Monday, October 10, 2011


The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.  It was a present from the people of France honoring America's first 100 years of freedom, and dedicated on October 28, 1886. 

The Statue of Liberty is a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who represents freedom from tyranny and oppression.  The statue bears a torch and tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed of July 4, 1776.  The statue's crown is reminiscent of a halo and its spikes show similarities to those of the sun gods; the Roman Apollo and the Greek Helios.  The statue's right foot is raised, as if continually on the move, forever bringing freedom to others. 

What you see above is the Statue of Liberation Through Christ in front of the "World Overcomers" church in Memphis Tn.  The statue stands 72 feet tall and cost $260,000 to build.  According to their website, Lady Liberation extends the cross of Christ above her head proclaiming to the world man's true source of complete liberation, and that America belongs to God through Jesus Christ.  The statue also holds the ten commandments in her left arm and the tear on her cheek represents despair over America's rapid decline from its Judeo-Christian values.

In my mind, the contrasts are obvious.  The torch of the Statue of Liberty lights the path to freedom for one and all, the Christian cross represents only those who believe in Jesus Christ as the "one true god."  The book of law in the left arm of the Statue of Liberty represents a democratic nation built on secular laws where all men are created equal, where the ten commandments represents the "holy book" of Christianity with laws that make women second class citizens, and denies equality to unbelievers and instills fear of "others."

The tear on the face of the Statue of Liberation Through Christ makes me think of the guilt and submission involved in following any of the dogmatic religions who only abide in the laws of their faith to either gain reward (go to heaven) or out of fear (going to hell). 

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