My best friend is Lutheran and she told me when Jesus was born, the Three Wise Men visited him and they brought as gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Myrrh? To a baby shower? I guess Mary was very polite about it: ‘Myrrh. How—lovely. You can never have enough—myrrh. Couldn’t they have brought something we need—like a cradle? Jesus Christ! Hey, that’s what I’ll name him—it’s much better than Jeff!’

more:

Then Joseph and Mary would throw parties. ‘Who’s coming? The Wisemans! They always bring bad gifts. I hope they follow the wrong star and get lost. Bad mood—bad mood! Of course I’m in a bad mood. I haven’t had sex—EVER!’

If they had just said “It is commercializing a sacred moment of our faith – and we want to object to that,” it would have been less…stupid. I think.

As for the ad – meh.

nailinmyeye on December 21, 2007 at 5:08 PM

I think you missed the point of AP’s entire quote!

Seriously, though, wasn’t the point of the Magi story that they recognized Jesus’s divinity and acknowledged it as best they could? And Jesus, being Jesus, was grateful for the gesture? The idea that he would have sniffed at gifts that were less than kingly seems … what’s the word I’m looking for? Stupid, let’s say.

Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:27 PM

I believe he was talking about the ad itself, not the criticism of it.

[p.s. be sure and let us know when your baptism is scheduled]

Seriously:

[Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:27 PM]

Yes, and

[Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:39 PM]

yes. That’s pretty much why I didn’t like this ad whereas I didn’t mind the Italian bottled water (or whatever manufacturer’s product) ad that was posted on several days ago.

How about following with Mohammad giving his nine year old bride some of their stuff as a wedding gift and she tosses it?
Only two comments before the first Islam comparison? That’s a new record, I think.
Who’ll be the first to say, “Notice, the Catholics and Anglicans aren’t burning down embassies because of it”? True enough. Thanks, Anglicans and Catholics.
Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:29 PM

Well, I saw the ad and my first thought was about how Buddhism warns that desire causes suffering. A little Buddhist insight wouldn’t hurt even fundamentalist Christians during the festival of the commercial Santa Claus.

Yeah, although this gets us into the debate of whether Jesus’s capacities were roughly the same as a mortal man (aside from the occasional raising of the dead) or whether he had a little extra divine nuance working for him from the beginning.

Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:39 PM

Not trolling for extra comments now, are we? Nope didn’t think so. I could bite…but I won’t.

if Jesus was an infant it doesn’t seem that he was giving any thumbs up for any gift since he was, an infant.

There’s no certainty on his age when the “wise men” visited. There is a range of 41 days to 2 years. A child of 18 months or so would certainly be capable of rejecting a gift. “No” is a common word for children of that age!

Suggesting that Jesus would know the difference between brass and gold at such an age is rather silly, so I don’t see how the “worthiness” of the gifts should be factored in.

… what’s the word I’m looking for? Stupid, let’s say.

Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:27 PM

Yep – that’s a good word for it.

If they had just said “It is commercializing a sacred moment of our faith – and we want to object to that,” it would have been less…stupid. I think.

As for the ad – meh.

Who’ll be the first to say, “Notice, the Catholics and Anglicans aren’t burning down embassies because of it”? True enough. Thanks, Anglicans and Catholics.

Allahpundit on December 21, 2007 at 4:29 PM

Just to be on the safe side, maybe we should destroy every electronics store in Australia. In case Little Baby Jesus (thank you, Ricky Bobby) is offended.

That ad is great, and I wish I had thought of it.

I’ll say it. Then I’ll go step on a Koran. ‘Cause that’s how I roll.

mjk on December 21, 2007 at 4:34 PM

You’re just an Everyday Normal Guy, mjk.

I don’t mean to argue with you or Rowan, but if Jesus was an infant it doesn’t seem that he was giving any thumbs up for any gift since he was, an infant.

Yeah, although this gets us into the debate of whether Jesus’s capacities were roughly the same as a mortal man (aside from the occasional raising of the dead) or whether he had a little extra divine nuance working for him from the beginning.

I don’t mean to argue with you or Rowan, but if Jesus was an infant it doesn’t seem that he was giving any thumbs up for any gift since he was, an infant.

The funny take on this is Life of Brian when they drop the gifts off to the wrong stable and then come back to get them.

“The gifts that the wise men were giving were appropriate for a king, so the notion that Jesus would reject them is absurd,” Dr Davies said.

Yes, as a newborn The Christ-child was very discerning, indeed. Meh.

Who’ll be the first to say, “Notice, the Catholics and Anglicans aren’t burning down embassies because of it”? True enough. Thanks, Anglicans and Catholics.

I’ll say it. Then I’ll go step on a Koran. ‘Cause that’s how I roll.

How about following with Mohammad giving his nine year old bride some of their stuff as a wedding gift and she tosses it?

Only two comments before the first Islam comparison? That’s a new record, I think.

Who’ll be the first to say, “Notice, the Catholics and Anglicans aren’t burning down embassies because of it”? True enough. Thanks, Anglicans and Catholics.