Montrose1100 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/6-story-cross-and-water-wall-going-up-at-major-5373640.php St. Joseph's Professional Building Downtown, that giant cross on the west side of Beltway 8 & I-45 South, these super crosses seem to be sprouting up left and right. I'm all for Christian Churches displaying the Cross, but these giant in your face ones are a bit obnoxious. Almost like the towering 6 story McDonald's signs found in rural towns along the interstate. Not bashing Christianity or Religion, just the fact that they are displaying giant eye sores on the landscape. Edit: I have to say, this First Baptist is the most tasteful out of all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
democide Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I hear what you're saying, but I think we should do something about all the freaking power lines all over the place, that to me (among other things of course) is a way bigger eye sore. If this giant cross was used to hold up power lines, then I would object. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Where are the 6 story crescents or 12 story neon light Star of Davids? I think we could use of few of these...you know...for balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Almost like the towering 6 story McDonald's signs found in rural towns along the interstate. Would you judge me if I said I was a bit fond of them? New avatar even references them (sorta) (Also, there is definitely a level of obnoxiousness/pretentiousness--while not a giant cross, Community of Faith off of 290 has this "boomerang" shaped cross and an extremely bright and large display screen) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted April 4, 2014 Author Share Posted April 4, 2014 I hear what you're saying, but I think we should do something about all the freaking power lines all over the place, that to me (among other things of course) is a way bigger eye sore. If this giant cross was used to hold up power lines, then I would object.I do agree that Power lines are going to be Houston's 2nd biggest issue to tackle (other than the T word). My issue is not that it's a cross, or a religious symbol, but just the sheer size of them. Like the Giant American Flag district (both sides of I-10 in Memorial City). Seems very rural and un-city like to me. But I guess so are the dealerships that fly them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 ^^ Good analogy. Most Churches in this town, after all, do have all the charm and quaintness or most major frontage road auto dealerships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Where are the 6 story crescents or 12 story neon light Star of Davids? I think we could use of few of these...you know...for balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 I kinda like the crosses too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little frau Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 My memory is failing me but I think there is a huge cross somewhere near Beltway 8 on the southside, near I-45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
democide Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 My memory is failing me but I think there is a huge cross somewhere near Beltway 8 on the southside, near I-45. You are correct, that is Sagemont Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Where are the 6 story crescents or 12 story neon light Star of Davids? I think we could use of few of these...you know...for balance. haha i was going to say something along those lines.. these churches/organizations would be POed if someone built a different religions symbol right next to theirs. especially if it was even bigger. heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 We are overdue to be Touched By His Noodly Appendage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Six story tall fork? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Personally, I am embarrassed to see the fad of giant religious icons take hold in Houston. I used to associate it with 3rd-world countries with low education levels. I'm not knocking people for having the beliefs they have, but I think that putting stuff like this up doesn't get them the respect they apparently yearn for. It seems rather childish, in the vein of "my religious icon is bigger than yours". Is that going to make me respect them more or want to join their fold? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 OTOH, seeing a giant replica of the Flying Spaghetti Monster makes me hungry! Not enough, however, to pull into the closest Olive Garden. I guess I'm just too much of a maverick <sigh> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I immediately think of roadside attraction - largest pecan, giant frying pan, Muffler Men, huge cross. At least this one is a little more glitzy than the boring ol' Sagemont cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 No offence but the giant crosses make Houston look like a town full of over religious nuts. It makes the city seem backwards and unprogressive. When I see those giant crosses I think: unwelcoming, conservative, southern baptist, bible belt capital, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
democide Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Well the good thing is it's only your perception, a false one at that. How about all those damn billboards? Let's do something about those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Giant cross, giant flag, giant billboard...shoot, even a giant Flying Spaghetti Monster (if such should happen, he boiled for our sins) - they're all advertising something or another in a giant, in your face way. I miss the "OWNER HAS BRAIN DAMAGE" car lot sign on 45 that I used to have to explain to out of town visitors coming in from the airport. At least it was fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Its not just CityKid's perception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Its not just CityKid's perception. Ramen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 No offence but the giant crosses make Houston look like a town full of over religious nuts. It makes the city seem backwards and unprogressive. When I see those giant crosses I think: unwelcoming, conservative, southern baptist, bible belt capital, etc.I thought about the unwelcoming part, like the first one seemed like a knee-jerk reaction when there were plans for a mosque near ground zero. A quick claiming of territory. Maybe I'm over analyzing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I thought about the unwelcoming part, like the first one seemed like a knee-jerk reaction when there were plans for a mosque near ground zero. A quick claiming of territory. Maybe I'm over analyzing it.Giant crosses are pretentious, obnoxious, and bring out the radical atheist in some people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Giant cross, giant flag, giant billboard...shoot, even a giant Flying Spaghetti Monster (if such should happen, he boiled for our sins) - they're all advertising something or another in a giant, in your face way. I miss the "OWNER HAS BRAIN DAMAGE" car lot sign on 45 that I used to have to explain to out of town visitors coming in from the airport. At least it was fun. I miss the giant cock roach above Holders Pest Control on the Southwest Freeway! That just about summed it up to our visitors and the newly arrived. "Welcome to Houston Ya'll" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I miss the giant cock roach above Holders Pest Control on the Southwest Freeway! That just about summed it up to our visitors and the newly arrived. "Welcome to Houston Ya'll" Bubba the Neon Roach! I loved that too. I always thought the city should have bought it when it was taken down from Holder's and set it up in Market Square or somewhere like that. If ever there would have been a great civic avatar, that would have been it. All they would have to do is replace the L-D-E-R-S with U-S-T-O-N. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I sure do miss Bubba The Neon Roach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Read the article on Bubba the Roach. That makes me sad that they destroyed the sign. Wish they had mothballed it at Sparkle Signs, where I've been seeing that old McDonald's sign every time I drive by there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Before Bubba the Roach, there was the giant shrimp (on Main St, I think) clutching a six-shooter in each hand. The over-the-top icons in the Houston of my childhood were whimsical. They didn't make me think of the Taliban. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 I would much rather see banana phone, bubba the roach, the Ft. bend music piano, and tin rooster tower of terror than a giant cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I'm a bit surprised that the city doesn't have some sort of ordinance blocking things like this--and not just crosses but also similarly sized things: after all, didn't the city ban roadside inflatables (car dealerships, etc.) in 2009? Seems like I remember reading about that, and they went away within months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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