Religious symbols sacred

I consider the use of religious symbols for nonreligious purposes

highly offensive. The commercialization, trivialization and

desecration seem to extend to all faith traditions.

Pop Zen is used to sell products from perfume to cereal to

architectural services. In our neighborhood, we find “Trader Zen”

cleaning products, a “Zen Sushi” restaurant and a “Zen Care” health

center. The newly opened “Sutra” restaurant describes itself as a

“Tantric” dining experience, and uses a logo on its canopies with

Ganeesh (from the Hindu tradition) along with a famous Quan Yin

reproduction (from the Buddhist tradition) behind the reservation

desk. “Sutra” means scripture or sacred text in our Buddhist

tradition.

Religion as decor is nothing new. I recall an article about a

prominent Chicago art collector credited with an exceptional range of

multicultural objects in her home. She mentioned how convenient it

was to use her Buddha sculpture as a place to hang her necklaces.

When I traveled in Thailand, I brought credentials from our Zen

Center in order to purchase Buddhist items. In Thailand, sculptures

of the Buddha cannot be sold to tourists, because Thai people are

offended by their use as doorstops and table lamps.

I knew of a Zen teacher in San Francisco who “rescued” Buddhas

from antique shops and offered them to Buddhist Centers and places

where they would be used as intended -- to inspire and strengthen

those walking the path of the Buddha.

It is disturbing when people are attracted to religious symbols at

superficial levels, but are unaware or insensitive to their deeper

meanings and potential.

REV. DR. DEBORAH BARRETT

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

Misuses of the cross and other cherished religious symbols abound

in our world, because we do not understand their meanings. Rabbi

Miller told a wonderful story of mistaken use of the Star of David by

an athletic “star” whose name is “David” in this space last week.

There are many, many stories I could tell of Jesus’ cross being

misused because it is misunderstood. A favorite is from “Racing

Demon,” a play by David Hare about four priests in the Church of

England and their struggle in faith. One tells the others a story of

his first trip to London, when he was only 16: “I was incredibly

lonely, I was thinking ‘All right, I’m frightened; I’m on my own.

What could help would be if I could buy a small crucifix. There was a

gift shop, and I talked with a girl behind the counter. ‘Oh, I don’t

think you’ll want this one,’ she said. ‘It’s got a little man on

it!’”

Too many people don’t know the story of that “little man” on the

cross and what is represented by it and by other great religious

symbols -- constant love in the heart of God! Perhaps we’d rather not

know, and so we avoid the painful and joyful discovery that we are

terribly loved and we refuse the challenge to love ourselves and

others.

To a world in which so much is “tasteless and offensive,” how

would Jesus respond to this misunderstanding and misrepresentation of

his cross? I suspect with his words from his real cross, given to us

in Luke 23:34: “Forgive them, for they do not understand what they

are doing!”

THE VERY REV’D CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

When Michael Jackson sold Nike the right to use the John Lennon

song “Revolution” in its advertising campaigns, I joined virtually

all Beatle fans in condemning this debasing of meaning. The theme of

the song was so obviously ill suited for the message of the

commercials. I also object to the misuse of the American flag as a

design for underwear -- it is not only cheesy and tacky, but also

disrespectful.

If I oppose the exploitation of a cultural icon like a treasured

song to sell shoes, or the symbol of our nation to sell briefs, how

much the more would I contend against the exploitation of a

profoundly religious symbol? Associating the cross with an

inappropriate venue like a nightclub is worse than smarmy -- it is

offensive.

A symbol is a powerful condensation of meaning. A symbol is a

visible sign of an invisible reality. It bespeaks common experiences

and evokes deepest memories. I can appreciate the revulsion,

experienced by those who hold the cross to be sacred, when they

behold this symbol of suffering and redemption, of bearing a burden

and offering a sacrifice, degraded as a vehicle to attract revelers.

I can imagine how a Christian feels when seeing the cross

incinerated by the KKK as part of its repertoire of terror, or when

the cross is satirized and mocked in so-called “comedies” on stage

and screen. Its use -- or better, abuse -- by a Scottish “hotspot”

perverts the meaning of this ancient symbol. The cross gives meaning

to many people’s lives and it should not be publicly trivialized for

commercial purposes. What a better world it would be if we all

treated one another’s cherished symbols with respect.

The cross should arouse the spirit of the believer and not be

employed to sell spirits to the carouser.

RABBI MARK S. MILLER

Temple Bat Yam

Newport Beach

It is highly inappropriate to use a religious symbol other than

for its intended meaning. The Christian cross symbolizes a spiritual

message, an invitation to God, not an invitation to a nightclub.

Establishments that are in the business of entertainment should name

their operation accordingly and should not use religious symbols in

vain or mockery.

IMAM SAYED MOUSTAFA

AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational Center of

Orange County

Costa Mesa