Jesus statue struck by lightning

[RecycleMichael]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lightning_strikes_jesus_statue

6-story Jesus statue in Ohio struck by lightning
           
MONROE, Ohio – A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said. The "King of Kings" statue, one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati. The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m., Monroe police dispatchers said.

The sculpture, 62 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base, showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown. It was made of plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained early Tuesday.

The fire spread from the statue to an adjacent amphitheater but was confined to the attic area, and no one was injured, police Chief Mark Neu said. The fire department would release a monetary damage estimate Tuesday, he said. Travelers on Interstate 75 often were startled to come upon the huge statue by the roadside, but many said America needs more symbols like it. So many people stopped at the church campus that church officials had to build a walkway to accommodate them.

The 4,000-member, nondenominational church was founded by former horse trader Lawrence Bishop and his wife. Bishop said in 2004 he was trying to help people, not impress them, with the statue. He said his wife proposed the Jesus figure as a beacon of hope and salvation and they spent about $250,000 to finance it.

[RecycleMichael]

Is this a sign?

[Townsend]

Is this a sign?

That the statue looked like "return of the living Jesus" coming at the truckers and needed to go?  Probably.

[Hoss]

Too bad Bill Maher's last show of this season was last Friday.  He'd have had a field day with that one...

[Conan71]

That the statue looked like "return of the living Jesus" coming at the truckers and needed to go?  Probably.

Yeah, that was double-creepy.  No wonder God wanted it removed from the roadway.

[sgrizzle]

Doesn't lightning technically go up?

[Hoss]

Doesn't lightning technically go up?

both way if it strikes an object on the ground.  You'll get a return stroke usually.

I find it funny now that on the Wiki entry for this statue, there have been several nicknames given for it, other than 'Touchdown Jesus'.

Some of them are:

Big Butter Jesus (for its buttery color)
MC 62-Foot Jesus (like musician MC 900 Ft. Jesus)
Quicksand Jesus

Here's the statue pre-strike:



Which makes some of the above relevant.

Now, here's a photo of the aftermath:



With the indication that some people have given it the nickname 'Terminator Jesus' now...

[Townsend]

Doesn't lightning technically go up?

It does.  It does lots of stuff.

It can even make a big frowny face when you displease it.

[Mike 01Hawk]

Terminator Jesus.... :rotfl:

[BKDotCom]

So, was giant hideous Jesus a big tourist attraction (like the never gonna happen Indian is supposed to be)?

[patric]

MC 62-Foot Jesus (like musician MC 900 Ft. Jesus).

Did anyone ever save any of the posters being sold around town of the "Caution 900 ft. Ahead" (with a silhouette of Jesus) highway caution sign parody near ORU?
Some local artist outdid themselves with that one.

[sauerkraut]

The statue should of been grounded- Something like that would make a huge lightning rod- I was surprised it was made out of wood, if they replace it they should make it out of metal. It's  sad loss.

[Conan71]

The statue should of been grounded- Something like that would make a huge lightning rod- I was surprised it was made out of wood, if they replace it they should make it out of metal. It's  sad loss.

On your way home from the Columbus Library, would you mind making a detour to go get some shots of it for us?

[Hoss]

On your way home from the Columbus Library, would you mind making a detour to go get some shots of it for us?

+ eleventybillion!

[Hoss]

The statue should of been grounded- Something like that would make a huge lightning rod- I was surprised it was made out of wood, if they replace it they should make it out of metal. It's  sad loss.

Hey, Einstein...last I checked wood didn't attract or conduct lightning!  Metal, does.

electrical knowledge FAIL.