Keeping The Faith

Rapping monks. Nuns strutting their ba-dunk-a-dunks. When I heard this two things came to mind: yet another season with a sub-par America's Next Top Model finale or part two of Ben Stiller's rabbinical charades.

But alas, it turns out that this is something that would blow even the mind of the part Shiite Muslim Irish bartender with Jewish relatives that comes to light in Stiller's movie.

Ladies and gents, this is real.

It happened Saturday, and it was promoting Buddhism - aimed at winning back believers.

When I read THIS, two more things came to mind. First, how is a fashion show going to win back believers? Most Buddhists I know are fashion faux pas in the making anyway. And secondly, isn't Buddhism ALREADY the largest growing religion on the world? I grew up in a conservative small town in Virginia before I came to the more liberal New York, and yet I know that my younger sister has Bible-belt friends with little Buddha shrines in their bedroom. It brings peace, it brings harmony, it's the cool thing to do now that sushi is so 1990's.

Thanks to Tyra Banks I realize that the catwalk has its roots in southern churches, but perhaps this is taking it too far.