MSNBC - "Passion" pendant proves popular: "A particularly popular item is a pendant fashioned from a single nail made of pewter and attached to a leather strap, say officials of Bob Siemon Designs, which is licensed by Gibson's Icon Productions to produce jewelry tied to the film. The pendants represent the nails used in the film to fasten Christ to the cross.

"This thing has turned into this kind of overnight phenomenon that we can't believe," Siemon said. He said his staff is working 10- to 14-hour shifts six days a week to keep Christian bookstores supplied with the pendants, crucifixes and other items."

This has kind of taken my breath away. Sort of like the a$$holes who were selling card decks with the faces of liberal leaders (in the spirit of the decks used to hunt down Saddam and his guys). And he is working extra hours to keep the Christian mega stores packed with more of this shite.

Well, it may not be a happy meal, but it is certainly Hollywood as usual. I think they call it synergy, or some such term, but it sickens me. If Christians were serious about this being a spiritual movie, they would rise up and oppose this crap. Any bets?

Update Here is a story about brisk sales of Passion related material. I feel nauseous. Not terribly surprised, but definately not good. I guess there is a part of me that wants to believe that the Christian community is better than this, somehow above some of the stupid mass-consumption that seems to dominate the rest of American life. Instead we have McDonalds at churches and bookstores and coffeeshops inside "church campuses" doing brisk sales. All of it, undoubtedly to further the kingdom of God, right? Maybe we can hand out "pewter nail pendants" to the homeless or ship them to third world markets? Why not have an ad campaign with Jesus on the cross telling people what to buy?

And why not? Really? Our President's reaction to 9-11 was to tell people to shop more. Why wouldn't a depiction of what everyone refers to as the "Greatest Story ever Told" inspire similar impulses. And here is the kicker: those buying "pewter nail pendants" see that purchase as something different than when they buy the Scooby Doo figure at Hastings. They see it as a religious or spiritual act. Bully.

Pass!