Jesus Is My Homeboy

I felt like they were mocking. The pictures and they way in which the first t-shirt dressed Jesus as a gangster didn't look to me like just a way to express one's religious beliefs. I felt the second one was mocking as well, and yes, i did see them as a parody. I have a religious background and still as of today religion plays a big role in my life. Therefore having this experience i feel like i see these images differently and offensive. My faith is important to me and its something i cherish so to see things that even lean toward degrading it i get offensive. So i can definitely see why those that are religious would be offended by these t-shirts and images.
T-shirts without the pictures might would lessen the effect but i would still find the slogans offensive. Depending on who was wearing them and their reason for wearing them would also have an effect on how i would view them.
In his article Paul Mitchell mentions the fact that Christians find these slogans and images offensive but farther down in the article he says, "Sadly, I even know Christians who wear them." This statement is a complete contradiction to what he is arguing. If he wanted to fully support his stance then why would he include that statement. It only serves to weaken his argument.
Both of these T-shirts use their overall design in a mocking nature of the actual message. Both shirts read "Jesus is my Homeboy." The first shirt creates Jesus in the light of being an equal to the one wearing the shirt by putting him in regular clothes and by having him holding up a peace sign. Jesus is seen to be something that is revered or at least he should be. Even those who are not religious or believe in Jesus should have enough respect of the religion to not be so condescending. The second shirt, although it does so Jesus is a more religious light by having the halo around his head, is sending a mocking message by having this great religious figurine and then such a laid back slogan as to call him their "homeboy." Even if the wearer of the shirt(s) may not find them offensive I think anyone who understands who Jesus truly is or who those who believe in him believe he is , they would find the wording and the symbolism used in the t-shirt as offensive.