It’s rarely dipicted in statues, but Jesus was beaten and whipped with a scourge, a sort of whip with various metals and claws and other such things to rip and pierce skin. I love how, to a catholic, these statues represent ultimate love, while others may see them simply as gore.

I love the fact that Jesus, a man nailed to a cross, is a common thing to see in homes or around the necks of devotees, and represents the ultimate form of love. We are all likely desensitized by this imagine, but imagine never seeing a statue of Christ. It would be startling.

The thorn of crowns, INRI (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) are things made to mock him. He’s brutalized, forced to carry his cross (the cross is literally a torture method) and is crucified, then lanced to be sure he had died. Catholicism is fascinating to me, objectively.

You don’t need to be religious to be interested in the stories told in religious text. Many are truly strange and astounding, and have inspired me endlessly. Remove all the evils humans have projected onto religion to weaponize it and you can appreciate the core of it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. For me, religious figures and things are so comforting. I don’t practice Catholicism, but I love the belief that someone loved you so much that they endured all of this- whether true or not- the concept, the story, is comforting to me.

I was raised Catholic- not casually, my family is religious to the point where my mother has traveled to Israel three times on a holy expedition as well as Rome and Prague, where much of my childhood was spent at a church or on religious retreats.

It hurt me in many ways growing up, but I’ve shaken away the things mankind created to weaponize the religion, and I’m left with just a sense of comfort and inspiration. I collect many statues & art/use symbolism in my art bc of this, not for the aesthetic. It’s dear to my heart.

I think, even if you’re not religious, the story of Jesus is still relatable. It’s relatable to me more than ever now. If you love someone, you’ll suffer for them. Well It’s a big part of who I am. I don’t talk about it bc it just doesn’t come up. The statues inspired me to share

Oh btw, the Bible was written a century after Jesus died and was basically just twisted several times to control people with fear. Stories of Jesus are always benevolent. He was a healer, a forgiver, a preacher of peace and unity. -

Only with the newest pope has this been acknowledged straight up. I could go off about it but I’ll spare y’all. My point is the Bible is a demented retelling of the story and is used to control people. The story of Jesus is benevolent and I love that.