Christianity isn’t known for its sense of humor.The same can be said of other religions as well, of course.What else should we expect concerning belief systems that claim eternal consequences?A story by Colin Dwyeron NPR explains that the Haifa Museum of Art had to remove a sculpture titled “McJesus” due to public violence.The sculpture depicts a crucified Ronald McDonald, and a number of althoughs follow: although Haifa is in Israel a large number of Christians protested.Although the practice of crucifixion was uncomfortably common in ancient days it has come to be associated with one particular case.Although the message might be interpreted as a condemnation of commercialism, protestors took it to be aimed at their faith.Perhaps it was.Artists can be notoriously ambiguous in that way.
Ronald McDonald is a liminal, if ubiquitous figure.Instantly recognizable, he has been challenged before as a threat to christendom.I once heard a priest lament that children recognized the golden arches more than the cross.Well, that’s not surprising—we don’t go around telling our kids about crucifixion daily.(Or shouldn’t.)A massive Ronnie, on the other hand, floats down Manhattan every Thanksgiving Day.He’s on posters, commercials, and 42nd Street.He’s the patron saint of branding.With his garish clashing color palette, his red and yellow never mix to orange and they linger in our minds to ensure us that no matter where we might be there’s always cheap, if unhealthy, food nearby.Mr. McDonald has become a religious symbol of capitalism.
Even as a child I noticed the great deal of excitement that accompanied the opening of the local McDonald’s.In a small, corroded corner of the rust belt, families piled into cars to drive to Oil City to see this wonder.It was like an epiphany.Eating out that the poor could afford.Just about everything in downtown Oil City is now closed, but the last time I was there that McDonald’s still stood.Back in Haifa an ironic depiction led to real violence.Angry Christians carrying stones couldn’t see the statue as a condemnation of consumer culture.Their beleaguered religion was at risk.Blood flowed and the art piece was removed and packed off to Finland.Although the point of the display was to question religious appropriation in the support of consumerism, and although that message could ultimately support the teachings of the religion it evokes, the branding came across all wrong.Church is your kind of place…
