"Only You Can Stop It Now"

Through this blog, we have come to realize that a religious artifact can be almost anything and be almost anywhere. Religious artifacts can also be used to address issues in the world. Viewing problems from a religious point of view serves to either find a reason for why they are happening or to figure out why they are wrong.

I was with a bunch of friends recently in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We were heading back to Lincoln Center after spending some time at a market. Half of the area's interest comes from the buildings alone, simply because of the graffiti they have on them. What caught my eye specifically was this:

This cross, outlined with roses, is separated into seven squares. Each section has a skeleton crucified on a cross wearing a robe and a crown of thorns. Two small angels hold on to the end of two chains that fall from the nails pinning the skeleton's hands to the cross. The main focus of the artifact is what is printed in the sections. Each square had something different. Starting from the top and going downward from left to right, they read:

• STOP THE WARS
• (Some Number) IRAQ CIVILIANS DEAD
• ONLY YOU CAN STOP IT NOW
• 8000 DEAD SOLDIERS
• WAKE UP AMERICA
• CORPORATE GREED TRILLIONS
• MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

It's main point, "ONLY YOU CAN STOP IT NOW" is printed right in the center of the cross and circled with a heart. There is a great sense of urgency to these caps-locked messages. It outlines the awful things that America's war with Iraq has resulted in and, although it doesn't say it directly, its made to let us know that there is not much time left to end it all.

What makes this a religious artifact is obviously the way it is presenting its message. It is set up as a cross and the background is a crucifixion. This is used as a way to show why these things should be stopped. These are all sins, and America is spiraling downhill because of the sins we are committing. This made me think about our talk about pre-millennialism and post-millennialism. With all of the negative messages, it can be mistaken that this is all coming from a pre-millennial point of view. All of these things act as proof that America is getting worst and that Christ will be coming soon. It is hard to ignore, though, the artifact's real message; we still have an opportunity to fix this. It is this message that turns it more towards post-millennialism.

Because of the artifact's message and the urgency it presented it with, I immediately thought about Falwell's Listen, America!. Falwell believed that America is heading down the wrong path, but also thought that there will be a small amount of time where, if we take the opportunity, we can fix ourselves and prepare properly for Christ's return. The amount of time we will get to fix things is short, and if we do not take that opportunity there will be no turning back. That is why Falwell stresses his statement so much. We need to be aware of when to save ourselves, and I think this artifact is stressing the same thing. To save America in the eyes of God, we have to put an end to our war and greed soon. Only we can stop this now.