Lightning Strikes Touchdown Jesus: Act of God or Just Bad Weather?

Last night, a lightning bolt struck down a Jesus statue in Ohio along I-75 running through Cincinnati. This statue of Jesus stands six stories high and has his arms outstretched to the sky. It burned down to the ground after being struck by lightning and was a major distraction to drivers passing along the highway at the time. So what does this all mean? Some people believe that it is a sign from the Almighty. Others think that is ironicly hilarious and it doesn't symbolize anything more than any other tall landmark that attracts lightning.

In my opinion, I think the existence of the Touchdown Jesus was slightly inappropriate anyway. It has earned its name due to the outstretched arms that resemble a goal post at the ends of a football field. I've never been to the Bengals stadium, but I'm sure that it is well equipped with two working goal posts, this one was not needed.

Now that it has been struck down, this football Jesus is all of sudden being looked at as some sign of a greater being. It is just overwhelmingly ironic and all I can do is shake my head. From a religious standpoint, it does seem like a bad omen. One could say that God is tired of our behavior and this mockery. He struck down the Jesus to send us a message. Or, one could say that tall objects attract lightning during a storm. If that same lightning bolt struck something else close to the Touchdown Jesus that wasn't as tall, then it still would have been considered a sign.

Next time we want to create a Touchdown Jesus or a Homerun Moses, I think we should just cut the tie to sports and show a tad bit more respect. And if the Touchdown Jesus must exist, then if it burns down, take it as an omen to the future of the sports team, not mankind.

Below is a video of the statue and how lightly it has been taken.