Drive south from Columbus, Ohio on Interstate 71. About halfway to Cincinnati, on the east side of the highway, check for the following sign out in the middle of a corn field.
And if that thought doesn’t just shake your bones, once you get to Cincinnati, head north on Interstate 75. Brace yourself as you get to Exit 29, the Monroe Exit. Immediately after the porn shop signs and flea markets, look on the east side of the freeway for Butter Jesus. And brace yourself…
Although both of these are a bit much to believe for a born Jew, now UU, they are truly shocking and maybe just a bit absurd.
I know I’ve asked this question before in this blog, but what kind of religion is this???
Certainly not about peace and good works.
20 responses so far ↓
Sophmom // November 28, 2006 at 1:41 pm |
Good grief! I thought for sure that was some post-Katrina picture when I first looked at it. LOL. They have a similarly postured Jesus statue at Loyola New Orleans. They call him “Touchdown Jesus”. Still, he’s just a regular sized statue in an appropriate spot, and he came through the storm just fine. *sigh*
Neal Watzman // November 29, 2006 at 4:11 am |
My son reminded me that this guy might also be called Touchdown Jesus as well as Butter Jesus. I think he also suggested Field Goal Jesus or Goal Post Jesus.
Jeff Ventura // February 16, 2007 at 9:14 pm |
What kind of religion is this, you ask?
Same old Christianity, Neal. First-century mythic imagery alive and well in the 21st century in the most powerful and scientifically-advanced country on the globe.
I’ll stop here and let the irony sink in.
Erin Rafferty // May 23, 2007 at 2:35 pm |
The best part about the “Hell is Real” sign is that it’s right across the highway from an erotica superstore. I know they did it on purpose, but it’s still fantastic. I’m just curious if anyone knows the name of the store…
Neal Watzman // May 23, 2007 at 4:59 pm |
Erin,
I don’t believe there is any kind of adult bookstore near there, although it might be at an exit close. The sign is on the east side of I-71 in southern Ohio.
More Hell « Notes From Neal // July 10, 2007 at 2:51 pm |
[...] 8th, 2007 One of the articles that gets the most view on this blog is called Hell is Real, which doesn’t reflect my religious values as much as it does show some rather interesting [...]
Jonny Unlimited // October 23, 2007 at 3:45 pm |
It’s sad, really. I live about 10 minutes from the big ass butter statue, or as we all call him “Touchdown Jesus!”. Ironically, right down the road is a redneck-as-it-gets flea market.
We’re still thinking about fashioning some huge paper mache breasts for him.
.
Neal Watzman // October 23, 2007 at 4:55 pm |
Now Jonny, that would be profane.
yg // October 27, 2007 at 11:03 pm |
im from columbus ohio and i attended central state university and i had to drive past these signs every time i would get on the freeway to drive home or to go back to school…i think that it is a good message but definitely not while your driving
Neal Watzman // October 28, 2007 at 7:18 am |
Thanks for the comments, yg. I also frequently drive between Cincinnati (my home) and Columbus. That sign certainly gets our attention, although it’s just not a message that fits into my view of the world.
I respect and value each person’s religion and beliefs, it’s just that it gets offensive when it’s shoved on other people.
Christopher Allen // November 13, 2007 at 1:04 pm |
It isn’t that they are shoving it in people’s faces – it’s that they believe that it is real – as I do, and fear for those who don’t. Because once this life is over, they’ll be no convincing God to protect you if you didn’t ask him to while you’re here. It won’t matter whose opinion is what, or who offends who; what will matter is whether or not you were right. And if you’re not, then that’s it: end of hope.
Neal Watzman // November 13, 2007 at 1:13 pm |
Christopher, that’s where we diverge. As you state, the idea of hell being real is a belief. A belief is not fact, although it certainly might be a reality for the believer. There are those of us who do not believe in hell, nor belief that a God would send anyone there.
These are beliefs. And we all need to understand and respect that others might believe differently.
mandoliner // March 22, 2008 at 4:17 pm |
Hell is inconsistent with the message of Jesus. But everyone has a belief system that is consistent with their ability to understand. So, Christians vary all over the board regarding whether or not “Hell is Real.”
Jesus tells us that God, the perfect father, loves and forgives us, as a perfect father. There are some parents who can’t forgive their children. But the love of a perfect parent is so perfect that, like the Prodigal Father, all is forgiven by the power of love. But for those who can’t quite appreciate or know perfect love, there is this persistent belief in Hell.
Pomeranianzdad // August 15, 2008 at 9:33 am |
Actually, hell IS real. I lived through it until the divorce came through.
In all seriousness, the concept of fire and brimstone to coerce a faith by fear is folly. Hell exists in various forms right here, right now. Fortunately, so does heaven. The laughter of a baby, the comfort of being in the arms of a loved one, the satisfaction of reading a really good book, the serenity that comes only by watching the sun set over a body of water on a cloudless day, etc. Who really needs some “pie in the sky in the sweet by and by” to experience something truly good, something holy?
As Max von Sydrow’s character said in “Hannah and Her Sisters”: “If Jesus came back and saw everything going on in his name, he’d never stop throwing up.”
Neal Watzman // August 16, 2008 at 8:23 am |
Pomeranianzdad, you are so right! We make our own heaven or hell right here at this time. Who’s to say what happens when our physical body dies?
I also agree with you about Jesus. What a poor testament religion is to his teachings of peace and love.
cacklinrose // September 20, 2008 at 7:01 pm |
LOL! I know those signs and I know that Jesus (we call him Jebus and we all yell, “I got it! I got it! I got it!” a la a fielder when we drive past.).
Those “Hell is Real” signs scared the scrap out of me when I was a kid, but not as much as “The End is Nigh!!!” would. I wouldn’t sleep for days after seeing one of those.
yayhooray // October 5, 2008 at 2:19 pm |
It’s things like this that make me ashamed to be an Ohioan…
Neal Watzman // October 5, 2008 at 6:33 pm |
I don’t feel ashamed to be an Ohioan, yayhooray. I’ve lived here since I was 10, although I grew up in West Virginia. And am proud to be from there.
I don’t know that it has anything to do with the state itself, it’s just that, like most places in our country, there are people with narrow minds.
dust buster // December 30, 2008 at 11:17 am |
there is also a “Hell is Real” sign off the Upton, KY exit.
and it is ironic because there is an adult bookstore right off the same exit with the sign high in there air.
Mike M // December 5, 2009 at 10:37 pm |
Goal Post Jesus is not a “sign!”
it is a HUGE statue!!!
Other names:
Oleo Lord
Cheesus!!!