To make a long story short, no, no they don’t. And I’m going to tell you why.
Since my first steps into the convention scene, I’ve been vexed by the consistent religious protesters who have lined up rain or shine to spew their negative “Repent or Burn in Hell” message to the innocent masses of…COSPLAYERS?! That’s right folks, because dressing up as Mario or Lupin the III gives you a one way ticket for divine wrath in Hell.
Now, I’m not so naive to believe that every cosplayer is as innocent as the lovable Mario or as delightfully charismatic as the great Lupin. Yes, you have your sexual deviants who enjoy the occasional romp through the con halls as sexy cat girl #786 and you’ll sometimes see a little too much hairy, male ass cheek from those provocative latex shorts.
But seriously…fire and brimstone? Really? REALLY?
I recently spent an incredibly fun weekend at Fanime, San Jose’s best Anime convention, and in my opinion one of the best cons I’ve ever attended. However, I was sadly witness to yet another ridiculous display of idiocy from not only the Christian protesters outside the grounds, but from an actual cosplayer dressed as Jesus. Yes, we all thought it was worth a giggle when we first saw him. He gave you the buddy Christ thumbs up and a goofy grin when taking his picture. Then, after about two days, the joke got old. It got even older when he faced the protesters himself in an attempt to cause a scene and gain a little bit of Interwebz Cosplay Celebrity status.
Whatever his true motive, what he’s really done is proven to these religious nuts that their cause is justified. That standing there, angry sign in hand, screaming at cosplayers as they pass by, is really necessary and above all righteous in nature. His small act of getting himself attention has just solidified their minds all the more. As Tim and Eric would say, “Great job!”
What these religious extremists are doing is trying to judge and condemn an otherwise innocent and fun-loving crowd of fans. Fans who have most likely spent more time improving their craft in sewing than improving their skills in murder. Fans who probably enjoy raids on a Saturday night in WoW with their friends and not sacrificing small animals in their basements to the almighty Manos (whoever gets that reference, kudos to you). It would seem to me that their message is falling on deaf ears. In fact, many of my Christian cosplayer friends are embarrassed by these moronic acts because it does not accurately represent what Christianity should truly mean. These protesters are grossly misinformed on the very subjects they’re protesting! In short they’re wasting their time. But no one is ever going to convince them of that. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to try. Double damned! (Haha, did you see what I did there? I’m double damned cause I’m a cosplayer and…oh forget it)
The day I attend a large Anime convention without freakishly tall banners combined with freakishly obsessed religious dingle-berries telling me that being a fan of Anime or Video Games is a sin will be a great day. Until then, I just don’t get it.
In fact, I’m glad I don’t. If I did, I’d probably be the one holding the sign.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:04 am
I was looking at a few videos from the event, and I think it was more of a parody by members of Anonymous to promote their Scientology protests. But even if it wasn’t. I don’t see any legitimate reason why Christians should be protesting anime conventions (out of all things). I understand SF’s city hall, and the gay marriage issue, but that’s a different story.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:46 am
A friend of mine was confronted while voting a few months back because she was wearing a Harry Potter shirt. The woman told her that “witches burn in hell”.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I manage to avoid these protests and large protesting crowds whenever possible at conventions in fear that I may approach them and give them a slight verbal bashing. I chalk it up to them not being worth a minute of my time. So I totally agree with you…things like this absolutely do not belong at conventions where people gather to share a common love and hobby.
Were the men there to protest AGAINST the convention or just anime in general? I saw some videos on Youtube but couldn’t really grasp much of what they were saying other than “HE IS YOUR FATHER” or something along those lines.
As for the Jesus cosplayer…congrats to him…he just won a life-long membership into Epic Faildom.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:59 am
^^ It probalby falls under they “if we don’t get it, it’s wrong” category that the brain-washing sects of Christianity sometimes fall into.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hey, I always tell people that are like this that if I live a good life, don’t go around murdering people and otherwise am a good person, if there is a God that sends me to Hell for eternity for very esoteric and meaningless reasons, then I would rather BE in Hell, and I’ll be the best “demon” I can be- because in such a scenario, that would mean that that God is evil, plain and simple.
I LOVE discussing religion, in an intellectual and philosophical manner. One of my biggest pet peeves in life, however, is when other people (most often in the U.S. it is far-right Christians) try to FORCE their religion or morality off onto you, and tell you you’re wrong in your choice. My core belief is that everyone alive finds the religion or spirituality that they need in this lifetime- which might include being atheist or worshiping a Holy Spork. The concept of “religion lottery”- and that only one is “right” for salvation- is a non-starter for me.
As to the protesters, there is not one canon of morality- what you find moral, is not necessarily what I find moral- and neither of us has the authority to choose which is the true morality.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ah the good old I have no solid point in my argument so I will belittle others to make myself feel better act. That’s how I see these “protests” when they pop up. I always think that it is funny they go with the “You will burn!” comments when their bible straight up tells them to love and accept everyone. But what do I know right?
I do wish that people would just ignore them when they are out in mass though. Paying attention is just empowering them to think they are actually doing something. The better bash to them, over the good old verbal one, is to make them think that no one cares but their small group. Unfortunately, humans never think that way and find it funny to make a satire out of what they are doing, as was the case with the Jesus guy. Just fuels their fire more.
But again, what do I know?
June 19th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Actually, I believe that Jesus cosplayer is a regular at several cons (especially on the west coast) and began taking part as kid of a joke. He’s actually doing “Buddy Jesus” (from Kevin Smith’s Dogma) and I’ve seen a number of similar cosplays at cons over the years.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Cosplayers, homosexuals trying to legalize their bond of love together, women wanting to have an abortion to prevent bringing another child into the world to go neglected or even worse ….
No matter where you stand on the issue, my point is this: If it isn’t directly affecting you then why complain? Why should a book that was written (by who knows who) thousands of years ago dictate everything that we do today?
Not too long ago black Americans were told they couldn’t drink from the same water fountains. Not too long ago, women were not allowed to vote or to speak their minds. Just a few years ago, Vanilla Ice was a popular rapper.
Times change! People change, beliefs change and what is right and wrong in our society changes based on societial needs.
I respect anyone and their choice of religion. I’m never one to tell someone to NOT believe in something. Personally, I believe SOMETHING is above us. We would be silly to think we just popped here when everything in life states there is always a creator of something. That being said, you don’t see me going to Church every Sunday and protesting what THEY do.
I really think that these people need to get a hobby. Maybe, just maybe, if they read their books and memorized the part where it says “thou shalt not throw stones” they might learn a thing or two.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
^ You got something against Ice Ice Baby?
June 19th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I haven’t yet seen any of the protesters here in Seattle, but I agree with Britt here. WTH? WHY? Seriously, why protest ppl dressing up as there fave character from an anime or movie. I don’t see anything wrong with that at all. Dressing up has nothing to do with religion at all in my book. I just think these ppl were never got the attention they wanted in school and they seek attention that they never had, so they protest to get the attention that way.
>.< All I have to say is that there are some wacky religious folk out there. aka Tom Cruise and Madonna
lol
Becky I agree with the you too, that “thou shalt not throw stones”, I know that when I went to church that you don't judge ppl for there hobbies or the way they have fun. Unless it had to do with kicking puppies or somthing along those lines.
>.<
June 19th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
lolz.
Now I’ve never been to an anime con (one of these days I’ll get on the bandwagon, I promise) so I’ve never had the priviledge of watchign the religious fanatics try and “save” the “sinners”
This is a sight I have to see.
Most cosplayers I know are intelligent, well rounded and damn hard working people. These sorts of fundamentalists only serve to highlight whata closed mind can do to people. Now dont get me wrong - we havea right to protest and a right to support/condemn whatever we please in this country and I’m happy I can say that, however this sort of religious r-tartedness only makes their faith look horrible.
Go go religious zealots!!! you persicute those innocent school girls!!
/facepalm.
Thanks for the good read though!
June 19th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Leon Bacud:
“I was looking at a few videos from the event, and I think it was more of a parody by members of Anonymous to promote their Scientology protests. ”
I was present to the majority of this particular protest and it definitely wasn’t Anonymous based. The Guy Fawkes masked dancers were there Rick Rolling people all over the place and sought this opportunity to get in front of the camera. (If indeed that is the video you are referencing).
Miragel:
I could not agree with you more. Acting like an ass on behalf of your religion only serves to make you look like…well…an ass!
Moe:
From what I could tell from their screams, they were there simply to “save” us from ourselves. So rather than look into the anime, video games, manga, sci-fi genre, that we’re there for, they’d rather judge us and tell us that reading Harry Potter will damn us for all eternity.
Last time I checked, it was God who gave the almighty judgment, not we mortal humans on earth. But what do I know?
June 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Wow, I haven’t seen a protest yet at an east coast con. Oh boy…
Join the Jenova’s Witnesses!
June 19th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
These people really can’t be reasoned with. Yes, you could remind people of the “let he who is without sin throw the first stone” clause in the Bible, but these people believe that they are without sin, and everyone who is not just like them is a heretic.
And then there’s the problem with the statement “I don’t force my beliefs on other people, and neither should you.” That statement is non-sequitur, because it enforces one’s beliefs that they should not enforce their beliefs on others while simultaneously enforcing them. Yeah.
So I say, let people air their own controversial opinions out in the open, so they can be condemned as necessary. (And this religious protest is certainly condemnable.) Live and let live.
June 20th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Thankfully I’ve never seen protests at any of the east coast cons I’ve attended. It is very upsetting to me when people lose sight of our Bill of Rights. Besides that, I also don’t see how Battle Angel Alita or Mystique costumes mean that anyone doesn’t have faith. Ignoring those people is the best way to handle it, imo. Giving them attention only fuels them and makes them feel successful at “getting to you.”
June 21st, 2008 at 7:11 am
From what you saw, do you think they were protesting BECAUSE they believe people who play games and watch anime or wicked (or whatever?) Or just because conventions draw a large crowd, and they generally go where ever the crowds are (like downtown cities?)
Just wondering. I’ve never seen a religious protest at a con and it weirds me out just thinking about it!
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
hi everyone. i was the “idiot” in the jesus costume.
while in hindsight i believe i could have approached that in a much different fashion, i did not do it to attain any interwebs fame. i did it in an attempt to stop the spewing forth of hatred that those protestors presented. it was done in satyrical fashion and brought comedic value. this is said to have fueled their flames, but in honesty what doesnt fuel their flames. they cannont be argued with, hate brings only more hate, and they were using the name of christ to promote. i just thought what better to do than provide a stand in christ if you will to attach a face to their claimes, a happy grinning, benevolent face. i found that it worked. the state of the overall crowd shifted from angry to cheerful, from ready to attack back to making fun of the fiasco. now call me what you will but i stand behind my decision to do what i did. i dont consider myself overtly religious but i have read the bible multiple times and i was able to give out a re-assuring new testament message of love to turn around their old testament punishment and brimstone. feel free to contact me- jesus (matt)
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Good on you Matt! Thank you for coming by to clear things up. While I understand why people might think it’s egging them on… I agree with keeping it all light hearted is probably a good move. Very funny.