Today’s Hot Topic…
I’ve gotten quite a bit of feedback regarding the t-shirt I mentioned the other day. For those of you who missed that column, I was at the mall and saw a shirt that had a cross on it, with a circle/slash. While I couldn’t remember the store where I saw the t-shirt, several readers mentioned that they had seen the t-shirt at Hot Topic. I decided to go to their website and check it out, and there it was.
To give you more specific details, the shirt is black, with the aforementioned cross with a circle/slash through it. The words “Bad Religion” are above the symbol. If you would like to see the shirt, go to HotTopic.com, click on apparel then click on t-shirts. This specific shirt can be seen on page 31. Hopefully, if you click here, you will be taken directly to the page.
I did a little more research, and found that the shirt is the logo for a band called Bad Religion.
I don’t care. Personally, I feel like it is an attack on my faith, and the t-shirt has no place in the mall, or anywhere else for that matter. Again, if the shirt were racist, or attacked Muslims, Hindu, or any other religion, it would not be permitted. But Christians are fair game.
Several readers have suggested inundating Hot Topic with emails regarding the t-shirt, and I think that is a great idea. So I am asking each of you, if you feel led to take a stand on this issue, email Hot Topic with your opinion. Speak from your heart. And if you are so inclined, ask your friends to email Hot Topic, as well.
By the way, I realize that Hot Topic is far from the only place you can purchase items of this nature. But the store is popular, located in malls all over the U.S. And they have chosen to hang the offending t-shirt where it is visible to everyone, at this most holy time of year for Christians.
I don’t know if we can get them to take it off the racks and out of the stores, but I do know that if we don’t at least try our voices won’t be heard.
Thanks to all of you who have written and suggested this “campaign.” Again, if you are so led, write an email, say a prayer, and hit send.
To e-mail Hot Topic:
Go to the website: HotTopic.com
Click on Customer Service (at the top of the page)
On the next page, go to the bottom and click on “Email Us.”
You can call Hot Topic at:
In the U.S.: 1-800-892-8674
Outside the U.S.: +1-626-709-1189
You can snail mail Hot Topic at:
Hot Topic, Inc.
18305 San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91748
In one final note of irony, Hot Topic’s phone lines are open 24/7… except they will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
December 18th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I saw a young man with one of those shirts on a few months ago. I mentioned it in my blog Syinly’s weblog. I was a little disappointed to see the young man with the shirt on. I didn’t know hot topic was the retailer. I know they sale gothic clothes. Most young people that wear that type of clothing don’t believe in God and they need prayer and to know the truth.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
The link took me there and I did e-mail them saying I found the t-shirt offensive. Keep up the great work Cristian soldier.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
i love that shirt. plus learn up on the band and there very logical/free speech argument.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Woohoo another Crusade, awesome!!! I guess the first few just didn’t work out right. This is too funny. I’m not even going to bother to refute anything because I am really having a tough time taking any of this seriously.
Anyway, your little post made it onto The Bad Religion Page. Here is the URL you might want to check out the comments. http://thebrpage.net/news/?newsID=1621
Also, I don’t know any self-respecting Bad Religion fans that shop in Hot Topic so no need to worry about them making money off of this. And like tom said, research the meaning of the symbol before you make the assumptions that you did. There are plenty of interviews on the internet where members of the band explain the meaning of the symbol.
January 4th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Wow, what about that shirts with pictures of Jesus on them that say “I’ve been saved” - don’t you think those might make someone else gag? Isn’t it even bothersome to you that the symbol of your church is being used as a marketing ploy and some company is making millions off selling his face on a shirt?
And another thing - not all Bad Religion fans are atheists (although I happen to be): some are agnostic, some define themselves as naturalists (Mr. Graffin), and some, god help you, are Christians! Be reasonable enough to understand that nobody is attacking you - Bad Religion fans, and atheists for that matter, should have the right to display T-shirts with symbols just as much as Christians do.
Excerpt from BAD RELIGION song “Them and Us”
_____________________________________________
“Hate is a simple manifestation
of the deep-seated self-directed frustration
all it does is promote fear and consternation
it’s the inability
to justify the enemy
and it fills us all with trepidation”
January 4th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Dear Christian Woman,
Instead, I will summarize nearly 30 years of underground music history, and the message of this great band. Bad Religion was for in the den of iniquity that is known as the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles 
The members of the band, namely the for mentioned Dr. Graffin (the band’s singer and main song writer who also holds a P.H.D. in biology, and is also a professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)) were, for lack of a better word, science geeks, at the same these young high-school students were forming their band, the first wave of televangelists were coming on their air. Mostly non-believers already, the members of this band were turned off to this “new repacking” of Christian religion (seeing the money changers in the temple, using faith to sell ads!) showed, to the members of this then unnamed band, the hypocrisy the perceived in the Christian Religion. They decided to name their band Bad Religion as a visceral reaction to the televangist movement (more on the deeper meaning later). The next move for the band was to develop a logo, all of the bands in the L.A. scene had a logo back then. One of the band’s members (I’m sorry, I forget which one) went back to his house and drew up the Logo. I will admit this symbol has different meanings for different people. For the band at the time especially the bass player (who believes in god) it was simply “easy to spray-paint on a wall and incredibly offensive”. But as time went on, it meant something deeper. According to Graffin, this symbol does not say we hate Christians or Christianty, rather, it says Jesus is not worshiped here, we look elsewhere. To use a Reductio ad absurdum argument, look at where you see that symbol most often, no parking signs! The no parking sign doesn’t say I hate parking, it says don’t park here. The same holds true for the cross-buster. Bad Religion honestly welcomes all to their concerts and music, and refuse to take the narrow minded us against them attitude that many reactionary Christian groups take. In fact one of their most popular songs is a song called “Sorrow” (often covered by the Christian Rock band Switchfoot, one of my favorite band) is about the book of Job, it just takes an athiest’s perspective and uses it as an alegory for human suffering,
I think you have completely misunderstood the message of Bad Religion, but it’s not surprising, you hadn’t even heard of them until just a few days ago. I would suggest that you listen to some Bad Religion, but I am crazy, not stupid, and I don’t expect you to listen to Bad Religion, anymore than you would expect me to go to vacation bible camp next summer
“Father can you hear me?
How have I let you down?
I curse the day that I was born
And all the sorrow in this world”
In Bad Religion’s eye the father cannot hear Job, because his sorrow is not caused by God’s test, but rather by his faith’s inability to explain his suffering. However, they would be more than willing have an intellegent debate about faith with a believer (just as I would hope you would be with a non-believer) in fact Graffin did in the book “Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor and a Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism & Christianity” With one of his friends, a christian and fellow professer (teaching at John Brown University a small Christian college in rural Arkansas) Preston Jones. You would be surprised to find how much of Bad Religion’s music deals with faith and belief in a way this is not hate-full, but rather takes a different look at religion. In my belief the ultimate messages of Bad Religion is one that is closer to the spirit of Jesus than that of many believers. This message is two fold, one of peace and social consciousness (songs like Kyoto Now, Fertille Creasant, Heaven is Falling, ect.) but the other side is the personal struggle over faith and how can there be a loving creator in a world like this (a major theme of Graffin and Jones’ book) and theme of songs like The Answer, God’s Love, Sorrow, (ect). An sub-theme is represented in the song “Do what you want” off of the band’s third album, Suffer. The song goes “Hey do what you want, but don’t do it around me. Idleness and dissipation breed apathy.” This is basicaly saying live and let live or perhaps a “render onto Ceaser” like idea. Also I have to object to Idea that this is only allowed to stand because it is the Christian religion and “If the shirt were racist, or attacked Muslims, Hindu, or any other religion, it would not be permitted. But Christians are fair game.” by sprining a logical trap. First off when you say that it is wrong for a store to display the shirt at the holiest time of the Christian year, however the only reason for the problem with this display would be the assertion that this is a Christian Society (otherwise you would be the lone Hindu angry that no one puts vishnu statues up in public places) if that were true, then this shirt would be taken of the shelves. However, this is not the case, so the only answer is that both arguments are absurd, and we are indeed a secular world that allows both Bad Religion and Mega-Churches to co-exist, and in fact one could say you can’t have one without the other.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Wow, Sorrow, that was extremely well put. I hope others are able to use as much thought in considering your post as you put into writing it.
Thank you for discussing the Graffin/Jones book, it’s a great example of people well educated in their opinions posing reasoned arguments, and not just making reactionary statements.
BTW it was Brett who drew up the logo. Guitarist/songwriter Brett Gurewitz, raised in the Jewish faith, agnostic, and CEO of a large and highly successful independent record lable.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:57 am
To expand upon something Sorrow mentioned, that the t-shirt represents an attack on Christianity akin to a similar shirt directed toward Muslims or another group. What you ignore is that there is such a thing as cultural context. If there is anything resembling an “attack” on Christianity in America, it is a response to the dominance of Christianity in American society. It is because non-Christians are the minority in America and have been since the country was founded, and because they have consistently seen their rights subverted by the majority of Americans who identify as Christian.
The t-shirt, then, represents resistance to an oppressive group. A t-shirt that had a similar logo directed towards Muslims would, in America at least, be directed at an already oppressed group, and would be distasteful in that capacity. A t-shirt that is directed towards Islam in Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, wouldn’t mean the same thing because Saudi Arabia is a majority-Muslim country that oppresses other religious groups.
You suggest that the majority of self-identified Christians in America should compel Hot Topic not to sell the t-shirt. To change perspectives, you want to take away the right of non-Christians (and Christians alike) to be able to buy a shirt that opposes the dominance of Christianity in America. You perceive an attack on your faith, but the very dominance of your faith is an attack on non-believers, and you react to a t-shirt (let us not forget we’re talking about 5 dollars worth of cotton and stitching and ink) by seeking to take away the rights of a minority group.
It may disturb your worldview, but your religion is not under attack. Indeed, your religion has been an agent of oppression for centuries, and it is no different in 21st century America.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Lady, we have a name for people like you here in Mexico: REACCIONARIO!
Find it on a dictionary, and you will see what I’m talking about.
The crossbuster logo is just an expression about my NOT RELIGION STATUS, I’m agnostic, and I’ve resigned any religion believes, since they can’t be prove and I don’t see the use of them… That’s why I love Bad Religion, because their lyrics show my concerns and my toughts in a smart way.
Please lady, come back to your church, and get into your own business
January 6th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Don’t worry, it’s not an attack on your faith. It’s like a no parking sign. No parking signs don’t hate parking. They are not anti-parking. They just signal that parking is not allowed in that area. So if someone has the Bad Religion symbol on a shirt, it is akin to saying “Don’t park your religion here.” Sometimes one needs a reminder that one’s own religious convictions are not always held by everyone.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I am a 34 year-old Christian Bad Religion fan, and your reaction to the Crossbuster shirt is completely understandable and justified. What a large majority of BR fans tend to do is rebel against perceived rigid Christian dogma they get from their parents with rigid dogma they perceive is being espoused by a rock band. Bad Religion’s songs are about making decisions for yourself based on objectivity rather than being subject to cultural whims. Their music aided me in choosing Christianity for myself rather than just believing it because my mom told me it was true. I find the Crossbuster logo to be inappropriate and, even though I understand its message fully, I don’t wear it because of the impact it can have on people like yourself. That being said it’s futile to fight against being offended as a Christian in this world. What we can do is be a positive light, and show people with our lives that Christianity isn’t defined by the narrow ways we’re portrayed in culture.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Additionnaly, I remember the band’s singer saying that they add chosen the cross because they grew up in the christian culture and it was what represented religion. They were not espescially targetting christian religion but ANY rigid religion dogma.
Anyway, I’m agnostic (not atheist), I consider Bad Religion as one of the best bands in the world in terms of lyrics and music quality, but I’ve never really liked the Cross-Buster symbol. They came up with it when they were around 20 years old, it can too easily be misunderstood. I think they should have changed it for something more mature since a while.
January 18th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
You actually wasted so much time of your life because of this? You made my day
hahaha
Lady, buy a coffee mug at http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/view/?id=458&cid=1 , drink it, and wake up!
it’s 2009.
January 25th, 2009 at 2:28 am
it’s called freedom of religion for a reason.. meaning NOT only christians are entitled to this priveldge. atheists can believe whatever they want and you can’t stop the production of a shirt just because offends you. i happen to love the shirt and the band as well in fact they happen to be my favorite band.
btw that symbol wasn’t meant to be against christians it was meant to be against any organized religion.
this world doesn’t need anymore christian fanatics with no tollerance for anyone elses beliefs so stop trying to shove your bulls**t belifs down everyone elses throats
January 29th, 2009 at 1:59 am
I posted a response a couple days ago pointing out that her refusal to join in the discussion proved that she had no real points to back up her argument. And what did she do? Delete my post. Linda, people like you are the very reason I’m trying to get the hell out of the Bible Belt. I’m still waiting for you to engage in a constructive discourse with the rest of us.
February 5th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Good morning, Mrs. Williams. My name is Oscar. I am a 23 year old believer/Bad Religion fan. And by believer I mean, just believe and have yet to make a decision on where my faith will be put. What I can tell you as of now, it won’t be put in the wrong place. What the majority fails to realize is that faith comes from within, through personal experience, and not from tradition. It’s true, religion is a well passed-on tradition. I’ve even seen the Christian bumper stickers “It’s a relationship, not religion”. I think that sums it up for that. But horrible things have been done in the name of many religions: The Cruisades, The Conquistadores, The Armenian Genocide, 9/11, The Holocaust, The Crucifiction of Jesus Christ…the list can go on for days. What religion needs (and non-religion) is the reduction of extremism. I read a book called “The End of Faith” and it opens up with a story about a young man boarding a public bus in Iraq. The young man is dressed in a heavy coat. Strapped to his chest is a bomb. In the pockets of the coat are ball bearings and rat poison-assuring death to anyone in close range. Just before he ignites the bomb, he curses the infidels in the name of Allah. His parents were congradulated by fellow extreme Muslims at his funeral. Some people even sending gifts to the house. This is not to say Islam is at fault. But then again, the conservative anti-abortionist Randall Terry was associated with the often hostile demonstrations in front of clinics in the late 80’s/early 90’s. He was indicted in 1992 for conspiring with fellow nut-case Robert Schenck to send an aborted fetus to Bill Clinton. As the founder of Operation Rescue (listen to track 10 on the album Against the Grain) Randall Terry later converted to Catholicism. Both daughters were pregnant out of wedlock and one converted to Islam. His adopted son wrote an article for homosexual magazine “Out” stating he was indeed a homosexual. Clearly contrary to Christian (and my) morals. No, not all Christians lead such lives. And, No I don’t agree with abortion. What the crossbuster and Bad Religion stand for is free speech, free thought, and knowlege through education. In an interview lead-singer/songwriter Greg Graffin, Ph. D states he is more of a naturalist than an atheist. The word Atheist is pertainig more to disbelief. Whereas a Naturalist believes upon the discovery of evidence. I feel if someone presented Dr. Graffin with substantial evidence of the existence of God, it would definately change his mind. To be free is to learn to co-exist with one another. Asking you to stop your rally against the logo and band would be contradicting what I believe. Doing that would be selfish and ignorant. All I want is a universal understanding of difference. What I do ask, is that you educate yourself on what you fight. Thnk you for your time. Sincearly, Oscar
oscarpleitez@ymail.com
February 5th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Excuse me, it was track #11 on the album Against the Grain.
March 8th, 2009 at 5:39 am
I didn’t read all of the comments, so I hope nobody else said specifically what I intend to:
Christian Woman, if seeing what you believed to be an anti-religious logo on a shirt was “an attack on your faith” does that mean you feel as though something was attempting to destroy YOUR faith? Are you that insecure?
Those who’s ideals and beliefs don’t match up with yours in your community are bombarded by information that contradicts their own every single day. Their outcry is not heard because it does not come. You have seen one depiction that contradicts your own beliefs and it’s eaten you up inside? How boring is your life? A jihad on Hot Topic!
(I’m sorry, that last part might have been offensive. I seriously hate Hot Topic, we share that)
My advice to you Christian Woman, is that you rise above that which challenges what you believe in, if you are so noble and faithful that you cannot be swayed. I won’t turn up at your church and ban the deliverence of your holy water, if you don’t try to ban me from wearing a shirt.
I thought americans loved freedom.
March 15th, 2009 at 3:25 am
just want to say is the logo isn’t meant to be offensive, yet i see how it can be seen that way. it was created by the band about 30 years ago when they formed as teenagers (basically to piss off their parents)! all its means today is that they dont practice organized religion (some band members are individually spiritual). the band itself is no way in any form evil or anti-religious. their lyrics basically advocate free thought, anti-conformitism, and unfortunately religions biggest modern day nemisis…..SCIENCE!!!!
May 26th, 2010 at 9:32 am
yes it is so hot
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