I know these people. I was raised in a church that did things like use kids to lure people into the park for a free concert. There'd be a half hour of a group singing pop music, then the audience would be clobbered with a fundamentalist sermon, ending with an alter call. We'd be turned loose in shopping malls, beaches and neighborhoods to hand out pamphlets and give witness. Even as a child, I was so conflicted and humiliated. On some level, I think I understood that it was wrong to bend people to my church's will. It all makes me cringe to think back on it. This is powerful stuff! Deep pockets out bid the will of the people, once again.
I've been seeing these ads for some time on Hulu, which I use for live TV. I admit they are warm and convincing. Having said that I had a sinking feeling and wondered what or who was behind it. I've learned to keep a skeptical eye on these things. Thank you, Jay, for researching and revealing the truth behind this.
How could anyone think that "Jesus loved the people we hate” is a good tagline? People we HATE? I thought one of the tenets of Christianity was to "love thy neighbor." This is sheer craziness. I have never been happier to be an atheist!
So, the "Christians" spent $20 million on an ad rather than maybe giving that money to the poor, or possibly sending it to Turkey and Syria. Ridiculous waste of money.
Thank you-thank you-thank you! The Jesus ads during the Super Bowl prompted me to ask the same questions you asked—and answered! I’m one of those people who reads the tiny print at the bottom of political ads, only to find they are funded by some anonymous “Foundation” or “Alliance.” I’m never able to find out who’s behind these organizations, and it drive me nuts! I think of the tens of thousands—literally millions, if you add them all up—of dollars spent on these ads and the good that money could do for some legitimate non-profits. It’s obscene. As for the messaging? Troubling to put it mildly. FYI, I signed up for your newsletters a while back, figuring I’d take a free trial for a while and see how things go. Today, I decided I’ll become a paid subscriber.
Exactly right! One. Big. Deception. If you're not already clued into the word "Dominionism", it's a good one to tune in to. Jenny Cohn writes a lot about it on Twitter and in the Bucks County Beacon. It's scary beyond-evangelicalism stuff.
Thanks for writing about this. I was in bed by 930 and missed most of the game so I didn't see the commercials.
I've been seeing the He Gets Us billboards and ads a lot over the last few years. As a lapsed catholic I have no intention to ever join any church again. But I'm glad to know what they stand for and who backs them. All you had to say was Hobby Lobby. They have been on my boycott list since the contraception injustice.
I hope my missing the horses didn’t come across as trite - in fact I am thinking of telling the other Super Bowl advertisers that I will personally turn away from their products. They are running in a crowd with hateful frightening people intent on destroying our country.
Jays post here is an excellent based for frank talks with my children and grandchildren about why it is important to follow the golden rule - find out who owns the gold because they seek to rule.
This whole thing disgusts me. If they really wanted to follow Jesus' message, imagine how many people they could feed with those millions! Or any number of charitable acts this money could fund!
Last night, during the Super Bowl, was the first time I saw this ad, and I immediately turned to the small group I was watching with and said: "What was that? What is it doing on FOX? And what exactly is it advertising? We were all scratching our heads and joked: Must be an ad about CHEESES! We sure like CHEESES!
Seriously, do they not have any shame!? Now they are using the teachings of Jesus to manipulate and gaslight!?! That is what I suspected was happening, especially as it aired on FOX.
And what else could they be doing with that $20 million? Feed children? House the homeless? Provide health care?
I know these people. I was raised in a church that did things like use kids to lure people into the park for a free concert. There'd be a half hour of a group singing pop music, then the audience would be clobbered with a fundamentalist sermon, ending with an alter call. We'd be turned loose in shopping malls, beaches and neighborhoods to hand out pamphlets and give witness. Even as a child, I was so conflicted and humiliated. On some level, I think I understood that it was wrong to bend people to my church's will. It all makes me cringe to think back on it. This is powerful stuff! Deep pockets out bid the will of the people, once again.
I've been seeing these ads for some time on Hulu, which I use for live TV. I admit they are warm and convincing. Having said that I had a sinking feeling and wondered what or who was behind it. I've learned to keep a skeptical eye on these things. Thank you, Jay, for researching and revealing the truth behind this.
How could anyone think that "Jesus loved the people we hate” is a good tagline? People we HATE? I thought one of the tenets of Christianity was to "love thy neighbor." This is sheer craziness. I have never been happier to be an atheist!
The real Jesus wept and will continue weeping. This is actually pretty scary since so many people will not make the needed connections.
So, the "Christians" spent $20 million on an ad rather than maybe giving that money to the poor, or possibly sending it to Turkey and Syria. Ridiculous waste of money.
Thank you-thank you-thank you! The Jesus ads during the Super Bowl prompted me to ask the same questions you asked—and answered! I’m one of those people who reads the tiny print at the bottom of political ads, only to find they are funded by some anonymous “Foundation” or “Alliance.” I’m never able to find out who’s behind these organizations, and it drive me nuts! I think of the tens of thousands—literally millions, if you add them all up—of dollars spent on these ads and the good that money could do for some legitimate non-profits. It’s obscene. As for the messaging? Troubling to put it mildly. FYI, I signed up for your newsletters a while back, figuring I’d take a free trial for a while and see how things go. Today, I decided I’ll become a paid subscriber.
Trying to sell Jesus while telling us they hate people, is quite an interesting strategy.
Exactly right! One. Big. Deception. If you're not already clued into the word "Dominionism", it's a good one to tune in to. Jenny Cohn writes a lot about it on Twitter and in the Bucks County Beacon. It's scary beyond-evangelicalism stuff.
https://buckscountybeacon.com/2022/10/dominionism-is-on-the-ballot-in-november-but-most-voters-have-never-heard-of-it/
Thanks for writing about this. I was in bed by 930 and missed most of the game so I didn't see the commercials.
I've been seeing the He Gets Us billboards and ads a lot over the last few years. As a lapsed catholic I have no intention to ever join any church again. But I'm glad to know what they stand for and who backs them. All you had to say was Hobby Lobby. They have been on my boycott list since the contraception injustice.
I hope my missing the horses didn’t come across as trite - in fact I am thinking of telling the other Super Bowl advertisers that I will personally turn away from their products. They are running in a crowd with hateful frightening people intent on destroying our country.
Jays post here is an excellent based for frank talks with my children and grandchildren about why it is important to follow the golden rule - find out who owns the gold because they seek to rule.
I am afraid for our future ...
This whole thing disgusts me. If they really wanted to follow Jesus' message, imagine how many people they could feed with those millions! Or any number of charitable acts this money could fund!
Thank you. Clear and intelligent, as usual. Always follow the money.
Wouldn't it be a better if all this money was spent helping those in need??
Last night, during the Super Bowl, was the first time I saw this ad, and I immediately turned to the small group I was watching with and said: "What was that? What is it doing on FOX? And what exactly is it advertising? We were all scratching our heads and joked: Must be an ad about CHEESES! We sure like CHEESES!
Seriously, do they not have any shame!? Now they are using the teachings of Jesus to manipulate and gaslight!?! That is what I suspected was happening, especially as it aired on FOX.
Thank you, Jay, for confirming my suspicions!
JFC...