Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Be in the world only a little different...


(Above picture is one of the buttons Jon Acuff gave away at Catalyst this year.)

Some may read this post and say themselves (or to me directly if they're Nick), "Hey! She's totally ripping off friend and spiritual sarcasm guru Jon Acuff of Stuff Christians Like!" (Whose book is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com, btw.)

Okay, maybe...but not really. I like to think of this post as more of "Sky Mall - The Spiritual Edition." Sorry/You're welcome.

If we are to be in the world but not of the world, would someone please tell me why Christian marketers try so hard to imitate every popular secular trend? Case in point:



Guitar Praise:
From the creators of the hit game Dance Praise comes Guitar Praise! You can grab the guitar and play along with some of Christian music's top bands. Pretend you're right there on stage with your favorite bands as you handle the guitar controller and play the notes they're playing.

Who needs that rock and roll devil music when you can rock out with G-O-D? (Yeah, you know me.) Also: The hit game Dance Praise? I must have missed that one.



Sunday School Musical:
This school has all the right moves! Two competing groups of high school students must rally together and enter a song and dance competition in order to save their youth center from closing. Featuring a hot 21 songs, Sunday School Musical is wholesome family entertainment with an inspirational message!

If your tween daughter keeps nagging you to see High School Musical but you just don't want to go there, give her this instead. Her friends will understand.

"But katdish, we have little ones! Do you have any wholesome movies that sort of look like a Disney production without all the vile language?" Why yes. Yes I do:



The Kingdom Under the Sea:

Who needs Finding Nemo when you can have this wholesome edition? Okay, so maybe don't take this reviewer's word for it:

Much more frightening than "Nemo". Purchased it as I thought it would not frighten my grandchildren. Barely into it and we had to turn it off all three stories. The scenes were even frightening for me! Visuals that I am still trying to forget! The Humpty Dumpty was demonic, maybe realistic to Satan but children below ages 11 to 12 shouldn't view it if they want to sleep at night. I was extremely disappointed in this product and would like to return it, otherwise it will end up in the dumpster.

Okay, so there's other movies....

They don't even apologize for such a blatent rip off of someone else's idea! (BTW - Sorry, Jon.) I understand that imitation is supposed to be the highest form of flattery, but COME ON! This is more like, "This is like the secular version, but much better for you." Gaa! Stop it, already!

There's so much more folks. But since I'll be pretty busy over the next few weeks, I thought I would make this a short post and drag this on for at least two more blog posts.

Again, sorry/you're welcome...

14 comments:

Joanna said...

Or then there is this. http://orders.koorong.com/search/details.jhtml?code=698368119191

Blatant Cars ripoff and a cheesy name. What more could you want?

Annie K said...

Oy...vey....

Andrea said...

Just dropped by to say HI and thanks for your comments on my blogs.
andrea

Nick the Geek said...

First, why you gotta be ripping Jon off like that? For shame ... for shame (said very slowly with a slight head shake to let you know just how disappointed I really am).

Second,
Praise Hero is a good idea in theory. I have wrestled with having guitar hero or Rock Band in the Youth group. I want to allow it but have you seen the graphics? Not appropriate for the church. Where Praise Hero Fails, in my opinion, is in being too limited in the songs and platform (it is only available on computer). I think if there was a game with some Christian songs, but also some fun classic songs that aren't filthy and some modern songs that aren't filthy, and reasonably dressed performers on screen with graphics that don't feel generally evil that was supported on regular game platforms then I'd buy that game and let my youth play.

Finally don't get me started on Christian movies ... something about being similar to porn movies ... yeah you are welcome for the visits that statement will bring.

Jeff Selph said...

I think I hate all products from the Christian subculture, except for the music. Either I'm cheesy, or it's gotten cooler (I think it's the latter).

And I agree with Nick's take on Christian movies. The acting is probably pornworthy.

Helen said...

I don't know, Kat.....
Sunday School Musical definitely sounds like something I could really get into. But not scary fish.

Elizabeth @claritychaos said...

are these products for real?? honestly? too funny.

jasonS said...

Wait.a.minute. Are you telling me that ripping ideas from other people and making them "Christian" is not the very definition of relevance? You have totally blown me away!

I think maybe some do this with good intentions, but many more are only trying to cash in. I wouldn't go so far as to assume that the makers & marketers of these products are themselves Christian. I think it's a "see a niche, milk a niche of all their money" sort of thing...

Tony C said...

How do Nick and Jewda know Christian movies are like porn? What point of reference are they using?

Bow chicka wow wow...

JML said...

You are amazing. Why don't people get this? Shouldn't we be the most creative? The best, etc? I can't stand christian rip-off garbage; it depresses me. It just shows that we have NOTHING appealing to offer the world, so we'll just get as close to it as possible.

Anonymous said...

Love the down with O.P.P. reference, haha.

Did someone sanctify that track with a G.O.D. version?

katdish said...

Laz -

Surely you've seen the mega blockbuster hit Sister Act, Part II! Yeah. They went there.

Beth said...

Dude. I was cracking up at creepy Humpty Dumpty sitting in the corner of the video cover...

I await part deux!

Anonymous said...

heya, just fyi - kingdom under the sea is one of the few exceptions to the point of this post (which i totally agree with!). pixar didn't announce finding nemo until 2001, but by that time kingdom under the sea had already released two videos. i have no idea what that humpty dumpty is all about though!