Posted on 12/22/2005 7:19:33 AM PST by moviewatcher
Rent captures some of the deepest longings of our generation, and as Christians we should be paying attention. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). Sadly, we often fail. Christianity's public image is marred by hatred and divisiveness, and this will only change if we as individuals and churches take Jesus' command to love seriously. We should have stronger, more welcoming communities than anyone else--we claim to have experienced unconditional love, and that kind of love refuses to let us go unchanged, refuses to leave our relationships unchanged. We should be less judgmental, knowing our own sins full well. We should embrace life to its fullest. We should be revolutionaries, forsaking the fame, comfort, wealth, "success" that the world tells us we are entitled to, instead serving the poor, the marginalized, yes, even the AIDS patients and gays. Will we always get it right? No. But if not us, then who?
(Excerpt) Read more at relevantmagazine.com ...
the problem with using rent as a vehicle to illustrate Gods' love, and wish for us to love each other is that it falls ionto the leftist trap of assuming that all love has a sexual component, and that one cannot have love without lust. And since it is posited by those who cannto feel love without lust, they assume the two are equivalent.
As far as I can see, "Rent" is just propaganda for homosexuals. Normal people have no reason to see it.
We should demonstrate "love" by going to movies that we don't want to see? I think I'll write a check to The Salvation Army, instead.
"Brokeback Mountain captures some of the deepest longings of our generation, and as Christians we should be paying attention."I don't have to experience some playwright's interpretation of sexual depravity to better understand love.
I don't have to go to Mars to know the fishing there sucks.
The problem with Rent is that it is punk-ass agitprop and teen cheese.
The incomparable original "La Boheme" will tear you up with its poignant ending; Mimi's death from consumption signals an end to carefree youth and romantic poverty.
One of the many flaws in "Rent" is its relentlessly bourgeioise ending; Mimi's fever suddenly breaks and everyone, esentially unchanged, lives happily ever after in their Boho world which presumably lasts forever (or at least as long as Daddy's trust fund holds out).
One of the very worst movies I've ever seen although I howled with laughter at the ending. I give it one "*".
You've been here for two days. It's a little early to start posting threads.
But you caught me in a good mood today, so I'll respond.
I did see "Rent" and it's a good movie. But it's hardly a work of Christian Charity.
Take the character of Mark. In the opening minutes, we learn that:
1. He's freezing in a bad apartment in New York City on Christmas Eve.
2. He has a family in Scarsdale that is well-off enough to send him gifts and want to see him.
3. His family includes at least his mother, his sister, and some nieces and/or nephews.
How is it virtuous that Mark ignores the family that nurtures him and could benefit from his talents? He could be in Scarsdale, helping to keep the family united and perhaps showing the kids some of his filmmaking skills. Instead, he chooses to abandon them for no reason other than they aren't hip enough for him.
Obviously, if Mark had chosen to go to Scarsdale for Christmas, you wouldn't have much of a movie. But it's hardly virtuous to abandon your family in pursuit of a dream to make documentaries.
The same goes for other characters. Tom Collins is a technical genius. Instead of using his skills to help society, he rewires an ATM so that it will disperse free money. Tom could have helped his friends by getting a job with his impressive skills and giving them money.
The characters also make choices that hurt more people than they help. They resist the closing of a building where the homeless stay, but make no effort to help the homeless get their lives back together. The homeless just serve as mascots for their cause.
The characters do a dance number at a diner where they proudly ignore the wishes of the other patrons and the owner. It's a fun scene, but hardly moral.
The characters do have moments of morality. For example, Angel helps Collins after Collins is beaten up. The characters come together to help Mimi. But their morality is the self-annointed morality of someone who gives a homeless man a quarter but would never dream of doing the hard work of volunteering at a school, church, or civic organization to help insure that as few people as possible become homeless in the first place.
Maybe what is needed is a LOT less PC posturing from the new age "Christians" and more following the teaching of Jesus Christ.
I saw Rent years ago on Broadway. Somehow the idea that everyone with AIDS is a hero did not go over with me. The story had it that no matter how vile you were, you would be seen as a great person as long as you had HIV.
Exactly. Christ did not want the adulterous woman stoned to death. But he did want her to "Go Forth and sin no more."
THAT is the Christian message for homosexuals: knock it off! Your activity is not acceptable to God. Blind acceptance of everything under the sun is hardly Christian.
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians provides some guidance here:
5:9 I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners; 5:10 yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world. 5:11 But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Don’t even eat with such a person.
AND
6:9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. 6:11 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
"Rent" was one of only two movies since 1969 that were so bad I almost walked out. It just sucked. AIDS had only a little to do with how bad it sucked.
Oh, yeah, the female masturbation moment during that dance number on top of a table (played by the transsexual) in front of a roomful of diners was just such an inspiration to youth... /sarc
I had forgotten about that part of the scene. I like movies, and just learn to block out the crap I don't like. It's essential for surviving Hollywood's narcissism.
True, and it didn't sufficiently address the violence and infidelity that is a much larger part of the lifestyles addressed in the movie than the general population. There is love in the movie, but if it makes people think they will find more love amongs tranvestities and drug user, they are being blatantly misguided.
What an interesting topic today. Actually, Rent has many messages, but it also correctly points out the flaws of being human, (i.e., opposing homeless losing shelter but not doing anything to help the homeless either, high risk sexual behavior can lead to a disease that can kill you, the consequences of drug addiction, etc.) It does glorify a Bohemian existence and there are some positive aspects of that. I've just always found it hard to live a Bohemian life in the "real world". Just doesn't work because it is rooted in selfishness and we are better when we are together rather than as individuals.
However . . . . one of the messages of the production is about compassion. Its about overlooking another's flaws and loving that person unconditionally. "Loving" as used in the previous sentence refers to respecting, cherishing, etc, not just sexual satisfaction. It was about taking what Life has given you and accepting it and making you and the world a better place for it. It is a message of empathy and sympathy for the downtrodden and those less fortunate in life. It was Johnathan Larson's genius to embody those Christian-like qualities in the character played by a drag queen. One named Angel no less. Coincidence?
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