Nude Nymph a No-No in Alabama

How does Christianity harm? Well here's one way, a vineyard can't sell its wine in Alabama because the label is considered pornographic. That's right, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board finds the "gorgeous piece of work" which is the label for Cycles Gladiator wine in violation of its prohibition on labels with "a person posed in an immoral or sensuous manner."

So where's the Christianity? You tell me where the definition of immoral comes from that they're working from. How else does "sensual" = wrong? How else does shame and revulsion to the human form manifest? These are all by-products of Christian morality and its war on sexuality. Add this to the ridiculous ban of sex toys in the state, and a sodomy law that could get you, if you're unmarried, up to one year in jail and a $2000 fine. (Ah, but sodomy laws are unconstitutional right, like requiring belief in a god to hold public office? Well as long as they're on the books, you'll have to suffer the charge until you reach the Court of Appeals.) It's all about control, and if you can control sexuality, well you pretty much control humanity. Of course when you can control sexuality AND alcohol, well that's quite a two-fer. Oh, and Alabama will soon be reinstating the ban on liquor sales on Sundays, because that's god's day, you know.

I'm really torn over exactly why this story infuriates me, though. Sure, I'm infuriated due to the imposition of Christian morality, but I'm also infuriated because this is, essentially, an art ban, and as an artist, that REALLY boils my blood. The label is, imo, a beautiful ink or watercolor painting in an early 20th century, art nouveau inspired style. Now of course art appreciation is largely subjective and you may not care for this piece, but then that also undermines the warrant for labeling it offensive. Furthermore, regardless of all that, prohibiting the viewing of such a work is offensive, especially when you'd think that the ones seeing it would be mostly, if not all adults. Even so, what's the basis for determining that viewing nudity in art = harm? For instance, have there been studies of the effect of seeing the Little Mermaid statue on the people of Copenhagen?



No, this is just more ridiculous religious intrusion into society, and yet another thing to throw onto the pile of examples for how religion, in this case specifically Christianity, harms. If you have an opportunity to purchase this wine where you are, try to do so. I know you can find it at Total Wine in Delaware.