Even so, this is another one of those cases which make it harder and harder to parody the extreme Christian Nationalists.
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Source: American Family Association (via: Jim Burroway)
To be fair, the lit cross may not look quite as much like a burning cross when viewed live than when viewed as a picture. However, the resemblance to a burning cross will necessarily be much stronger when those sorts of white lights are arranged along the outer edge of the cross than if they had chosen a different design, like smaller colored lights along the insider of the shape. I don't think that it can be argued that it's reasonable that no one noticed the similarity.
Beyond that, though, we still have a very bizarre situation. First, what's so "original" about this cross? Jesus' cross didn't originally light up or burn, did it? Second, what's so "Christmas" about this cross, except for the fact that it is lit up in the pattern of a million other secular, kitschy holiday decorations — and why would anyone want to create a cross that goes in that category? Why would people who already complain about the secularization and commercialization of Christmas contribute in such a blatant manner to the kitschification and commercialization of not just Christmas, but Christianity in general?
Finally, why didn't anyone at the American Family Association point out that Christmas is supposed to be symbolized by a manger scene and the cross is supposed to be associated with Jesus' death and resurrection — an Easter event, not a Christmas event. By associating the cross with Christmas, aren't these Christians just contributing to the overall level of religious illiteracy which religious believers otherwise tend to complain about? I'd really be concerned for anyone living in a house where I saw one of these displayed prominently.
Interesting. The AFA site seems to be down. DOS attack?
I’m sure they didn’t intend the resemblance to a burning cross. Seeing something from another’s perspective is not their strong suit.
Now instead of using dangerous accelerants and wood filled with splinters, klansmen and others of their ilk can leave this light-up cross as their calling card. Much less messy, and there is no risk of anyone’s eyebrows getting burned off during the initial flare-up. All they will need is a portable generator. Or batteries.
My reaction to it was more along the lines of your last paragraph…”birth”–not “death” for this holiday, right? That’s like a huge sanfu, in my opinion. It’s a Christian symbol for Christians of the death of Jesus–and the holiday is about the birth. I see nativities all over at Christmas–because that’s supposed to be the Christian meaning of the holiday. So, how did such a Christian affliated organization miss that bit of ‘trivia’???
Just FYI. Chrisitans believe the whole reason Jesus came (was born) was for the purpose of going to the cross to pay for their sins. Kind of like the purpose for being in the manger and on earth to start with. Anyway, that’s probably the connection.
When I read this I thought, oh, you’ve got to be stretching it a bit with this one… then I saw it… yep, you’re dead right. It really DOES look like a burning cross. EEEwwww
Surprise your new neighbor of color by buying one and putting it on his lawn!
Christians are weird…….