Wal-Mart Gets Religious - Toys, That Is

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News/USA Today

Wal-Mart is about to bring religion to the toy aisle.

Early next month, 425 Wal-Mart stores nationwide will begin carrying faith-based toys from One2believe that target parents who would rather that their kids play with a Samson action figure than a Spider-Man action figure.

It's the first time the world's largest retailer has carried a full line of religious toys. "We're seeing interest from parents in faith-enriching toys," says Melissa O'Brien, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

Religious products have become a multibillion-dollar business, and the toy move comes as it targets a younger audience. Fox recently created FoxFaith, a 20th Century Fox unit to distribute family movies with Christian themes. In January, Universal Pictures will release The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - A VeggieTales Movie, based on the spiritual characters by Big Idea.

But until now, most faith-based toys have sold successfully only in specialty religious stores, not at mass-market retailers, warns Jim Silver, editor of Toy Wishes magazine. "Once children turn 4, parents tend to get them what they want. And right now, kids are asking for Transformers."


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/IndustryInfo/story?id=3380924&page=1

[AndreaCG]

1. As long as they don't stop selling secular toys

I have no problem with it. They're private industry not the government.

I still won't shop therre though.

[Deja Q]

2. FOX? The same broadcast network that airs quite the opposite form of entertainment?

This is too much! :rofl:


Sorry. The base idea isn't wrong, but I find it amusing that the people who'll show all sorts of filth because it's profitable now sell virtue because it's seen as profitable.

Still, mass marketing principle - cater to everyone.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Yup

The Fox conglomerate intends to remain this country's principle source of half-truths, outright lies and other such filth.

[Dollface]

9. Its not just amusing, its Capitalism!

I get it, its a profit deal...

[Zhade]

32. If Jesus existed, would he have cared for religion being *sold* in any form?

Even this nonbeliever remembers a tale or two in the mythos that showed the opposite.

[Dr.Phool]

28. Coming soon on cable channel 13.

The Fox Superstition Network.

[noonwitch]

4. The Samson figure could be interesting

I'm sure Delilah is sold separately. Does he come with adjustable hair lengths and removable eyes? (Samson didn't have a happily ever after)

[bleedingheart]

6. or Mary Magdalene and all her customers...

and then for fun they can set up a mini stoning where Jesus comes to the rescue...

[DBoon]

8. Salome and John The Baptist

with a detachable head for John

[bleedingheart]

10. oh the possibilities...Judith and Holofernes (also with detachable head)

[bleedingheart]

11. Solomon and Sheba (he has a push button and will recite erotic poetry)

[LiberalFighter]

39. Will they have water turn into wine?

[johnlal]

24. Maybe A bare-assed drunk passed-out Noah

Genesis 9:20

[Zhade]

33. With Passing-Out Action!!!

NT!

[LiberalFighter]

38. And just a loin cloth

[bleedingheart]

5. I can't wait for the Lot and his Family Action figures

Lot's wife can be assembled with table salt...

and then there are his daughters who have sex with their dad (after they get him drunk) when they realize that with all the men gone...they won't be able to have any kids...

"One day the older daughter said to her sister, "There isn’t a man anywhere in this entire area for us to marry. And our father will soon be too old to have children. Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will sleep with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father." So that night they got him drunk, and the older daughter went in and slept with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
"The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, "I slept with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him. That way our family line will be preserved." So that night they got him drunk again, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again. So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father." (Genesis 19:23-25, 30-36 , NLT)
"
http://www.biblestudy.org/question/was-lot-alcoholic.html

this site says that it was noble that the girls wanted to preserve the family line...but they went about it the wrong way...bwahahaha

[Sequoia]

16. Oh, sure he didn't know. He probably told them he was the only guy around.

Where was God, and where was his uncle Abraham if he cared so much about him?

What cosmic weapon could make a person's body stiff and white?

[denverbill]

19. "but they went about it the wrong way".

Well, I'm not sure about the wrong way part. But there was no condemnation of this in the Bible. In fact, the children conceived this way became the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites. You would've expected some horrible fate to befall them instead of being leaders of significant tribes.

I think the lessons we can take away from this are:
1) incest is ok.
2) getting someone drunk and taking sexual advantage of them is ok.
3) drinking to the point of obliviousness is ok.
4) sex outside of marriage and with multiple partners is ok.

Oddly enough, God utterly destroyed two entire cities for being sexually depraved. Don't know why he let this one slide. Maybe he was on smoke break or passed out drunk at the time.

[bleedingheart]

21. it's all in the rationalization...

what is even funnier is that this is one of those parts of the bible that the religous folks like to skip over really quick so people don't start to question..."hey what's up with this"...

[hatrack]

7. If so, I sure hope they'll be selling this one!

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/jesus.php

[bleedingheart]

12. that was hysterical...I have to order them all..

hee hee hee..

[PittPoliSci]

34. LOL!

that made my day, thanks!

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Faith-enriching? Guess for some that trumps basic education in things such as democracy/the 3 Rs

Will there soon be Crusade Pajamas available at "Roll-Back Prices!", too?

Wal-mart! A store I NEVER enter! Used to, then learned, read, learned more, and chose to not give them my business ever again.

However, here in our very small rural CA Central Valley town, there are more cars in the WallyWorld parking lot at any time than there are cars on the streets.

...mine is not one of those in that lot...

[TlalocW]

14. This is news?

In college, some friends and I were at Walmart late one night, and we ventured into the toy aisle, and there were some "religious action figures" that had been taken out of the package. One of us, the devout atheist, picked some up (Moses and the Pharaoh) and did a five minute re-telling of the related story but with a Kung-Fu theme. We just sat down and laughed our asses off while he did that. It was amazing.

We also noted on another package, that the manufacturers had misspelled, "Philistine," which we thought deliciously ironic.

TlalocW

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. There's nothing new under the sun

In the nineteenth century in America, many homes forbid children for playing with their toys on the Sabbeth. The only thing allowed was a Noah's Ark, complete with animals.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

17. Fave alternate Walmart taglines:

A Celebration of Mediocrity!

ALWAYS! child labor!

ALWAYS! outsourced!

ALWAYS! hidden costs!

Feel Fat? Visit us for a self-esteem boost!

Don't get me started about the Fox ass clowns . . .

[DBoon]

20. Will they sell Catholic holy cards?

nt

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Reason 255 for not giving a dime to Wal-Mart.

[shenmue]

22. "Faith-enriching toys"

That says a lot.

:puke:

Anyone whose faith is so weak that it could actually be enriched by a plastic toy needs professional help.

:dunce:

Are these parents mind-control zombies anyway?

[RamboLiberal]

23. Here's the line of toys

Messengers of faith-speak scripture: Jesus, Esther, David, Mary, Moses, Noah, Peter, Paul.

Spirit Warriors: Goliath, Sampson

Tales of Glory: Various bible scenes.

And P31 dolls which are girl figures that: P31 are a new exclusive collection of high-quality dolls, based on the biblical teaching of Proverbs 31. P31 dolls were specifically designed to provide a Bible-based, Christian alternative to other secular toys on the market, and to encourage young girls to pursue biblical womanhood.

We currently have three different P31 dolls: Abigail, Elisabeth and Leah.

It is our prayer that the Lord would use these dolls as a means to encourage the girls of today to become Proverbs 31 women of tomorrow!

For instance Abigail: Abigail stands 18 inches tall, has beautiful brown eyes, long red hair, and a contemporary outfit. Abigail comes with an accessory kit, containing a Bible lesson (based on Proverbs 31:20), two cookie-cutters, a cookie recipe, and a list of exciting activities. The activities are sure to be tons of fun for any young girl! It is our prayer that the Lord would use these dolls as a means to encourage the girls of today to become Proverbs 31 women of tomorrow! For ages 3+ (All the dolls come with the same accessories).

Bet none of them are in the work force!

http://store.messengersoffaith.net/ - The site calls it the Battle of the Toy Box.

[geomon666]

25. Can't wait for the Cain and Abel playset.

Abel cowering at the sacrificial alter and Cain (with karate chop action) menacingly standing over him. It's going to be fucking sweet.

[Akoto]

26. This made me think of Rod and Tod from the Simpsons.

"Look, daddy! It's Jesus, with resurrection action! Yay!"

[tanyev]

27. Bet the specialty religious stores are not happy about this.

Tsk, tsk.

[guitar man]

29. cool

are they going to have these??

[superconnected]

30. every move this country makes toward institutional christianity scares me.

Don't get me wrong, any faith would bug me if they did this.

I hate it because it will warp americas already warped intolerant minds.

Watch many Christians only shop at Walmart now because it's a "Christian" based store.

[Zhade]

31. Well, why not? Toystores are the home of make-believe, after all.

Toys from other popular myths (Spider-Man, Lord of the Rings) are stocked, why not these? No one's forced to buy (or buy into) a Jesus with kung-fu action grip.

I do suspect they won't sell nearly as well as the toys based on more recent popular mythology, though - when you've got a kickass McFarlane Sin City fig, who wants a "Resurrection Playset"? Just not as fun.

[Cheap_Trick]

35. Jesus!

With kung-fu grip.

[SayWhatYo]

37. heh

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

36. Spider-Man has much higher morals than Samson in my book. -nt

[regnaD kciN]

40. I'm just waiting for the Joshua action figure...

Thrill as your children get a sound moral education by re-enacting the cherem* of Jericho! :puke:

*cherem: ritual extermination of all residents of the city -- men, women, children, infants, even all animals and livestock. (Everybody knows the story of how the Israelite trumpets brought the walls of Jericho down; few bother reading about the genocide that immediately followed.)

[Fire Walk With Me]

41. Will they be displayed next to the guns and ammunition?

[Alexander]

42. Time for some BIBLE ACTION FIGURES!

Try the new Jesus Kung Fu grip!

[Javaman]

43. Fully pose-able action Jesus!

Watch his hands bleed!

With fully pose-able action Jesus, you can make him walk on water, because he floats!

With new "touchable hair", fully pose-able action Jesus has a life-like full head of flowing hair and beard!

Act now and get the Fully pose-able action Jesus accessory set, which includes, "goo" balm to heal the leapers (non-eatable), a wrath of god cloak to ban the money changers and if you act now, you will get a complete crucification set with plastic nails!!(for ages 9 and older)

Get yours now before the rapture gets you!

[jmowreader]

44. They're just NOW starting to do this?

As we speak, Wal-Mart is the largest Christian bookseller in America, and with good reason: they're open on Sunday.

Locally-owned Christian bookstores have a huge customer base. You go into one, and everyone on the staff is a committed Christian--but, at the same time, every small Christian bookstore has a sign on the wall: "Closed on the Sabbath to give thanks." When's the logical time to sell Christian materials? On Sunday, right after church, when everyone's all pumped up with the Holy Spirit. That's when most people want the stuff, and that's when the Christian bookstores are not open. So you go over to Wal-Mart, where the only thing the "inspirational reading" clerk knows how to do is to follow the planogram, and you buy your stuff there. This is a category where Wal-Mart doesn't even have to try the cutthroat tactics they employ on every other line of merchants in America. All they need do is to be open when their customers are ready to buy...unlike the small stores who, in trying to separate God from mammon, close on the one day of the week most of their sales would be made.

Wal-Mart will also be smarter about this than the other mass-market retailers. If you're going to sell religious toys you DON'T put them back with the other toys. You put them next to the Bibles, so the kids don't see the Spider-Man toys next to the Jesus toys. Wal-Mart has a special department that's only religious stuff. That's where the Jesus toys will go.