Proposed Cross (& cell phone tower) Causes Controversy

[The Straight Story]

Proposed Cross Causes Controversy
Giant Cross Has Some Neighbors Seeing Red


A cell phone cross is erected at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando in 2003.
LONGWOOD, Fla. -- A Central Florida church wants to erect a 130-foot cross behind its sanctuary, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel.

IMAGES: Cross-Shaped Cell Towers VIDEO: Some Oppose Proposal

Rolling Hills Moravian Church hopes to build the cross, which doubles as a cell-phone tower, as a source of income.

Over the years, cross-shaped cell-phone towers have popped up outside other churches, such as New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando and Silver Star Christian Church in Pine Hills.

By leasing the space for the cell-phone tower, churches can receive more than $1,000 a month to help their local ministries.

The decision to erect the 130-foot cross in Longwood, however, has been met with opposition. Some residents in the area believe the giant cross could be an eyesore, causing property values to plummet.

http://www.clickorlando.com/technology/23855998/detail.html

Maybe now I can call Jesus up. Putting my hands together and praying is sooooo last century ;)

[Chulanowa]

1. How... tawdry

I mean, you know, more power to them I guess, but... Just seems kind of cheap, turning your religion's holy symbol into a utilitarian chunk of metal, for a profit.

[donco6]

2. Rather have it on their land than in some national park or city hillside.

We have them everywhere here.

But heaven forbid we should have an Anubis statue at DIA announcing a King Tut exhibit.

[The Straight Story]

4. Well, if they had a Jesus one at DIA not sure people would like that either (nt)

[donco6]

6. Au contraire - seeing their own dead guy gives them comfort.

Seeing other dead gods makes them upset.

[The Straight Story]

9. And the reverse is true - people who would not complain about an Egyptian Deity would about

a Christian one - and proceed to explain how it was hurting them, making them feel oppressed, etc and so on.

[donco6]

10. Well, since the christian deity is all about oppressing, I suppose that's true.

When I'm oppressed by Anubis, I'll complain about him.

[emulatorloo]

11. It is not the Christian diety per se that is all about oppressing. The wingnut republican types

just give it their special spin.

[donco6]

13. Well, now there's a debate for the religion forum.

But for our purposes here, let's just say I see a difference between Christian crosses on public land and statues of Anubis in an airport.

[The Straight Story]

12. Hunh. I thought all religion was bad and symbols of it oppressed everyone who saw them? (nt)

[donco6]

14. Experientially, a gay man in America probably associates a cross with oppression -

- far more often than any other symbol. And for good reason. So, going back to the original point, it's far preferable for particularly CHRISTIAN symbols to be relegated to their own private property where my tax dollars don't have to support and maintain it.

[NightWatcher]

3. I like the big ass palm tree cell tower

but I have seen tasteful cell towers that look like church bells

[brendan120678]

5. In my area they look more like this...

Obviously a palm tree would be out of place in the North East.

[NightWatcher]

8. what cell tower?

hahaha.

There are a thousand things to get pissed at these days, so I dont fault a church for making a few bucks from leasing out a cell tower

[blondeatlast]

15. I hate 'em--but then again, I hate the idea of palm trees in the Arizona desert anyway..

I do like the idea of putting the towers in church steeples, though. Whether one is okay with religion or not, it's good camo--and the churches aren't going anywhere.

[Ezlivin]

7. Church wants to profit from technology, yet doesn't trust science

Allow them to erect it but only under the condition that every church member take and pass a class on evolutionary biology and planetary meteorology.

[AnArmyVeteran]

16. It's like churches are prostituting out Jesus...

Jesus has become nothing but a hooker to his church pimps. Someone to make money off of. Sickening how materialistic most churches are.

Religion is organized insanity...

[MattBaggins]

17. How about one in the shape of a giant penis