Home > fundamentalism / shrinking secular space > Asia / Africa / Americas - Carribean / The Pacific / International > USA: Ice Cream and photo op’s at crucifixion
Rising presence of religion driven theme parks in secular America
USA: Ice Cream and photo op’s at crucifixion
by Joan R. Branham (in Newsweek)
Friday 6 June 2008
The Crucifixion and Ice Cream
Inside Orlando’s most unusual theme park, the Holy Land Experience.
By Joan R. Branham | Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 23, 2008 | Updated: 11:49 a.m. ET May 23, 2008
Amid cell phones ringing, video cams rolling and ice cream melting under the Florida sun, a blood-spattered Jesus stumbles through the crowd on his way to Golgotha, where nasty Roman soldiers strip him, nail him to the cross and crucify him—while perspiring tourists look on in Bermuda shorts. After the resurrection sequence, visitors applaud and line up for a photo op, not with Mickey or Minnie, but a disciple or bloody-handed yet friendly centurion. Welcome to Orlando’s most unusual theme park, the Holy Land Experience.