“A giant new statue of Christ being constructed in southern Brazil will rise even higher than the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks Rio de Janeiro.

The statue, to be named Christ the Protector, will stand 140 feet tall, including its pedestal, making it one of the world’s tallest statues of Christ with outstretched arms.”

France24.Com

Brazil has the world’s largest Catholic population, but the huge country with the largest economy in Latin America is mired in violence and poverty. According to the World Health Organization Brazil has one of the highest rates of homicide in the world.

History teaches us that the most religious countries tend to have the greatest systemic and intractable problems of racism, poverty and ignorance.

You’d think that cities in Brazil wouldn’t be competing to see who can erect the tallest statue of Jesus, and instead would focus on tackling issues of crime, poverty and wealth inequality.

Promoters say that the giant statue of Jesus is intended both to inspire faith and encourage tourism, which begs the questions: How empty and superficial is your faith if it takes a giant idol to stimulate your religious devotion?

Religious tomfoolery isn’t unique to Brazil, it thrives in America as well. The late Oral Roberts sought to inspire his donors to give millions towards building the tallest hospital in Tulsa by telling them that he had a vision of a 900-foot-tall Jesus.

And of course, there’s the Ark Encounter theme park in dirt poor Kentucky that features a humongous replica of Noah’s Ark.

Dear God, when will humanity evolve beyond the need for giant idols?