Beginning in mid-August roughly 425 Wal-Mart stores will be selling a faith-based toy line in their preschool aisle. The line includes Ester, Moses, Noah, Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and more. This is being billed as the first time Wal-Mart has offered a full line of faith-based toys. For a thorough article, click here.
Okay, can we quit saying faith-based people? What you mean to say is Christian toys. If I can’t buy a Kali action figure with kung fu grips, your line isn’t faith-based, it’s Judeo Christian based. A visit to one2believe’s, the company making the toys, website makes the Christ in faith-based pretty darn evident. To see the whole line of toys, click here.
What my readers may find amusing is that I don’t actually have a problem with Wal-Mart selling these. I mean, why not? My problem will be when I find out they WON’T carry my Kali action figure. I’m telling you, I could make some serious money with a Kali action figure! My other problem is that the same people that are okay with little Billy learning about Jesus by chewing and drooling on his plastic head probably weren’t okay with this. I love Buddy Christ. I love the movie “Dogma”. For that matter, I love Kevin Smith. Where was I? Oh yes, outrage and such.
I believe Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, made a fun, bitchy, and true comment in the Canada.com story. “Isn’t religion the one who is always claiming that everybody is so materialistic? And now we’re marketing Jesus dolls.” Johnson showed amazing restraint since in that same article one2believe’s founder David Socha said, “What’s nice is that they’re real as opposed to other superheroes that are out there.” I can’t believe the president of American Atheists didn’t take the obvious shot there. Maybe she didn’t know he said it. Let me help her out here. Um, real? To an Atheist, um, not real. To a Hindu, not real. To a Buddhist, not real. To a Pagan, Wiccan, or Druid, not real. Congrats there Socha, they’re real only to those who use the Old and/or New Testament of the Bible.
So here’s the deal Wal-Mart. I don’t mind you carrying “faith-based” toys, but if I find out you’re opting not to carry other “faith-based” toys, or that your salespeople are ramming them down customers throats in an attempt to “spread the word”, I’ll be back. And when I come back, it won’t be the Buddy Christ, it will be Kali (with kung fu grips!).
Category: Products
Product Profile: Little Hippie Chick Creations
Little Hippie Chick Creations
I am lucky enough to live in the mountains of Northern California, surrounded by Ash, Oak and Bays. Inspiration here is boundless. I find it lying on the ground. You can bet that when you get your hair comb from me, it was just a few days before, a mossy old log. I enjoy making all my creations from 100% salvaged material. I never buy any of my wood.
I make beautiful, earthy, natural art for women. I say all women are beautiful…Naturally! My combs are inspired by every woman I meet. They are functional, tough and beautiful-just like women! I really like the thought that I am not just making hair ornaments-I am making heirlooms. These are definitely something you can wear and love everyday and then pass them along. I believe in the spirit of women.
It is a bond we all share and that is timeless. When I am working, that’s what I think about. Inside every one of us is a Goddess! I feel it is my job to remind women about that. My Grandpa would say you carve away everything that did not look like an Indian; I say you carve away until the spirit shows. Then you sand it smooth and make it glow!
To learn more, visit: www.myspace.com/themakerofbeautifulthings or email theshopgoddess@yahoo.com.
Product Profile: Mission Studios
Inspired Sculptures from Mission Studios
We have traveled around the world, inspired by what humans have created in celebration of God.
In our travels we have collected sculptures that were representative of various faith traditions. These pieces were the original inspiration for our interfaith catalog. We delighted in the variety of these many cultures, but mostly we were touched by the common threads of Divine Guidance and Compassion evident in so–called primitive art as well as masterpieces.
Combining our various artistic and technical skills, we developed Mission Studios’ growing collection of fine sculptures. We start each sculpture at a larger size and then miniaturize them with an invention we received in prayer. The final pieces are then individually cast by hand, antiqued and polished, by our family of artisans in Oregon.
Our ivory substitute is warm to the touch and very durable, it is also environmentally friendly. Our sculptures, like fine ivory, should be protected from direct heat and sunlight. They can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Try adding a drop of aromatic oil on the porous backs!
We wish that our museum quality sculptures will serve as daily reminders of Divine Love in a world that may sometimes seem overwhelming. We are grateful for this opportunity!
Blessings,
Ann, Robin and Paul
Visit our web gallery of photos and stories at www.inspiredsculptures.com
Email ann@inspiredsculptures.com
For retail purchases, please click here
Product Profile: Moonlit Creations
MoonLit Creations is a designer of beautiful hand-made jewelry in the spirit of the natural world. While these stunning pieces would make a great gift for anyone, they are inspired by Pagan, Wiccan and Mystical traditions and concepts. Expert craftsmanship, gorgeous stones and precise and ornate wire-work go into every piece. Bless yourself or a loved one, with an entirely unique, hand-made work of art that will help awaken the natural awareness within.
www.moonlitcreations.etsy.com
www.myspace.com/moonlitcreations
Product Profile: Vitaminds
Vitaminds® is an apothecary style gift container filled with 30 daily motivational messages, printed on durable, laminated key-tags. Vitaminds® was created to inspire and motivate people, and encourage them to be conscious, and aware of their internal dialog on a daily basis.
Each container of Vitaminds® contains 30 motivational messages, a month’s supply, printed on durable, laminated key-tags. The messages on each key-tag are concealed with a removable-adhesive sticker to maintain the integrity of the “one Vitamind® per day” philosophy. Once the sticker is removed and the message is read, it can then be saved on your key chain for inspiration throughout the day, month, or year! Each key-tag is part of a numbered Vitaminds® volume. The whole set can be saved on a key chain, or put back in the reusable, decorative container for future reference.
To learn where you can find Vitaminds, contact them here (info@vitaminds.com) or go to their web site at www.vitaminds.com
Product Profile: 2am Altars
2am Altars
Altars that are artwork.
My friend Stu at 2am Altars has done it again. We featured Stu’s beautiful hand crafted altars in our very first issue of The Magical Buffet. His altars are truly pieces of art! Well, now he has managed to capture my heart again with these adorable Fairy doors!
All doors come with door handles. It may take 2-3 weeks for you to get your doors, as they are not made until ordered. Each door comes with a tag telling its story. Colors of stain and wood grain may vary. Doors do not open. The doors are approximately 9 inches tall and are $32 dollars each. Shipping is a flat $6.00 to anywhere in the continental USA. In my opinion, it’s a small price to pay to make the fey in your life feel at home!
To see all the cool stuff Stu creates, visit: www.2amaltars.com
Product Profile: Moon Tides, Soul Passages
Product Profile: The Hermetic Tarot
Product Profile: Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism
How are alchemy, astrology, magic, and numerology related to Jewish mysticism? The fabulous, miraculous, and mysterious are all explored in this comprehensive reference to Jewish esotericism-the first of its kind!
From amulets and angels to the zodiac and zombies, the Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism features over one thousand alphabetical entries. Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis offers a much-needed culmination of Jewish occult teachings that includes significant stories, mythical figures, practices, and ritual objects. Spanning the Bible, the Midrash, Kabbalah, and other mystical branches of Judaism, this well-researched text is meant to trigger insight, spark inspiration, and illuminate one of the oldest esoteric traditions still alive today.
This title releases from Llewellyn in January of 2007. To see more of Llewellyn’s products or to place orders visit: www.llewellyn.com
