Psychologist G. Stanley Hall, one of the movement’s leaders, recommended that Christ himself be buffed up as a way of increasing Protestantism’s appeal. In a public opinion survey, Hall discovered that most viewers turned to words like “sick, unwashed, sissy, ugly, feeble” when presented with a standard painting of Christ on the cross. Hall advocated a Jesus with muscles and bulk, fighting back against his persecutors rather than succumbing meekly to crucifixion.
