Marines reject Jesus doll

The 2006 version of the "war on Christmas" is heating up. According to the Associated Press, One2believe donated 4,000 talking Jesus dolls to the Toys for Tots. I'm sure One2believe was acting from charity. They had 4,000 dolls that they could sell to the faithful for $49.95 + $14 S&L, so they selflessly donated the evangelical action figures as "toys" for underprivileged children. I am sure that the fact that Jesus spouts Christian dogma had nothing to do with their decision. 

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again" - the talking Jesus doll

One2believe's vision statement is "Teach 10 Million Children 50 Bible Stories by 2007".  Their promotional video tells the real story  - "The real motivation of the dolls is to teach and share the gospel to children."

Factoid - David, of David and goliath, has kung fu grip.

Now call me a skeptic,  but... One2believe seems to have seized on an opportunity to spread their faith by exploiting direct access to children through a well known secular organization. Is this ethical? Is this something to be proud of?

At least the Marine Corps has the good sense to reject these toys.

Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va.

As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."

Source: Pantograph.com - Toys for Tots rejects talking Jesus doll

I found this story via a fellow Atheist blogger.

The Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program was setup by a religious-based company that sells talking Jesus dolls, among other biblical figures. They tried to “donate” 4000 of these dolls to the Toys for Tots program and Toys for Tots declined the donation...

Source: Buridan's Ass - The Toys for Tots setup

And via an email link to another blog.

I’m all, “Semper Fidelis!” right now.

According to the L.A. Times, the Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program acted in favor of the state and rejected a group’s attempt to push religion.

Source: durante vita » Blog Archive » Church: 0; State: 1

Technorati tags: War on Christmas, Marines, fundies, evangelicals, jesus doll, one2believe, toys for tots