By HILLARY EDMAN

Staff Writer

Trends come and go, but one particular trend has managed to stand the test of time, dating over 2,000 years.

This new fashion, better known as the 'Buddy Christ' syndrome, is a trend of recognizing the religious figure Jesus Christ as one's homeboy or buddy.

People show their like or hate by displaying the message, "Jesus is my homeboy" on T-shirts or planting the cartoon-like Jesus figurine on their dashboards.

In the past, Jesus has been called many names, but since movies such as "Dogma" and the clothing line Teenage Millionaire, the Son of God Himself, in keeping up with the times, has received a name makeover.

The real question is how is this fashion wave affecting the religious community?

Scott Wright, director of the Wesley Foundation, said the 'Buddy Christ' syndrome does not offend him but serves as awareness to others.

"Everyone knows who Jesus is despite what religion, whether you are atheist, agnostic or any religion," Wright said. "So to wear a T-shirt that says, 'Jesus is my homeboy' is a way of bringing the humanity of Jesus back into the picture."

Wright said people today see Christ as an untouchable religious figure and this shirt is a reminder to people that Jesus, just like us, was once a person.

"If [these items] bring people back to the fact that [Jesus] was human and a friend to a lot of people, then that is good, and it is what should be important and essential," Wright said.

William McConnell, a senior accounting major, said he does not think the intention of selling these items was sacrilegious.

"Anything that causes people to think about Jesus or God, I think can be beneficial," McConnell said. "Jesus is supposed to be your closest friend and referring to him as your homeboy is no different than referring to him as your best friend."

Wright said he does not see the shirt as a way of mocking religion or promoting it.

"I do not think the purpose of the shirt is evangelism," Wright said. "I think the underlying goal was capitalism, which I am fine with. If they want to make money off of it, then great."

McConnell said it is not a religious controversy, it is economical.

"If there is a market for items such as these, there is a demand," McConnell said.

For all those people not wanting to market these items, Wright said he thinks the 'Buddy Christ' syndrome is just a fad, and like all fads, they never last.

"I think, in the long run, it is going to be just another blip on the screen," Wright said. "It is going to be a fad just like pet rocks once were; it will be gone in six months."

But while this new trend rules the clothing racks and dashboards of America, McConnell said the 'Buddy Christ' syndrome is just one of the many elements that attributes to religion today.

"There is more of a stand being taken in this country away from God as well as towards God," McConnell said. "[The 'Buddy Christ' syndrome] is as much as a cultural thing as it is the evolution of our society."

Wright said he does not see this new trend affecting religion as it has affected fashion.

"This is more of a fashion statement than a religious one," Wright said. "There is not a whole lot you can read into it. It is not this deep philosophical T-shirt."

Linda Osborne, director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, said people should be cautious of commercialization of religious products.

"While it is true that Jesus desires an intimate friendship with all people, we must be careful to remember that Jesus is God, as well as friend," Osborne said.

"We need to have an appropriate balance of reverence and friendship."