Wal-Mart To Test Bible Action Figures In 425 Stores

[kuzadd]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articl...91_FORTUNE5.htm

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) said Tuesday it will test sales in some stores of biblical action figures whose makers say they are aimed at Christian parents who prefer their children play with Samson, David or Noah rather than with a comic book character or Bratz doll.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien said the toys made by One2believe, a Valencia, Calif., company, will be offered in 425 of Wal-Mart's 3,376 discount stores and Supercenters.

One2believe Chief Executive David Socha said his products were part of a " battle for the toy box" with dolls and figures that he said carry negative messages.

"If you're very religious, it's a battle for your children's minds and what they're playing with and pretending. There are remakes out there of Satan and evil things," Socha said.

Wal-Mart's O'Brien said the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer believes there is demand for faith-based toys.

The toy line will be on some Wal-Mart shelves starting in August, mainly in the Midwest and South but also in California and as far northeast as Pennsylvania, O'Brien said.

"It is a test. It's not a national rollout," O'Brien said.

The toys, based on biblical stories, include a 3-inch figure of Daniel in the lion's den, a 12-inch talking Jesus doll and 13-inch Samson action figure.

Wal-Mart has always carried some faith products, mainly stationery, books and music, but this is the first line of toys with a faith theme, O'Brien said.

"I think there is an interest in faith-based toys and we are testing it in our stores," O'Brien said.

gotta get them young'uns brainwashed, yes sireee bob!

Edited July 20, 2007 by kuzadd

[cybercoma]

Imagine if parents had their kids play with Karl Marx toys when they were young, or an Abu Ghraib Prison Kit? It's child abuse to label children as having certain beliefs and that they clearly cannot understand. Perhaps the US can start rolling out some fundamentalist Christian cartoons that depict the death of Muslims, this way when the kids grow up, instead of judging people on a person-by-person basis, they can feel that ALL Muslims deserve to die. Y'know, kinda like a good portion of the posters here.

[noahbody]

A Mohammed doll that says "Jihad! Jihad!" might be a good seller.

[jefferiah]

Imagine if parents had their kids play with Karl Marx toys when they were young, or an Abu Ghraib Prison Kit? It's child abuse to label children as having certain beliefs and that they clearly cannot understand. Perhaps the US can start rolling out some fundamentalist Christian cartoons that depict the death of Muslims, this way when the kids grow up, instead of judging people on a person-by-person basis, they can feel that ALL Muslims deserve to die. Y'know, kinda like a good portion of the posters here.

Although I think the toys would be ridiculous gifts for children, I dont think your post makes an accurate analogy. Unless the toys are geared toward causing death to muslims then I dont see a connection. Making an action figure of Noah is a silly way to preserve faith. But there is no implied political connection either, Cybercoma. They are made for parents who want their kids to have Biblical toys, and as long as those toys are not promoting warfare against someone else what is the problem. I won't buy them. But they are on the shelves because there is a market for them. If there were prison camp toys you would have a case to have them removed.

[M.Dancer]

Well, I don't care if it rains or freezes

Long as I have my plastic Jesus

Riding on the dashboard of my car

I could go a hundred miles an hour

Long as I got the almighty power

Glued up there with my pair of fuzzy dice

{Refrain - repeat between verses}

Plastic Jesus, plastic Jesus

Riding on the dashboard of my car

Through all trials and tribulations

We will travel every nation

With my plastic Jesus I'll go far

I don't care if it's dark or scary

Long as I have magnetic Mary

Ridin' on the dashboard of my car

I feel I'm protected amply

I've got the whole damn holy family

Riding on the dashboard of my car

[kuzadd]

Imagine if parents had their kids play with Karl Marx toys when they were young, or an Abu Ghraib Prison Kit? It's child abuse to label children as having certain beliefs and that they clearly cannot understand. Perhaps the US can start rolling out some fundamentalist Christian cartoons that depict the death of Muslims, this way when the kids grow up, instead of judging people on a person-by-person basis, they can feel that ALL Muslims deserve to die. Y'know, kinda like a good portion of the posters here.

Maybe next, to go along with these 'action figures' We will get to see the marketing of 'Left Behind' action figures, geared towards the christian market, to get the young'uns ready for to be raptured!

[kuzadd]

A Mohammed doll that says "Jihad! Jihad!" might be a good seller.

But it isn't a mohammed doll, we are discussing, it's bible action figures to brainwash little christian girls and boys and make 'superheros' out of persons in the bible.

If it would have been a mohammed doll, this thread would have been up to 10 pages denouncing the brainwashing factor of this marketing move.

But as always there's that old double standard........sigh.............

[ScottSA]

If it would have been a mohammed doll, this thread would have been up to 10 pages denouncing the brainwashing factor of this marketing move.

No, if it had been a Mohammed doll, there would have been waves of cars burning across Europe. Lets not forget that Musselmen don't care much for cartoons, and one can only imagine what they'd do if faced with the ratcheted up blasphemy of action figures. But it's a great marketing ploy for some clever marketer who doesn't mind going into hiding for the rest of his life on pain of fatwa. I mean, a Mohammed doll would have to be anatomically correct so it could be Koranically correct and rape female dolls, and it would need have various accessories, like a sword for beheading Jews, and a sharp rock for stoning women, and maybe even an explosive vest for Islam's entry into the 21st century, but hey, that's just more profit for the poor sod who dares to do it.

[sharkman]

Once again an inaccurate comparison. In a country that governed with Karl Marx or Muslim principles, those dolls would have been forced on children by the government. In Walmart land you are free to not buy it. Even avoid that aisle like the plague, if you so choose. I suggest those so concerned about this feel free to not shop at Walmart, or as I'm told when protesting about liberal crap on the CBC, " Just change the channel!"

But somehow I doubt those lefties with their panties in a bunch will be able to change the channel and let the market decide. At least Walmart sells tinfoil.

[kimmy]

Sounds like a bit like this topic from just before Christmas:

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=7512

And leaves one asking somewhat the same thing: who's actually going to buy this stuff?

Wouldn't devout Christians feel that this somewhat trivializes or even ridicules figures from their faith (see Dancer's song...) ...but why would anybody other than devout Christians want this?

I am anticipating that the most likely use of a Jesus Action Figure will probably be to star in lurid Youtube videos with Barbie, made by self-styled wits who aren't actually very creative. "WWJD?" indeed.

-k

[jefferiah]

Sounds like a bit like this topic from just before Christmas:

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=7512

And leaves one asking somewhat the same thing: who's actually going to buy this stuff?

Wouldn't devout Christians feel that this somewhat trivializes or even ridicules figures from their faith (see Dancer's song...) ...but why would anybody other than devout Christians want this?

I am anticipating that the most likely use of a Jesus Action Figure will probably be to star in lurid Youtube videos with Barbie, made by self-styled wits who aren't actually very creative. "WWJD?" indeed.

-k

I quite agree Kimmy. I would think most Christians would find this distasteful themselves. But also I dont think it is comparable to the Karl Marx doll, or anything. As someone pointed out it is a free market and no one has to buy a Moses action figure if they dont want. I dont plan on buying someone soon. But I find it funny that Kuzadd makes mention of some Christian Industrial Complex.

So while telling people who are making this out to be some great brainwashing scheme that they are blowing it out of proportion, at the same time I would also encourage Christians to take God more seriously than an action figure.

[capricorn]

Sounds like a bit like this topic from just before Christmas:

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=7512

And leaves one asking somewhat the same thing: who's actually going to buy this stuff?

Wouldn't devout Christians feel that this somewhat trivializes or even ridicules figures from their faith (see Dancer's song...) ...but why would anybody other than devout Christians want this?

I am anticipating that the most likely use of a Jesus Action Figure will probably be to star in lurid Youtube videos with Barbie, made by self-styled wits who aren't actually very creative. "WWJD?" indeed.

-k

I quite agree Kimmy. I would think most Christians would find this distasteful themselves. But also I dont think it is comparable to the Karl Marx doll, or anything. As someone pointed out it is a free market and no one has to buy a Moses action figure if they dont want. I dont plan on buying someone soon. But I find it funny that Kuzadd makes mention of some Christian Industrial Complex.

So while telling people who are making this out to be some great brainwashing scheme that they are blowing it out of proportion, at the same time I would also encourage Christians to take God more seriously than an action figure.

Oh boy, if we need to encourage Christians to take God more seriously, is that religion in trouble or what. When you think about it, would the figures found in a typical manger fall into the category of "action figures"?

[ScottSA]

Sounds like a bit like this topic from just before Christmas:

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=7512

And leaves one asking somewhat the same thing: who's actually going to buy this stuff?

Wouldn't devout Christians feel that this somewhat trivializes or even ridicules figures from their faith (see Dancer's song...) ...but why would anybody other than devout Christians want this?

I am anticipating that the most likely use of a Jesus Action Figure will probably be to star in lurid Youtube videos with Barbie, made by self-styled wits who aren't actually very creative. "WWJD?" indeed.

-k

Well, you just never know what the future will bring. One thing is absolutely certain: Walmart is not run by idiots and if they are selling something with as much potential for controversy as this, there must be a substantial market out there. And if there's a market out there, somethin' is brewin' in Christendom.

I'm not a practicing Christian and hardly even a nominal Christian, but I'd adopt a crusader's cross if only to make a statement about the current assault on the west by those who think we're weak. I think I'm not alone in that.

I suspect the problem with Islam is that it hasn't been thrashed by the west in ever so long, and it's never had to face the west in a total war. The Crusades were a response to the barbarism and expansion of Islam into the eastern Roman Empire...maybe it's time for another go.

[B. Max]

Perhaps the US can start rolling out some fundamentalist Christian cartoons that depict the death of Muslims, this way when the kids grow up, instead of judging people on a person-by-person basis, they can feel that ALL Muslims deserve to die. Y'know, kinda like a good portion of the posters here.

A good idea, before the cultural Marxist government brain washing institutions get their hands on them.

[kimmy]

Well, you just never know what the future will bring. One thing is absolutely certain: Walmart is not run by idiots and if they are selling something with as much potential for controversy as this, there must be a substantial market out there. And if there's a market out there, somethin' is brewin' in Christendom.

I don't think the fact that Wal-Mart has decided to carry this is proof that there's a market for it.

Wal-Mart also carried the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" game, which proved to be about as popular as dealcoholized beer or Conrad Black Fan Club memberships.

-k

[marcinmoka]

I'm not a practicing Christian and hardly even a nominal Christian, but I'd adopt a crusader's cross if only to make a statement about the current assault on the west by those who think we're weak

Will the Biblical figures be compatible with G.I.Joe kit and accessories?

I'm sure the image of Jesus with his matching Apache Attack Helicopter would certainly not be passed up as potential propaganda tool for those on both sides of the conflict.

Edited July 21, 2007 by marcinmoka

[jefferiah]

Well, you just never know what the future will bring. One thing is absolutely certain: Walmart is not run by idiots and if they are selling something with as much potential for controversy as this, there must be a substantial market out there. And if there's a market out there, somethin' is brewin' in Christendom.

I don't think the fact that Wal-Mart has decided to carry this is proof that there's a market for it.

Wal-Mart also carried the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" game, which proved to be about as popular as dealcoholized beer or Conrad Black Fan Club memberships.

-k

No it doesnt prove it. Often times you can't know whether there is a market for something until it is marketed. Wal-Mart is a private company, not a faction of the Canadian Government so the religious content is of no concern to anyone. All they have to do is not buy it, the same way I am not going to buy it. By a market for it, I mean that there is a Christian market and maybe they will buy it and maybe they wont. I think probably most Christians would think it was "out there" as well. But as for the product itself, if it fails, it would not be the first product to do so, religion related or not.

If you read the title of the topic it says "Wal-Mart to test Bible Action Figures". So they are simply testing the product to see if there is a market for it among Christians.

Anyhow I wonder what this has to do with the Christian Industrial Complex? I dont even know what that is, do you? No wait I am a secret cardholding member of the Christian Industrial Complex and we have filled those toys with an airborne autosuggestion serum. Soon everyone will be a believer. Muahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Edited July 21, 2007 by jefferiah

[kuzadd]

If it would have been a mohammed doll, this thread would have been up to 10 pages denouncing the brainwashing factor of this marketing move.

No, if it had been a Mohammed doll, there would have been waves of cars burning across Europe. Lets not forget that Musselmen don't care much for cartoons, and one can only imagine what they'd do if faced with the ratcheted up blasphemy of action figures. But it's a great marketing ploy for some clever marketer who doesn't mind going into hiding for the rest of his life on pain of fatwa. I mean, a Mohammed doll would have to be anatomically correct so it could be Koranically correct and rape female dolls, and it would need have various accessories, like a sword for beheading Jews, and a sharp rock for stoning women, and maybe even an explosive vest for Islam's entry into the 21st century, but hey, that's just more profit for the poor sod who dares to do it.

irregardless of your assertion, had it been a mohamed doll, this would have been up to 10 pages, like I said, about how awful Islam is to indoctrinate there young blah, blah, blah, so forth and so on.

Except it's christians, and this isn't the first bunch of indoctrination tools, on the market, either.

Let's here it for battle ready Jesus !

OH YA!

[jefferiah]

irregardless of your assertion, had it been a mohamed doll, this would have been up to 10 pages, like I said, about how awful Islam is to indoctrinate there young blah, blah, blah, so forth and so on.

Except it's christians, and this isn't the first bunch of indoctrination tools, on the market, either.

Let's here it for battle ready Jesus !

OH YA!

So, I dont understand what the problem is Kuzadd. Are the Biblical figures violence oriented? What is the deal here? Someone created them, Wal-Mart is testing them on the market to see if Christian parents might provide an ample market for the product. What is the Christian Industrial Complex? Please tell me more about them. I have never heard of them. Are they forcing Wal-Mart to test this product? Is Wal-Mart part of the Christian Industrial Complex? Are they going to make it mandatory that customers buy a Bible doll if they want to shop there?

[marcinmoka]

What is the Christian Industrial Complex

Code name for a group of atheistic Chinese entrepreneurs who saw a gap in the market and prey upon our naivety.

[kuzadd]

The christian industrial complex

I let some christian do the 'splainin, ok, lucy?!

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/riffs-...ustrial-complex

" A good friend mailed me a note the other day, asking my opinion of a book that was all the rage in his megachurch. It’s not the first time we’ve had that conversation. We’ve covered this ground many times because his church, like most of American megachurch evangelicalism, often behaves like a group of consumerist sheep looking for a shepherd. Such shepherds are supplied these days by Joel Osteen products, Rick Warren products, Jabez prayers and products, Left Behind books and games, Beth Moore products, Joyce Meyer products, Thomas Kincaid products, Max Lucado books and products, and so on and so on and so on.

I call these “shepherds” because 1) the marketers are effectively leading evangelicalism through the high powered, high financed marketing of these products, 2) actual pastors are doing little to provide alternatives to this kind of marketing, but are often using these marketing promotions as the sources for sermon series and worship themes, and 3) the evangelicals buying these products are virtually without the ability to discern what is happening to the Biblical concepts of the Christian life and discipleship. Tie all this together with the fact that the most successful churches, most successful leaders and most successful Christians are buying into this consumerist version of Christianity and you have a major step in the undoing of evangelicalism."

etc., etc.,

and another article:

http://watkins.gospelcom.net/WarrenSmithEditorial.htm

The Christian-Industrial Complex

By Warren Smith

COMMENTARY--"In his farewell address to the nation, Dwight Eisenhower gave a speech that became famous because it used the expression “Military Industrial Complex.” In it, Eisenhower warned of great danger if the military preparedness of our nation came to be seen as a mere “market” for private industrial interests. Eisenhower feared we would expand our military and the size of our government for all the wrong reasons. Eisenhower viewed the relationship between the military and industry as not merely symbiotic, but parasitic and pathological.

I use this historical example so that it might be easier to see a similar pathological relationship emerging between the Christian retail industry and the Christian church, what I call the Christian-Industrial Complex.

Examples of the Christian-Industrial Complex are easy to see. The Women of Faith conferences, for example, rake in more than $50-million per year and are part of a for-profit, publicly traded company. The Christian retail industry topped $4.5-billion last year. (A bit of context: $30 per month can support many pastors in developing countries. That means that Americans spend enough annually on "Jesus Junk" to support 250-thousand Third World pastors -- for 50 years!)

Another example that played out last month is the controversy over the usage of the greeting “Merry Christmas” instead of the greeting “Happy Holidays.”

Beginning in the 1990s, some conservative Christian groups have decided that the use of the phrase “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is a defeat of Christian values by the forces of political correctness. These groups include but are not limited to the Mississippi-based American Family Association and the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Christian legal aid group.

If you ask me, Christmas needs reforming, not defending. Indeed, the early church did not celebrate Christmas largely because they rightly predicted it would become what it has become, a materialistic bacchanal. In the 17th century, the Puritans attempted to eliminate the observance of Christmas altogether, believing it an unholy combination of the pagan and the “popish,” and because it resulted in much public drunkenness. For these reasons, in some New England towns, the observance of Christmas was actually prohibited by law. Indeed, such was America’s relationship with Christmas that Congress regularly met on December 25 until the 1850s.etc., etc.,etc., etc.,"

these are the opines of some christians, on the christian industrial complex.

I am sure these couple of fellows, will just love the new toys!

It seems not all christians are smitten with this new trend.

Edited July 21, 2007 by kuzadd

[jefferiah]

The christian industrial complex

I let some christian do the 'splainin, ok, lucy?!

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/riffs-...ustrial-complex

" A good friend mailed me a note the other day, asking my opinion of a book that was all the rage in his megachurch. It’s not the first time we’ve had that conversation. We’ve covered this ground many times because his church, like most of American megachurch evangelicalism, often behaves like a group of consumerist sheep looking for a shepherd. Such shepherds are supplied these days by Joel Osteen products, Rick Warren products, Jabez prayers and products, Left Behind books and games, Beth Moore products, Joyce Meyer products, Thomas Kincaid products, Max Lucado books and products, and so on and so on and so on.

I call these “shepherds” because 1) the marketers are effectively leading evangelicalism through the high powered, high financed marketing of these products, 2) actual pastors are doing little to provide alternatives to this kind of marketing, but are often using these marketing promotions as the sources for sermon series and worship themes, and 3) the evangelicals buying these products are virtually without the ability to discern what is happening to the Biblical concepts of the Christian life and discipleship. Tie all this together with the fact that the most successful churches, most successful leaders and most successful Christians are buying into this consumerist version of Christianity and you have a major step in the undoing of evangelicalism."

etc., etc.,

and another article:

http://watkins.gospelcom.net/WarrenSmithEditorial.htm

The Christian-Industrial Complex

By Warren Smith

COMMENTARY--"In his farewell address to the nation, Dwight Eisenhower gave a speech that became famous because it used the expression “Military Industrial Complex.” In it, Eisenhower warned of great danger if the military preparedness of our nation came to be seen as a mere “market” for private industrial interests. Eisenhower feared we would expand our military and the size of our government for all the wrong reasons. Eisenhower viewed the relationship between the military and industry as not merely symbiotic, but parasitic and pathological.

I use this historical example so that it might be easier to see a similar pathological relationship emerging between the Christian retail industry and the Christian church, what I call the Christian-Industrial Complex.

Examples of the Christian-Industrial Complex are easy to see. The Women of Faith conferences, for example, rake in more than $50-million per year and are part of a for-profit, publicly traded company. The Christian retail industry topped $4.5-billion last year. (A bit of context: $30 per month can support many pastors in developing countries. That means that Americans spend enough annually on "Jesus Junk" to support 250-thousand Third World pastors -- for 50 years!)

Another example that played out last month is the controversy over the usage of the greeting “Merry Christmas” instead of the greeting “Happy Holidays.”

Beginning in the 1990s, some conservative Christian groups have decided that the use of the phrase “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is a defeat of Christian values by the forces of political correctness. These groups include but are not limited to the Mississippi-based American Family Association and the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Christian legal aid group.

If you ask me, Christmas needs reforming, not defending. Indeed, the early church did not celebrate Christmas largely because they rightly predicted it would become what it has become, a materialistic bacchanal. In the 17th century, the Puritans attempted to eliminate the observance of Christmas altogether, believing it an unholy combination of the pagan and the “popish,” and because it resulted in much public drunkenness. For these reasons, in some New England towns, the observance of Christmas was actually prohibited by law. Indeed, such was America’s relationship with Christmas that Congress regularly met on December 25 until the 1850s.etc., etc.,etc., etc.,"

these are the opines of some christians, on the christian industrial complex.

I am sure these couple of fellows, will just love the new toys!

It seems not all christians are smitten with this new trend.

So basically it is a collective term for Christian businesses which sell products on the free market which people can either choose to buy or ignore. So basically people have a choice to buy Christian products because these companies are marketing them. What is wrong with that Kuzadd? I dont want to buy the products and I am fine with them being available. Maybe you don't like them being richer than you.

You are right about Christmas being a division point among Christians, but as the good book says, roughly quoted, "one fellow holds one day more important than another while the other fellow sees all days the same, and neither one is to judge the other".

Edited July 22, 2007 by jefferiah

[jefferiah]

Isnt that interesting how one man can hold a particular day to be holy, while another doesnt. And neither one is better than the other. Do you see how that works Kuzadd? Variation. You see. Distinction, yet respect. Interesting concept isn't it?

Can you understand the idea of two people being in total disagreement over an issue yet not seeking to punish the other?

Edited July 21, 2007 by jefferiah

[kuzadd]

So basically it is a collective term for Christian businesses which sell products on the free market which people can either choose to buy or ignore. So basically people have a choice to buy Christian products because these companies are marketing them. What is wrong with that Kuzadd? I dont want to buy the products and I am fine with them being available. Maybe you don't like them being richer than you.

You are right about Christmas being a division point among Christians, but as the good book says, roughly quoted, "one fellow holds one day more important than another while the other fellow sees all days the same, and neither one is to judge the other".

Well not limited to just products but "services" also, and support for "campaigns"., etc.,

"What is wrong with that Kuzadd? "

Did I say there was something wrong with that?

One is left wondering why you think that?

all I said , was the christian industrial complex at it's pinnacle, perhaps though it isn't there yet, who knows maybe there will be more, plastic figurines, more fundraisers, and more "campaigns of outrage" to stir the christians zealots and take there money!!!!!

wrt: "You are right about Christmas being a division point among Christians"

I never said anything about that, refer to the author of the said piece, where that is from, then lecture the author.

Why would you infer I said that?

Are you so caught up in twisting words around to use to your advantage that you are willing to attribute statements to me, I never made?

I believe the writer was Warren Smith, perhaps you can present your "case" to him??

Edited July 22, 2007 by kuzadd

[jefferiah]

all I said , was the christian industrial complex at it's pinnacle, perhaps though it isn't there yet, who knows maybe there will be more, plastic figurines, more fundraisers, and more "campaigns of outrage" to stir the christians zealots and take there money!!!!!

Then what is the point of the topic?