Posted on 12/04/2006 7:52:47 PM PST by Pyro7480
'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children
By John-Henry Westen
NEW YORK, December 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A review of New Line Cinema's The Nativity story by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States, points out that the film, which opened December 1, misinterprets scripture from a Catholic perspective.
While Fr. Geiger admits that he found the film is "in general, to be a pious and reverential presentation of the Christmas mystery." He adds however, that "not only does the movie get the Virgin Birth wrong, it thoroughly Protestantizes its portrayal of Our Lady."
In Isaiah 7:14 the Bible predicts the coming of the Messiah saying: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel." Fr. Geiger, in an video blog post, explains that the Catholic Church has taught for over 2000 years that the referenced Scripture showed that Mary would not only conceive the child miraculously, but would give birth to the child miraculously - keeping her physical virginity intact during the birth.
The film, he suggests, in portraying a natural, painful birth of Christ, thus denies the truth of the virginal and miraculous birth of Christ, which, he notes, the Fathers of the Church compared to light passing through glass without breaking it. Fr. Geiger quoted the fourth century St. Augustine on the matter saying. "That same power which brought the body of the young man through closed doors, brought the body of the infant forth from the inviolate womb of the mother."
Fr. Geiger contrasts The Nativity Story with The Passion of the Christ, noting that with the latter, Catholics and Protestants could agree to support it. He suggests, however, that the latter is "a virtual coup against Catholic Mariology".
The characterization of Mary further debases her as Fr. Geiger relates in his review. "Mary in The Nativity lacks depth and stature, and becomes the subject of a treatment on teenage psychology."
Beyond the non-miraculous birth, the biggest let-down for Catholics comes from Director Catherine Hardwicke's own words. Hardwicke explains her rationale in an interview: "We wanted her [Mary] to feel accessible to a young teenager, so she wouldn't seem so far away from their life that it had no meaning for them. I wanted them to see Mary as a girl, as a teenager at first, not perfectly pious from the very first moment. So you see Mary going through stuff with her parents where they say, 'You're going to marry this guy, and these are the rules you have to follow.' Her father is telling her that she's not to have sex with Joseph for a year-and Joseph is standing right there."
Comments Fr. Geiger, "it is rather disconcerting to see Our Blessed Mother portrayed with 'attitude;' asserting herself in a rather anachronistic rebellion against an arranged marriage, choosing her words carefully with her parents, and posing meaningful silences toward those who do not understand her."
Fr. Geiger adds that the film also contains "an overly graphic scene of St. Elizabeth giving birth," which is "just not suitable, in my opinion, for young children to view."
Despite its flaws Fr. Geiger, after viewing the film, also has some good things to say about it. "Today, one must commend any sincere attempt to put Christ back into Christmas, and this film is certainly one of them," he says. "The Nativity Story in no way compares to the masterpiece which is The Passion of the Christ, but it is at least sincere, untainted by cynicism, and a worthy effort by Hollywood to end the prejudice against Christianity in the public square."
And, in addition to a good portrait of St. Joseph, the film offers "at least one cinematic and spiritual triumph" in portraying the Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth. "Although the Magnificat is relegated to a kind of epilogue at the movie's end, the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is otherwise faithful to the scriptures and quite poignant. In a separate scene, the two women experience the concurrent movement of their children in utero and share deeply in each other's joy. I can't think of another piece of celluloid that illustrates the dignity of the unborn child better than this."
See Fr. Geiger's full review here:
http://airmaria.com/
"The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD." -- Proverbs 16:33
When God created the world did He know absolutely everything?
Isn't this the old Egyptian religion? they weigh out your heart and you have a bribe ready in case the big dog wants to gulp it down.
actually they're not full members they're associate members; they're there to witness to Christian truth.
the orthodoxwiki article is outdated.
see this:
http://www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1167&SID=19#%22PHOTOindex.asp?SID=11%22
God always knew/knows/knowing absolutely everything.
We don't.
I think we're gonna find out.
How do you define it?
Did God know everything BEFORE He created?
There's no "before" there as best I understand.
But I don't think it affects your point too much yet.
That's your definition? ;-)
How do you define it?
I hold to the standard definition. :-) As I understand the standard definition, it is that some believe God created some for Heaven and some for Hell. It's not theology to which I adhere. And as I see it, this definition of double predestination does not equate to omniscience so I agree with your previous statement. God knows where everyone spends eternity and of course God knows everything about everything, but that does not equate to God creating some for Heaven and some for Hell.
God pre-existed the creation. From our perspective that is "before." (His, too, since He understands our perspective.)
Yep, that's pretty much where I'm headed. There are some other variances such as infralapsarian and supralapsarian..
But yeah, omniscient means all-knowing, period. To go past this theologically requires additional propositions.
If God knew everything prior to creating Scripter, then He also knew Scripter's destiny. Had He not wanted you created, then He would not have created you. Therefore, you were created "for" your destiny.
We believe, since God is Love, that all His purposes are Just. (Justice being one form of Love.)
There wasn't a before before creation, and there's only a before/after for the finite perspective.
It's important to bear in mind these distinctions, but, again, I don't think it's going to affect your point yet if ever.
"IOW, if you are not saved by Grace through Faith you will not have the Holy Spirit indwelling you and when you are judged you will not be found righteous."
That's the whole idea behind the parable about the guy that shows up at the wedding banquet in blue jeans and a tee shirt. Matt. 22:11
The Book of Job indicates there was a "before" creation. Very clearly, actually.
This whole "time" thing is so sticky, however, that it's best to acknowledge a wide range of views on it, AND a difficulty with its complexities.
Or he could have created Scripter's parents with free will and with it they chose to have Scripter with God-given free will and so on and so on, all the way back and all the way forward.
That Scripter is a degenerate reprobate can be both foreknown and still partly a result of free will choices along the way.
Yes, we only get glimpses of eternity at most in this life.
We can have "free will" all over the place, and it doesn't affect what God does or does not know. If you change you mind 20 times today about whether you will or will not go to the grocery store this evening, does God know what you will end up doing?
Yes, that's the point I'm making. Omniscience doesn't inherently mean free will or predetermination.
Omniscience doesn't equal double predestination. It also doesn't equal free will.
More steps are involved.
....at the wedding banquet in blue jeans and a tee shirt Hawaiian Shirt. Matt. 22:11
Now.
Much better.
:>)
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