I’ve Heard of “Catholic Plastic” But This Seems a Bit Too Much

Last time I went to a Target, I saw a toy Jesus. I thought it was a sick joke; today I learned that it isn’t, but, according to this article by Ryan Gallagher, toy company One2Believe is selling them as a way to reach out to today’s youth (and Catholic Churches are taking them up on their idea):

“We designed the toys to give parents a new way of introducing the Bible to their kids in a way that’s fun and ultimately will lead children to want to learn more about the Bible,” said Josh Livingston, a spokesman for One2Believe.

I just don’t get it. Can someone help me out here? How does marketing and selling religious toys help catechize our youth? Wouldn’t it trivialize the faith in their eyes? Wouldn’t children place such a figure next to a G.I. Joe or Barbie, and wouldn’t that help lead them to believe they are similar – that Jesus, just like G.I. Joe, is make believe? Moreover, what are they going to do with the toy – what kind of “stories” will they act out? Something tells me it will end up very sacrilegious.