As of 2014, seven in ten active-duty military service members (69.8%) defending the United States of America identified as Christians. In other words, most of them view the baby Jesus as a sacred symbol, representing the son of God being born of the Virgin Mary after the Archangel Gabriel spilled the beans to the notables involved — Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, etc. and the rest is history (or believed to be, by many).

It would be a good gamble to bet that these proud military members would be none too pleased to find out about the following hullabaloo, which involves a Cincinnati, Ohio household constructing a Nativity scene with infant Jesus Christ … as an undead, snarling demon-eyed zombie.

And it’s going on year two, despite outcries from their neighbors and zoning officials to take it down.

This from The New York Times:

The biblical scene comes complete with Mary, Joseph, undead wise men and a razor-toothed baby Jesus in a manger. A spooky version of “Silent Night” blares in the background. At night, rainbow-colored lights showcase the scene.

Last year, the Nativity scene began as a publicity stunt to bring some visitors to a local haunted house that Mr. Dixon ran. Mr. Dixon told Local 12 WKRC-TV in Ohio that he brought it back because it was popular with the locals.

The problems began last year when local officials said he did not have a permit to construct the spooky display. Ms. Dixon said that they thought they were in compliance this year. But their permit application was declined, and she said they could face a fee of $500 a day. Calls and emails to the zoning administrator of Sycamore Township were not returned on Monday.

“Last year they apparently dropped the charges,” Ms. Dixon wrote in a Facebook message. “This year we must have made them mad because they are hounding us about it.”

The zoning deadline has passed recently without any action from authorities, but other groups have stepped in and taken their own through righteous messaging.

“God frowns upon this manger scene,” a pamphlet from a local religious group read, which was dropped near the scene. “Jesus has supreme power over death and evil; he is not a zombie.”

The couple, Jasen and Amanda Dixon, say they’re not Atheists and merely see the scene as art. They’re working to raise money to make the work even greater for Christmastime next year.