I am a very bad person. I laughed at this.
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« Waaaah! | Main | Foraging in Philly »
Cheap plaster saint
Category: Humor
Posted on: November 20, 2008 1:11 PM, by PZ Myers
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Comments
Posted by: Phil | November 20, 2008 1:15 PM
god just owned them for their idolatry
Posted by: CodeSculptor | November 20, 2008 1:17 PM
Why do these people always use the most frail and out of shape people for these events. Carrying a big doll requires no wisdom nor piety -- leave it to the members of the foot-ball team.
Posted by: spgreenlaw | November 20, 2008 1:18 PM
Not much of a loss, really. Those things are so tacky.
Posted by: a | November 20, 2008 1:18 PM
In the back of my mind, an evil little voice wished that it'd fallen on one of them. It was God's will we could say, and how could they argue differently, seeing as they're in the house of their deity... *sniggers*
Posted by: BeeLeaver | November 20, 2008 1:19 PM
I'm afraid I laughed also, I think it was the headless part at the end, so fitting...
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 20, 2008 1:20 PM
Gotta wonder why god would let that happen.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | November 20, 2008 1:22 PM
Yeah but if you look really closely at about 0:27 it BLEEDS from a PULSATING HEART and briefly BURNS WITHOUT BEING CONSUMED!
It's a fucking miracle.
Posted by: bright | November 20, 2008 1:22 PM
It was merely a test of faith....
Posted by: Anon | November 20, 2008 1:27 PM
"... and centuries later, we still speak in hushed tones of the miracle of the Gorilla Glue, and the restoration of the Icon..."
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 20, 2008 1:27 PM
One they failed miserably.
Their faith was not strong enough. Nor was that of all the people in the crowd.
Posted by: The Petey | November 20, 2008 1:27 PM
I laughed too. Why DID they uses a bunch of octogenarians to carry it? and why didn't they at least try to crazy glue it down? Why didn't it transubstantiate, flap its wings and save itself?
Posted by: minimalist | November 20, 2008 1:27 PM
GOD IS DEAD!
AND IT WAS SUICIDE!
Posted by: Glen Davidson | November 20, 2008 1:30 PM
I'm more in the mode of wondering what the statue was being carried for in the first place, and what saint would it be?
I don't know, I didn't laugh. But I'm sure it's the sort of thing that the people there will recount with both a kind of false "horror" and amusement for some time to come.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Posted by: ed | November 20, 2008 1:32 PM
Yes you are, (very bad) so am I. Still laughing. Still no one was hurt and there is a very slim chance something was learned.
Posted by: E.V. | November 20, 2008 1:32 PM
All that needed was Rowan Atkinson as the Priest to be any more snot-blowingly funny.
Posted by: spyderkl | November 20, 2008 1:32 PM
I had a badly needed laugh from that, too.
If their faith was only stronger, the statue would resurrect itself. Epic, epic fail.
Posted by: 60613 | November 20, 2008 1:33 PM
I laughed too - the cries of horror!
I can see the headlines in the local paper: "Christ beheaded in tragic accident!" "Jesus fell down and can't get up!" "Jesus lost his head!"
I'm with Phil (above) - the idol has been desecrated! This must surely bring retribution. "Floods! Famine! Fire! Locusts! Gays!"
Thanks for posting... it was a good laugh.
Posted by: Larry | November 20, 2008 1:34 PM
Oh, noes!
Why didn't god hold up mary in midair until she could be gently put down?
My faith, she is broken!
Posted by: itwasntme | November 20, 2008 1:36 PM
...and they couldn't even calm everybody by saying, "Relax everyone, it's just a statue!"
Posted by: Blake Stacey | November 20, 2008 1:37 PM
I can only hope my funeral is such a success.
(Actually, I want a secular funeral. A secular Viking funeral. But as if Gilgamesh were a Viking. Seventy virgins will follow my sarcophagus onto the boat and drink poison. Well, instead of poison, it'll be Ecstasy. They can leave when they're not virgins anymore.)
Posted by: zer0 | November 20, 2008 1:37 PM
The Patron Saint of 'I'm way too old to be carrying this, wtf??!!'
Posted by: BobbyEarle | November 20, 2008 1:38 PM
The stuff we made in the third grade out of papier mache held up better than this.
They need more flour, me thinks.
Posted by: Shamar | November 20, 2008 1:40 PM
I laughed my ass off as well!!
I'd have probably laughed even if it had landed on someone.
(their god would have attacked them, ha ha ha)
Posted by: Kevpod | November 20, 2008 1:41 PM
The lord works in mysterious ways.
Posted by: Ashley | November 20, 2008 1:42 PM
I'm disappointed. I went to catholic church for 12 years in school, and nothing like that ever happened! I got gypped.
Posted by: E.V. | November 20, 2008 1:42 PM
Wait, I know! Let's get the eldest of the palsied, testicular atrophied men of the church to carry a 200lb+ plaster effigy of Christ down the aisle! It will be inspirational!
Posted by: Cletic_Evolution | November 20, 2008 1:43 PM
You're not the only one... I'm sure when I turned it up I could make out at least a few chuckles and snickers from the crowd...
Who says physical comedy is dead?
Posted by: Samphire | November 20, 2008 1:43 PM
So prayer does work.
Posted by: Feynmaniac | November 20, 2008 1:43 PM
Kinda think the crowd overreacted. Then again, I think PZ has found that some Catholics tend to overreact....
Posted by: Kassul | November 20, 2008 1:44 PM
hahaha, that video has inspired me to resume going to church regularly.
In the hopes that something like this will happen while I'm there, so I can quite loudly laugh my head off.
...oops, is that not the right phrase to use for this situation? Bad taste you say?
Sure, I might have to wait a while, but the reward will be sweet(and hey, I can always think about random stuff while I'm there)
Posted by: Norman Doering | November 20, 2008 1:45 PM
Try this:
http://www.typealyzer.com/index.php?lang=en
Plug your blog http in and find out what kind of blog you have. I want to see if someone gets exactly the same analysis I got:
Posted by: Holbach | November 20, 2008 1:46 PM
Holy crap, the rapture is here early! The response from the demented sheep was the worth of it all! Religion, your name is fraught with all that is obscene and insane, and the lowest degradation of humanity possible!
Posted by: Hauntedchippy | November 20, 2008 1:46 PM
Bloody hell.
Anywhere else and the crowd would've laughed, but because it happened to be an idol they worshipped they reacted as if it was quite literally the end of the world.
Posted by: Kobra | November 20, 2008 1:48 PM
Hahaha. That was awesome.
And I agree with #33.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | November 20, 2008 1:49 PM
What do you do in that sort of situation? My inclination would be to find the head, set it back atop the body and give it a nice "there, there" pat.
Posted by: Mikayla | November 20, 2008 1:49 PM
Nothing like an epic blunder to break the mood of holy solemnity, huh?
XD
Posted by: Richard Halasz | November 20, 2008 1:50 PM
That kind of slapstick should have been accompanied with holy water and cheap communion wine spit takes.
Posted by: Jimminy Christmas | November 20, 2008 1:51 PM
I can see the relief on some of their faces:
"Oh, so it is just a stupid plaster statue after all."
Posted by: H.H. | November 20, 2008 1:52 PM
It was sad to hear the shrieks of disbelief and murmurs of despair from the sheep in the pews waiting to be told how to react to this little fall. You could just tell this accident was more than their brains could take. Oh, I'm sure it was later explained to them that this statue isn't an actual holy relic, it's only symbolic, not to worry, god forgives their human frailty, etc. etc. But the excuses and rationalizations will come later.
But captured in this moment, we see a collection of idolaters horrified to watch as their magical talisman--the one they prayed to and pinned money on so that little Johnny's cancer goes into remission and little Suzie finds a husband--smashes on the floor along with all their misplaced hopes, prayers, and dreams.
For me, this video reveals all the vanity, fragility, and pure primitive ignorance of the lie called religion. And it ends the way all religions must, because ultimately they are nothing more than empty promises. I don't think anyone could have filmed a more powerfully metaphorical moment if they were trying.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 20, 2008 1:53 PM
Norman I got this for my blog. It partially fits.
Posted by: GumbyTheCat | November 20, 2008 1:54 PM
Of course, you knew what was coming from the first frame. The screaming and horrified reaction to the mishap was the best part. It's just a doll people... sheesh.
Posted by: Bunk | November 20, 2008 1:55 PM
I do crap like that all the time, except I'm not carrying idols. I usually get hurt, though. The only thing more interesting than the lack of laughter by the crowd was the lack of obscenity from the bearers.
Posted by: Celtic_Evolution | November 20, 2008 1:56 PM
ZOMFG!!! Her head! It asploded!
The end is nigh!
Posted by: Sam B | November 20, 2008 1:59 PM
I laughed. Then I laughed at the people attending's reactions. There were a lot of gasps, some wails, a baby crying (I think), possibly some sobs and I think I heard someone go "oh shit".
Posted by: GumbyTheCat | November 20, 2008 2:00 PM
Hmmm... according to that Typealyzer site it says in part about PZ: "They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters."
Really, PZ?
Posted by: Samphire | November 20, 2008 2:00 PM
It reminds me of an unplanned baptism in my parents' church some 50 years ago when an old gentleman walked into the chapel, failed to notice the water-filled sump in the floor (normally covered over by floorboards but opened up especially for that night's baptism service) and fell right in.
Fortunately, although soaked by total immersion, he was not physically hurt and can laugh about it now that he is in heaven.
Posted by: designsoda | November 20, 2008 2:02 PM
It was clearly the fault of the old man front-left. Or God. Your pick.
Posted by: Zeno | November 20, 2008 2:03 PM
It was probably a statue of the church's patron saint (not Jesus or Mary). It appears to be a male figure in a short tunic rather than the typical long robe. If I were to guess, I'd say it's most likely St. Michael the Archangel, but they left off the traditional wings because those suckers are difficult to maintain on plaster statues. No wings, no flight. Crash!
Posted by: Steve_C | November 20, 2008 2:08 PM
Hahaha! That was awesome. Those nuns up front looked like they were going to faint.
I feel bad for the old guy that dropped his handle. Probably his one big day a year.
Posted by: Hockey Bob | November 20, 2008 2:12 PM
SamB @ #44
You know what they say...
Q:How do you get a room full of little, old, catholic ladies to swear?
A: Yell "BINGO!"
I'm surprised that there weren't more "oh, shit" cries in the crowd. Oh well - they can just order another false idol from the Acme Religious Icon company; I think they do e-commerce ordering now, too!
Posted by: Mike Fox | November 20, 2008 2:12 PM
Why did the old people leave the decapitated statue when they left?
Posted by: Jason A. | November 20, 2008 2:14 PM
The crowd reaction was fantastic. I agree with everything H.H. said in #39
And what is it about surprise moments that everyone has to try and make a louder noise than everyone else around them? You know most of those people alone wouldn't have shrieked like that if the rest of the room was quiet. Maybe a gasp, but that's it. It's something about the group dynamic, everyone is loud so I have to be louder!
Posted by: Kristinmh | November 20, 2008 2:17 PM
I think it's St. Anthony for some reason.
#12, you made me spit ginger tea all over my EEE. Thanks. ;)
Posted by: Steve_C | November 20, 2008 2:20 PM
Well, you have to clutch the rosary tighter and wail louder too look as pious as the next one.
Posted by: Tom Woolf | November 20, 2008 2:21 PM
ooooooh, PZ... yer goin' ter hell fer that one!
Was it my imagination (or wishful thinking), or did I hear somebody yell out "tiiimmmmmbeeerrrrrrr"?
Posted by: Larry | November 20, 2008 2:21 PM
THANK GOD it wasn't a cracker they dropped on the floor!
Posted by: dean | November 20, 2008 2:21 PM
Damn that Intelligent Falling.
Posted by: Stacy L. Mason | November 20, 2008 2:21 PM
Mazaltof!!
Guess all the strapping young lads were all too butthurt to help lug the plaster calf up to the altar.
Posted by: Ka | November 20, 2008 2:23 PM
I'd say Saint George.
Posted by: gypsytag | November 20, 2008 2:28 PM
If they were true believers they would have thrown themselves under jesus to prevent him from hitting the ground.
Even secularists don't let the flag touch the ground.
Posted by: 386sx | November 20, 2008 2:29 PM
I don't thing God would ever punish people for accidentally desecrating something. Right? Riighghttt??
Posted by: Steve | November 20, 2008 2:34 PM
pz,
You aren't bad. Four older dudes dropped a dressed up dummie, and people were horrified. Where else could you see this level of hilarity? You could beat it if the cross spontaneously fell so it was upside down....
In any case, you aren't a bad person. We have but one life to laugh at idiocy.
Posted by: Lago | November 20, 2008 2:35 PM
See? This is why the Romans used nails!
How embarrassing would it have been if Jesus had fallen over in the same way?... Well?
Posted by: Steverino | November 20, 2008 2:39 PM
Possible outs:
"My bad!....My bad!"
"Hey look!...it's filled with candy!...dibs on the Reeces!"
"Should have gotten the solid one instead!"
"He did it! (pointing to the guy in front)"
"Holy Shit!...Did everyone feel that too???"
Posted by: Keanus | November 20, 2008 2:41 PM
I'll bet the statue was made in Ghina by atheists or Buddhists.
Posted by: James | November 20, 2008 2:41 PM
Is it bad that the first thing I could think of was -
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. Better, stronger, faster.
James
Posted by: Moses | November 20, 2008 2:42 PM
What the hell is wrong with them? They're screaming like someone was killed! I'd have been busting up... The way they were carrying, especially with a bunch of old-farts on the poles, was just asking for something like this happen.
Posted by: Steverino | November 20, 2008 2:44 PM
#63
"See? This is why the Romans used nails!
How embarrassing would it have been if Jesus had fallen over in the same way?... Well?"
Now that's fuvking funny!!!....I bow
Posted by: Moses | November 20, 2008 2:48 PM
Norman asks:
Yes. It uses Myers-Briggs. When I've taken the test, multiple times now, I come up INTP or INTX. My blog came up INTP. Which surprised me to no end seeing I only took it as a lark and was going to bash it, since I was really skeptical.
So, obviously, I couldn't bash it. I am wondering how they came up with their algorithm. But not enough to go bug them in a fruitless endeavor as I'm thinking they probably won't respond.
I have seen others that are not INTP.
Posted by: Longtime Lurker | November 20, 2008 2:51 PM
It's a miracle! Did any other saints get to have a second martyrdom?
Posted by: foolfodder | November 20, 2008 2:52 PM
A nun at the front almost tried to catch it as it fell. Good thing she decided not to.
Posted by: Maltodextirn | November 20, 2008 2:53 PM
Man, "Cheap Plaster Saint" would be a really great song title.
Posted by: Diagoras | November 20, 2008 2:54 PM
@ Moses
ISFP, apparently, for my blog. I guess I'll need a beret, now.
Posted by: Robster, FCD | November 20, 2008 3:02 PM
A miracle in the name of St. Newton?
Posted by: kb3ijj | November 20, 2008 3:02 PM
I had a good laugh. Interestingly, at first glance, I thought they were carrying an image of Krishna which confused the hell out of me. Then the second time through, I looked closer and it does indeed look like St. Michael the Archangel.
Posted by: xebecs | November 20, 2008 3:04 PM
What do you want to bet that the clumsy bearer meets with an accident soon, as did the "own goal" footballer from Colombia a few years back?
Posted by: Rey Fox | November 20, 2008 3:05 PM
"There were a lot of gasps, some wails, a baby crying (I think), possibly some sobs and I think I heard someone go "oh shit"."
And there was also a camera flash. For insurance purposes, I'm sure.
Posted by: Sili | November 20, 2008 3:16 PM
I did giggle at the bits that kept crumpling off.
Speaking of signs: Has anyone yet suggested that California is getting punished by god for banning gay marriage?
Posted by: Dances With Books | November 20, 2008 3:16 PM
And the thing is nobody moved to help the old guy in front. You know the moment he started fidgeting in the front, that he was going to drop it. There wasn't some other stronger fellow could have walked up, said, "here let me help you" before it fell? I can see the next meeting of the church committee: "Bob, that's the last time you are carrying the saint."
And yes, I laughed. I flinched a bit when it fell, but only because it was kind of like seeing any other performance suddenly fall flat, you know, like a play where the actor forgets their lines. Then I laughed.
Posted by: ...tom... | November 20, 2008 3:18 PM
...
Where the hell were the spotters..?!?
...tom...
.
Posted by: WTFWJD | November 20, 2008 3:18 PM
Why not embrace modern technology with a wheeled cart, safety straps, and a roll bar?
BTW, was that the patron saint of accidental falls?
Posted by: Duff | November 20, 2008 3:20 PM
Had the holy thing landed on an innocent in the audience, would there have been a lawsuit? Naaaaaaaah.
Posted by: Brian G | November 20, 2008 3:24 PM
I must be a very bad person too, I laughed.
Posted by: fireant451 | November 20, 2008 3:24 PM
I'm guessing St. Cornelius.
/12 years of Catholic school
//it didn't stick
Posted by: chemist | November 20, 2008 3:28 PM
Here's our chance to see if their god really CAN heal amputees!
Posted by: urbster1 | November 20, 2008 3:30 PM
it's the horrible screams that really does it
Posted by: ggab | November 20, 2008 3:33 PM
I wanted to post something funny but I can't top Steverino #64.
Posted by: K. Signal Eingang | November 20, 2008 3:33 PM
Things like this are what really make live theater, though, don't you think?
Posted by: Raynfala | November 20, 2008 3:34 PM
Cue Bill Donohue blaming atheists for this mishap (somehow) in 3... 2... 1...
Posted by: Tim H | November 20, 2008 3:38 PM
It could have been whoever the patron saint of music is. Then the episode could be attributed to suicide by the saint so he/she didn't have to keep listening to that awful singing.
After a bit of browsing, I could find no patron saint of clumsiness/for clumsy people. I find this surprising. Surely the church could find some mention in history of a holy but uncoordinated person. I suggest they work on this.
This could have been due to the intervention of St Venantius, Patron Saint of Falling, or St Genevieve, Patron Saint of Disasters. I could not find a Patron Saint of Discount Statuary.
Could someone with more knowledge of the arcane workings of the RCC tell me why the hell Isidore of Seville is the Patron Saint of Computers and the Internet?
Posted by: cm | November 20, 2008 3:41 PM
Funny in a "nobody actually got physically hurt or cruelly mortified" sort of safe way + the "church elders lamely propping up a recently beheaded saint and walking away" way.
But it is astounding footage in terms of how REACTIVE the crowd is. These are the things I need reminding of, how other people can get so whooped up over things that barely register on my own meter.
Posted by: Steve_C | November 20, 2008 3:42 PM
He'll liken the statue to the destruction of the Buddha in afghanistan or the Sistine Chapel and claim we're sick sick sick for laughing.
Posted by: Max | November 20, 2008 3:43 PM
You're not a bad person. No one was hurt. AND this is hilarious!!
Posted by: imthatkindofass | November 20, 2008 3:43 PM
What's with the flash? What kind of ass whips out his camera for a shot?
Posted by: Steve_C | November 20, 2008 3:46 PM
Well it was being videotaped... so maybe people take photos on these feast observances.
Posted by: Moses | November 20, 2008 3:48 PM
I'm thinking blogs that have a lot of quoted context won't be very accurate within the algorithm. But what the hell:
Cuttlefish: ISTP
Mark Chu-Carroll (good math, bad math): ESTP
Dave Neiwert (Orcinus): INTP
Phranygula: ISTP
John Hawks (JH Anthropology): INTP
Doc's Sunrise Rants: ESTP
My daughter: INFJ (So her, BTW)
GrrlScientist: ESTJ
Gary Farber (Amygdala): INTP
I'm not surprised by the skewing.
Posted by: cm | November 20, 2008 3:48 PM
Just noticed: from 00:16--00:23 you can see a Satanic figure with his back to the camera standing in the foreground at right watching coldly as it falls and shatters.
Posted by: AmyD | November 20, 2008 3:54 PM
All the wailing about the statue and only one lady bothered to ask the little old nun who had been standing right behind it if she was okay.
Posted by: Matt Heath | November 20, 2008 3:57 PM
That was funny.
OT: The Wall Street Journal says the War on Christmas caused the economic crisis
Posted by: Mena | November 20, 2008 4:01 PM
Ok, I laughed too. The screaming and wailing long after the fact was just amazing. The only person/people who should have reacted strongly at all should have been the guy dropping it and if anyone almost got hit by debris, they would be entitled to a bit of shouting too. The comments also made me laugh, as did seeing this not too long after:
http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/im_not_one_of_those_love_thy
Posted by: GS | November 20, 2008 4:02 PM
Nun soup! (amost)
Posted by: Chris A. | November 20, 2008 4:06 PM
wow, some people take cheap inanimate objects very seriously,
but then PZ has already discovered this
Posted by: Milo Johnson | November 20, 2008 4:07 PM
Nothing happened, you just imagined it. Remember, gravity is only a theory.
Posted by: tsg | November 20, 2008 4:08 PM
The first thing that came to my mind was, "Where's your messiah now?!"
Posted by: CaptainKendrick | November 20, 2008 4:17 PM
LOOK! LOOK! The dent that the statue left in the floor looks like the Virgin Mary!!!! IT'S A MIRACLE!!! IT'S A SIGN!!!!!
Posted by: H.H. | November 20, 2008 4:17 PM
Matt Heath, wow, that was one of the most ignorant things I've ever read. First he repeats the lie that liberals and atheists get offended when told to have a "Merry Christmas" (actually it's the other way around--Christians get offended when they are offered a inclusive greeting such as "Happy Holidays" that doesn't mark them out as special and privileged). Then he blindly asserts that evangelical Christianity teaches people morality and restraint and, if embraced by more people, could have averted the current fiscal crisis. Aside from the pure falsity of that sentiment, he's obviously never heard of the "prosperity gospel." Those "Southern evangelicals" as as avaricious as they come.Posted by: TJZaman | November 20, 2008 4:27 PM
Personally I think that thing came alive for a brief moment. Well, okay! Not really.
Posted by: Nick Gotts | November 20, 2008 4:28 PM
the War on Christmas caused the economic crisis - Matt Heath, citing WSJ.
I just knew it had to be our fault! Do you think, if we atheists all repent and pray really hard, God will stop the recession?
Posted by: magista | November 20, 2008 4:38 PM
Tim H, St. Isidore is supposedly venerated for his love of learning and teaching, which is why he's suggested as the patron saint of the internet.
My particular favourite is the patron of television, St. Clare of Assisi. When to ill to attend mass, she saw the services appear as a moving image on the wall of her cell. See? God wants me to have a flatscreen...
Posted by: shyster | November 20, 2008 4:41 PM
WWJD?
Posted by: ThatOtherGuy | November 20, 2008 4:42 PM
What in the world are all those people screaming about? Dear god, it's a PLASTER STATUE. It's REPLACEABLE. You don't need to shriek like someone's just murdered your baby. In any other context there would have been a bunch of yells of "whoa, lookout" at the beginning, then followed by "oh" and a bunch of muted conversation. None of this melodramatic sh!t.
Posted by: mayhempix | November 20, 2008 4:47 PM
Where's Saint Craziglu when you need him?
That's what happens when you worship false idols and find they are not all they are "cracked up" to be. Now Donohue will claim PZ put a spell on it with his spiked cracker.
Posted by: T. Bruce McNeely | November 20, 2008 4:48 PM
Posted by: Tim H | November 20, 2008 3:38 PM
After a bit of browsing, I could find no patron saint of clumsiness/for clumsy people.
Saint Clouseau?
Posted by: Dr. Strangelove | November 20, 2008 4:51 PM
Did anyone else think it would be funny if it was going to spill out with candy like a pinata?
Posted by: Jonathon | November 20, 2008 4:51 PM
HOW IS THIS NOT IDOLATRY? I just don't get it.
Posted by: Doug | November 20, 2008 4:53 PM
Once again a deity is defeated by a theory.
Posted by: MPG | November 20, 2008 4:55 PM
"What Would Jesus Glue?"
Posted by: CaptainKendrick | November 20, 2008 5:05 PM
If you all haven't seen it, this has to be one of the funniest commercials of all time. At least 15 years old, but still cracks me up:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lHUEC-8sHnc
Posted by: Wowbagger | November 20, 2008 5:12 PM
Considering the religulous are so keen on symbols it's funny that they haven't worked out it represents the impending collapse of christianity.
Posted by: Gavin | November 20, 2008 5:16 PM
I can only guess God didn't approve of the statue...
Such tacky religious kitsch anyway - I don't think anyone could argue that religion gives you good taste.
Posted by: Voltaire Kinison | November 20, 2008 5:25 PM
Do they have a patron saint for gravity?
Posted by: Sastra | November 20, 2008 5:31 PM
I guess I watched the video assuming the statue was very old, a piece of irreplaceable art, so I was actually dismayed when I saw it break. If it had been a nonreligious statue being moved in a museum, I'd feel the same way. But the weeping and wailing afterwards seemed a bit put-on to me, as if some of the people were trying to take advantage of the situation and display their sensitivity and piety for all to see and marvel at.
Posted by: spgreenlaw | November 20, 2008 5:36 PM
Norman Doering,
I got the same thing you did, which is odd because I'm typically an INFP. *shrug* Oh well, go us!
Posted by: Aphrodine | November 20, 2008 5:37 PM
I didn't laugh. As a waitress I learned the hard way that it is NOT funny when giant, expensive things fall off of serving trays.*
*I am single-handedly ensuring that the 'extremely expensive wine glass' companies stay in business.
Posted by: Rich Stage | November 20, 2008 5:38 PM
What I found particularly funny was the wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
It seemed so...biblical.
Posted by: Brad | November 20, 2008 5:52 PM
Saint Basil of Fawlty, I think. If not, we ought to start a write-in campaign to get him elected.
The Catholic church doesn't work that way? Well, how about getting the Jedi Knights to elect him then...
Posted by: TimN | November 20, 2008 6:00 PM
What we witnessed here was the invisible hand of god removing the invisible screws of god from very visible coffee table of god. Either that or they forgot the duct tape of god to keep that bitch on there.
Posted by: Wowbagger | November 20, 2008 6:04 PM
So, if someone sees a Jesus statue fall in the forest (and break) and no-one is there to see them see it, do they express grief?
I've always been a bit baffled by the amount of religiously-inspired grief people exhibit in situations like this - hair pulling, wailing etc. - and I agree; it's more to show other people than it is to express real feelings. Which reveals just how empty religious belief really is, since if there was a god, he'd know exactly how they felt without any outward shows of emotion.
Posted by: defectiverobot | November 20, 2008 6:09 PM
Idols with feet of clay, ey? What are the heads made of?
Posted by: recovering catholic | November 20, 2008 6:19 PM
@118
Whoa--what's with the abs on that little boy jesus???
Posted by: Adrienne | November 20, 2008 6:30 PM
I volunteer for a group that helps escort women's clinic patients past anti-abortion protesters (the so-called "Sidewalk counselors"). A couple of the protesters used to carry big crucifixes as they preached and harassed patients. One time, the plastic corpus of Jesus on the crucifix of one of the protesters fell off the cross to the ground and shattered. Everybody, protesters and clinic escorts alike, just spent a moment in total open-mouthed shock. Then we laughed. I don't think they did, though.
Posted by: Travis | November 20, 2008 6:43 PM
I couldn't really laugh, the wailing and crying and screaming drives me far too crazy. Maybe I'm just an angry person but whenever I hear that kind of overreaction I just want to scream at them to shut up and stop being such whiny idiots and actually do something.
Screaming and moaning rarely helps. Unless you are in bed with someone.
Posted by: Desert Son | November 20, 2008 6:49 PM
H.H. at # 106 (and Matt Heath, by extension):
Did you read through the comments? Some of them are the cherry on top of the ignorance sundae.
In defense of the comments section, however, were a decent number of posts pointing out the obvious: secularization of a society has nothing to do with the current economic struggle.
No kings,
Robert
Posted by: Ebo Tebo | November 20, 2008 6:55 PM
St. Alfonzo!!
Posted by: Bjørn Østman | November 20, 2008 7:03 PM
I am a very bad person. I laughed at this.
How can you not? Especially because people seems to be honestly scared. Was that piece of plaster supposed to embody some saint for real (for Catholics)?
Posted by: Mike | November 20, 2008 7:04 PM
I'll take the room in hell next to yours, cuz I laughed, too!
Posted by: LisaJ | November 20, 2008 7:07 PM
hahaha, that was hilarious! The funniest part was how horrified everyone sounded... give me a break. So funny.
Posted by: Rey Fox | November 20, 2008 7:10 PM
Not to mention how no one gets up and helps clean up the damn thing.
Posted by: Sastra | November 20, 2008 7:22 PM
Wowbagger #128 wrote:
"Oh, Edna -- I hope I did not distress you too much last Sunday when the blessed statue of St. Swithin broke. They said my cries of anguish pierced the very shield of heaven."
"Not at all, Margery. I heard nothing -- for I had fainted dead away."
"Fainted? Oh, I only wish I had had the good fortune to faint. No, I was there to see and witness the entire event. Every torturous moment is etched onto my memory, never to be forgotten. How lucky you were, to faint like that."
"Well ... it may have been a stroke, actually."
"A stroke?"
"Yes. Maybe. The doctors are very concerned, and said I must be watched."
"I had palpitations. From the screaming."
"No doubt. But not a stroke, I hope?"
"No. A miracle. All thanks to St. Swithin."
"Praise to St. Swithin."
Posted by: Nick Gotts | November 20, 2008 7:28 PM
Not to mention how no one gets up and helps clean up the damn thing.,/I> - Rey Fox
That would have shown a lack of faith - they were waiting for the bits to miraculously reassemble, and no-one liked to be the first to admit they weren't going to.
Posted by: H.H. | November 20, 2008 7:31 PM
Sastra, did you compose that yourself? Because it's damn funny and spot on.
Posted by: Sastra | November 20, 2008 7:35 PM
H.H.:
Yes, and thank you. Though it probably wasn't really St. Swithin.
Posted by: Mike Wedel | November 20, 2008 7:45 PM
Its Mary, notice the arm covering the boobs.
Posted by: blueelm | November 20, 2008 7:46 PM
I know it's funny, but I'm quite sensitive to sound so I actually feel really tense and upset by that video.
I feel bad for them. I really hate it when the mood gets broken :( Seriously.
BTW-- That blog link thing was fun. My blog came out so different than me though! I usually end up with INTJ for myself, but my blog is apparently an ISTP? Maybe I should try to post more.
Fun stuff though!
Posted by: Donnie B. | November 20, 2008 7:49 PM
My addition to #64's great list...
The fellow who sets the statue back on its feet looks down into the hollow neck, then yells, "My God! It's full of stars!", and disappears.
Posted by: Mark | November 20, 2008 7:53 PM
That fell and no one got hurt? Its a MIRACLE!
Posted by: MRL | November 20, 2008 8:22 PM
I guess I'm in the minority here, but...I felt bad for all those people. Misguided or no, it was their saint statue, it was harmless, and when it fell you could hear the dismay in those peoples' voices.
If something is important to someone, then it's a bad thing when it's destroyed. Even if that's the lesser of two evils (like, say, opposing the putting-up of a 10 Commandments monument), it's still sad when people are hurt, physically or otherwise.
Posted by: pmomma | November 20, 2008 8:24 PM
Me thinks someone dipped into the "by a saint that won't bust into a million fucking pieces fund". I can just picture it now. Little Billy and Betty have been peddaling chocolate bars for four years to by a solid gold icon that turns out to be a plaster pos from Walmart's Religious Icon's catalogue. Either than or the monks in Italy need to take a course in structural integrity.
Posted by: Adrienne | November 20, 2008 8:27 PM
I'm guessing it was St. Michael. It's a figure in a tunic standing on something with wings, which is a typical depiction of St. Michael..dressed in a tunic and standing on Satan.
Posted by: GT | November 20, 2008 8:27 PM
#56
Thank goodness it wasn't a cracker indeed, since the the church people waited more than 5 seconds to pick it up.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | November 20, 2008 8:59 PM
The blessed plaster icon could not transport itself? Where is the power of the almighty when you need him, like at an important ritual in its honor (and for the "edification" of the "elect").
And the response of the bearers after the fall; the meek, placatory gestures, the halting motions, the predictable fumbling at the pieces. Not to mention the audible horror of the faithful sounding the all-is-lost alarm.
Fail on all levels.
Posted by: H.H. | November 20, 2008 9:28 PM
Sastra, you should turn that snippet into a short story and submit it somewhere. Seriously, you have talent. While I and the rest of us here at ScienceBlogs are fortunate to be able to read your posts, you really do need to be writing for a larger audience. Ok, I'll stop prodding. I know you don't like it when I prod. But I mean it.
Posted by: John C. Randolph | November 20, 2008 10:26 PM
Isn't smashing idols something that Christians (and Jews and Muslims too, for that matter) are supposed to do?
-jcr
Posted by: Wowbagger | November 20, 2008 10:37 PM
Sounds like someone's got a case of the "s'posed to's"...
/Simpsons>
Posted by: Janine ID AKA The Lone Drinker | November 20, 2008 10:41 PM
Not as funny as Sarah Palin pardoning a turkey.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | November 20, 2008 11:01 PM
Cheap Plaster Saints is the name of my new band.
BTW . . .
Blog: ISTP
Me: {Restricted. Mr. Kellogg is not ready for that information.}
Posted by: Liz Garlick | November 20, 2008 11:10 PM
Is there a patron saint of klutzes? 'Cause man, those guys sure need to pray to him/her.
Posted by: Andy James | November 21, 2008 12:04 AM
Pop goes the paradigm!
Hahahahaha.
I love failblog for just this sort of thing.
Posted by: LisaJ | November 21, 2008 12:14 AM
Sastra, that was amazing. Absolutely hilarious and very impressive.
Posted by: Andrew | November 21, 2008 12:54 AM
I agree with #144. I have no time for religion but those people doubtless put a lot of time and effort into the ceremony. It's not funny to see the end result destroyed and people upset.
Posted by: Susan | November 21, 2008 2:42 AM
Then why did I laugh? Nothing quite says, "You people are wasting your fucking time" like an object of worship being shown to be nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Posted by: Ken Cope | November 21, 2008 3:04 AM
It reminded me of the bit from Ken 'nothing exceeds like excess' Russell's Tommy with Saint Marilyn. You'd have to skip past God on guitar to see the bit I'm thinking of that happens just before the end of the clip.
Posted by: antaresrichard | November 21, 2008 4:23 AM
You don't suppose that was Saint Donohue being ported? That would be rich.
Posted by: Cream pie | November 21, 2008 5:38 AM
I didn't laugh, but only because the sheer idiocy displayed by these people made me sick. Just look at their reaction - you'd think that an actual person got killed there, instead of there being some damage to a lifeless piece of junk they probably grabbed from the discount bin at Wal*Mart (assuming Wal*Mart has discount bins - I've never been to one).
I mean.. I know some religious people who believe in god and all that (my parents, for example), but none of them would ever be so mind-numbingly STUPID as to think that an object or a statue is ever more than an object or a statue.
As far as I'm concerned, these people could really benefit from some professional help, since they're quite clearly psychotic.
Posted by: Frederik Rosenkjær | November 21, 2008 6:13 AM
He's asking for it in the beginning of the video - "look, ma - no hands!".
I now believe in hybris as a metaphysical phenomenon. And yes, I did laugh though not entirely proud of it.
Posted by: Eclogite | November 21, 2008 7:41 AM
The audience freaking out was even funnier than watching St. Plaster take a header.
Posted by: (((Billy))) The Atheist | November 21, 2008 7:51 AM
That saint has now been martyred. Or remartyred. Or maybe the martyr just needs to be mortared. Or remortared. If they had displayed the real body, perhaps in rigor-martyrs, this would not have happened.
Obviously, I need coffee. Better yet, Cherry Coke.
Posted by: Jon H | November 21, 2008 7:54 AM
The screamers in the audience were just members of the SCA: Society for Catholic Anachronism.
Posted by: Thinker | November 21, 2008 8:05 AM
Here's advice for every Idol:
Yes, the crowd may all revere you,
But if they're not really near you
And just stand there, still and idle,
Stage-diving is suicidal!
Posted by: MH | November 21, 2008 8:08 AM
Sastra #139, I thought it was a homage to the classic The Four Yorkshiremen sketch.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HSQeMBzHR0o
Posted by: Santiago | November 21, 2008 8:44 AM
Gotta love the person that immediately took out his camera to nab the flash photo of the scene, my kind of thinking, that person has
Posted by: Magnifico | November 21, 2008 9:19 AM
And the statue was miraculously harmed.
Posted by: Mick McTi | November 21, 2008 11:20 AM
My gods! The statue moved on its own! It's a miracle! You all saw it didn't you, it jumped of the beer (or is that the bier?) all on it's own! We're all doomed! (Or is that saved?)
Posted by: khan | November 21, 2008 1:24 PM
St Julia?
Posted by: Adam C. | November 21, 2008 4:14 PM
In the unlikely event that this was a historical artefact of great artistic merit, that would be one thing. But those singers sound awfully American, so I'm betting it ain't.
Posted by: grinch | November 21, 2008 5:11 PM
Cool. Probably the closest a plaster statue will ever get to shedding real tears.
Secondly, you could just see the old codger who dropped it saying, "look mum, no hands".
The crowd reaction was priceless. I'll bet they were waiting for the lightning to smite them.
Posted by: Anomoose | November 21, 2008 5:12 PM
And nothing of value was lost...
Posted by: Ranger Jay | November 21, 2008 5:33 PM
We have the technology to rebuild him. Faster, stronger.
We'll call him, "The Six Million Dollar Jesus."
Give generously.
Posted by: Davey | November 21, 2008 10:01 PM
I feel bad for the old guy that lost his grip, but I LOL when the saint's head exploded. I've watched this a dozen times - always funny.
Posted by: Judy | November 22, 2008 12:38 PM
Nah, that was just a warning. If you all don't repent the entire church is going to fall down. hahahahhaha,
If I was the head priest, I would be telling everyone that god said that you don't each give $1000 each to the church, god is going to punish you, but only worse. That ought to get some money for the parish.
Anyone else have any falling plaster saint videos? If not, let's make some up and email them to every single religious blog and web sit in this country. They might get the point.
Hugs, Judy
Posted by: Karen | November 22, 2008 2:08 PM
I think that was Saint Murphy, demonstrating his Law.
And I laughed too.
Posted by: Medusa | November 22, 2008 6:26 PM
I guess some don't believe Newton, either.
Or was a divine force supposed to keep that thing in place?
I'm still laughing. . .I know, I'm evil, too.
Posted by: snakeinthegrass | November 23, 2008 4:41 PM
wait. is that Jesus? It looks like Lord Krsna, or someone more fem.; is it gay Jesus? it IS odd how people in the church keep gasping and whimpering and crying even after it's over. I've been an atheist for 40 years, but i have to say I don't find others' embarassments to be funny, regardless of their religious ridiculousness. I feel bad for the guy who dropped his end, but like everyone else here says, blame it on the person who's idea it was to have seniors carry the statue! My dad's best friend died, and the guy's son wouldn't allow dad to be a pallbearer at the funeral of that friend. And they had six guys carrying it! That was a senseless move on his son's part, but to have just four of them, and all of them old, carry this statue? Now THAT was senseless!
Posted by: Sean | November 24, 2008 8:57 AM
I laughed too. It's funny.
Less funny is the baying, exaggerated reaction of the commentators on this site. Those people in front nearly shat themselves; half the congregation probably didn't see whether someone had been it.
Lob a few firecrackers (or cheap life-size statues) into your next atheist / True Scientist / Mutual Admiration Society meeting--or even one of PZ's lectures, and see if everyone's calm and rational 38 seconds later. Also, at about 35 seconds, there's quite a bit of laughter.
It was a (cheap, plaster) statue of St George, by the way. Not that it'd be in any better shape if it had been marble.
God bless the Pope!
Sean
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | November 26, 2008 5:33 PM
Huzzah! I was cheering on the inevitable fall from the start.
The in-flight gasps and post-impact wails from the crowd were a nice bonus. And the two people in the front that threw up a stopping hand in vain -- the suit & the nun -- shame on them for not sacrificing life and limb for the plaster saint. To Hell with them!