God is “frowning” on a nativity scene in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to Christian protesters flustered at the contents of an unusual festive display. Jasen Dixon, the manager of the local “13 Rooms of Doom,” created a life-sized zombie nativity scene replete with undead baby Jesus nestled in a hay trough, serenaded by a ghostly cover of 'Silent Night.'
According to 'The New York Times,' this is the second year Dixon has presented Christ’s birth as a vignette of the living dead. Last year he was ordered to take it down. This year he applied for a permit, only to be refused as it contravened a local zoning laws. Undeterred, Dixon built it anyway, risking a $500 a day fine from Sycamore town officials, as well as stirring the ire of the local faithful.
Writing on his Facebook page on Friday, Dixon said: “We were going to take it down, decided to leave it up, all the lights are re-hooked and open for business just no roof. Let’s see what happens.” Speaking to a local TV news channel over the weekend, Dixon explained: “I got all the paperwork and how it was wrote out, and it says as long as it’s not over 200-square foot that I can have it without a permit, and it’s about 65-square foot."
When asked what exactly local authorities might not like about a life-sized display featuring a cross-legged, razor-toothed zombie Jesus surrounded by undead wise men bent on flesh, Dixon said: “I think it’s the theme. It just rubs people the wrong way. That’s why they’re coming down so hard on me.”
Zombie Jesus sits next to a pamphlet given out by a local Christian group
The owner, who is currently asking for donations to help cover the costs of any fines, insists his neighbours are fine with the scene. God, however, is perturbed, his followers protesting the Yuletide exhibit by handing out pamphlets.
“GOD FROWNS UPON THIS MANGER SCENE,” the literature screamed, noting: "Jesus has supreme power over death and evil; he is not a zombie.”
Christ did, however, rise from the dead… so prepare for the apocalypse.