Christianity in Films

archdukefranz

"Wow isn't that guy exactly what a Christian should be" is something I half expect people to say when the good clergyman comes onto the screen.
He is the opposite of the crusader, he doesn't care what you believe. Should you seek his advise you would see how easily its sumarised as "do whatever is right for you".
He's a rebel, everyone likes a rebel, yep... a rebel against Christ.
Christ told people to change their lives, become different and change what you used to think was ok to do.

Is this what anyone should be? Some would say that he is a man of the people unlike some, he doesn't have his head in the clouds but think about it, is this a man of the people, or a man of what people want to hear?
Our law tells us what to do and what not to do because "do whatever is right for you" doesn't seem to work for the state.

What do you think, do you think this is representative of christian clergy, the ideal Christian clergy or a fantasy.

robindch

> Our law tells us what to do and what not to do because "do whatever
> is right for you" doesn't seem to work for the state.

FYI - the state makes laws, so it's not very clear what your exact point is.

Asiaprod

I have no idea what this post is rambling on about. Who are you talking about OP?

Puck

Whew! I though I was just too thick to understand it. I have no idea who or what you're talking about archdukefranz. I'd recommend people wait for the OP to clear up what they meant before continuing discussion or I'll lock the thread to stop it turning into a spamfest.

Hey archy,
sorry, I have to join the list of confused people! Did you just watch stigmata or something?

Morbert

archdukefranz wrote:

"Wow isn't that guy exactly what a Christian should be" is something I half expect people to say when the good clergyman comes onto the screen.
He is the opposite of the crusader, he doesn't care what you believe. Should you seek his advise you would see how easily its sumarised as "do whatever is right for you".
He's a rebel, everyone likes a rebel, yep... a rebel against Christ.
Christ told people to change their lives, become different and change what you used to think was ok to do.

Is this what anyone should be? Some would say that he is a man of the people unlike some, he doesn't have his head in the clouds but think about it, is this a man of the people, or a man of what people want to hear?
Our law tells us what to do and what not to do because "do whatever is right for you" doesn't seem to work for the state.

What do you think, do you think this is representative of christian clergy, the ideal Christian clergy or a fantasy.

What?

John Doe

Buh? Looks like someone was under even more of an influence than I was the other night. I think you're going places we can't follow, Archduke.

Puck

Ok, ok I think we've all expressed enough bewilderment regarding the subject of this thread. I'll leave it until tomorrow for the OP to clear up what they meant, if that doesn't happen I'll lock this thread. There's only so many ways people can say "whuh?".

Tar.Aldarion

archdukefranz wrote:

"Wow isn't that guy exactly what a Christian should be" is something I half expect people to say when the good clergyman comes onto the screen.

is that a bad thing to you?

He is the opposite of the crusader, he doesn't care what you believe. Should you seek his advise you would see how easily its sumarised as "do whatever is right for you".
He's a rebel, everyone likes a rebel, yep... a rebel against Christ.

I would not imagine clergy who follow the teachings of the bible these days are like this, they would be seen as false by the others.

Christ told people to change their lives, become different and change what you used to think was ok to do.

Yes he did, people should do that, I do.

Is this what anyone should be? Some would say that he is a man of the people unlike some, he doesn't have his head in the clouds but think about it, is this a man of the people, or a man of what people want to hear?

Imo a man of what people want to hear but I imagine many people would hold a different opinion here.

Our law tells us what to do and what not to do because "do whatever is right for you" doesn't seem to work for the state.

It doesn't, people seem to need somebody to tell them what to do, protect them and generally be there for them.
I don't really think it is needed, ideally, but it is as things stand.

What do you think, do you think this is representative of christian clergy, the ideal Christian clergy or a fantasy.

You are asking whether clergy should be more like jesus was?or more like they are now, 'this is what was written, do it'. I would like people to be more like a jesus character, it may be a fantasy as of yet.
I think The representation atm is that of a government, like you say. Should it be this way? I don't want it to be but it depends on what you want, somebody to tell you to do what is right for you or a religion to follow that tells you what is right and wrong.








(so what are you on about? )

archdukefranz

I appologise I wasn't clear enough in the first post
bassically what I was trying to say was that I dislike the examples of Christian Clergy that I say in films.

They don't appear to model themselves on Christ, which is what a Christian should do.

An example would be Shepard Book from firefly.

Excelsior

But the Shepherd gets all Christian in the movie, if I remember correcty?

Morbert

archdukefranz wrote:

I appologise I wasn't clear enough in the first post
bassically what I was trying to say was that I dislike the examples of Christian Clergy that I say in films.

They don't appear to model themselves on Christ, which is what a Christian should do.

An example would be Shepard Book from firefly.

Shepherd isn't a christian.

larryone

I have the series on dvd, and I dont ever recall any reference to christ by him in the series. When I get the movie on dvd I'll watch it and try to find something.

But what you see on a cinema screen is not supposed to give an accurate portrayal of what a Christian should be. It's an artists interpretation of the way things are in reality or in a fantasy setting. If it shows a corrupt priest, then it is the artist portraying the image of a corrupt priest - and they do exist. If it shows a good and virtuous man who has enormous faith in Christ, then that's what the artist wishes to show you. Maybe there is more of the *corrupt priest* stuff in movies these days, but over the last couple of decades more and more corruption has been exposed in religious institutions.

I'll stop before I start rambling.

nubbintom

Yep he's Christian alright.

archdukefranz

larryone wrote:

I have the series on dvd, and I dont ever recall any reference to christ by him in the series. When I get the movie on dvd I'll watch it and try to find something.

But what you see on a cinema screen is not supposed to give an accurate portrayal of what a Christian should be. It's an artists interpretation of the way things are in reality or in a fantasy setting. If it shows a corrupt priest, then it is the artist portraying the image of a corrupt priest - and they do exist. If it shows a good and virtuous man who has enormous faith in Christ, then that's what the artist wishes to show you. Maybe there is more of the *corrupt priest* stuff in movies these days, but over the last couple of decades more and more corruption has been exposed in religious institutions.

I'll stop before I start rambling.

I know what you mean...
it just annoys me that there doesn't seem to be one accurate portrayal of a Christian on tv.

Tar.Aldarion

God channel?
ETWN?

robindch

> it just annoys me that there doesn't seem to be one accurate
> portrayal of a Christian on tv.

Really? During the new year when I was in Russia, some deeply malevolent spirit caused the satellite in my apartment to go berserk and I was left with a bunch of free-to-air channels, including tar.aldarion's embarassingly self-important beard-stroking EWTN, the God Channel, something which spent most of its time collecting money for the corrupt and ludicrous Benny Hinn, and perhaps twenty more eyes-closed and hands-in-the-air devotional, smoochy, elevator-music, god-is-great, save-yourselves-the-end-is-nigh, look-at-me-i-can-shout-for-the-LORD! christian channels.

So, as it's something which is already up for discussion in another current thread, I'm wondering what exactly is an accurate portrayal of a christian for you?

Tar.Aldarion

Actually, I was wondering about that question myself and was going to ask it robindch.


I can't believe I spelled EWTN wrong, I watch it all the time. I love your description of it. Although the God channel is better viewing. They are both besdie scuzz, my favourite channel.