What Would Jesus Watch?

I'm still alive and I'm geekier than ever

2008-06-26T23:33:00.002-05:00

My senior year has caused me to set this little blog project on the back burner for a while. That doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about the intersection of faith and television. On the contrary, I actually spent much of the last semester working on a website chronicling the religious messages of Star Trek: Voyager. The site isn't the most advanced (although it does use a lot of javascript), and I'd like to spend some time fixing it up in the coming months, but for now it's at least accessible, so check it out if you're interested.

Religion in Star Trek: Voyager

"I feel like I'm choosing between jail or hell."

2007-12-02T02:46:00.000-06:00

That was a clip from last week's episode of Friday Night Lights. By the end of the episode that young man, Landry, had chosen to tell the truth and confessed to murdering a man that had attempted to rape the girl he loved and had continued to stalk her since. The most recent episode dealt with the consequences of Landry's decision to turn himself in.

Throughout season one Landry was clearly framed as a Christian. A Christian nerd who tried to be cool, but was really just a Christian nerd. He was in a Christian speed metal band called Crucifictorius and the season finale featured him driving an increasingly large group of females to the state championship "because it's the Christian thing to do."

In the first episode of season two, Landry Clarke killed a man by hitting him in the back of the head. The man was attacking Tyra, the girl Landry had been eying since halfway through season one. The man had continued to stalk her and approached her outside a convenience store late one night. Landry heard and what started as him running to her rescue ended with him striking the perp twice with a giant pipe. He proceeded to dump the body into the river, because he and Tyra didn't know what to do. It was a secret he held for a few episodes until his dad figured out he was up to something and burned Landry's car to destroy the only evidence that might lead the cops to the truth.

Destroying the evidence didn't destroy the nagging voice in Landry's head, and after Landry confessed to the crime he explained to Tyra why he did it by saying, "because it was the right thing to do." He couldn't keep lying to everyone, he said. The closed captioning added "and face God in my conscious" before it cut to commercial.

The end of the episode features a baby being christened. The pastor speaks: "Today Gracie Bell reminds us of God's unconditional love for all of us. Love and forgiveness and new life offered by our Lord." The very next scene Landry finds out that the state is not pressing charges against him and he's off the hook. He tells Tyra the news and she hugs him. Landry's not so excited. He clearly doesn't feel vindicated.

Now I'm not going to even begin to pretend that I know what's going on in the minds of the writers, but with Lyla's new-found faith and Landry's murder confession dilemma being somewhat situated in his belief in God and his desire to do what's right, I can't help but think they're up to something. And regardless of their intentions, I would argue that Friday Night Lights offers a more accurate and respectful depiction of the Christian faith than almost any show on television.

Plus, if you wanted to use FNL in a Bible study, you could. For example, the Landry situation could be tied to the difficulty many people have in accepting God's forgiveness. Landry can't get past what he did and he feels like he shouldn't be getting away with it. He needs to remember the namesake of his speed metal band Crucifictorius: the crucifiction. Jesus died to absolve us of our sins if we are repentant and accept his sacrifice. Landry is clearly repentant. And he has done the right thing. He surrendered himself to God as Lyla suggested he do. God let him off the hook, just like he did thousands of years ago through his son Jesus Christ. If only Landry could realize that; remember God's grace. Then again, maybe he will. I never have a clue what might be up those writers' sleeves.

"I think the 11th commandment is my favorite."

2007-11-05T18:51:00.000-06:00

Did you know Fonzie got baptized on Happy Days?

I had no idea until I spent an hour and a half one night reading episode summaries of the show (I have my reasons), and last night I was lucky enough to "virtually" attend the baptism thanks to WGN late night reruns.

Here's the gist of what happens (and if you want to avoid spoilers of 30 year old sitcoms, you may want to skip this part):

Fonzie was involved in a terrible accident while racing. He was unharmed, but his car was totaled. After a short stint of living "like the redhead"--"dull," as Joanie described it--Fonzie started losing it and began taking ridiculous risks (when his number is up, he decided, it's up. There's no use living a boring, overly cautious life). When questioned by Richie about his absurd behavior he admits that while he feels like he has his life here on earth figured out and in order, when it comes to the afterlife and "up there" he's not so sure. This leads him to Father Anthony (Al's brother who "used to be his twin until Al got a nose job"--hehe... I love this show). Fonzie talks to Father Anthony about cars and fears and decides to get baptised.

After the commercial break Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli gets sprinkled as godparents Howard and Marion Cunningham look on proudly and Potsie, Ralph, Joanie and Richie sing a hymn;

Faith of our fathers, we will love
both friend and foe in all our strife;
and preach thee, too, as love knows how
by kindly words and virtuous life.

Faith of our father, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

The part that stuck out to me (as it should) is the end. Fonzie convinces Father Anthony to let him give a speech in which he explains that he's been learning about all the ten commandments, but his favorite is the 11th. Love your neighbor as you would want to be loved. He decides that he feels like he's doing a pretty good job of loving others, so he thinks he's got a good grasp on where he's going.

At first I sighed at the generic watered-down version of faith it presented. It took a centuries-old faith and trimmed it down to a simple message: "Be nice." Of course, I hadn't expected much more. But then I thought about it. That's an important message. The most important, according to Jesus. And Fonzie didn't throw that out at the beginning of the episode or after some strange encounter with a stranger, he came to that realization and understanding after proving his devotion to his faith by going through a baptism which he seemed to take as seriously as a popular sitcom character can.

There were some other good points in there, too. Like not living a life of fear, and the importance of friends and family. Of course I'm not saying the episode was a mature investigation into Christianity, and it cut out Jesus for the most part (from what I remember), but all in all, it was a little more than I expected from a show whose very next episode was a three-parter featuring the baptized boy water-skiing over a shark while wearing a leather jacket.

While watching the final scene with Fonzie's lesson, I was reminded of a story I read as part of a Colbert Report taping recap I read written by a fan named Erin. It starts with someone asking Colbert what he would do if elected president and Colbert's answer;

"What would be your first executive order?"
"Uh ... be kind to each other?"

And then he told a story.

He didn't teach Sunday school last year, because he was too busy with the show; but he substituted, and he was subbing on the last day before summer vacation -- when the kids didn't really want to learn anything. And Pope Benedict had just been elected, so they decided to hold a mini papal election.

He and his daughter made a paper-maché miter, with a glitter cross, and then he "very seriously" locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and told the kids, "Okay, nobody leaves here until we elect a Pope."

They started by making a list of qualities that you should have to be a Pope: 'knows the Bible', 'good person', etcetera. "And nobody said 'must be a man', which made me happy." Then it came time to vote, but one kid said "Hey, I'm gonna vote for me," and another said, "I'm gonna vote for me!", and it looked like trouble.

(Stephen digressed at this point to speculate that all the cardinals probably do this on the first round. "Hey, might as well, who knows, there could be a groundswell...")

Daughter to the rescue: "Dad, make everyone vote twice." That way they would all vote for themselves and someone else. The winner was a kid named Gregory (and his daughter had predicted "It's gonna be Gregory, because he always knows all the answers in class." Stephen's daughter sounds like such a cool kid).

So they brought Gregory up to the front, put the miter on his head and the cloth over his shoulder, and said, "Now that you're the Pope, you need to pick a name; what name are you going to have?"

And the kid goes, "Urban III." ("He really knows his stuff!")

What will be his first papal injunction? Gregory holds up his hands (here Stephen holds up his own for a moment, to demonstrate, and then brings the mic back to his mouth), and says, "Be kind to each other."

At which Stephen went, "All right, that's it, we're done, everybody go home!"

Two cute little stories with a good message. A message that's all too easy to forget in a world that moves so fast. Even if it is really simple and generic.

Christian Rock Meets Fake News

2007-10-15T23:27:00.000-05:00

Apparently Stephen Colbert's Wriststrong bracelets have made it into the Christian music world via the band Kutless. I don't know why I find this so entertaining.

(hat's off to NoFactZone, from which I stole this story, and uorbulldog07 from the Colboards who passed on the bracelet)

"Bless us and Keep us Safe"

2007-10-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

Anyone here watch Kid Nation? I'll admit with no shame that I do. I watch it, and I love it. Controversy aside, I think it's endlessly fascinating. Sure, it's impossible to know exactly how much of it is engineered by the producers and how much is genuine behavior of the students, regardless it presents issues relevant to America today in a whole new way that not only allows viewers to reassess their beliefs about those things, but also lets us see how some of the nation's young people have been raised to think and act.

I'm being a little overly dramatic and sentimental, so I'll try to lay off, but I did want to present thoughts on this weeks episode of Kid Nation when the town of Bonanza City was forced to confront religious differences. You can watch it here at CBS.com, but if you're not afraid of spoilers, you can continue reading.

The episode begins with various discussions of religion. "Do you think God put me here for a reason?" led into a dinnertime disagreement over whether Christians or the "Jew Crew" are better. The pioneer journal that serves to direct the kids told the town council-members to start a religious service. They decided to do one joint service where representatives of each faith can do a prayer or share a little about their beliefs. The idea didn't go over well. Some were convinced religion was too divisive of an issue and wished not to be a part of the likely conflict and others simply didn't see the point of hearing about other religions if they already know what they believe.

No one turned up at the town religious meeting. One kid did, however, do a survey about the religious beliefs of the town, finding one Hindu, three atheists, some Jews, a few others, and mostly Christians.

Later that night one of the town members decided to start her own optional prayer service out by the bonfire. She invited everyone to attend, and because they enjoyed having an option, many did. Many kids prayed about their experience in Bonanza City and even one of the Jewish boys, who was adamant about avoiding the earlier attempted service, recited a Jewish prayer and was clearly moved by the experience. He cried along with a few of the other kids who found the moment unexpectedly meaningful.

That wasn't it for religion. After the showdown (in which they put together steeple puzzles) they were given the option of which reward to take: a 9-hole mini golf course, or a collection of holy books. Shockingly, they chose the holy books. Even more shocking, there seemed to be less fall-out from choosing the holy book over mini golf than there was last week for choosing a microwave over pizzas. Of course, a lot of that is just framing.

I don't necessarily have a lot to critique or dissect from the show. I'm still just intrigued by it all, but I have one last thought about the reward choice. Many reviews I've read, my roommates and myself all thought it seemed absurd for them to choose holy books. They're only there for 40 days and mini golf seems a lot more enjoyable, however, if I think about it, it seems rather believable that they would want to brush up on religion. It's all about priming. If all you've been talking and arguing about for the last two days is religion, it's on your mind, and your own personal beliefs are probably on your mind. Plus, these kids are all at least a little homesick and no doubt scared in some respects. What do people turn to when they're scared and homesick? Oftentimes religion. It's comforting, and for some of these kids it no doubt brings them a little bit of home. I think any other week and they would have picked mini golf, but they were offered the books in the tiny window of time (manufactured by the producers) when that's what many were craving.

At least that's my theory. What about you? Do you think there were other factors influencing the reward choice? Do you think it's ridiculous for the creators of the show to manufacture these obscure scenarios? Do you think the show has any worth or validity? Do tell.

"Weeds" and the Religious Right

2007-09-26T18:19:00.000-05:00

I watched Weeds on Monday night. I'll admit, I was distracting myself on the computer, and I don't watch the show regularly, so I'm not the most worthy assessor of it, however, what I did see, I didn't like too much.

I have seen episodes of Weeds in the past. It's smart, funny, well-done and has an interesting premise. It's certainly not a bad show from a critical studies perspective, but from a Christian perspective, it made me awfully uncomfortable. Apparently, currently the younger son of Mary Louise Parker's character has been forced into attending a Christian summer school where he has encountered a number of intensely conservative Christians who try to convert anyone they meet and who believe whole-heartedly in evolution. Now I don't want to imply that no Christians are like that, but something about the way the show represents Christians irks me.

Maybe it's because all of the protagonists of the series look at the Christians like a bunch of backwards, ignorant individuals. Maybe it's because I feel the creators are jumping on every stereotype and not presenting a more moderate alternative. Maybe it's because I feel like those involved aren't necessarily interested in painting Christians in a positive, or even neutral, light.

Of course I'm bordering on hypocrisy here. I accept and even endorse shows that poke fun at Christians (The Office and The Colbert Report, for example), so what, do I argue makes Weeds so much different? I don't have a great answer to that other than the ones I've offered, and I admit those might be weak. So rather than completely condemn the show, I'll ask my readers what they think.

Is Weeds fair to Christians?
Is it any different than all the other shows I love?

Discuss

USC Knight Chair in Media and Religion

2007-08-22T13:16:00.000-05:00

One of my professors at USC, Dr. Diane Winston, holds the Knight Chair in Media and Religion. Her interests focus on the intersection between religion and culture and she and USC have started a website devoted to relevant topics. Think of it as a website that does what I'm trying to do, only much better. I've only glanced around the site, but it seems rather extensive. Check it out.

"I can't imagine Jesus wasn't suppressing a laugh. How hilarious must it have been to watch Peter... sink into the waves"

2007-08-16T16:16:00.000-05:00

I love the show Arrested Development. I particularly enjoy the religious references. I The entire existence of Ann Veal makes my day.

Humor is a tough thing for Christians, myself included. Some religious humor is fine, and some I find out of taste. I fear the line I draw is arbitrary. That annoys me.

I think much of my thoughts about humor and Christianity were shaped by an old creative writing professor of mine. One day he went off on a long explanation of why he thinks Jesus was incredibly sarcastic. He mentioned some of Jesus' responses to people trying to trap him with his teachings and pointed out the attitude inherent in all of them.

I still think of Jesus that way; slightly sarcastic, full of personality, intimidating and yet full of love. And it's that image that makes me think Jesus would have more of a sense of humor than people might think. I'm sure there are a lot of jokes that would incur his "overthrowing the money changers" brand of wrath, but I think there are a great deal more that would bring him to a chuckle. Personally, I think he'd laugh at the religious puns and jabs at the Christian culture that help make Arrested Development so great, and that thought makes me smile.

P.S. Apologies to Stephen Colbert and all in the Colbert Nation for butchering the quote from his Knox College commencement address. If only blogger didn't limit title lengths.

Lessons from the yo-yo guy

2007-08-08T00:36:00.000-05:00

I watched The 40 Year-Old Virgin the other night, and I've been thinking about how it relates to Christianity. Now hear me out. I read an observation at Althouse a while back regarding the fact that Andy's understanding of sex could best be explained by religious scruple, even though no mention of religion is made in the entire movie. I think it's an interesting analysis. But that's not quite where I'm going here. My argument: Andy Stitzer is a great example of how Christians should live in today's world. Replace "virgin" with "Christian" and "sex" with, well... "life in general" and you'll begin to see what I mean.

Now I don't mean to imply that, when writing the film, Judd Apatow and Steve Carell had any intentions to infiltrate this raunchy romp with any type of moral message. I'm merely observing that Andy does right what a lot of Christians get wrong in regard to interacting with the world. Maybe we take some pointers.

Andy never tells others to see sex and relationships the way he does, and he keeps an open mind with his friends. He's willing to go outside of his comfort zone, try things he may not have on his own, and all the while refuses to give up his own ideals. In the end, his friends begin to see that maybe they can learn something from him and respect his view of sex (they even rush to rescue him from compromising his beliefs in the end), and Andy's a better person because he's taken some time to explore outside his personal bubble and ends up finding love, friends and more fulfilling life. It's a win-win.

Some might argue that Andy does participate in illegal activities like smoking pot and peeing in public, but, well, this is a facetious comparison I'm making, so I'm not going to validate every scene in the film. Basically, my point is that Christians can't hide in the little bubbles so many call home. We need to talk to people different from ourselves, learn from them, take chances, and step out of our comfort zone without placing blame or judgment on anyone else. We are called to be light. We are supposed to be an example. We're not the complicated, confusing instructions. We are the diagram on the opposite page.

There's a great book title, "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat." So true. If we don't have faith in God to guide us and stay with us when we venture into the "evil" secular world, then how much are our beliefs really worth? Certainly not much more than Andy's action figures.

P.S. Sorry if I'm preaching to the choir. I spent a lot of time in a Christian bookstore and a very self-involved church, and I'm still holding onto the boat.

"Harry Potter's like Jesus in that way. [Pauses] Oh, God! No, okay, no, um. . . . [Laughs nervously] God, that's a real Beatles moment, isn't it?"

2007-07-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

About two weeks ago I was skimming wikipedia and came upon this quote that I've since discovered is rather prominent in certain corners of the internet. It was said by J.K. Rowling in an interview with the Vancouver Sun on October 26, 2000, responding to the question, "are you a Christian?";

Yes, I am... Which seems to offend the religious right far worse than if I said I thought there was no God. Every time I’ve been asked if I believe in God, I’ve said yes, because I do, but no one ever really has gone any more deeply into it than that, and I have to say that does suit me, because if I talk too freely about that I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what’s coming in the books.

Well, I've now read book seven. Hmm...

WARNING: Possible spoilers behind the link

First off, I enjoyed the book greatly. I laughed, I cried and then I got terribly nervous about how they can fit it all into the movie without making it 10 hours long. Seriously, I'm terrified.

Anyway, with the release of the 7th book, the argument has once again arisen regarding whether the series is evil or a Christian metaphor. Is Harry a character Satan is using to warp young minds, or a Christ figure, meant as a more accessible and relatable image of the Son of God?

I don't think the debate will end any time soon. However, after reading quotes by Rowling and discussions of her books, I can't help but think that there was some intentionality to the similarities people have been drawing. I don't have much to add to the conversation right now (I'm still digesting and researching, and well, I'm kind of dense and like to second-guess myself, anyway) but I can share with you some of the things I've found most interesting in the HP/Jesus discussion:

Bob Smietana, in Christianity Today, points out the origin of the Dumbledore and Potter tombstone inscriptions (Matthew 6:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:26)
Abigail BeauSeigneur has written up an essay detailing the parallels between Christ and Potter. Some interesting insights (with a few far fetches for good measure).
Beliefnet offers a chart comparing Jesus and Harry. It was made after the second movie, but the ideas still apply.
HowgwartsProfessor.com has a number of discussions going on regarding the seventh book. One focusing on the "Christian ending".
And blogger Shadow offers six reasons why Christians should not protest Harry Potter. I dig them (especially reason 5: "Children should also be taught that the truth is not so flimsy that we have to run away from everything that isn't Christian.")
Edit: I don't know how I passed by SwordOfGryffindor.com. This site rocks at discussing anything and everything having to do with HP and theology (as well as literature). It's awesome.

While I can clearly see the connections between H-Pot and the Jesus story, the question of how intentional that was and if it even matters in the grand scheme of things is yet to be answered. However, the epic myth that is Harry Potter led my friend and I to discuss last night where the mythic structure started. I'm sure I could do some research and find how far back tales of a human sacrificing him/herself in the name of love go, but I'm too lazy right now. Regardless, I find it interesting that after hundreds and thousands of years people still long for a world in which ideas of love, sacrifice, and good triumphing over evil still prevail.

My friend and I were considering whether the Jesus story came first or if that egg was birthed of the similar and yet pagan chicken myth (did that metaphor work?). Either way, it's clear that the Christian worldview fulfills desires and answers questions in the reality of Christian's lives that myths have sought to fulfill and answer for centuries, and continue to do so today. (I don't know why I needed to throw a functionalist view of Christianity in here, but my Religion TA would be proud.)

Whether the Boy Who Lived is meant to equal Jesus (on any level) or not, the HP series is a wonderful, entertaining, massive symbol of the epic myth the Bible tells; a myth that continues to be retold again and again, and continues to give millions of people (including myself) hope and answers to impossible questions.

Thank you, JK Rowling. I owe you one. . . . Or seven.

Christ-like Harry Potter

2007-07-10T16:16:00.001-05:00

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is opening tomorrow and book 7 is coming to bookstores on the 21. In the spirit of the season Christianity Today has posted an excerpt from the book Looking for God in Harry Potter.

The author lays out a table illustrating the resurrection in each book through five. To me it just seems to provide evidence of Rowling's adherence to traditional mythic structures, but it's interesting nonetheless.

"Happy birthday Jesus. Sorry your party's so lame."

2007-07-09T11:13:00.000-05:00

I have been watching The Office a lot lately. I'm catching a friend up on seasons 1 & 2, so I've been partaking in a number of mini-marathons. A lot of things that I never noticed before have been popping up this time around. Mainly, I've been noticing more depth to a lot of the characters I all but ignored before. Slowly I'm becoming convinced that the common theme running throughout the entire show is the idea of insecurity. Michael is the most obvious in that just about everything he does is rather explicitly derived from his own feelings of failure and loneliness, but everyone else in the show has their own issues. Most relevant to this site, however, is Angela, the uptight, judgmental Christian character, isn't so one-sided and evil as she might initially seem. She's just struggling with her own inability to achieve perfection.

Other Christian bloggers haven't failed to notice Angela and provide their insight on her character. Relevant suggests we use Angela as a reality check to remind ourselves to not become self-righteous and a post at L-AME takes a different approach, suggesting that the negative portrayal of Christians on The Office is evidence of Luke 6:22 which reads "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake." Apparently Angela Martin is just an example of NBC's disdain for people of faith. ("What NBC has done is place their hatred for Christians onto a false Christian to use as a punching bag. Might win a few laughs, but there’s little truth in the character.")

There are many beefs I have with this latter assessment that I'm sure many in the Christian community would hold (although many of that persuasion, I'm sure, are unfamiliar with the show). For one, I can't bring myself to believe NBC has corporate-wide hatred for people who believe in Jesus. Not only does the network air a number of shows that, if anything, support a Christian lifestyle (VeggieTales, Friday Night Lights) but they've also taken a number of actions to appease Christians (cancelling Book of Daniel, for example--although that also appeased many critics).

I could also go into similar evidence regarding my certainty that the people involved in The Office, specifically, are not anti-faith, but I'll leave Evan Almighty out of this.

I don't think Angela was created out of spite for people who believe Jesus is the son of God. Rather, I believe she was created to represent a different type of person people are forced to interact with on a day-to-day business. I see her beliefs as more of a reason for the madness than anything else, and the more I see of Angela, the more interested I am in the portrayal.

Angela Kinsey (the actress that plays Angela) commented on the Christian question on her myspace blog. It's not available online anymore, but I had copy/pasted it into a different blog, so here it is:

I grew up overseas and have friends and family members of all faiths but I am a Christian. I currently go to a Presbyterian church in LA. I talked to my Mom about this role because I didn't want to be disrespectful to anyone. I try to emphasize what a "type A" person Angela is rather than her religion. She has lots of rules for herself. That is just who she is. She takes things very seriously at work and in life. I think she drives people at her church a little crazy. She is probably bossy with them. Like anyone she struggles with her short comings--her impatience, her judging, and her over all grouchy moods. I'm sure she struggles with her feelings for Dwight. These things give her layers and make her more human rather than just a one note character. I did get one email that wasn't super nice but I understand that some people are not going to like my character or the show. I tried not to let it get me down. The truth is I have a ton of Christians in my life who love the show and my character. Even in church we have all types of personalities and chances are you know an "Angela" sitting in the pew in front of you.

The more I watch the show the more I realize the struggles Angela clearly has and the more respect I have for her as a character (as annoying as she might be). A few examples that stick out to me are in "E-mail Surveillance" and "The Christmas Party." In "E-mail" Angela leaves to go to Jim's party and fibs to Michael about her plans. He tells her she's lying and she loudly and adamantly insists she's not. In "Christmas Party" we see her cry because Michael has so rudely changed the plans for the party (granted I think it's after the Kelly-Dwight incident, so that likely influences it). The point is, like every character in the show--and every person to live--Angela is struggling with her own insecurities and, like so many of us, she doesn't always deal with them as well as one might hope.

I still am really interested to hear how she justifies her implied sexual relationship with Dwight. Hm...

Ratatouille and Jesus

2007-07-04T02:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'll admit I really have nothing to say regarding Ratatouille that pertains to Christianity or even spirituality in general. I've been racking my brain since I saw it on Sunday to come up with something, and I keep coming up dry. Here is a feeble attempt, nonetheless.

My favorite verse from scripture is Philippians 4:8 which reads, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (NIV). I think Pixar's latest piece of art fits this description.
After seeing the film, I walked out of the theater feeling completely happy. It was gorgeous, adorable, touching and everything else someone could hope for in a film. I know I'm not the first person to sing the film's praises, but I'm doing it anyway. If you want to take Paul's advice and "fill your minds and meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse" then go see Ratatouille. I hope it makes you as happy as it made me.

Good things come to those who wait.

2007-07-02T17:43:00.000-05:00

I apologize I for not posting in a while. Some ideas have been percolating, so I'll try to post more regularly than once a week.

In the interim I'd like to say a great big thanks to Diane at Catholic Colbert for including me among her list of Rockin' Girl Bloggers. I'm still settling in to the blogosphere, so her recognition and support means a lot. Thanks, Diane.

What's a Christian to think of "Evan Almighty?"

2007-06-23T21:05:00.000-05:00

I've spent the last month or so all but obsessing over the new Universal release Evan Almighty. I've read articles, blogs, reviews and interviews with the people involved. I've watched interviews and behind the scenes videos. I even went to the Rock the Boat concert sponsored by the film and featuring popular Christian musicians, and then caught the televised version of the concert a week later on TBN.

Many Christians have enjoyed or endorsed the film, some Christian bands even featured the trailer at their concerts. Others have voiced opposition to either the film itself, the marketing of the film or the blind endorsement by Christians who have not yet seen it. There are others who appreciate the attempt of Hollywood to make a quality film that's respectful of religious beliefs.

I wanted to hold out my own thoughts on the film until I had seen it and given it a fair chance. I saw it this morning, so the gloves are coming off. I'll do my best to answer the question that I feel is popping up everywhere: what should Christians think of Evan Almighty?

I'll start with the easy stuff; a basic review of the film:

It wasn't great. Cinematically speaking many of the jokes fell flat. There were too many religious references and puns and some were given more "punch" than they deserved (Evan's new license plate did not need the dramatic crescendo it was given, for example). The story moved along, but it was somewhat formulaic: the dad who wasn't around enough was reminiscent of Liar, Liar, the wife's moment of realization that her husband really did need to build the ark seemed borrowed from Field of Dreams. And need I mention the irremovable beard gag that has been done numerous times before (The Santa Clause, anyone).

Despite those critiques, it had its moments. The animals were adorable to watch, Evan's obsessive assistant/intern caused some unexpectedly funny moments, and the conversations with God seemed sincere and thought-provoking. I must say, even Evan's prayer at the beginning, a moment I was dreading (I find it uncomfortable to watch sincere prayer in movies like this--I feel like I'm invading someone's privacy), was done quite well. I give props to Steve Carell for giving that the mix of genuineness and uneasiness it required. Oh, and don't miss the credits. That was one of my favorite parts.

All in all, it was worth the $6 I spent on it, and I wouldn't be surprised if, in a few years, I find myself purchasing it for a few bucks in a sale at Blockbuster or the like, primarily for its spiritual content, to see the special features, and because I adore both Steve Carell and lemonade-drinking baboons. I give it 2 stars, a C, and a thumb at a 65 degree angle from the ground.

You can get reviews of the film almost anywhere, however, so let me move on to the spiritual aspects and provide my responses to critiques of the film and offer insight regarding how I think Christians should approach it. First I'd like to point out what in the film stuck out to me, personally, as interesting or thoughtful.

The film was a lot more spiritual and religious than I had anticipated. Many have stressed the balance between environmentalism and religion, and in the opinions of my friend Justine and myself, the movie leaned much more to the religion side, confronting environmentalism only in a brief scene up front and a somewhat murky congressional bill that propels the story but is not primary to the overall message.

The religion in the film was also more explicit than expected. Evan tells one character, "I'm giving you one last chance to repent." I know repent only means "to turn away from wrongdoing," but I can't tell you the last time I heard it without any religious connection. I'm not complaining about the extent of the explicitness, simply commenting that its intensity caught me off-guard.

I enjoyed the religion in the film for the most part (the Bible puns and references meant for laughs didn't do it for me as much as the conversations). In many ways it played out like an episode of Joan of Arcadia. God tells Evan to do something strange. He does it with much begrudging and hesitation and then with intense determination. In the end the result is not what he had anticipated, but God explains His reasons and a lesson is learned. Morgan Freeman's God is less cryptic than the gods of Joan, however. And he is more specifically Christian but just as kind as loving. At one point God tells Evan, "Everything I do, I do because I love you." This was right after laughing at him for insisting ark building isn't in his plans. My favorite conversation with God, however, was the one shared with Evan's wife Joan. He explains how God answers prayer. It was, I think, one of the most poignant scenes in the whole movie.

Despite the positive portrayal of faith in the film, however, there are many concerns I've heard from Christians. Now, I don't pretend to be a religious scholar, theologian or anything of the sort, but I do have some thoughts on such things. For starters, the God in the film never intends to cause a second world-destroying flood, so don't get your robes in a tizzy.

Secondly, I'd like to take a moment to discuss the marketing of the film. Before I get in too deep with my thoughts on advertising to Christian audiences, I want to point out that the marketing of a film is completely separate from the production of it. The filmmakers (directors, writers, producers, actors) can have one set of goals and intentions with a film and the people in charge of marketing can have completely different ones. Thus, to base your opinion of the film itself on the marketing strategies is unfair. We should all take the old axiom to heart and not judge a book by its cover.

Now, regarding the marketing, I don't think there's anything wrong with Universal trying to cater to a religious audience. After all, many Christians often voice their distaste with many entertainment choices. If Universal feels they've made something that Christians can appreciate it makes sense they would want to inform them of it. I don't think there was any attempt by the filmmakers or the studio to mock religion or to "use" the Christian population. If there were any intentions of that sort they belonged to the marketers and not the creative minds, and when commenting on the content of a film, I believe the intentions of the filmmakers take precedence.

The problem I see lies with the Christian leaders and individuals that endorse the film without having seen it. That's a dangerous move in any situation. I see no problem with ArkAlmighty.com, assuming participating churches understand the genesis of the site and its relationship to Evan Almighty. I don't think any pastors or leaders should be endorsing or condemning any entertainment products. However, the ministry that can happen with ArkAlmighty.com is potentially positive, and taking advantage of a service that is being offered is not so bad as long as you are aware of the underlying motives.

The largest concern I've heard lately, however, and the most complex is that of the portrayal of God (James Dobson discusses such concerns here). Many have taken particular interest in his explanation of the first flood when he said it was an act of love. People seem to be annoyed that they took the wrath out of the God. While that may be a valid criticism, the film is a comedy and when the goal is to make God approachable, making him angry is not the best way to draw in an audience. Tim Challies at Challies.com expresses concern that the comedy genre " simply could not bring so serious and important and biblical a message" as that attempted to be conveyed in Evan.

I understand his concern but feel the need to point out that often in entertainment, minorities often first appear in comedies as the genre makes them more accessible. While I don't mean to imply that God, or even Christians, belong to a minority group, there are many ways that we are trivialized. I don't see any harm in breaking into the world of serious discussion and acceptance in mainstream entertainment the same way African-Americans, Mexican-Americans and other groups do through more lighthearted methods. Additionally, comedy is not a trivial thing. Framing something in humor does not necessarily drain its of its importance. Comedy's a powerful tool if properly used, and while I don't think this film was the most successful at getting big laughs, I don't think it dangerously misrepresented God or Christianity in any way.

Regardless of the criticism of the level of God's friendliness, I think it's interesting to consider what is right and what is not in regard to portrayals of God in film and television. Lately I've considered posting something on the topic, but Evan Almighty has brought it up now. I'm not sure what I think of the matter, but I know what I think of it in regard to this film. In this instance, I don't think there's a problem.

I don't think there's any confusion that this film was created by humans and the God in the film was a human construct, and everyone knows that Morgan Freeman is not really God. Some of the specific theology behind His comments can be argued, yet the character is treated with respect. He's loving, kind, authoritative and revered. By creating a human God it allows viewers to explore a different perspective on God's role in our lives. It personalizes things in a new way. I can't imagine anyone assuming that everything said in the film is in accordance with the God of scripture, and even if they do, the representation is sincere enough, and His comments both ambiguous and excusable enough that I can't imagine any harm being caused. Plus, if anyone is uninformed enough to glean their entire understanding of God from a mediocre summer comedy, then I think they're in trouble anyway.

In conclusion, I don't think the film is dangerous. I also don't think it's the next classic. At most the film may open a discussion about the role of a personal God in our lives, and at the very least, it's a mildly entertaining little story. Carell said it best in an interview with Christianity Today,

I think the movie is what you want to take away from it, and it just depends on who you are and where you come from. But I think it speaks to most everybody. It's about caring about one another. It's about caring for our planet. And it's about making choices and leaps of faith, and I think those are universal themes.

People are already taking away from it what they want. Secular critics are acknowledging it as a klunky comedy meant to appeal simultaneously to the religious right and liberal environmentalists and failing on both counts. And most Christians are accepting it as an entertaining, uplifting, inoffensive summer romp. Why the discrepancy? I think the answer is found in Carolyn Arends' Christianity Today review of the film. She says;

Evan Almighty is a little too silly and sometimes a little too sloppy to be considered a masterpiece. But the filmmakers have managed to make a truly entertaining film that invites viewers to contemplate the rather big idea that we're all "chosen" to be in relationship with—and obedient to—our Creator.[...] Watch two or three other "Christian" movies and what's been accomplished here comes into sharper focus. Evan Almighty isn't perfect, but it is both inspired and inspiring. I can't wait to share it with my family.

The film may not be good when compared to mainstream comedies like Back to the Future or Groundhog Day, or even to the best episodes of Joan of Arcadia, but compared to other "Christian" films, this one is something special. Perhaps someday Hollywood will be creating inoffensive products with religious appeal that are on par with the quality of other mainstream films. And maybe someday more Christians will become increasingly open to accepting "secular" offerings with less explicit but equally thought-provoking religious ideas. Until then, this movie certainly gives us plenty to talk about.

"Veggie Tales" Trailer Premier

2007-06-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

Suddenly the "Silly Song"/The Office crossovers I posted a couple weeks back seem almost prophetic, because it seems Steve Carell will be getting awfully close to our Gospel-preaching vegetable friends when the new trailer for The Pirates Who Don't do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie premieres before showings of Evan Almighty beginning this weekend. Universal has also put up a small website for the film. I'm curious to see how much the studio plans on pushing Pirates. It looks like they'll be putting some substantial effort behind it if they plan on premiering the trailer before their biggest release of the summer. Very interesting....

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie

2007-06-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

Not to further pimp Universal (my favorite multimedia conglomerate) but I just discovered that in January 2008 they will be releasing the second full-length VeggieTales movie: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. I wonder how NBC/Universal feels about this after all the controversy they incurred by trimming scriptural references out of the VeggieTales episodes on their Saturday Morning line-up. (You can read an interview about that with creator Phil Vischer here. I'm not sure if it's Vischer himself or the way some of the controversy has been reported that makes him seem a tad cynical.)

I hope people won't be too tired of Pirates by the time this comes out.

Universal: Rocking the Boat

2007-06-14T12:03:00.001-05:00

On Monday night I went to Rock the Boat, a concert featuring DecembeRadio, Jeremy Camp, Relient K and Switchfoot. All proceeds from the concert went to Habitat for Humanity and the entire escapade, complete with a Christian comedian providing filler between acts, was sponsored by the new Universal film Evan Almighty. All in all, it was fun. I got to see Relient K live (after years of failed attempts) and more importantly, I got to witness one of Universal's attempts to appeal to the Christian market.

I don't know how I feel about advertising to the Christian community. I cite it as one of the primary reasons I did not like The Passion of the Christ, yet I'm not sure that's really what so irked me about that film. Lately I find myself more intrigued by such tactics than anything. And as of late, I just can't get enough of the faith-based marketing efforts of Evan Almighty.

While the Rock the Boat concert was clearly an attempt to get Christians interested in the film, I couldn't help but be shocked at the lack of planning and organization that went into the event.

For starters, it was being taped. This wasn't that horrible except that it required us to see the same lame bit from the otherwise entertaining comedian Thor Ramsey 2 1/2 times.

The endorsements by the bands also seemed ill-managed. The comments were half-hearted enough to be comical. They each briefly mentioned it, Jeremy Camp doing the best promotion by contemplating the film's power in getting people to pick up the Bible to read the story of Noah. Switchfoot sang a little ditty about the film which was entertaining. My favorite, however, was the shout-out by Relient K. Matt Thiessen's two or three sentences were all blurred together, and I can't wait to see if the ideas in the film really do coincide with those in the song "Forgiven" as he suggested.

The thing I was most interested in, however, was the clips from the film they chose as interstitials. First was the clip in which God shows up everywhere and freaks out Evan. Next, they showed the clip where the beard keeps growing back (you know, the same bit you've seen in many great films such as The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen). Then they played the theatrical trailer. I would have imagined that, after gathering together an auditorium full of Christians, they would have tried a little harder to show scenes that suggested some of the deeper spiritual ideas that might be gleaned from the film.

Perhaps there aren't any, and that's the problem.

I don't mean for this review to sound as though I'm bashing the film or its efforts. I plan on seeing the movie (how can I not after this build-up?), I simply expect more from my favorite multi-media conglomerate.

At the same time, I'm not surprised they didn't put more resources into this one event. After all, the potential ticket-buyers didn't even fill an amphitheater, whereas the church goers targeted through ArkAlmighty.com and misleading ads in Christianity Today number at least in the millions.

While I still can't figure out where I stand regarding the ethics of using faith as a marketing tool, I find myself wondering if disagreements like those over the strategies of Evan Almighty were as prevalent regarding The Passion.

I also can not wait to see if any of these efforts will pay off. Or if they deserve to.

PG, PG-13, R: Where should Christians draw the line?

2007-06-10T17:02:00.000-05:00

A few days ago Christianity Today posted an article about Christian attitudes towards questionable content in film on their website. The conversation is certainly not a new one. My entire conscious life I've been hearing arguments for and against Christians accepting or condoning bad language, sex and violence in films, and I'm sure the disagreement didn't start in the the last 20 years.

The Christianity Today story provides a few different, interesting, and valid perspectives on the issue.

The basic argument the supporters of PG-13 or R-rated material comes from those insisting that life is grimy and messy. That includes the lives of people who later become Christians and even those who already are believers. Thus, it should be expected that films show that messy stuff, so the redemptive message can better be expressed.

The argument on the opposing side either argues that the messy stuff can be insinuated rather than flat-out portrayed or they suggest that there's enough bad stuff in real life, so we should only subject ourselves to pleasant, unoffensive, happy films that better reflect Phillipians 4:8.

Some people also brought up the distinction between foul language, violence and sex that serve the story versus the stuff that's just included to sell movie tickets. That point may be the most valid of all, but also the most subjective.

While reading the different view-points I couldn't help but think of Walk the Line. I feel like it's a good example of quality entertainment that Christians can get behind that isn't "Christian." There's drugs, domestic violence, sex, and a really bloody accident. The film doesn't shy away from any of that. It's all very clearly represented, but it doesn't go over the line. Shawshank Redemption is another great film (this time, rated R) that once again includes some pretty intense stuff, but it all serves the purpose of the story without being too graphic.

I could go into my thoughts on why The Passion of the Christ doesn't belong in that same category due to the grossly excessive violence, but I understand that's a good way to tick off a lot of people, so I'll just quit while I'm (likely) still ahead.

Might I, in closing, add some thoughts from author Brian Godawa in his book Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films With Wisdom & Discernment. In the appendix, "Sex, Violence & Profanity in the Bible," he aligns with the argument on behalf of showing the crap for the sake of the overall redemptive message, and he uses for his example, the Bible.

The ultimate source book for most media watchdogs is the Bible. And it ought to be, because without its definition of a universal objective morality, we have no absolute refernce point for right and wrong. [...]

But we must be careful in our appeal to the Good Book when analyzing the morality of stories. For in its pages are detailed accounts and descriptions of every immoral act known to humanity. [...] It only roves that sex and violence are not always literary taboo in Holy Writ. In fact, the acknowledgment of evil is treated as the necessary prerequisite to redemption.

There may be an argument to be made recognizing the difference between reading and seeing. Regardless, I think Godawa does a pretty good job of hitting the nail on the head. The Bible doesn't sterilize its stories, so is it un-Godly if our films don't always either?

New Catholic Colbert Blog!

2007-06-09T03:08:00.001-05:00

Not to be too Colbert-centric with this blog, but I recently stumbled upon a new site that focuses on Catholicism in The Colbert Report. It's new and thus doesn't have a lot of content quite yet, but I like what's going on so far, and I'm always excited to see more fans of "religious Colbert."

Check it out: http://catholiccolbert.com/

Studio 60: NBC's Lame Duck

2007-06-08T01:21:00.000-05:00

I watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I really enjoyed it at first, however, now I watch it more out a sense of committment, with the hope that one day the writing and the talented cast and everything else that made this show the most anticipated of the season will come together to create something wonderful. It hasn't, and with three episodes left, I'm not holding my breath. However, despite my (many) critiques of the show, I continue to find myself tuning in, due, in large part, to my desire to see the series' attempts to confront religion.

My biggest critique of the show is its smugness. Every character says every line like it's the most brilliant thing ever said and that anyone who disagrees is just plain stupid. The retorts are too witty, the tirades are too intellectual and snobby and nothing on the show seems real. Also, I'm beginning to get annoyed with the life or death mentality with which the show and its inhabitants views humor and comedy--especially considering Aaron Sorkin hasn't had much experience in the field. The flashback conversation in tonight's episode between Matt, Danny and Jack was particularly stressful. What world do Matt and Danny live in where the only things to laugh at are political in nature?

Another beef I have with the show is the way Christianity is depicted. Harriet is annoying. Her relationship with Matt (really, the only aspect of her character) is cumbersome and almost painful to watch. They have opposing religious beliefs. I get it. What I don't get is why they haven't given up yet. They've been having the same argument for eight years. I've only been privy to it for 19 episodes and even I'm over it.

Despite these critiques, I liked the way tonight's episode ended. After being asked by Harriet if he would like to join her in prayer, Matt is saved by the ringing of his phone. Minutes later as he follows her out of the building, he pauses, looks to the heavens and says, "show me something." Some fans, I've come to understand, are annoyed with the cliff-hanger and fear Matt "finding God," but in a show that's filled with everyone having the right answer, a moment in which someone questions their ego is captivating.

I don't think Matt will find God. That would be out of character for both him and the show's auteur. However, if he comes away from this ordeal relinquishing some of his conceit, it will be possible to say that something worthwhile can be gleaned from these otherwise tedious 22 hours of television. We'll just have to wait a week to find out.

"So what is your idea of God?"

2007-06-07T14:31:00.000-05:00

As I've mentioned before, I love hearing God and religion mentioned on The Colbert Report. The interviews can be especially interesting. Although "Colbert" often pulls out the ridiculous pro-Christian arguments that even many Christians find ignorant, occasionally he pulls out an intellectual response in support of faith. There was his comment months ago, "You can be rational and believe in God" and there was a couple of retorts offered on Monday:

Leave it to Colbert to turn an interview with a man who offers education to prisoners into a discussion about the existence of God. I also found the end of the God convo wonderful. "That's okay with you? That's very big of you." I think it's indicative of the way many intellectuals view people of faith--as those naive little unenlightened people, and the annoyance with which people of faith react. Good times. Good times.

Silly Songs made Sillier

2007-05-24T11:19:00.001-05:00

On top of being interested in the relationship between Christianity and pop culture, I'm also quite into fan culture. So today, for a little fun, I bring you something that brings those two interests together: "Silly Songs with Halpert: 'His Cheeseburger'."
(Source)

For those interested, there's a second Veggie Tales/The Office crossover, also by Juleshortstuff over at YouTube: "Silly Songs with Scranton: The Dundies who Don't Do Anything" (after the cut). Enjoy!

(Source)

Almighty Advertising

2007-05-20T03:10:00.000-05:00

The upcoming Universal film Evan Almighty has a promotional tactic I can't help but blog about.
ArkAlmighty.com is a new "craigs-list like" networking site that allows church members to post needs and other church members to respond to those needs with "acts of random kindness." I stumbled upon the site when I was perusing ChristianityToday.com and I noticed an ad for a site whose font clearly established it as relating to the hopeful blockbuster.

I explored ArkAlmighty.com, watched John Goodman (huh?) explain the site to me, read the explanation of its incarnation and then checked to see if any of my local churches were participating. I must say: it's an intriguing endeavor, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

I hated the church tie-ins with The Passion. I found it disgusting that my church was offering discounted movie tickets to members and free ones to first-time attenders and I hated being all-but-forced to see it as part of a senior high small group activity. Part of my distaste could have stemmed from the bitterness I was harboring towards the church at that time. I was constantly feeling marginalized because I so appreciated TV and film (my youth pastor had done a particularly long sermon series about hedonism and the danger of entertainment), so there was something incredibly disconcerting about such a full-on embrace of one of the most violent and controversial movies in recent history.

Thus, I'm skeptical of my own ambivalent, and possibly positive, view on this Almighty tactic. The site seems to have potential in the role it serves, and while I don't know that it would last (or if it could as Universal's use for the site would soon pass), I think it's a creative, and potentially useful, marketing strategy.

The one thing that most fascinates me is that the site is rather explicitly focused on people within church congregations helping and assisting those within the same congregation. Christopher Lyon over at PlanetWisdom points out that this is the point of churches in the first place, but that maybe we need the reminder. Maybe churches do need a reminder to help out those within their circle that need assistance in various areas. I find it interesting that a major Hollywood Studio is the force that's encouraging churches to do just that.

I wasn't terribly thrilled about Evan Almighty, even though I do love Steve Carell and Bruce was rather enjoyable, but after stumbling upon ArkAlmighty.com, I can't wait to see whether this film is worth the efforts Grace Hill Media and the others are putting into it.

Spider-Man 3 and the message they were going for

2007-05-18T12:29:00.001-05:00

I saw Spider-Man 3 the night it came out. I feel I wouldn't have enjoyed the film as much as I did if I hadn't been in that adrenaline-powered, crowd-think environment. I thought it was the weakest of the three films, primarily because there seemed to be something missing. The Big Push of the movie was a childish little moral about choosing good over evil and power. It was like a kiddie Harry Potter which is a feat, considering Harry Potter is already a children's story.

Anyway, turns out there was a larger point to the story. According to Raimi,

Peter considers himself a sinless person compared to these villains. We felt it would be great for him to learn a less black-and-white view of life—that's he's not above these people, that he's not just the hero, that they're not just the villains, but we're all human beings. He had to learn that he himself might have some sin within him, and that other human beings—the ones he calls the criminals—have humanity within them. And that the best we can do in this world is to not strive for vengeance, but for forgiveness.(Christianity Today, "Spidey Gets Spiritual")

I see how that was depicted in the movie (Sandman was just trying to help his little girl, after all), but I feel like by the end of the film, they realized the theme wasn't clear enough so they just had Spidey flat out tell the moral to Venom (an otherwise unexciting character) right before his demise. Thus, rather than the film being an action-packed parable it became a violent, camp-fest with a soap-box speech for a conclusion.

Maybe I missed something when I was laughing at all the wrong parts, but I think the "Peter Parker"-as-savior symbolism and language was much clearer, and more powerful, in the earlier two films. They were more cohesive films. I don't know how excited I am for a fourth installment.