"The displaying of different gods in a public place like this is an offence to our beliefs and does not represent the diversity of views that should be reflected."
If the zoo wants to keep the statue and "[embark] on teaching the public about world religions, Blake suggested that the facility also erect the cross of Jesus Christ, the Ten Commandments and Noah's Ark
"The display of foreign gods is offensive and does not reflect the views of the majority of Canadians," he continued.
Good grief. So now it's "offensive to 'Christian'ity" to display something that has even a nominal resemblance to a deity other than the 'Christian' deity?
I have a newsflash for you Mr. Blake: Freedom of Religion doesn't give you or anyone else the right to dictate to the rest of us. Last I checked, there's nothing in Christian scripture that says it is forbidden to look upon images and symbols from other faiths ... not that the sculpture is even a symbol of Hindu faith per se.
Frankly, if someone from the Hindu faith wants to object to that statue as an inappropriate representation of Ganesh, I might think about listening. Hindu isn't your faith, Mr. Blake, and there's a hell of a lot more faiths practiced in Canada than your particular flavour of Christianity ... and they are practiced by people born and raised here ... every bit as Canadian.
I'd say that symbols of Christian faith are so prevalent in our society that one statue at the Zoo which is loosely based on another faith really doesn't matter one iota.
2 comments:
Apparently, he hasn't taken into consideration that an elephant god might be the deity of the Indian elephants at the zoo.
If the Christians want statuary around that's linked to Christian beliefs, they should have a zoomorphic theme as well and raise the money to donate them. I think that would be an interesting addition to the zoo. More zoo statuary reflecting animal iconography throughout the world's human cultures.
Perhaps the Christians could offer symbols of the biblical apostles. No, I guess that wouldn't go over well with Protestants.
Well, when he can decide *which* Christians he's talking about being represented, I'm sure we'll hear more.
He's just scared at the fact that from 1991 to 2001 the number of Christians in this country declined 6.5% and that at that rate of decline, in 40 or so years they won't be the majority religion any more.
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