One Town Doesn't Like This Zombie Nativity Scene

If there's one thing we ought to be able to all agree on, it's that different people like to celebrate holidays different ways. I'm an atheist myself, but despite that I'm as close to a Christmas-ist as you can get — while it's a revered and deeply-felt religious holiday for many, it can also be a secular paean to warmth and good cheer for others. Or, apparently, a chance for some very belated Halloween spooks: an Ohio man's zombie Nativity scene was ordered shut down by his town, and he's none too pleased about it.

It almost goes without saying that if you're a devout Christian, you might be offended by the sight the baby Jesus Christ as part of a ghastly zombie cabal. You might not, of course — it ultimately all depends on your relationship with funny, strange, somewhat blasphemous content. I can't deny that I'm perfectly willing to enjoy it, however, especially considering just how good the whole set-up looks. The red and green lighting really brings out the glow in that withered skin. But now, Sycamore Township resident Jasen Dixon is being told he has to take down his zombified nativity scene, on the grounds that it violates the local zoning code. If you ask him, however, the real culprit may be someone's offended religious sensibilities.

I've lived here for 15 years and I've never had a violation of any kind. It's a holiday decoration. I know if it was a real pretty Nativity scene they wouldn't be saying anything.

There seems to be an impressive bit of detail in the presentation — Dixon is the manager of a haunted house called "13 Rooms of Doom," and as such had all the materials necessary to make this macabre nativity scene. In fact, according to Dixon's neighbor, it's basically the same set-up he had on Halloween, when nobody complained about the zoning requirements. Dixon is well aware that some people don't like his unique display, according to Fox 19, but he's got his fans, too.

The neighbors don't like it. My father hates it and anything bad that happens he blames it on that. On the average we probably get 30 or 40 cars stop and taking pictures, getting out with their camera. People that follow zombie movies and stuff like that love it.

In any event, it's now up to Dixon to decide how he wants to move forward. One advantage he has is the deadline he's been given to pull the set down — according to Fox News, he'll only face legal action if it's still up on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, meaning his right to celebrate zombie Jesus on the day of his birth, at the very least, will not be infringed. So, what do you think? Towering artistic achievement, or offensive display of insensitivity? Or, maybe both?

Images: Fox 19 (3)