# Texas Hindus build 90 foot statue of Hanuman. Texas Christians perfectly fine with it. (Just kidding--Texas Christians freak out.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048 "2024-08-22T15:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/1 "2024-08-22T15:08:09Z")
Starting the countdown clock to the first vandalism. > **[Huge half-monkey half-human statue in Texas sparks conservative backlash](https://www.newsweek.com/huge-hindu-statue-texas-sparks-conservative-backlash-1942732)** > > A 90-foot-tall statue of the Hindu deity Hanuman recently appeared on private lands at a temple in Texas. > **[Texas gets 90-ft-tall Hanuman sculpture, 3rd tallest statue in US: Know all...](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/texas-gets-90-ft-tall-hanuman-sculpture-3rd-tallest-statue-in-us-know-all-about-it-101724127928627.html)** > > A grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony was held in Texas, on Sunday, August 18, where a 90-foot-tall Hanuman statue was inaugurated. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/2 "2024-08-22T15:11:33Z")
Looking back the quotes aren’t necessary from Texas Christians, but I think my title will prove true. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/3 "2024-08-22T15:11:44Z")
Shows how much attention I pay. That’s on the other side of town from me, and this is the first I’d heard of it. I don’t see much coming from it. A significant portion of the tax base in Sugar Land (and in Fort Bend County in general) comes from ex-pats from the subcontinent and their children. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/4 "2024-08-22T15:21:30Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Shows how much attention I pay. That’s on the other side of town from me, and this is the first I’d heard of it. 90 foot monkey deities should be seen, not heard. That being said, if the giant monkey starts making noise, I recommend you run. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/5 "2024-08-22T15:24:36Z")
I might take a drive over there this weekend to check it out. FWIW, there really is a huge South Asian population in town. Sugar Land itself is ~40% Asian by population of which ~1/3 is South Asian. There’s a similar temple (sans giant statue) just around the corner from me that is technically in Stafford (it sits nearby a corner between 3 different adjoining suburbs). That particular corner of town, however, is near the oldest section of town, so some of the neighbors probably a slightly different set of demographics. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/6 "2024-08-22T15:26:32Z")
> Hindus consider Hanuman an immortal being known for his devotion to the Hindu god Rama and virtues like self-control. LOL As much as they could use it I don’t think Texans are going to get the message. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/7 "2024-08-22T16:26:35Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Shows how much attention I pay. That’s on the other side of town from me, and this is the first I’d heard of it. Same. Of course, other side of town being about 1.5hrs away. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/8 "2024-08-22T16:30:48Z")
Sugar Land ain’t that big (no more than 30 minute drive end to end even during rush hour), but I’m assuming you mean the Houston region, generally. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/9 "2024-08-22T16:39:18Z")
Correct, I’m up on north side. For anyone else interested, for comparison, the Sam Houston statute in Huntsville, TX is only 67 feet (picture below). Sam feels big when you drive by it. So 90 feet must feel imposing. [![](https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/12/6f/e2/c3/sam-houston.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&s=1) ](https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/12/6f/e2/c3/sam-houston.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&s=1) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/10 "2024-08-22T16:54:31Z")
And Touchdown Jesus was only 62 feet. > **[Lightning strike destroys Touchdown Jesus statue](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/16/touchdown-jesus-statue-burns-down)** > > Familiar Ohio landmark reduced to blackened steel skeleton after being struck by lightning ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/11 "2024-08-22T16:59:14Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > For anyone else interested, for comparison, the Sam Houston statute in Huntsville, TX is only 67 feet (picture below). Sam feels big when you drive by it. So 90 feet must feel imposing. The statue of Stephen Austin in Bellville is taller but most of it is underground. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/12 "2024-08-22T17:12:43Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And Touchdown Jesus was only 62 feet. > > [Lightning strike destroys Touchdown Jesus statue | Ohio | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/16/touchdown-jesus-statue-burns-down) They rebuilt it, sort of. Now it’s “Hug Me Jesus”, and it’s only 52 feet tall. > **[Lux Mundi (statue)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux_Mundi_(statue))** > > Lux Mundi (Latin for "Light of the World") is a 52-foot (15.8 m) tall statue of Jesus at Solid Rock Church, a Christian nondenominational church near Monroe, Ohio, in the United States. Designed by Tom Tsuchiya, Lux Mundi replaced the statue King of Kings which was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire in 2010. > The statue shows Jesus stepping forward with a welcoming gesture, a pose inspired by the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John. Facing I-75, the statue stands on a foundation decora... ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/13 "2024-08-22T17:22:42Z")
It’s on private property and people can do a lot of things on private property. Someone could put up a 90-foot statue of Donald Trump if they wanted. That said, I remember asking in a thread some time ago if Christian fundies had a problem with the fact that devout Hindus are literal idol worshippers. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/14 "2024-08-22T17:31:42Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > if the giant monkey starts making noise, I recommend you run. But I’d recommend running to anywhere _except_ the Empire State Building ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/15 "2024-08-22T17:37:52Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I remember asking in a thread some time ago if Christian fundies had a problem with the fact that devout Hindus are literal idol worshippers. I’d expect that most Christian Fundamentalists are also idol worshippers. Islam has done a reasonably good job of showing the way on anti-idol worshipping, banning images of Mohammed or any sapient being in general, discouraging any form of iconography other than the plain text of the surahs. I’m not 100% confident about what sorts of images and items show up in Fundamentalist practice. I expect that it’s a bit less than the Catholics. But, I’d expect that it’s still quite a bit more than the Islamics. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/16 "2024-08-22T17:48:25Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > That said, I remember asking in a thread some time ago if Christian fundies had a problem with the fact that devout Hindus are literal idol worshippers. Idol worshipper is a relative (and derogatory) term rather than actually descriptive. Hindus don’t worship the statue itself, presumably, but the deity it represents. And as stated, it is a relative term. There are those who would call Christians idol worshippers because they pray to an altar with a statue of Jesus on it, or even just a cross. Some of those people are other Christians (Iconoclasts); others are Muslims, or Jews. And other Jews might call the Jews who said this idol worshippers themselves because they have a picture of the lubavitcher rebbe on the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/17 "2024-08-22T17:52:22Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Islam has done a reasonably good job of showing the way on anti-idol worshipping, banning images of Mohammed or any sapient being in general, discouraging any form of iconography other than the plain text of the surahs. That’s common to many strains of modern day Islam, but iconoclasm isn’t inherent to the religion (it has some iconoclastic themes in the core scripture, but so do Judaism and Christianity). There is plenty of ornate Islamic art, even portraits of Muhammad, made by Muslim cultures that didn’t have these views. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/18 "2024-08-22T17:56:27Z")
Sure, and ISIS was actively destroying historic statues. Bob was a serial killer and Susan was a hero who saved many lives. **On average** , humans have a fairly benign but unfussed method of interacting with one another. A general statement doesn’t imply anything about specific examples and there’s no reason to read it otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/19 "2024-08-22T18:00:03Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@Lumpy](#): > > > > That said, I remember asking in a thread some time ago if Christian fundies had a problem with the fact that devout Hindus are literal idol worshippers. > > Idol worshipper is a relative (and derogatory) term rather than actually descriptive. Hindus don’t worship the statue itself, presumably, but the deity it represents. > And as stated, it is a relative term. There are those who would call Christians idol worshippers because they pray to an altar with a statue of Jesus on it, or even just a cross. > Some of those people are other Christians (Iconoclasts); others are Muslims, or Jews. > And other Jews might call the Jews who said this idol worshippers themselves because they have a picture of the lubavitcher rebbe on the wall. I couldn’t find my original thread but now that I think back on it I might have asked if it was that Hindus were technically pagans that the fundies had a problem ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048/20 "2024-08-22T18:08:45Z")
hasn’t anybody yet suggested the obvious solution" It’s a 90-foot tall statue… So it seems obvious that the Proper Thing To Do is to buy the property next door, and build a 91-foot tall statue of Jesus. And then add a 92-foot tall statue of Moroni (the Mormon angel that adorns all their temples ) And then add a 93-foot tall statue of Bhudda. Oh, and then add an 89-foot tall statue of Trump. but tell everybody that it’s the tallest one. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hindus-build-90-foot-statue-of-hanuman-texas-christians-perfectly-fine-with-it-just-kidding-texas-christians-freak-out/1006048.md?page=2)