Another Christian world-view post

[wasions]

At least now we have a place for me to put it.

Opinions? Care to share?

BreakPoint with Charles Colson
Commentary #030626 - 06/26/2003

Sick, Twisted People
How Hollywood Portrays Christians

In the recent film Hannibal, a character named Mason Verger has just one goal in life: to catch up with the cannibal who chewed off his face, and feed him to flesh-eating pigs. It's a sick and twisted goal—and it may not surprise you to learn that Verger is the film's only Christian character.

Just one more illustration of how Hollywood tends to treat followers of Christ.

Sadly, there's no shortage of other recent examples. In the historical film Quills, about the Marquis de Sade, the vilest sexual behavior is performed by a Catholic priest; de Sade is portrayed as the persecuted victim of a puritanical society.

Another film, The Pledge, portrays Christianity as a religion for killers. In a movie called The Cell, a Christian upbringing causes a character to become a serial killer.

Celluloid missionaries are almost as bad. In films like Black Robe and At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Christians bring not salvation, but disease and death, slavery and hypocrisy.

As Christian screenwriter Brian Godawa notes in his book Hollywood Worldviews, in films like these, "Christianity does not merely lead to mental breakdown in [individuals]; it also leads to the breakdown of society." Christians are portrayed as sick, twisted people who got that way through repressing their natural desires; their moral codes lead to intolerance, wife beating, and murder. He points to recent films like The Crucible and Chocolat as well.

About the only good thing you can say about these films, spiritually speaking, is that they reveal the fact that humans—whether they admit it or not—are deeply religious. We can't help thinking about God and trying to come to terms with Him. As Godawa points out, elements of Christianity are often "deconstructed or reinterpreted through countervailing worldviews," but significantly, they are not ignored. In fact, Godowa writes, films that attack or redefine God may be more honest than those that simply ignore Him. The filmmaker is "at least admitting [God] is an issue." Ignoring Him "leaves the impression that He is…irrelevant to our reality." Martin Luther made a very similar point.

The good news is that every now and then, Hollywood gets religion right. A recent remake of Les Misérables offers a poignant picture of Christian grace, forgiveness, and redemption. And the film The Addiction uses a vampire theme to explore the nature of evil and our need for repentance.

Parents ought to watch some of the better films with their kids, although they should check them out carefully before bringing them home. Not all films are suitable for all families. And when it comes to films that portray Christians as warped and wicked people-well, parents ought to learn about these films as well. That way they can help their kids—and their unbelieving friends—to see through them and to understand the worldviews are involved in films.

Brian Godawa's book, Hollywood Worldviews, will help you do just that. You'll learn how your church can offer guidance to teenagers who love movies. And kids will learn the worldview reasons so many movies treat Christianity as a violent, oppressive religion fit only for sick and twisted people.

[Subafreak]

When I lived in NJ my neighbors were good church going Christians that had like 5 unbehaved kids that they phisically abused to the point of stitches and broken bones, while they drank their wiskey and praised the bible. All in the name of god.

[ensteele]

Just because they were church going doesn't mean that they were Christians.

[Landshark]

going back in history, how many people have been killed in the name of Christianity? i think a few not-so-good portrayals of Christians in movies ain't so bad.

[LarryIII]

I am the product of a mixed marriage and was raised in the Judaic-Christian tradition. Today, what people say & do in the name of Judaism and Christianity saddens me very much.

[svx_commuter]

My view:
Jesus taught us how to love.
Christianity is love.
Love is caring more about others than ones self.
True Christians live this to their mortal death.

[svx_commuter]

Originally posted by Landshark
going back in history, how many people have been killed in the name of Christianity? i think a few not-so-good portrayals of Christians in movies ain't so bad.

I get sad thinking those people were my ancestors.

[svx_commuter]

Originally posted by Subafreak
When I lived in NJ my neighbors were good church going Christians that had like 5 unbehaved kids that they phisically abused to the point of stitches and broken bones, while they drank their wiskey and praised the bible. All in the name of god.

Not a very loving family. Did anyone report them?

[WestCoastSVX]

Hey Steve. You know that I share a lot of your views and I find these kinds of articles interesting.

That said though, I think posting things like this may not be the most appropriate for this site, even in this forum. I'm not sure exactly what the admins and/or moderators have in mind for how this OT Forum will work, but I view it as just buisness as usual, just a place to post the usual OT threads we are accustomed to. I don't think it should be a place to expand out topics into other areas that stray too far from the reasons we are all here.

There are basically two reasons we are all here, some lean more towards one or the other.

1) to learn and talk about the SVX

2) to "hang out" with friends we have made over the months and years doing #1

So #2 is basically where we get the off topic posts from. Many of us have shared important moments in our lives with our friends here. Or we come to ask OT questions of a group we trust and know will help us. Or we just chat and make each other laugh.

But I'm not sure it is a place to just post articles or make comments on unrelated topics that will obviously cause controversy. Yeah, it was funny that Rob posted about a Neon right away. We knew that was coming. But now the joke is over and it is a flame war. We never really need to see another Neon thread, even in this OT forum. Same probably has to be said for religion and politics.

IMHO, a thread saying something like, "Please pray for me, I'm going to have surgery" would be fine in the OT forum. We are a family and we feel comfortable coming here for things like that. I don't consider the use of the word "pray" as a religious controversy. And there should be no need for people to say something bad about it, they are insecure if they feel the need to. But yeah, it is probably over the line to post these kind of articles or your personal testimony because of course it will cause a mini flame war.

i agree with Troy on this... this is still a SVX network...lets keep things here with how they have been..not go adding politics and religion and other uneeded threads to our OT forum...i am leaning toward the thing being removed and leaving it how it was cause this is just gonna start flame wars.

Subafreak.... i know what you are saying!

[svxxx26]

You know, I'm gettin real tired of reading OT stuff. At one time in this Network's history, OT was OT but it was also fun. Now it seems to equal endless flame wars, essays on religion and reading ad infinitum threads about Dodge Neons.
Those topics have their place, but it ain't here. No, not saying you have to mention the letters S V X in every post, god knows I don't.

You might say, "well don't read it"...I say "screw that".

Troy made some excellent points - the basic reasons we are here:

1) to learn and talk about the SVX

2) to "hang out" with friends we have made over the months and years doing #1

In my opinion the OT forum should be canned. General SVX babble served the OT-theme, while still being a reminder that this is an SVX site.

Now I'm tired and going to bed - I'll probably look at this tomorrow and think I shoulda just kept my mouth shut.

....or maybe not....

[Uncamitzi]

Originally posted by svxxx26
You know, I'm gettin real tired of reading OT stuff. At one time in this Network's history, OT was OT but it was also fun. Now it seems to equal endless flame wars, essays on religion and reading ad infinitum threads about Dodge Neons.
Those topics have their place, but it ain't here. No, not saying you have to mention the letters S V X in every post, god knows I don't.

You might say, "well don't read it"...I say "screw that".

Troy made some excellent points - the basic reasons we are here:

1) to learn and talk about the SVX

2) to "hang out" with friends we have made over the months and years doing #1

In my opinion the OT forum should be canned. General SVX babble served the OT-theme, while still being a reminder that this is an SVX site.

Now I'm tired and going to bed - I'll probably look at this tomorrow and think I shoulda just kept my mouth shut.

....or maybe not....

Jerry, maybe it's just us SVXers that have Teal cars? And we should start our own forum...

There were a number of suggestions to start an Off Topic forum, so one was started. Now people are complaining. I'm just trying to make people happy. What solution is going to please everyone? This is REALLY starting to upset me.

Mike

[Phast SVX]

you know what, grow up. the reason there is an ot forum is not just FOR YOU. we didnt do it to piss you off, we didnt do it to be less of an SVX network, infact by stating we are an SVX network we dont need all SVX all the time. i bet if i went through and searched for half the threads you guys posted in i could shut you up instantly. Be respectfull, if you cant then really dont post at all. The golden rule does not state that you have to like each other, just that you should try to be the bigger person ALL THE TIME. Also have some respect for the moderators, they arent here to please you but the community of SVX owners.
sincerely
phil

[subymtnguy]

I agree with Troy.
Having a OT forum is fine, however, this is not the place for proselytizing.