Second, these figures do “manifest” Scripture and put mental images in more concrete forms. But criticism along these lines would have to reconsider all illustrations inspired by Scripture. And that includes everything from da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” to a child’s illustrated version of the Bible. What’s the coolest action figure since G.I. Joe? The Jesus Action Figure, according to online retailer Archie McPhee. These figures, however, can pose more than their arms and legs. They pose a problem for some who examine religious culture. Folklorist Simon Bronner, in Grasping Things: Folk Material Culture and Mass Society in America, wrote that touch is important because its “association with the hand implies the grip of possession.” That is, people become invested in ideas when they can experience them through other senses, especially touch. In the irreverent online publication Bully Magazine ( www.bullymag.com), Ken Wohlrob wrote: “What’s really interesting is that most of these manufacturers overlook one basic fact—that action figures are to be used with an imagination.”

Jesus Action Figure / Christ action figures / Bible themed toys Jesus Action Figure / Christ action figures / Bible themed toys

The figures may be for children, but there’s no escaping theology. Train Up a Child, for example, offers a light-skinned and a dark-skinned line of figures. CCM’s initial lines had olive-colored skin. The blurring of boundaries isn’t lost on Kalich: “We feel our action figures serve the same purpose as other Christian products for children, such as coloring books, board games, plush toys and others,” he said. It’s common knowledge that tactile experience is good for intellectual as well as motor skill development. That’s why toys are tools for learning. Also, scholars have demonstrated that people tend to be creative when they start monkeying around with things. First, the firing of imaginations is hardly unique to action figures. Adults read to children—and to themselves, for that matter—because reading itself frees the mind. On the market for about one year, the figure sprang less from a theological motive and more from a desire for something novel. But not all biblical action figures are novelty items. Some are intended for actual use by children.

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Though writing in jest as always, SOF makes an interesting point about the Jesus Action Figure. SOF reports it can’t recommend the figure because it is “theologically biased.” For example, Cook Communications Ministries ( www.cookministries.com) has produced a line of action figures including Jesus, Moses, David, Goliath and Samson. If there is an ethic behind biblical action figures, it may have less to do with which figures are put into plastic and more to do with how Jesus—in the hands of children—behaves.

Jesus Action Figures - Figures Toy Company Jesus Action Figures - Figures Toy Company

SOF’s point, of course, is that kids’ imaginations can, and do, run wild. And those imaginations might not shut down just because the figures represent characters from Holy Scriptures. Third, various forms of “Bible figures” have been around for centuries. Nativity sets are comprised of biblical figures, though they probably don’t have moveable arms and legs. But many a child has rearranged those figures, hidden them and used them with other figurines. And Ship-of-Fools ( www.ship-of-fools.com)is likely unsurpassed in reflecting on all things religious. Flannel board figures, while not three-dimensional, have offered children a means of acting out stories with Bible characters for decades.

Jesus Action Figures

So when CCM promotes its Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus action figure collection, it states that not only will the figures help children “mingle play time with faith time,” but the collection will bring the nativity “to life.” The product information also indicates that the figures will create “hours of fun for acting out the Christmas story.” These biblical action figures are important precisely because they are toys: adults manufacture them and children play with them. And they do interpret Christian tradition. How warranted is the criticism of biblical action figures? Yes, they’re tactile. Yes, they probably ignite children’s imaginations. But is this anything new?

Biblical Action Figures: Acting Out the Faith or Creating New Biblical Action Figures: Acting Out the Faith or Creating New

SOF concludes that “the real fun begins when you let them into the doll’s house, and when David first sets eyes on Barbie…”