Jesus Dolls turned down by toys for totts

[Demontestament]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/14/toy.jesus.ap/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program.

A Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the 1 foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on biblical figures.

But the charity balked because of the dolls' religious nature.

Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Virginia.

As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."

Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity's decision left him "surprised and disappointed."

"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."

According to the company's Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus, dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals, recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." It has a $20 retail value.

Grein questioned whether children would welcome a gift designed for religious instruction. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun," he said.

The program distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children in 2005.


Ok I can see where they are coming from, you don't want to run the risk of giving some kid a Jesus doll who quotes the bible at the push of a button when the kid might be of a different faith who doesn't follow Jesus. I lauged at this comment

Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity's decision left him "surprised and disappointed."

"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."

Unless they follow the teachings of something other than the Bible Jackass. Believe it or not, not everybody reads or follows it. Kids who got this doll who don't would wonder why they got a Hippie Doll who says weird **** when you press his button.

Oh and by the way, the ****ing Flame Sheild is up.

[KN]

Fools. What these kids need is a George Dubya Bush doll! Endless entertainment and learning fun and such. Things.

[bayushisan]

Actually I understand Toys for Tots reaction to the doll. I'd suggest donating the toys to Christian charities that work through various churches to get toys to those attendees that are poor. Everyone wins with that scenario.

[Demontestament]

Actually I understand Toys for Tots reaction to the doll. I'd suggest donating the toys to Christian charities that work through various churches to get toys to those attendees that are poor. Everyone wins with that scenario.

Exactly put it in the market where it will be most welcome

[KN]

Actually I understand Toys for Tots reaction to the doll. I'd suggest donating the toys to Christian charities that work through various churches to get toys to those attendees that are poor. Everyone wins with that scenario.

Jup.

They also need to bring back the Buddy Jesus. I'd buy one of those.

[Sprngpilot]

Actually I understand Toys for Tots reaction to the doll. I'd suggest donating the toys to Christian charities that work through various churches to get toys to those attendees that are poor. Everyone wins with that scenario.

Agreed. I'm sure Toys for Tots is not looking to discriminate against Christians, they just realized these dolls would be an unofficial endorsement of one religion over others. It's a charity to help kids, not convert them. I think they made the right move, and I'm surprised the company that donated the Jesus dolls didn't understand that from the start.

[John]

I wonder what the quotes are. Or where'd they're from.

As far as I know, Jesus wasn't in the Old Testament, so he really shouldn't be quoting anything from those books, should he?

[Shadow The Reaper]

Ah Jesus. My favorite fictional character.

[Silver_Derstin]

Hope they find a good place for all those toys, but a non-religious organisation should not be the one dealing them out. And yes, Mr. La Roe, some people actually don't read the Bible and don't want to hear about it. I'd say they're about... oh... half the population of the world, more or less.

[KN]

Ah Jesus. My favorite fictional character.

God has eye beams, you know. He's cooler.

[Silver_Derstin]

God has eye beams, you know. He's cooler.

Pffffff... God ain't cool, my friend. He's an OPPRESSIVE TYRANT! The only relief we have is that is son is totally rad, dude.

Also, Vishnu also has eye beams AND 6 arms. Goes to show.

[Demontestament]

Pffffff... God ain't cool, my friend. He's an OPPRESSIVE TYRANT! The only relief we have is that is son is totally rad, dude.

Also, Vishnu also has eye beams AND 6 arms. Goes to show.

Why with all the talk about eye beams did I get a sick and twisted video game where all the Gods/Goddesses come together in a fighting tournament to decide who the supreme being will be. It could be like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.

[Tollwutig]

Yeah I was dumbfounded by that guys reaction. Hello Marines= government agency they don't condone any particular religion, and really would be in deep **** if they did. Toys for Tots did the right thing.

Now the question is will this company try to get Dubya involved to make the Marines accept them.

[kurisu7885]

What are the odds some fundie priest or some fundie church will sue Toys for tots for religious discrimination?

[Demontestament]

What are the odds some fundie priest or some fundie church will sue Toys for tots for religious discrimination?

Very slim more than likely. Just because it is a big organization, who's main purpose to help needy children. Not even a big time bible thumper would risk losing that much face to the public because he wants the Jesus Dolls to be given out despite the child's religious upbrining.

[Ace_ofspade]

Why with all the talk about eye beams did I get a sick and twisted video game where all the Gods/Goddesses come together in a fighting tournament to decide who the supreme being will be. It could be like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.

Imagine it- a no-holds barred fight between Gatling God, Bob, and FSM.

[Demontestament]

Imagine it- a no-holds barred fight between Gatling God, Bob, and FSM.

No building in the world would be able to house that much awesome

[KN]

Imagine it- a no-holds barred fight between Gatling God, Bob, and FSM.

The world would ****ing end.

[Silver_Derstin]

Imagine it- a no-holds barred fight between Gatling God, Bob, and FSM.

That'd be only the start of the game... Add a "Godhood Editor" ala Soul Calibur 3 where you can edit your own god!

[kurisu7885]

Very slim more than likely. Just because it is a big organization, who's main purpose to help needy children. Not even a big time bible thumper would risk losing that much face to the public because he wants the Jesus Dolls to be given out despite the child's religious upbrining.

I've never seen that stop some people befor,e but you do have a point ^^;

[wxDiva]

Hope they find a good place for all those toys, but a non-religious organisation should not be the one dealing them out.

Based on my trips to Dollar General to get cheap candy and such, they will probably sell them. They already have a Moses action figure...

[John]

Actually I understand Toys for Tots reaction to the doll. I'd suggest donating the toys to Christian charities that work through various churches to get toys to those attendees that are poor. Everyone wins with that scenario.

Hope they find a good place for all those toys, but a non-religious organisation should not be the one dealing them out. And yes, Mr. La Roe, some people actually don't read the Bible and don't want to hear about it. I'd say they're about... oh... half the population of the world, more or less.

Yeah I was dumbfounded by that guys reaction. Hello Marines= government agency they don't condone any particular religion, and really would be in deep **** if they did. Toys for Tots did the right thing.

Now the question is will this company try to get Dubya involved to make the Marines accept them.

1! 2! 3!

LET'S GO! (http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_319145558.html)

Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala!

[Silver_Derstin]

1! 2! 3!

LET'S GO! (http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_319145558.html)

Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala!

COME ON, FOR LOKI'S SAKE!

Just when we actually agreed on something, those idiots turn around and decide that giving a toy that says "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" to potential non-Christian is a good thing.

Thanks John. My faith in humanity just took another blow there.

[John]

COME ON, FOR LOKI'S SAKE!

Just when we actually agreed on something, those idiots turn around and decide that giving a toy that says "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" to potential non-Christian is a good thing.

Thanks John. My faith in humanity just took another blow there.

I'm surprised you had any left.

I lost mine a LONG time ago.

[bayushisan]

I don't really have faith in humanity myself. Faith in God however, well that's a different story.

[Silver_Derstin]

I don't really have faith in humanity myself. Faith in God however, well that's a different story.

I still have faith in humanity. We are strong, far stronger then we appear. Faith in God, however, is something I have lost when I realised the first thing there.

[KN]

I've been playing a drinking game lately. It's time for another shot now. Bottom's up!

[Tollwutig]

must resist urge to email A..C..L...U...

[Hank the Tank]

I still have faith in humanity. We are strong, far stronger then we appear. Faith in God, however, is something I have lost when I realised the first thing there.

I too have faith in humanity. When I look at all of the improvements made in the world in the last century, I begin to hope that we might still have a chance.

[Tollwutig]

I too have faith in humanity. When I look at all of the improvements made in the world in the last century, I begin to hope that we might still have a chance.

Yeah I have faith in humanity as well, faith that humans will eventually destroy themselves and leave the rest of the world in peace.

[Ohma]

Yeah I have faith in humanity as well, faith that humans will eventually destroy themselves and leave the rest of the world in smoldering peaces.

Fix'd :D

Though I hope that many of us can get off this flying death trap before the crazy flat landers blow it all to hetz. An He3 farm on Ganymede would be loverly.

And shame on you guys for making up an Immortal Kombat game without the King of All Cosmos! He has eye-beams, rainbow breath, *and* the ability to roll up everyone else into a new star!

[KN]

must resist urge to email A..C..L...U...

Do it for great justice.

[Silver_Derstin]

Do it for great justice.

No, actually, just do it for common sense. Common Sense and Great Justice are friends, but Common Sense is nicer when it comes to things like this.