Michael Belk's modern Jesus photographs

Personally, I don't much care about Jesus, and I don't much care about kitsch, so that's two counts against the pictures. Nice lighting though.

Msolga -- I too thought the second photo was interesting. I'd love to know what book the guard (?) is reading since Jesus seems to be the only one interested in it.

Why he has the rifle, I don't know. But he doesn't look at all threatening, or as if he'd even consider using it.

I believe they were all shot in Italy and the "Jesus" is Italian.

I agree that many of the images are sugary but I think they're well executed, in an interview Belk said "Jesus didn't come to found a religion, he came to deliver a message" and that's what he's trying to show.

There's some interesting commentary about the Nazi photo around the net: would Jesus, a Jew, forgive the Nazis?

Is Jesus armed or did he disarm the soldier?

But shouldn't we use some discretion as to what we portray and how we portray it when every day a growing number of extremists are committing acts of aggression, hate and terror toward a people? Do we want to fuel that violence? This is how propaganda begins. Thanks for reading.

This is anti-Semitic and careless. Even if it can be interpreted as Jesus disarming or reasoning with the Nazi officer it is irresponsible to publish such material. It's imagery could ignite more than controversy. It could spark hatred of the very people Jesus came to and those of His own human lineage--the Jews. Have we not had enough of this throughout history? Art is thought provoking and our right to freedom of speech is inclusive of all forms of expression, a right we fight to protect. But shouldn't we use some discretion as to what we portray and how we portray it when every day a growing number of extremists are committing acts of aggression, hate and terror toward a people? Do we want to fuel that violence? This is how propaganda begins. Thanks for reading.