"Spiritual Bottled Water" Takes It to the Next (Shameful) Level

Revolutionary "Spiritual Bottled Water" Delivers Health and Prosperity Through Prayers and Purified Water That Quenches Material and Spiritual Thirst - PR.com

This is a joke, right?

A drinks company is banking on some divine help in a new venture -- selling spiritual water in bottles featuring Jesus and carrying prayers -- despite warnings this promotion could backfire.

Spiritual Brands Inc., a start-up company from Florida, is hoping to make a splash in the competitive bottled water market, worth over $11 billion a year in the United States alone, with its new Spiritual Water.

Available in 10 varieties, one flavor "Balance" features a picture of Jesus on the front with The Lord's Prayer on the back in both English and Spanish while "Focus" carries a likeness of the Virgin Mary.

While the labels are different, all 10 kinds of Spiritual Water, which made its official debut this week at a trade show in Miami, are the same -- purified water -- with a suggested retail price for 16.9-ounce bottles of up to $1.99 ($1.69 really).

...Elicko Taieb, company founder and chief executive, said...the company chose Christianity first, since it is so prevalent in the United States, but has plans to expand.

"We are working on covering everyone, from Muslims to Jews to Buddhists," said Taieb. "Hopefully by next year we will begin to launch those products, by right now we are working hard on getting distribution." More at Reuters.

Yeah right! I'd like to see him market a bottle with Mohammad's face on it! Muslims get so worked up over a teddy bear, imagine what kind of lunacy would happen off over bottled water with an image of Mohammad.

Anyway, I was considering getting the Spiritual Water 6-Mix Pack. I mean, after reading this on the manufacturer's Web site: "Do you need to have a better day? Do you want to do better in your life? Grab a Six Pack of Mixed Spiritual Water bottle, read the prayer, believe in God, believe in yourself and the sky’s the limit…" how can I resist!

Oh, and of course, part of the proceeds go towards the Spiritual Foundation, 'a foundation for children in need.' Somehow I find that hard to believe... 35-year-old children in need of a Mustang or something? Whatever. Here's the link to Spiritual H20, if you must.

NOTE: Image/graphic taken from Newsweek, which has a fair and balanced take on the whole and mentions similar ventures.

I guess it's no better than Peter Popoff's miracle water. Or Danny Davis' no evil oil. And Thomas Kerney's prayer handkerchief. These are all ministers of god, by the way. This secular dude gets an award for taking it to the next level.