# Religious statues - why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775 "2016-09-24T22:26:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/141 "2016-10-06T05:58:54Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, look at it this way. Do you think David actually went around naked? When he was partying with the Edomites he did. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/142 "2016-10-06T15:22:26Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, look at it this way. Do you think David actually went around naked? I heard a Bible radio preacher who said, yes. David stripped naked for combat with Goliath, just as Jesus was stripped naked for battle with all evil. (Also, I don’t actually see much point to your question. How does the nudity answer whether the statue is religious or humanist?) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/143 "2016-10-06T16:33:37Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I heard a Bible radio preacher who said, yes. David stripped naked for combat with Goliath, just as Jesus was stripped naked for battle with all evil. > > (Also, I don’t actually see much point to your question. How does the nudity answer whether the statue is religious or humanist?) Hmmmm…I guess it may not make much difference. The Bible does say that David got lustful enough over Bathsheba that he arranged to have her husband killed in combat. THAT sounds mighty humanist to me. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/144 "2016-10-06T16:39:46Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, look at it this way. Do you think David actually went around naked? I hope so. It gives the statue more meaning. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/145 "2016-10-06T17:18:48Z")
In Patrick Dennis’ book _First Lady,_ there is a picture of Dody Goodman staring with delight at David’s genitalia on that statue. So much for Cris Alexander’s (and Mr. Dennis’) taste. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/146 "2016-10-07T02:13:40Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Hmmmm…I guess it may not make much difference. The Bible does say that David got lustful enough over Bathsheba that he arranged to have her husband killed in combat. THAT sounds mighty humanist to me. Human, yes; humanist, no. Humanism is about the good in humans: the worthy, productive, nice, constructive things we do. It says, “We can build a civilization! Just look!” Humanism negates religion: it says, “We don’t need gods to give us moral values; we can create moral values for ourselves. We did!” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/147 "2016-10-07T02:37:15Z")
F. Scott: “Zelda told me my penis is too small to ever truly satisfy a woman.” Ernest: “Ah, I’m sure you’re fine. Go to the Louvre and compare yourself to the statues.” F. Scott: “THOSE STATUES MAY NOT BE ACCURATE” – Hemingway, _A Moveable Feast_ That exchange always cracked me up. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775/148 "2016-10-07T04:18:37Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > […] > Humanism negates religion: it says, “We don’t need gods to give us moral values; we can create moral values for ourselves. We did!” Sounds like Regan and Goneril vis-à-vis King Lear. (cf. Psalm 100:3.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-statues-why/766775.md?page=7)