Stop Trying To "Save Christmas", Kirk!

[Paulos23]

Personal experience only: As a Christian, as a frequent user of social media, and as someone with some family members who are very active in the "atheist movement", I find more non-Christians bring up the subject of the "war on Christmas" than Christians that do. I think it's just because every year we get that push of sensationalized articles on the internet news web pages, and Fox news, running the sky is falling (war on Christmas) stories. The atheists I know like to wave those stories around and call them out as sensationalized, and the Christians I know simply don't pay attention to the stories.

Christmas is a big deal to a lot of people, and I don't personally know a single Christian that has claimed to have been impacted by the war on Christmas.

Well there was a war of equal representation one Christmas at my state capatial, but the state came to its senses when the despays got to out of hand and banned them all except for the holiday tree. Plenty of Christians showed up at the capital steps to claim this was a war to take Christmas away. They felt impacted. (which is silly because the state wasn't going into their homes and taking their naetivity secens.)

For most of the people I know, Christian and non, it is not a big deal.

 

[cow451]

My in-laws invited us over for a "movie night" last year to watch some "inspiring" movie. It was the "War on Christmas" theme where some local mayor resisted to evil atheist attempts to stop the town's nativitry scene, etc.

Afterwards, my mother-in-law asked whether I thought all "young people" should see it to educate them about the "Christmas" problem. I responded that the movie was a piece of trash with overblown rhetoric. She didn't speak to me for a week.

And, not surprisingly, the in-laws are rabid FoxRepublicanNews viewers.

 

[keith99]

I am always leery of ANY Christian theatrical release. None of them get it right.

Closest was The Passion of the Christ. And even that had its share of flaws.

I stay away from anything religious from Kirk Cameron, too. I loved him in Growing Pains, had posters of him in my room when I was 16 but his theology is flawed.

I so wish someone explicitly Christian and with a good head on their shoulders and a creative spark would watch The Last Temptation of Christ and be able to see past the offensive parts (yes there are many) to the title issue.

Throughout the film Christ is tempted by Satan (If I recall correctly looking like a sweet little girl). The last temptation and the strongest being to have what most people expect to have, just get married and have kids and a reasonably happy home.

Oh and it is done almost like a Science Fiction time loop bit, where Christ does bite on that temptation. But not quite, it is only a vision, one that goes on long enough that Jesus and the view see a possible view of what might have been.

I think the title idea is a great starting point for a very moving film. That perhaps the greatest temptation is not the huge things, but to little ordinary things at the neglect of duty.

 

[RDKirk]

I'd love to see Ann Rice's "Christ the Lord: Road to Cana" as a movie.

 

[keith99]

I'd love to see Ann Rice's "Christ the Lord: Road to Cana" as a movie.

Be careful what yuo ask for. remember Exit to Eden.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Afterwards, my mother-in-law asked whether I thought all "young people" should see it to educate them about the "Christmas" problem. I responded that the movie was a piece of trash with overblown rhetoric. She didn't speak to me for a week.

I love that.

 

[Belk]

My in-laws invited us over for a "movie night" last year to watch some "inspiring" movie. It was the "War on Christmas" theme where some local mayor resisted to evil atheist attempts to stop the town's nativitry scene, etc.

Afterwards, my mother-in-law asked whether I thought all "young people" should see it to educate them about the "Christmas" problem. I responded that the movie was a piece of trash with overblown rhetoric. She didn't speak to me for a week.

And, not surprisingly, the in-laws are rabid FoxRepublicanNews viewers.

That must cause you some tension.

 

[Inkachu]

I thought he was pretty quit, until the Christmas movie, so I don't think he seeking attention for his self. I just think he watches a lot Fox news and that channel gets crazy about issues. So he decided to make a movie about the war on Christmas.

Ever since he was a famous teen heart throb, he's popped up every few years with some new project. The "Left Behind" movies. The "Way of the Master" series. "Fireproof". And now this. He's been out there pretty consistently.

 

[Inkachu]

Sometimes I get weary of the "Fox News" "Republican" etc, comments around here. I'm a Republican. A conservative. I occasionally listen to or watch something from Fox News. I listen to a relatively conservative morning talk show on my way to work. I listen to several conservative talk show hosts throughout the day, when I get a chance. I'm not a close-minded idiot, the way a lot of people here tend to portray someone like myself. I'm not some kind of rabid moron who can't see past the end of her nose and can't hold a civil discussion about the issues of the day.

It just gets tiring, that's all. And before someone says "well, you should hear what they call US..." I don't call any of you anything. I don't make fun of your political affiliations or your beliefs or what news shows you watch. It'd be nice if more people would just put down the mockery.

/soapbox ramble

 

[RDKirk]

Be careful what yuo ask for. remember Exit to Eden.

Well, you could have as well referred to "Starship Troopers."

 

[cow451]

That must cause you some tension.

Moreso because they are both hard-of-hearing.

BTW, did you know that Obama is a "Stealth Muslim bent on the destruction of America"?

 

[Belk]

Sometimes I get weary of the "Fox News" "Republican" etc, comments around here. I'm a Republican. A conservative. I occasionally listen to or watch something from Fox News. I listen to a relatively conservative morning talk show on my way to work. I listen to several conservative talk show hosts throughout the day, when I get a chance. I'm not a close-minded idiot, the way a lot of people here tend to portray someone like myself. I'm not some kind of rabid moron who can't see past the end of her nose and can't hold a civil discussion about the issues of the day.

It just gets tiring, that's all. And before someone says "well, you should hear what they call US..." I don't call any of you anything. I don't make fun of your political affiliations or your beliefs or what news shows you watch. It'd be nice if more people would just put down the mockery.

/soapbox ramble

It is pretty much the same from my side of the aisle Inkachu. As a moderate to liberal person I get to hear what a marxist socialist pacifistic idiot I am. I am afraid there are more people who can only deal with the black and white stereotypes they see then there are who understand that the person with whom they disagree might have a valid point of view. That's humanity for you.

 

[Belk]

Moreso because they are both hard-of-hearing.

BTW, did you know that Obama is a "Stealth Muslim bent on the destruction of America"?

Indeed! He also eats kittens dontchaknow?

 

[cow451]

Indeed! He also eats kittens dontchaknow?

That's a dastardly lie! Muslims do NOT eat kittens!

BTW, Obama is apparently as adept at destroying America as he is at closing GITMO.

 

[Belk]

That's a dastardly lie! Muslims do NOT eat kittens!

BTW, Obama is apparently as adept at destroying America as he is at closing GITMO.

It is part of being a overreaching tyrannical dictator who is so weak and ineffective our enemies don't fear us.

 

[Inkachu]

It is pretty much the same from my side of the aisle Inkachu. As a moderate to liberal person I get to hear what a marxist socialist pacifistic idiot I am. I am afraid there are more people who can only deal with the black and white stereotypes they see then there are who understand that the person with whom they disagree might have a valid point of view. That's humanity for you.

I'm glad we can understand each other, even from across the aisle!

 

[Belk]

I'm glad we can understand each other, even from across the aisle!

 

[Inkachu]

Awwww!!! Wittle kitty wif the big blue eyes!! *head explodes from the cute*

 

[Maynard Keenan]

But generally, speaking, deliberately religious productions are normally pretty cheesy, whether live-acted or animated and even if they contain a big name or two.

I'm not sure why that must be so.

Two related answers:

1) Deliberately religious productions generally set out with the primary goal of getting a religious message across, rather than of creating a piece of entertainment or a work of art. The latter goal is secondary and slapped on, and often fails due to lack of talent or lack of focus on this as an important goal. This is completely avoidable, but it requires the talent and focus that go always are required when creating a piece of entertainment or a work of art.

2) Good film, television, music, etc. often relies on subtlety and ambiguity. Deliberately religious works tend to throw these out the window, and smack the consumer in the face with an overt message that is very black and white with little ambiguity. This is also avoidable, but again requires both talent and focus.

 

[Inkachu]

What Maynard said ^.

I'm hard to impress. I can't stand being pandered to. Modern day Christian films are all about pandering. NO, thanks. I should add, though, that the more independent, less-known Christian movies can be pretty darn good. I guess the more you keep "Hollywood" out of it, the better your end product tends to be when it comes to movies about faith and religion, because you aren't trying to "bottle feed" an unchurched audience with watered down tripe.

Example: You've got two recent movies about Esther; "One Night With The King" (big budget) and "The Bible: Esther" (small budget)

The first one tries to be cute, clever, quirky, sappy, and melodramatic. It's OK... it's not awful... but it's a little too hokey at times for me.

The second one is pretty much a straight-up telling of Esther's story from the Bible. Not a bunch of sentimental goo added in. Doesn't try to be cute. I thought the acting was excellent and afterwards, I felt like I had really seen Esther's story, not a Hollywood entertainment piece.

As a stage actress, I've found it really difficult to find Christian productions that aren't cheesy and corny to some extent. I've encountered a few, really good, straight-up plays that stick to scripture and don't try to add in cutesy elements, and I respect those. But honestly, I'd almost prefer to be in a secular show because I know it's going to be GOOD ART.