Although I’m a little behind on posting this, it’s quite timely for all of us enjoying our new year’s calendars. Whereas most of us are content with the usual furry kittens, turn-of-the-century photography and artistic landscapes, a German youth group attempted to one-up everybody with their 2006 erotic Bible scenes calendar.
As coincidence would have it, I was originally tipped-off to this story shortly before my wife and I left for a two week holiday to Germany (including a trip through Nuremberg where this youth group is located). I had planned to visit this Lutheran church and find out more, but it never worked out.
It turns out the idea raised a lot of money and a lot of attention. From a nude Eve holding an apple, to a nude Delilah cutting Samson’s hair, the calendar is certainly outrageous. Given the context of European sexuality, I am not entirely sure the calendar would have been as big of a deal had it not garnered worldwide attention.
In any case, I’d definitely chalk this one up as marketing that sucks.
glenn
January 7, 2006
That calendar is stupid and so are the people who made it.
corey
January 7, 2006
Have you ever been in that place where your mind (and tongue) are bulging at the seams, overflowing with the desire to say… SOMETHING… but no discernable- much less, valuable- collection of words answers the calling?
Yeah. I’m there.
Dave
January 8, 2006
Not sure if you’re aware, but the article link on this post actually shows a nude shot of one of the calendar pages.
I’m not here to say whether you should remove the link I’m just letting you know in case you missed it.
Aaron Cavanaugh
January 8, 2006
Hi,
I can’t say I see too much wrong here. If anything. There are some questions to be raised. Personally breasts don’t bother me. In some cultures it is quite normal. I only saw the two pictures on the blog. If they are tasteful and the pictures do not cause you to sin then they are OK.
Thanks. God Bless.
Aaron.
Casper
January 10, 2006
I’d also say this is the type of marketing of the Church that sucks. Mainly as it just polarises the liberal and conservative, rather than getting any dialogue going about the gospel. I bet there’s about 4000 men, young and old, worldwide not thinking about being more Christlike thanks to their yearly planner.
Whilst I don’t know anywhere in the bible that it says anything direct about the followers of Christ getting their kit off, I do know that (to paraphrase Christ) “if your calendar causes you to sin, cut it up and throw it away.” Also if there’s any dishonour in nakedness it seems to fall on the onlooker, eg. David oggling Bathsheba or Noah’s drunken nudie run. That said bared buttock’s were a shame to Assyria’s Egyptian captives.
Really I think it’s a pretty weak attempt at marketing. But a damn fine attempt at making money. I bet they were sitting around watching Calendar Girls and thought, “I reckon if we did that we could raise enough money to fix the church roof.”
Just shows that one of the dogma’s of marketing works in church too – Sex sells.
Michael Daehn
January 10, 2006
If you go to the BBC link on the story there are no buff shots. There are also links to other church buff fundraisers in in the UK. There seems to be a streak of these lately (-;
Conservative Culture
January 12, 2006
German “Youth Group???” Calendar
Incredible but true. A German “youth group” wanted to raise money. Great. Lots of youth group do a variety of things to raise funds, like work or volunteer so that money earned by their labor go for a worthwhile project.
Too much work ri…
Mark
January 16, 2006
Apparently nobody seems to remember the purpose of apparel. Certainly not the youth group. Genesis certainly gives the reason God gave man a covering because of sin. Something the youth group is aware of because they were able to market to the basic human nature.
Adam
January 20, 2006
When Jesus said to share the good news of his salvation with the world, I don’t think having young Christian girls posing nude as the prostitute Rahab in calendars to be passed out to her peers, is exactly what he had in mind.
Neil
February 6, 2006
“Let no one look down on you because you are young, but be an example to the beleivers in speech, life, love, faith and PURITY” 1 Tim 4:12 As a brand specialist who advises churches, I encourage living and promoting authenticity and values. Nude youth group calanders is exactly the kind of example that destroys equity in the Body of Christ worldwide. Better to invest in building equity of the local church in the local community… and hope that other churches in your community aren’t this stupid.