"The Ugliest Churches in the World"

I am an open-minded sort of religionista.  I think there is a wide subjective range of possibilities for sacred space that work well: gothic, white clapboard, stone, more.

This church, and others on the site, absolutely do not work well.  Ever, ever, ever.

It Did Not Come Upon A Midnight Clear: More Horrid Nativity Sets, with commentary

Grrrrrrrrrr. 

Also, somewhere, there is a Doggie Last Supper where Judas in clearly rabid.

And then an angel appeared, pronouncing: "DO NOT. DROWN. THE SON. OF GOD."

or

Didn't Mary and Joseph get that video in the hospital, "Do not shake the baby!"?

This also substitutes as a lovely bocce set.  Oh wait, I think it is one.

or

Calling the Walker Art Museum!

The kicker is there is a wind-up music box in the back playing "Feliz Navidad."

All of them (sob) found here.

Blast from the past: Truth Is Stranger and Stranger indeed this Halloween....

Just in time for school fundraisers and Halloween! The "Confections with a Mission": "O Sweet Jesus" candy (from a now defunct company. Sniff)

"The Divine Taste of Scripture in Every Bite". I'll bet it's exactly like Ezekiel eating the lamentations of the Lord and saying they tasted like honey to the mouth.

So picture this Halloween:
Trick or Treat!
--Hey kids. Cute outfits. Here ya go.
(They rip open candy) Hey, this says...if your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it into the fires of Gehenna! Cool! Great caramel taste, too!

(From 2008)

Caption Contest #89

Picture found here.

I'll start:  How many things are theologically wrong with this picture?

This post is spinning off a facebook posting, which I now cannot find...so I apologize for not giving credit and the hat tip.  If you know who you are, tell me and I'll gladly give credit for spotting this...heretical monstrosity.

The Ugliest Vestments Eveh

Vestments, inspired by Crayola

I know there are fine Catholic people on this list.  We hate the vestments, love the vestment wearer here, thanks.

You have been warned: 

The Ugliest Vestments Ever Worn

p.s. If there is a rule in common, it seems to be the need to upstage God's rainbows. (With the exception of the big gray cloud, which was sort of a relief in this list.)

The Apocalypse Approacheth, Again: Have Icons, Will Travel

Some see their signs in off cuff Papal remarks, dancing bishops,and questions about the purity of Catholic charities.  Huh. 

I see my sign of the apocalypse in this:

 

AUUUGGGGHHHHHHH! 

Do your penance now, people.

Hat tip to Owen Swaim on facebook.

Luther's "Here I Stand" Socks...For Sale

1. With all apologies to my Lutheran brothers and sisters: while this catapults you into a real race with the Catholics for kitsch, we will crush you like grapes in this arena.  

2. Pink?

3. What happens if you sit down wearing these socks?  Do they self-destruct like Mission Impossible?

4. As the website says, Luther probably didn't actually say these words.  Darned humorless scholars.

HT: Ship O' Fools.  (And you have to love a website that rates the chances of rapture on a daily basis.  Today, 81%.  Although maybe that's the humidity.)

Truth Is Stranger #135: Catholics and terrorists, same diff, according to ... the U.S. Military?

Filed under "What the heck?"

In the same vein: Catholic University blocks student group because it is Catholic.

Salvation History On A Rubic's Cube

Greeaaat.  I NEVER get past the first panel.  My spiritual life is permanently twisted (apparently, literally).

OK, it's not a Rubics cube; its the most complicated picture book ever.  But I bet I still mess up Evangecube.  Yes, it is called that.  I suspect this item is a love it or hate it sort of deal.  Your call, people. I'd rather get a Gideon Bible myself. 

More on it here.

HT Ship O Fools.

Truth is Stranger + Caption Contest

...because I can't decide.

Of course there is a logical explanation for this...or an explanation, anyway....

Um.  Ok.  Sure.  I hope there was popcorn.

HT The Deacon's Bench.

And comment away....

Caption Contest #116

HT Saint Kitsch (who has his own amusing commentary)

Comment away!

Things that make you go "huh."

Warrior Nun Areala?

...First I've heard of it (it's not new)...

Honestly,  I am without words.  Although I am considering "oh dear", "eek", "ugh", "get me out of her way", and "ew".

***

(HT: Lisa Marrero)

Behold the Ark of the Covenant ... Cake

Sometimes, there are no words.

(Check out the licorice snakes in the sugar dust?  Um, sweet.)

See the image if you dare at Nerdalicious.

I Was Always A Little Jealous of Hannukah. Until Now.

And that's just the beginning of the...Hannukah Cake Wrecks.

The Apocalypse Approacheth #927: The Zombie Nativity

The apocalypse approacheth...or the Incarnation of Christ...whatever, eh?

Found here and sold (yes) here.

Pic O' The Day

I just love Bad Vestments:


Bad Vestments' response: "Sarah wasn't the only one who busted a gut, dude. I think I might have broken a rib just now."

(Wiping away tears)

Helping You Get To Heaven (Faster)

At Ship O' Fools.

(shaking head)

Truth Is Stranger #124: The "Let My People Go" Toilet Seat Cover

...It just brings the theocosmic drama of the Exodus down to earth, you know?

Officially, this rates four "bleahs" out of five.

Yeah, you can buy it, if you must. Don't come to me about the state of your immortal soul, though.

HT: Ship of Fools.

"Cheeseburger in Paradise" + Chasible = Oh dear...

...Just because Jimmy Buffet used "Paradise" in the title of a song doesn't make the Parrot the Parrotclete.

From a cringe-worthy hilarious blog titled Bad Vestments (mostly Anglican, but not all). Check it out for the prime comments if nothing else!

Is it prayer, or is it a headache?

OK, in my day vocation, I'm writing an academic book on John Paul II's Theology of the Body (you can check out the abstract at the Louisville Institute, which kindly gave me a grant to do this).

I have a holy card of JP II from the beatification, much like this picture at right. I sometimes look at it when I am crawling the writer's block wall (which I have been this week). So the question is...

Is he praying for me?, or is he thinking: "Wowzer. She's really messing up my theology"?

Either interpretation seems plausible this week.

Your prayers would be appreciated. I've run into a couple of big stumbling blocks.

And if I'm slow in the postings at the IC, this is much of the reason.