Christian Entertainment

[DaytimeFan]

Exactly. Stoning a woman to death is legislatively sanctioned in Saudi Arabia due to its theology...so let's not go into how stealing, assault, murder go back to the 10 commandments because using that argument sanctions every religiously based law and that's absolute nonsense.

[ReddFoxx]

Another racket by a conservative, nothing more. The right-wing is easily parted with it's money by "leaders" who are pushing an agenda. Being a conservative leader or personality is actually very lucrative, so much so, I'm surprised real scammers haven't gotten in on the act yet.

[Max]

I am more than willing to discuss these other concerns in the politics thread. From now on, I would really just like to keep the focus on the Christian entertainment itself.

I'll take responsibility for injecting politics into this thread to begin with, because Rick Santorum is despised by so many on the left. I reported this news because it was a big development within the industry. I'd certainly understand if one doesn't want to pay to see one of EchoLight's films due to personal feelings towards Santorum.

I'm actually of the belief that the word of God reaches far more people if it is intertwined in music and television and movies, as opposed to being some separate genre. Movies such as thos produced by Echolight are basically preaching to the choir, and don't succeed in bringing anyone to faith. I feel they are basically an exercise in self-affirmation, so some people can watch, and bask in how good they are, essentially, a glorification of their own goodness.

Alphanguy, you bring up some very insightful points. I'm actually inclined to agree with the first sentence, though I disagree with the last sentence. Regarding the second sentence, I do think that many of these types of films do preach to the choir, but I'm not convinced that they fail in bringing anyone else to the faith.

Eric was curious as to Corbin Bernsen's involvement, so here are trailers to two of his movies:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lh4U3u-de-Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q0E-SdYg9ho" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[EricMontreal22]

Thanks Max for the links. I like Corbin (I won't get into your mention of Kirk Cameron, though although I think you just brought him up as a "name" actor who has done Christian movies and weren't getting into his hateful remarks about gays--and not simply gay marriage.)

If they do want to do more than preach to the choir (no pun intended) they'll have to get some sort of platform, like basic cable plays or something aside from just DVD releases--somewhere where someone might stumble upon them and give them a chance as entertainment first and foremost--the last time I can sorta think of that happening, and this is a bit controversial, was with the Narnia movies which I guess are no more.

[Pine Charles]

Legendary?!

To quote Miss Jujubee during the "reading" challenge (from Drag Race):

“Legendary? Looks more like legs and dairy!”

[Wales2004]

Most of the Christian-themed movies I have seen lately are not "preachy" at all. They generally depict people going through some sort of struggle and ultimately being motivated to either not give up or find a different path. It's not all that different from what is show on Hallmark. Some of them allude to a higher being without insisting that this is the only way to go. I would say that they are more of a reminder that people need to feel they have a purpose and that someone cares.

I don't buy into the "Conservative Christian" label since it is completely political and devoid of real Christian principles. Politicians seem to throw it around to take a holier than thou position and give the impression that God placed them in charge of morals. I would not look to anyone who values money over helping those in need as an example of a good Christian. People like to filter an awful lot. Being a Christian isn't about telling other people how to live.....it's about showing. Lip service means nothing. It's completely overlooked that Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to go to Heaven. That completely contradicts the life of luxury to which many aspire.

One can be pious, kind, generous, somewhat charitable, law abiding, etc. and still not be a good Christian. I'm sure there are greedy men who manage to do some decent things and maybe even produce some wholesome movies as well.

[alphanguy74]

Brilliant. My Brother In Law is one of those kind of people. He seriously thought I was lying when I told him I wouldn't mind at all paying a 50 percent income tax rate if I made a million dollars a year. He then blurted out that he ended up paying that on some stock option crap he got one year. So yeah, he had half a million dollars, after taxes, and he was ANGRY about it. The same amount of money my father took 20 years to earn. But then my father was a TRUE christian. He was a baptist minister, but NEVER spoke of politics in his sermons, and listened to NPR every day... and never longed to be rich.

[Becki]

Max, since his mother's death I've started following Corbin's Facebook page and I really hope he gets many of those movies distributed. The world is sorely lacking in movies that aren't all about sex, violence, lying, cheating, etc. So I would gladly welcome well made movies with a message of hope and eternal life.

[Max]

Eric, I was just bringing up Cameron as a name actor who has done a lot for the Christian movie industry. I wasn't aware about the offensive comments comments he made regarding gays in general until I went to Wikipedia (and read a quote he made on Piers Morgan's television show), and I strongly disagree with that statement. Rick Santorum has also made some statements that have left me aghast. My personal view is to just judge these people in their totality, and measure the good things they have done for the Christian conservative cause (and the pious way they have walked the walk) against some idiotic and offensive remarks said in the past. (Although if one is gay, I totally understand why it is a no-brainer in regards to not wanting to have anything to do with these individuals.) I liken it to why so many African-Americans like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton despite offensive statements about Jews and personal stains (supporting Tawana Brawley in Sharpton's case, and having a child out of wedlock in Jackson's case); I'm sure that African-Americans don't condone these things, but they look at the totality of what Jackson and Sharpton have done for the civil rights cause and (because of that) give them their support.

Conservative Christians focus a lot more on social concerns over economic ones. Even though they have been active in politics for the last forty years, their concerns--such as abortion, adultery, and premarital sex--are definitely based in religious theology.

The fact that Conservative Christians don't spend more time on economic issues is a fair criticism. There is a desire to help the poor, but most conservatives (not just limited to those on the religious right) believe that government is inefficient and that giving money to faith-based organizations is a better way to accomplish that goal. Whether it's acceptable to accumulate much wealth is something that seems to split along religious lines; Protestants find support for it in the Protestant Work Ethic, while Catholics tend to oppose it. Indeed, the Vatican itself wholeheartedly embraces Socialism, while at the same time holding extremely conservative social views. (There really is no politician in America who runs on such a platform. One could only imagine that it would be some sort of odd Todd Akin/Bernie Sanders hybrid.)

(I personally don't have a problem if people want to use Christianity to embrace a leftist economic platform, but it's something that many liberals today are weary to do because--IMO--it would offend some in their base and be perceived as politically incorrect. I don't like lavish displays of wealth, but I believe that people do have a God given right to keep much of what they earn. However, I no longer believe that a flat tax is the "fairest" form of taxation. I actually like Santorum's idea that we should have two tax brackets, one in which the wealthiest pay more. But I would not be for taxing them at a rate as high as 50%, as I feel that is too punitive.)

[Max]

Becki, thank you so much for your response. I agree 100%!

I enjoy both the overly preach movies as well as those that aren't. Here is one of the latter that I hope you will enjoy. It is called "The Calendar," and is a Short Film.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5X97_TtH06s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Wales2004]

Max, to minimize space I'm skipping the quotes. I personally don't believe that Christians should "parse" Christianity. It's easier to focus on "social concerns" because it requires lip service on no real sacrifice of time, talent or treasure.

Ideally, a woman who cannot afford to raise a child should never get pregnant. Realistically, such women get pregnant every day. It's lip service to tell her not to have an abortion and blocking her from having an abortion may seem holy and just but she still cannot afford that child. The so-called "Conservative Christians" don't seem to want to address the hard part of those situations. All that righteousness means nothing when it comes with great limitations.

I don't care about what various religions think about this or that. If they label themselves Christian then there is only one guide book for them (the Bible) and Jesus Christ is the model. Their goal should be to emulate Christ as in being Christ-like...Christian.

He was not a politician and never pursued wealth. "Render unto Cesar what is Cesar's and to god what is God's." He instructed the rich man to sell what he had and give it to the poor. This pained the rich man, hence the quote about it being difficult to get into Heaven. And again, you cannot serve two masters--either it's God or it's money.

Being a Christian is tough. It requires much sacrifice of self. Sitting on a perch and calling oneself a Christian and dictating to others how they should live is not tough at all. It doesn't require any sacrifice. The occasional mental struggle over whether one wants to part with 10% of his/her earnings is telling. ITA that the government is broken and doling out money is not a solution to poverty. That needs to be addressed. On the flip side, if a person has more money than she or he will ever need and they are upset with parting with the excess to be used to help others, they are Christians in name only.

[Max]

Wales, I apologize for the delayed response.

I personally think that there is a lot of sacrifice involved with social issues, so long as one walks the walk. I can't speak for anyone else, but when I "preach" to people that pre-marital sex is wrong, I point out the fact that--despite being 33 years old and a lifelong single--I have never engaged in it. I have also never taken illegal drugs or fallen prey to alcohol. (Sorry for appearing to present myself like some perfect angel, as I am far from that. When I sin, it is usually because I become very self-centered at times or are caught up in hate/rage issues against those I perceive as enemies. Such sinning on my part is totally unacceptable, and something I am trying to improve.) I know that many liberals believe that it's too hard to stop people from engaging in premarital sex or drugs, but we need to change the culture (which often brushes off these behaviors as normal parts of growing up), so far fewer individuals will engage in these sinful activities.

Specifically regarding the issue of abortion, again the best way to lower the number of unwanted babies is to instill in our culture a belief that sex outside of marriage is unacceptable. (And I think that it is hard for a politician to even express an anti-premarital sex message, as such a belief is very unpopular.) Obviously it's not possible to change everyone's behavior, so if a poor woman does become pregnant we (as a society) should still be very supportive of her emotionally and make it as easy as possible to put her baby up for adoption. (If it was the only way, I would have no problem supporting higher taxes so an abortion could be prevented and the pregnant mother could get all the assistance she needs throughout the pregnancy and during the adoption process.)

I am not 100% sure if you believe otherwise, but I believe that one can still live in prosperity and be a good Christian. I believe that the wealthy in society should depart with a sizable chunk of their income (to help the poor), but I am fine with them enjoying the lifestyle that the remainder of their money gets them. I think that we disagree somewhat as to the percentage of money they should pay in taxes versus what they should give to churches and charities. It appears that the biggest disagreement we have is over the total percentage of wealth (post charity and taxes) one can keep and still be a good Christian. If a super-wealthy person is giving over half his money away to charity or government, then I still believe he cares about the poor and is a good Christian in that particular way. Regardless, I certainly don't believe that social conservatives who are generally supportive of tax cuts are Christian in Name Only; to me, that would be like calling prominent Catholic liberals (like the Kennedys and Nancy Pelosi) Christian in Name Only because they are strongly supportive of the government helping the poor but have completely different views than the Vatican does when it comes to abortion. (And that does not even mention the fact that the Kennedys and Pelosi live in great comfort, even after all the money they pay in taxes and give to church and charity.)

[Wales2004]

Maybe I should go with being a good Christian is tough. I don't want to come across as dismissive of anyone who is trying.

While I love some aspects of Catholocism, I am not a fan of elevating anyone to sainthood, kissing the Pope's ring....

The more I think about what I believe Christianity is supposed to be, the less I see any connection between it and having things. If the priority is to be like Jesus then I think the acquisition of "worldly" goods would seem less and less significant.

[quartermainefan]

 

As a kid I would watch this every weekend in reruns and I was clueless it was even christian!

[marceline]

I totally thought this thread was a joke when I read the words "legendary Rick Santorum." I thought to myself, "Look at Max being all satirical!"

That said, Christian movies run the gamut like any other genre. I really liked the movies To Save a Life and One Night with the King but there are others that are just insipid, treacly messes. If Rick Santorum can make a product that sells, he might as well take his shot.