"You got your Jesus in my peanut butter ..." (1)

The coupon section of the Sunday paper always carries an array of kitsch that just boggles my mind. You know what I mean: Kincade figurines, women's jackets with thirty cats on them, decorative plates depicting scene's from American history as portrayed by schnauzers. A lot of stuff that makes me wonder, who could possibly want that?

With that in mind, I saw an advertisement for Life Checks, checks for the religiously minded. As you can imagine, they are also filled with kitsch like Precious Moments drawings and cartoon animals. All of it vomit inducing, but none of it offensive or disturbing. Until I saw this one:

Instead of dripping the blood of Christ, this cross drips American patriotism.

I don't know who should be more offended. Non-Americans should be offended by the implied view that the United States holds a privileged position within Christianity (I don't think we'll see a Maple Leaf adorned crucifix anytime soon). Americans should be offended that someone believes this nation should be so intertwined with any one view of god. And Christians should be offended that, apparently, the central figure of their faith is easily replaced by a rectangular piece of nylon.

This is the sort of thing that the Blog Against Theocracy (2) wants to fight: the very notion that not only should religion and nation be mixed, but that they must be mixed. That to be a good Christian, you must be an uber-patriot, and vice-versa. However, the really good patriots and Christians are the ones who oppose this notion, tooth and nail.

(1) For those of you too young to remember Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Commercials from the 1970's/1980's, this is what I am referring to:

(2) Yes, I am a week late in posting this. I get so bogged down.