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Russia: Apple Logo Branded As Unchristian by Orthodox Activists

Posted 3 October 2012 19:07 GMT
Written byKevin Rothrock
Countries Russia
Topics Breaking News, Protest, Religion, Technology
Languages Russian, English
Special RuNet Echo
RuNet Echo This post is part of RuNet Echo, a Global Voices project to interpret the Russian language internet. All Posts · Learn more

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Ελληνικά · Ρωσία: Το λογότυπο της Apple χαρακτηρίστηκε αντιχριστιανικό από Ορθόδοξους ακτιβιστές
Español · Rusia: Logo de Apple considerado no cristiano por activistas ortodoxos

Interfax new agency reported [ru] today that a fringe group of Russian Orthodox activists (including some priests) has “on a number of occasions” staged public protests against the maker of the iPhone and iPad, Apple Inc., on the grounds that the company's logo (a monochrome “bitten” apple) constitutes an anti-Christian symbol. The activists, who apparently also own Apple computers, have made a public spectacle of hanging crosses over their machines’ Apple logo, which they say alludes to the forbidden fruit discussed in Genesis 2:16–17 of the Bible. Others have pointed out that Apple's original 1976 logo in fact depicted Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, though the iconic rainbow “bitten” apple logo was adopted almost immediately thereafter.

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  • C Wilkinson

    This is not an accurate reflection of the contents of the Interfax article that is provided as a link. There is no mention in it of public demonstrations in it, nor does it say that “activists [...] have made a public spectacle of hanging crosses over their machines’ Apple logo” – rather, it says that they’ve replaced the Apple logo with an image (lit. “emblem”) of the Cross on their machines. In addition, the title is misleading and conflates the Apple logo with the company – sure, makes for a “better” headline, but again, it’s not accurate based on the link provided and needs correcting. Much though I’m not a fan of the ROC or religion in general, spreading sensationalist misinformation is unethical and simply poor practice.

    • agoodtreaty

      CW, thanks for this comment. The Interfax article states verbatim, “On religious grounds, some believers in Russia are dismantling the logo on their Apple devices. Interfax-Religion has learned of a number of occasions when Orthodox believers, including priests, changed the ensign from a bitten apple into an emblem with the image of the cross.”

      Your points are well taken, but this phenomenon inherently represents a public protest and public spectacle. That Interfax learned about it at all denotes that the “anti-Apple-logo” practice is not occurring merely in private. If you disagree, I’d argue that your understanding of the words “protest” and “spectacle” is too narrow. These things can happen without picket lines or megaphones.

      Your objection to the title is reasonable. While changing it does clutter the headline a bit, I agree that the original wording is unfortunately misleading, and I’ve gone ahead and clarified it.

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