I'm at work, so am gonna economise here and repost a comment I posted in a friend's journal regarding the almost-silence in the media over the extremely Christian basis of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The quote from an article that I was commenting on was that the bible comments on how the name of Jesus is enough to frighten demons... and how that more and more in our society, speaking his name in public is getting given that reaction. Not on topic, but still relevant to the discussion, I think. There's what I said:
It is interesting, isn't it?
It would be nice if religion wasn't a terrifying thing to people. I guess what everyone tends to worry about, especially with the evangelical faiths, is that someone will try and impose their religion on one. It's kinda like when one tries to screen out telemarketer calls. The rabid, froathing at the mouth Christians terrify us (and I don't think it's unreasonable for us to be terrified). But it stiffles all rational debate on the subject of religion.
I think it's fair to say that it's not the name of Jesus that we are scared of saying. It's that we are afriad of hearing his froth-at-the-mouth fans taking up the cause.
I quite like the Christian faith. I was brought up Catholic and agree with many of its tenets on how to live a good life. And I like most of the Christians I personally know because they are measured, thoughtful people who have examined their faiths and live them without any sanctimonious "I am holier than thou" rhetoric. However, the thought of those of the Christian Right endorsing this film and potentially ruining it for me through self-evident posturing that makes me want to vomit is a very real risk.
In short (hah!) it is not the Christian interpretation of the film that I'm terrified of. I don't think most people are hugely concenrned with that fact either. It is, and always will be, a retelling of the story of Christ, although Hollywood may or may not have continued with its policy of gutting anything substantial from films. But I am terrified of hearing people preaching at me.
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Date: 2005-12-10 07:18 pm (UTC)It is interesting, isn't it?
It would be nice if religion wasn't a terrifying thing to people. I guess what everyone tends to worry about, especially with the evangelical faiths, is that someone will try and impose their religion on one. It's kinda like when one tries to screen out telemarketer calls. The rabid, froathing at the mouth Christians terrify us (and I don't think it's unreasonable for us to be terrified). But it stiffles all rational debate on the subject of religion.
I think it's fair to say that it's not the name of Jesus that we are scared of saying. It's that we are afriad of hearing his froth-at-the-mouth fans taking up the cause.
I quite like the Christian faith. I was brought up Catholic and agree with many of its tenets on how to live a good life. And I like most of the Christians I personally know because they are measured, thoughtful people who have examined their faiths and live them without any sanctimonious "I am holier than thou" rhetoric. However, the thought of those of the Christian Right endorsing this film and potentially ruining it for me through self-evident posturing that makes me want to vomit is a very real risk.
In short (hah!) it is not the Christian interpretation of the film that I'm terrified of. I don't think most people are hugely concenrned with that fact either. It is, and always will be, a retelling of the story of Christ, although Hollywood may or may not have continued with its policy of gutting anything substantial from films. But I am terrified of hearing people preaching at me.