In the world of fashion, fads and trends are as numerous as sneakers in Nike’s factories or split ends in Don King’s hair. For as long as humans have roamed the earth, fashion and religion were treated as the colonial church and state separate. Today, however, religious signs and symbols are viewed on a daily basis. Whether it is via media through artists, actors, or athletes or on college campuses in the form of Christian T-shirts, rosaries, or crucifixes.
The diamonds, the chains, the bracelets, the charms-es
I thought my Jesus piece was so harmless – Kanye West
The truth is many people feel compelled to display their faith through shirts, crosses, or even tattoos, but many individuals feel it should be actions and not scriptures and symbols that are shown. “I really don’t think that wearing rosaries is something to play with”, said senior mass communications major Drew Williams, “People wouldn’t wear a yamaka or a taqiyah on their head like the Jews and Muslims do, because they know they take that serious.” Senior early childhood education major Rochelle Holloway echoed those sentiments stating, “You can’t wear these things and not walk that walk. I’m Catholic so I feel Jesus shouldn’t just be a symbol or a trend. He should be something real.”
However, when it comes to wearing religious symbols for one’s own personal reasons many feel it should be acceptable. Jay Simpson a kinesiology major from Kingwood College says, “Some people have their own reasons. They don’t see it as some religious folks do but it means something different to them.” Whitney Hutchins, a sophomore education major agreed with Simpson stating, “It means something apparently and they’re going to do what they want to do. I personally think you can wear it for style.”
Wearing it for style versus religious practice has most people shaking their heads. Emeka Smalls a devout Catholic and a graduate student studying business administration disagrees while referencing the past meaning. “It’s a prayer behind the rosary and people don’t truly understand that,” said Smalls, “they need to look up the history and then decide on how they feel about it.”
I spent a bundle on a cross because I’m spiritual – Lil Wayne
Profits, revenue, and net worth are the bottom line when it comes to business, but are some companies taking it too far by pushing Jesus in the stores? “If they’re giving back to the community and church then that’s fine, but if not, I don’t agree with it”, said Smalls. Many urban companies are pushing the religious products without standing behind the religious stances. Jones says, “I don’t really have a problem if they are doing something positive with some of the profit.” Other students, such as Vann, totally supported hustles even if they included religious mantras. “Shirts are good because they promote curiosity about Christianity and I don’t have a problem with people making a profit from their ideas”, said Vann.
-False like the way we merchandise His act on the cross
Man waters it down and exploits it for cost – Sho Baraka
Minister and Christian rap artists like da T.R.U.T.H. see the popularity of Christ as insincere. “Pop culture is fascinated with Jesus Christ”, said da T.R.U.T.H., “everything is oriented with Christ except their lifestyles. They have the clothing, wrist bands, films, He is on Time magazine, in paintings, figurines, and all other forms you could think of but the carnality of the world is becoming worse and worse.” Da T.R.U.T.H. believes people want that religious feel without the rules and regulations that come with being a true follower. “There is no way Jesus could be in an entire culture like ours and people still be so worldly unless they section Him off and place Him in His place. Sectioning Him off could be praying and reading just on Sunday, gospel found only in the back on the last row in the store, BET Awards having a “praise and worship” toward the end of the show giving God His time then it’s back to the fun.”
-I got the Jesus on the chain man that don’t mean s***
Cause when the Jesus pieces can’t bring me peace- Kanye West
At the end of the day, it seems that many students realize that a shirt or tattoo or rosary does not inch you closer to God, but your walk and life does. Pastor Orin Boyd, Jr. sees the whole situation as a pie and wheel. “People compartmentalize God and just sit Him on the side by giving Him a slice of their life. What people don’t realize is that He should be like the hub in the middle of the wheel that controls everything. The spokes are finances, who you hang with, what you wear, where you go, shouldn’t be able to move without interacting with that hub or the center of the wheel, GOD.” Boyd sees the mainstream push of Jesus Christ stripping away the purity of the message. “The world is seeing these things as the cool thing to do instead of a sacred thing. They are making Jesus common by taking away the sanctity of the Savior and making everything “religious” and non-genuine. The Israelites had all the symbols of God, but didn’t follow His rules and live by His principles. What that leads to is a disconnect from the true God and they got a watered down, worldly version of the God and implemented rules they wanted.”
When it comes to Jesus in fashion, many ideologies, theologies, and barbershop talk will be taken into question, but I think one thing will remain true: Jeremiah 17:9-10 – The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart to examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his DEEDS deserve.