 Posted Wednesday, December 13, 2006 8:35 AM
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| Hi, This is my first post to this forum. Last week I passed by a CS Reading in the Northern Virginia area outside of Washington, DC which is operated by the First Church of Christ Scientist, Arlington, Virginia. The location of this reading room is 123 N. Little Falls Street in Falls Church, Virginia. As I passed by this reading room in my car, I saw displayed in the window some objects that looked aimed at the commercial/material side of Christmas--a reindeer with a bright red bird directly above its mouth like the reindeer was trying to catch the bird. Above these objects were large snowflakes hanging from the ceiling of the display window. In another window viewable from the street was something which I would expect from a religious bookstore--a large-sized quote from scripture. However next to it was a decorated Christmas tree with a very small chipmunk and a few other items beside it. This dismay made me stop my car and go inside. The display decorator was there with her husband explaining they were not successful in creating the effect they wanted--a bird flying above the reindeer, which they called a "baby doe". I just couldn't accept their explanation. Later that day I decided to call the reading room and spoke to the assistant librarian who told me if no one else complained they would keep the display up. In general, I feel the display not only represents a very bad display, with items thrown together with the result of "misleading" people who are familiar with Christian Science and those who are not. When did they start allowing the reading rooms to display "gimmicks" to get people to come into their reading rooms? Based on this display and the response of the reading room attendant, I think the demise of CS is in the offing. I would like to know what others who live in this area of Northern Virginia think. This reading room welcomes people to contact them (tele: 703-532-2396) and let them know how they feel about the appropriateness of this display. TMG98
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Posted Wednesday, December 13, 2006 8:51 PM
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| Every time I promise myself (and others) that I won't contribute here, a post like yours shows up and I have to just break those promises. This story of yours has hopped right onto a personal short list of shocking themes on this forum. You think I'm kdding? Not at all. What are these people thinking? Baby doe? Your story tops the last time I visited a Reading Room where the librarian was sporting 2 inch long fingernails painted a rather bleak gray shade of polish. The world is going mad, I tell you.
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Posted Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:25 PM
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| Not having seen the display, I suspect that the Reading Room attendants were just trying to decorate for Chistmas like everyone else on the street. A secular theme doesn't surprise me, nor would it concern me.
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Posted Thursday, December 14, 2006 2:55 PM
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Hi,
At this same reading room on St. Patrick's Day, a female library attendant (over 70 years in age) painted her hair green. I could laugh at that but not the "baby doe" which I still consider to be a reindeer. I don't see Christian Bookstores stooping to such "gimmicks" to get people to come in and buy their material. One item in particular that they are selling in most CS Reading Rooms are Evangelical Bibles! For $45 they are selling a 4-in-1 bible including the Message Bible, which I like a great deal.
Today, I was able to contact the Mother Church about this "unusual" display and this sort of secularism is not a "new" problem to them. The Mother Church has an office that helps reading rooms put together professional displays. This is something I shall suggest to this reading room in Falls Church, Virginia.
Thanks for your responses,
TMG98
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