Shhhh don't tell anyone
I’m probably going to go watch The Da Vinci Code. I might even read the book.
SHOCKING I know.
Little ol bible belt living, conservative me is going to see (gasp) a movie that is not on the up and up in its theology.
Know what else . . . . I saw End of the Spear and the actor who played the main character was gay.
And since I am bearing all my dark closet items, I also like Napoleon Dynamite and guess what, the guy who wrote it and directed it is Mormon.
I know; what in the world am I doing?
Also, I guess I should confess to you that I use Pantene shampoo and conditioner and Secret deodorant and they are products of Proctor & Gamble. If my emails are to be believed, then the CEO of P&G is a devil worshipper and all my well spent money on toiletries is going to further the cause of his “religion”.
Oh and for good measure, I like rock n roll.
Yep, now you know. I appear all sweet and innocent but really I am a REBEL.
If you haven’t caught the whiffs of sarcasm I highly suggest you go to your nearest ear, nose, and throat doctor immediately to check out the ol sniffer.
If you have delighted in the aroma of my sarcasm then I will now give you the point of this posting.
Are these revelations really all that shocking? Do they in any way reflect my character or better yet my heart?
If I, a pretty solid believer who has a stong grasp of the theology that I hold to, choose to watch a movie that projects a differing view than what I know to be true, am I weak? If I see it, does that mean that I believe it to be true?
I’m really wondering your opinions on this issue and the like. So discuss.
posted by Katie @ 10:40 AM
20 Comments:
There's no way we could possibly get away from not giving any money to or purchasing any products made by people or groups that don't share our beliefs. I mean, we are IN the world. That means we have to use their stuff sometimes. So, I don't have a problem with anything you mentioned. If you know what you believe and why (and you do), then go see the movie. It could be a great conversation starter to witness to someone.
I think you definitely need to see it or read it for the simple reason that you can defend your faith! Experiences in life are what make us more credible when it comes to being heard.
ps. I recommend the book way before the movie... it as a wonderfully written book! And a very fast read!
I'm not hear to share my opinion, just to reveal more of your dark secrets that apply to movies that are "not on the up and up in [their] theology":
You want to see NACHO LIBRE
(How shocking!...except since you revealed your true feelings about Napoleon, I must say now I'm not so suprised that you'd want to see Jack Black in a monk outfit by day and a tight spandex wrestling suit by night! Yikes!)
My feeling is always to question where your heart is. I tell myself that i dont want to see the movie because I dont feel like i need to even bring that crap into my head BUT I watch all the rest of the crap of the world...
great... I am a walking contradiction
Ahahaha, Anonymous (although I know who you are muwhahahaha) I do want to see Nacho Libre and that alone probably tells a lot about me.
steve - you are a walking contradiction, but then again, we all are
Interesting point though, where is the line drawn on what is an issue to see? For instance, Da Vinci is obviously tackling an issue of the church while another movie might have nothing to do with Christianity but is still offensive in other ways. Is one more acceptable than the other? How do we determine that? Maybe each are more offensive to different people in different ways?
good point ryan . . . which leads me to this question:
If I disagree with Da Vinci and yet refuse to go watch it, then how can I have a well-informed conversation with someone else about it? Should I go buy a book from someone who saw it and then refuted it? That serves my general purposes but does it let me know exactly what I would be disagreeing with? Should I take the opinions of other people and just make them my own without doing any leg work on my part?
I'm not saying I have the correct point of view. I'm also not saying that my choices should be anyone elses choices. I respect the person who chooses not to see it based on its content and I respect the person who chooses to see it regardless of its content. Both have a good point of view and both will use their choice to serve a purpose.
Dude. How could someone think that just because you go see a movie? That sounds pretty narrow-minded to me.
Rather, I think it gives you a personal context from which you can intelligently discuss the movie (or the book), because you've actually seen (or read) the material, instead of just giving an opinion based merely on your own ignorance (of not watching the movie/reading the book).
I too will be seeing Nacho Libre. Not that I care to see men in tights. But still ....
Bobby, it's ok, I think you can still retain the "man card" by wanting to see Jack Black in tights, it's not like your favorite movie is "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" or anything . . . it isn't is it?
Hmmm. Well, here is my take.
While on one hand, I would definitely like to see it - JUST so I know how to come against it if anyone were to question me about my faith based upon what they had seen or read in regards to "The Code".
HowEVER. I firmly believe that a person should be VERY careful when exposing themselves to materials that directly oppose thier faith. I just don't necessarily see the point in filling one's head with a bunch of crap that otherwise mocks his/her belief system. Not to mention the fact that if a person is not a solid enough Christian, it could launch them into a faith crisis, possibly ruining Christianity for them altogether.
But again, I don't see why strong Christians can't go see it (if they don't mind putting thier money into it, that is) if only to have more head knowledge of what they might come against, and therefore have a better foothold in defending thier faith.
In terms of the other stuff you mentioned: I agree with Kristi - we can't possibly avoid all products made by people who don't share our beliefs. And in order to do so, we'd likely have to live in a bubble to be able to pull it off.
Everything we share and do reflects a bit of who we are. That doesn't make the choices you shared here good or bad. Often when Scripture doesn't speak directly to a specific situation, it's why you choose what you choose rather than what you actually end up choosing.
I read the book, way before any of the hype broke out. All Da Vinci this, Da Vinci that. I think it was a fabulous mystery, but I really had to skip pages at a time because the content was disturbing. Overall, I probably wouldn't read it if I had it to do all over again.
But, then again, it's FICTION people. It seems like people forget that it is a fiction book. But it's still disturbing.
So yeah, I'm a walking contradiction too.
My theory, garbage in, garbage out. I try to stick to that rule of thumb, not that I always succeed.
However,I do agree it would be good to know what it is about so that it can be discussed with non christians.
Maybe pray about it first?
We're all walking contradictions. This isn't Heaven yet, so we're always going to be pulled this way and that. In the end, the Lord works all things to our good who love him and are called according to His purpose. So if we read a disturbing book, it may make us better able to relate to someone else on down the line who's read the book and that's the ONLY thing we have in common with them.
I've been shown so much lately about being non-judgmental. It's not my decision to say who's in the right or wrong. It's mine to love people with Jesus' love. Because He loves me, and I can pass it on.
That song, "I want to be Mistaken for Jesus" comes to mind.
Read the book (was ok) seen the movie (slightly better). Faith unshaken.
The movie is more pro-faith than the book however, and fixes up a couple of the more glaring historical problems...
Jayleigh sent me! This is a great post. I am a person that often walks on the wrong side of the tracks. I am probably God's most flawed creation alive. However, I never forget that I am His no matter my state.
I find the DaVinci Code scandal confusing. I read the book but haven't seen the movie yet. I honestly don't understand what everyone is upset about. If you read the book or watch the movie, does it mean you buy into the theories? No way. Actually Peter Furler (Newsboys) said it perfectly to me one day. He said, "never take anyone's word as fact. Go to the Word. Truth has a way of making itself known when you open up the Word. Even pastors can be wrong."
Hi, First time at your site. Good post!
Well, the way I look at it, how are we to explain our beliefs with those who counter them if we don't know what they believe? The Da Vinci Code? I heard some churches are going as a congregation to watch it to discuss all the controversy.
However, in all fairness I have watched some movies/plays where I've come out of it saddened because of the deception and message that might lead others astray, but the truth is we all have a brain and we have to decide what we can handle and what is okay for us to expose ourselves to. We don't have the right to judge others.
My husband did read the book by the way...he said it was a good read but whacky theories.
Also, when you look at Jesus, he was always breaking traditional thinking and stirring people up and being controversial. I think we'd be surprised at what He would say is okay and not okay.
Oh yes, and my husband works for P&G...it's amazing the way they've been attacked, especially by the AFA. I've met more Christians working with him than in any other company or organization he's ever worked or volunteered for. AND these Christians donate much of their hard-earned money to good charities and churches...so basically the AFA was attacking other Christians. The CEO is not a devil-worshipper, P&G does not make their employees go through several hours of training on accepting homosexuality, and although the company does believe that each person should be treated fairly in the work place regardless of sexual orientation or religious beliefs, P&G has not donated $ to homosexual causes.
Okay, I'm going to shut up now.
;o)
thanks daphnewood and llisc
The P&G thing really was a joke, an email went out a few years ago stating that the CEO was a devil worshipper and I had a few friends that were ready to boycott the products, a quick look to see it was a fake stopped them in their tracks
I thought the book was great. I also took it as it was intended, fiction and a great read. Did it make me think about some of what is written in the Bible? You betcha! Did it make my beliefs falter? Nah. In order to help people see the truth, don't you need to know what false teachings are all about? The movie is for enjoyment, you're not trying to discover who you are by watching this movie. But I think I will wait for it to come out on dvd so my ticket sale doesn't increase the profitability of the movie.
~C
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