from his university)

[durkermaker]

95. ever wonder what oral's brother was named?

and why he didnt become as famous?

[hatrack]

123. The Golden (Ahem!) Driller?!? Wow . . . .

No subtext there.

[Heywood J]

79. Nothing like large idols and graven images to liven up Christianity! (NT)

[Bozita]

84. *sing with strings in background* ... "I left my heart in Yp-si-lan-ti"

I was lying about the heart thing.

[Poll_Blind]

86. Give it 6 months and it'll be struck be lightning and burn to the ground. n/t

PB

[Name removed]

93. Deleted message

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[devilgrrl]

97. Now all of Poland's problems are solved!!!!

:sarcasm: :eyes:

[dipsydoodle]

98. Will they put a bubble in his mouth

saying "I can see Jerusalem from up here"

[proteus_lives]

100. Typical responses.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

105. Boo fucking hoo.

[proteus_lives]

109. Like I said, typical.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

125. Yes.

They're typical because they're right.

[underpants]

101. An erection like that would make Mary Magdalene merry

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9508217

[RAHam]

111. Raises a question...

So is jesus god, or "son of god?" Is that the same thing? Doesn't sound like the same thing to me.

[ProudDad]

112. Gimme that Old Time Religion...

Chorus:
Give me that Old Time Religion, 3X It's good enough for me!

We will pray to Aphrodite
Even tho' she's rather flighty
(And) they say she wears no nightie
And that's good enough for me

Let me Follow Dear Old Buddha,
As a god there’s no-one cute-a,
And he comes in brass or pewta'
So he's good enough for me!

Well the Christians all are humming
'Cause they say their God is coming;
Our God came three times this evening;
That's good enough for me.

We will worship like the Druids
And drink strange, fermented fluids
And run naked through the woo-ids
'Cause that's good enough for me!

There are some that call it folly
When we worship Mother Kali.
She may not be very jolly
But she's good enough for me.

It was good enough for Venus,
Of the Gods she is the meanest
And she bit me on my ... elbow
But she's good enough for me!

There are those who practice Voodoo,
There are those who practice Voodoo,
I know I do, I hope you do -
It's good enough for me.

[saigon68]

114. Here's more

[Evasporque]

116. My Jesus is bigger than your Jesus...

how freakin' kitsch.

Like the field of cement Jesuses in Southern Missouri along the interstate.

[piratefish08]

120. bow down and worship Giganto Jesus.

[sofa king]

122. "I once caught a fish THIS big."

[Evasporque]

124. Jesus statue pulls own head off and tosses into river!.....nt

[Octafish]

126. Hope I live long enough to see it.

Even more, I'd love to visit Poland. The Polish people are beautiful.

[Rex]

131. Looks like a Greek god.

Poseidon is that you?