Saturday, October 19, 2019

Weird Religious Sculpture: Triple-Decker Nativity Scene by Jaimy

Troy Davis writes:

jaimy nativity scene sculpture
This sculpture of a triple-decker Nativity scene is really off. I mean, who puts the livestock stable on the top floor of a three-story structure? Mary and Joseph were turned away at the inn and the innkeeper tells them, "I have not vacancies but you can go up to the penthouse and hang out with the animals!" Who does that?

The maker's mark indicates it was "designed and sculpted by Jaimy." I can't beleive someone would donate such a tasteful artwork to Goodwill (where I bought it for two bucks).

Check out some of the other objets d'art in the museum's collection: 1. Spire Christian Comics spinner rack; 2. Our Lady of Guadalupe sculpture; 3. 

"La Nueva Jerusalen" print.

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.
kitsch nativity scene


Sunday, October 6, 2019

Weird Tract Number 78: ""Donald Trump Is The Antichrist: Prepare For The Rapture!" by Troy Davis of CultJam Productions

Troy Davis writes:

Chick tract parody Trump antichrist

I have pointed out that not only am I a huge Jack Chick fanboy and collector of Chick-related stuff but I make Chick tract parodies.  This tract (read it online here) is a revision of an earlier Chick tract parody I made when Trump was running for president; I went to San Diego Comic-Con 2016 and extensively promoted the tract; read about it in this article

After Trump became president, I improved the art and made it up-to-date (read the notes below the tract) The goal of the tract is to promote the film I wrote and co-produced, Ivy League Exorcist: The Bobby Jindal Story (watch it here). I loved making this tract and I hope you enjoy reading it.

NOTES ON JACK CHICK: In my introductory post, I listed just a few of the many rare and valuable objects from The Museum's extensive Chick-related collection . . . The role of Ralph Rushtoi in the publishing careers of both Jack Chick and another comics-based tract writer Vic Lockman. . . I discuss the role of Bill Bright's prolific tract The Four Spiritual Laws in leading to a format change in Chick tracts that was a key reason why they have become much more popular since the late 1960s . . . My thoughts on Jack Chick's spreading of the peace symbol/broken cross mythology . . .  Jack Chick's retro-futuristic car in the scarce 48-page version of "The Beast" . . . Chick tract parody "Constitutional Rites" " . . .The 1972 Chick tract "The Last Generation." . . . The extremely rare 1970 Chick tract "Operation Somebody Cares" . . .The Chick Publications comic book "Jonah" by Chick and Fred Carter . . . The museum's prized cultural artifact, original art by Jack Chick. . . Jack Chick's cold war tract "Ivan The Terrible" . . . Article on Chick by fellow Catholic-baiting Bob Jones University magazine . . .Catholic-bashing tract by Chick's protege Alberto Rivera . . . Knock-off of a Chick tract by James Lloyd:"Left Behind" . . . . Artifacts from the museum's collections:all of Jack Chick's high school yearbooks (which include the first published cartoon by Chick). . . . "Closet Witches" by Jack T. Chick (audio-cassette interview with Dr. Rebecca Brown and "Elaine").

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Weird Tract Number 77: "Constitutional Rites" by Satanic Bay Area

Troy Davis writes:

satanic bay area tract

I previously wrote about a pamphlet put out by Satanic Bay Area (formerly Satanic San Francisco). These people have some great lit. Constitutional Rites is a Jack Chick tract parody that advocates freedom of religion through a parable (just like the ones put forth by Jeebus). There's a stuffed shirt legislator who is all for a Ten Commandments monument being erected at the state capitol grounds but is appalled at the idea that the same rights being given to a satanic sculpture. The blowhard crashes into the Ten Commandments monument and is knocked unconscious. Satanists take him to their place where he recovers and learns about religious freedom! Talk about having a Come-to-Beelzebub moment!  Bodacious stuff!

NOTES ON JACK CHICK: In my introductory post, I listed just a few of the many rare and valuable objects from The Museum's extensive Chick-related collection . . . The role of Ralph Rushtoi in the publishing careers of both Jack Chick and another comics-based tract writer Vic Lockman. . . I discuss the role of Bill Bright's prolific tract The Four Spiritual Laws in leading to a format change in Chick tracts that was a key reason why they have become much more popular since the late 1960s . . . My thoughts on Jack Chick's spreading of the peace symbol/broken cross mythology . . .  Jack Chick's retro-futuristic car in the scarce 48-page version of "The Beast" . . . Chick tract parody "Donald Trump Is The Antichrist; Prepare for the Rapture!" . . .The 1972 Chick tract "The Last Generation." . . . The extremely rare 1970 Chick tract "Operation Somebody Cares" . . .The rare Chick Publications comic book "Jonah" by Chick and Fred Carter . . . The museum's prized cultural artifact, original art by Jack Chick. . . . Artifacts from the museum's collections:all of Jack Chick's high school yearbooks (which include the first published cartoon by Chick) . . . "Closet Witches" by Jack T. Chick (audio-cassette interview with Dr. Rebecca Brown and "Elaine").

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Weird Tract Number 76: "Jesus Failed" by The True Bible Church

Troy Davis writes:

true bible church

Nathan Boyer started the True Bible Church with a Kickstarter campaign in 2013. The fruits of this campaign were three tongue-in-cheek yet thought-provoking tracts; Jesus Failed is number three in the series "Christianity Made Clear." This tract, like the others, takes the ideas from The Bible to their logical conclusions, conclusions that are really, really bizarre. The tract has the coolest Come-to-Jeebus appeal in the history of religious tracts and it is included below for your benefit.

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.

weird religious tract
bizarre religious booklet

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Weird Tract Number 75: "World's Deadliest Drug" by "Dr." Terry Watkins

Troy Davis writes:

deranged religious tract

Tracts by Terry Watkins have been featured on the museum's site here, here, and here.  This is one of the least hysterical of Watkins' tracts because--unlike fictional scourges Watkins warns against like satanic ritual abuse--societal harm caused by alcohol abuse is real and extensive. Nevertheless, the tone of this pamphlet is off-putting and Watkins makes use of bold fonts and all caps throughout his screed. He makes me want to do a beer bong just to spite him.

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Weird Tract Number 74: "WWJD: Who Would Jesus Destroy?" by PinPoint Evangelism

Troy Davis writes:

bizarre religious tract who would jesus destroy?
Last weekend, I went to Columbus, Ohio. There were several things going on Labor Day weekend. As I mentioned in the previous post, I went to the annual Greek Festival in the Short North (on the way encountering some lame-oids from the Westboro Baptist Church who were picketing Joyce Meyer; don't ask me what they have against her).

I also took the trip to go to the Johnstown Swappers Day but, more important, I went outside the Ohio State football game a couple hours before kickoff. I carry a huge sign promoting the film I wrote and produced Ivy League Exorcist: The Bobby Jindal Story (I don't have any pics with the sign from last Saturday, but below is from last year's OSU game against Tulane; I'm wearing the Hipsterman superhero outfit that I wore at San Diego Comic-Con 2016--see here, here,  and here ).

Anyhow, outside the Ohio State football games, real-life fundamentalists hold signs and pass out tracts. I sometimes hang out with them and they often give me tracts. "WWJD: Who Would Jesus Destroy?" is one given to me at the game. It's a two-sided flyer put out by PinPoint Evangelism, a real fire-and-brimstone outfit. It succinctly uses Bible verses to tell you who is going to enter the Lake 'O Fire! Number one is fornicators so I'm doomed.
fundamentalist signs banners
Hipsterman with a confused fundy youngster

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.


















Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Weird Tract Number 73: "The Truth About Drugs" by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World (Scientology front group)

Troy Davis writes:

scientology anti-drug front group
I was in Columbus, Ohio for Labor Day weekend and found this tract in the free lit section of a shop in the Short North. The notorious Church of Scientology has a number of front groups (Weird Tract Number 10 deals with a pamphlet for a Scientology anti-psychiatry front group). The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is one of them. Scientologists want people off of drugs and want them to get high on Xenu (by the way, here's my online comic book "Cock-Tale: A Modern Tijuana Bible" starring Tom Cruise, Xenu, and L Ron Hubbard).

This 32-page 2010 pamphlet is standard 1980s-style Just-Say-No Nancyesque propaganda.

westboro baptist church joyce meyer columbus
Also, when I was in Columbus, I headed to the annual Greek Festival in the Short North. I parked in downtown Columbus and as I passed by some freaks from the Westboro Baptist Church who were picketing evangelist Joyce Meyer who was speaking downtown. I took pics and asked them for tracts. The guy on the left thought he was clever when he told me he could leave some "tracks" on the pavement.
scientology comic book xenu
The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Weird Tract Number 72: "If You Like Harry Potter, Have We Got a Book for You . . ." by Jews for Jesus

Troy Davis writes:

I previously wrote about the lameasses at Jews for Jesus here. When Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets had its premiere in Westwood, the Westwood chapter of J4J passed out this very weak pamphlet to very little fanfare among the Harry Potter fans. I grabbed a couple copies for my collection.  In case you're curious, for those who like Harry Potter, the book they had for you was . . . The Bible!

The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.
jews for jesus leaflets


Sunday, August 4, 2019

Weird Tract Number 71: "The Rapture: in the twinkling of an eye" by Eugene Turner

Troy Davis writes:

This 4-page pamphlet-style tract that Eugene Turner wrote for the Free Tract Society of Los Angeles is boilerplate Dispensationalism full of Bible verses. Not surprisingly, the tract ends with an appeal to come to Jeebus in order to avoid The Great Tribulation. It has no date or copyright info.

Ho Hum.
The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Weird Tract Number 70: "Creation and the Virgin Birth" by Henry M. Morris of The Institute for Creation Research

Troy Davis writes:

henry morris icr.org
I bought this 10-page tract when I visited San Diego in the '90s and visited the Institute for Creation Research's Museum of Creation and Earth History in nearby Santee (When ICR moved to Dallas in 2008, they sold the museum to the Life and Light Foundation). Henry Morris (1918-2006) was one of the founders of ICR and this tract's title suggests, Morris attempts to link two supernatural events: biblical creation and the virgin birth of Jesus. Morris had a Ph. D. from U.C. Berkeley but this booklet is full of citations of The Bible but none from scientific journals (to nobody's surprise). 

Notes: I mention fellow ICR co-founder Duane Gish in this discussion of Life Messengers' "Hooked For Good: The True Story of Sammy Hall" . . . ICR has a beautiful Discovery Center in Dallas . . . Also, when I was on vacation in San Diego, I visited the wacky The Unarious Academy of Science  of nearby El Cajon (but I don't have any of their literature). I find it incredible that the El Cajon/Santee area has been the home to giants in recent fringe culture 1) ICR; 2) Tim LaHaye and his San Diego Christian College; 3) Unarius Academy of Science.
unarius academy of science el cajon
unarius academy of science el cajon
The Museum of Weird and Demented Religious Tracts is a project of Les Zazous Postmodern Art Galley of Bellaire, Ohio. Read the Welcome Statement of The Museum here.

For more on the gallery, check out the web site here and the gallery's Twitter handle is @ZazousLes.  The Twitter handle for the museum is @WeirdTracts

The index of tracts for the museum's website is here

Contributions of weird tracts to the museum can be made by mail: send your weird tracts to Les Zazous Postmodern Art Gallery 3475 Guernsey Street, Bellaire, Ohio 43906.


Weird Tract Number 142: "Mark of the Beast" by Anonymous

Troy Davis writes: "Mark of the Beast is an anonymous, undated four-page pamphlet promoting the Catholic-baiting book by Seventh Day Ad...