Anyone ever shop at Gadzooks? It says "John 3:16" on their bags.

[skipos]

I bought a gift from Gadzooks at the mall the other day, and I just noticed that "John 3:16" is printed at the bottom of the bag. It doesn't bother me or anything, but what is the story on that?

[TheZoo]

1. John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

[npincus]

24. Oye Vey

[Larissa238]

2. Another place in LA does that

its a coffee/boba place, and they have some verse from Acts on the side of their cups.

[tocqueville]

3. it's the size of their johns

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

15. That's comedy gold, tocqueville! n/t

[Tatiana]

4. Dunno. Maybe advocating Christianity?

John 3:16 (New International Version)

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

[Fox Mulder]

5. It's bible crap.

That's what it is.

Look at John 3:16 in the christian bible if you want to know what it means.

If it were on my bag, I'd return it right away. But that's just me.

[rzemanfl]

6. They go to the john at the same time every afternoon? n/t

[TallahasseeGrannie]

7. Well, it's a private company

and not the government, so I guess they can print whatever they want on their bags.

[SW FL Dem]

9. and we have the right not to shop and companies that do this stuff n/t

[TallahasseeGrannie]

11. Absolutely

The beauty of free enterprise.

[skipos]

10. I am not saying they SHOULDN'T be able to print it.

I am just wondering what the story is on the store. It is such a generic clothing/trinkets mall-type store, I was just surprised by the Christian plug.

[Bloodblister Bob]

8. Origin of "Gadzooks" is "God's Hooks", the crucifixion nails. n/t

[TallahasseeGrannie]

Wow. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

Very interesting.

[catmother]

12. never heard of it but

i don't think i would shop there -- or if i did i would bring my own bag. i wouldn't want anyone seeing the bag thinking that i'm preaching the bible.

[skipos]

13. John 3:16 is kind of "hidden" at the bottom of the bag

Also, I should add that the clothes aren't exactly conservative or anything. I could see some finding them to be sort of "slutty." Hence, my surprise.

[ret5hd]

14. prostitutes are biblical, ya know...

just sayin...

[catmother]

17. did you ever notice how slutty

some of these so-called christian women look (tammy fae baker). i don't know their names but i've seen some of them on christian broadcasts. also i've met some that look that way. now i'm no longer a christian, but i was raised catholic and we were taught not to dress or wear makeup that could be construed as "seductive".

[skipos]

22. I think the excessive makeup that Fox News reporters use

makes them often look like pornstars.

[catmother]

23. yes. i know what you mean

and most of them have their lips puffed up with collagen.

[lostnfound]

27. I totally agree. nt

[TallahasseeGrannie]

26. Good Lord yes!

Although I have to say that I saw Tammy Bakker on TV recently, full make up, talking about her fight with cancer (she is probably dying) and I was, despite myself, impressed. She would NOT be kept down. Amazing woman.

But back to the crazy hair group. There is a channel on Dish TV called TBN and the hosts there are the wildest couple you ever saw. She has hair huger than Dolly Parton and half the time it is pail pink. It looks like cotton candy. Her husband (I guess..maybe just TV partner) is this old dude with an old time Elvis toupee, but kind of gray-blonde. Their set looks like it is straight from a whorehouse. Not that I've ever BEEN to a whorehouse, but it is all neo Victorian with gilt and curlie cues. They are absolutely fascinating. If I were younger I'd do doctoral research on those folks.

[sarcasmo]

16. Well I have not shopped their. Since you mentioned this I WILL NOT

shop their.

[niallmac]

19. Exactly. Why risk business offending those who disagree with you?

Wouldn't it be more to the point printing " Thanks for spending your money here but we feel people who aren't Christian suck" ?

[sarcasmo]

20. As an Atheist why would I shop at a place that posted Jesus jargon

on their bags.

[movie_girl99]

18. Forever XXI does it as well n/t

[Aimah]

25. Forever 21

Forever 21 bought Gadzooks in Feb of this year. Gadzooks was in Bankrupts

[justiceischeap]

21. My guess is the bag printer not necessarily the company

But I could be wrong. It could be the people who make the bags that are printing it on there. Could also be these companies are xstian owned but I doubt xstian owned companies would sell the clothes they do at these places.

[Aimah]

30. I know a Manager at a Forever 21

I'll ask.

[sepia_steel]

28. That's strange

when i was a teenager they sold some of the 'sluttiest' clothing in the entire mall. not counting Frederick's.

[liberalitch]

29. It's not obnoxious or anything

For god so loved the world that he gave his only son so that who so ever shall believe in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.

[Aimah]

31. Must Read- I think I have found your answer.

I did a a lil info search and came to this web site. It looks like there's a bigger picure than just John 3:16 on the bags. What you're looking for is in part of the 2nd paragraph




http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~hanj/2004/06/forever-21-garment-worker-center-and.html

[Nikia]

32. I am sort of suprised that it would be a "Christian" company

Considering their less than wholesome fashions. Where I grew up hasd a Christian pizza place. It played Christian music in the restaurant and had Bible verses on the pizza boxes. Although my parents thought that these people were overly zealous, it didn't stop them from ordering pizza from there. Personally, I am not offended by any positive expressions of religion, as opposed the stuff that people are going to hell or should die if they believe correctly.

[Aimah]

33. I didn't notice

I've shopped at Forever 21 but never noticed. I've never bought any of their bags. His religious preference doesn't bother me or even the fact that he puts John 3:16 on the bags. You can get the same bags they sell, at Rainbow, Rave or Dots that look about the same without John 3:16. I am a little worried about his factories though.

[readmoreoften]

34. So does Forever 21. I won't shop there.

And, yes, I know that they have a 'right' to print their religious beliefs on their bags in a sneaky fashion. I also have a right to buy religion-free clothing.

(I also prefer non slave-labor made clothes. I guess Jesus doesn't.)

[NMMNG]

35. I've never heard of them

But thanks for the heads up so if I come across them I'll know to steer clear.

[jmm]

36. Some times the companies you least suspect

are run by conservatives and fundies. I realized that one when I read about the owner of Urban Outfitters loves Bush and Santorum. Maybe Gadzooks is trying to preach to it's customers or maybe they didn't realize that was printed on the bag? If this has any effect on their business it will make them lose customers. I have been to their stores. It will not help convert people or draw in new customers.

[davepc]

37. Nobody remembers the guy who would hold up the signs at football games?

He name was Rollen Steward.

His sthickt became pop culture fodder.

In 1976, looking for a way to make his mark, Rollen conceived the idea of becoming famous by constantly popping up in the background of televised sporting events. Wearing a multicolored Afro wig (hence the nickname "Rainbow Man"), he'd carry a battery-powered TV to keep track of the cameras, wait for his moment, then jump into the frame, grinning and giving the thumbs-up. Rollen figured he'd be able to parlay his underground (OK, background) celebrity into a few lucrative TV gigs and retire rich. But except for one Budweiser commercial, it didn't happen.

Feeling depressed after the 1980 Super Bowl, he began watching a preacher on the TV in his hotel room and found Jesus. He began showing up at TV events wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "Jesus Saves"-type slogans and various Bible citations, most frequently John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," etc.). Later accompanied by his wife, a fellow Christian he married in the mid-80s, he spent all his time traveling to sports events around the country, lived in his car, and subsisted on savings and donations. He guesses he was seen at more than a thousand events all told.

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971107.html

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_186.html