Jesus statue: Blasphemous or inspiring?

Following are edited excerpts of comments left on the DDN’s Speak Up line or that were submitted online at DaytonDailyNews.com:

I hate to say it, but the burning of Touchdown Jesus was divine justice. With all of the homeless and hungry people in our community, why not spend this money as Jesus would — feed and dress the poor people? I don’t think Jesus would have approved of this statue of him.

The Jesus statue in Monroe was blasphemous.

Maybe the burning of the Jesus statue was God's way of showing his displeasure with the way the world is going.

I hope the church in Monroe rebuilds the King of Kings statue. It has been an inspiration to me every time I drive by it.

I've always had mixed emotions about it, but it served its purpose. It got the church attention. The story is being viewed and discussed all over the world. Plus, now people are debating if this was a sign from God.

Touchdown Jesus, Big Butter Jesus, whichever, it's a shame for the church. Best wishes in rebuilding.

It should not be rebuilt. This statue was not about God or Jesus. It was feeding a church's need for attention.

Just wondering what Solid Rock Church doesn't understand about "make no graven images."

I'm an engineer. They built a lightening rod that was covered with a flammable material. This had nothing to do with a sign from above.

Everything happens for a reason. This didn't happen just because.

It was ugly as sin. If there's a supreme being, perhaps he just couldn't stand to look at the thing any longer.

Yes, the destruction of Touchdown Jesus is a sign. A sign not to put a 70-foot metal pole covered in flammable material in a body of water.

I think God Himself got rid of that atrocious statue. What better way to show that some sects of Christianity have lost their way than by destroying one of the biggest symbols of greed, excess and showboating?