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/
First, it is not "MY" Sola Scriptura. It works by the Holy Spirit. He teaches us truth that He wants us to know. Sometimes, He is silent and we will differ. This is to cause us to dig deeper. It's called Iron sharpening Iron. We study the Word of God to see if these things are so- not have someone tell us whether it is so because they say that they are the authority.
No. I do not believe in those views of marriage and chastity.
Further to use the Berean example, the Thessolonian Jews disagreed and today's Jews disagree - using the same scriptural foundation.
How does this prove that Sola Scriptura works?
How does it disprove it?
By your own stated view of other sola scriptura practioners.
Q.E.D.
How so? Have I claimed infallibility in interpretation? No. I have not. You do not seem to understand Sola Scriptura very well.
In the Berean and other examples, it's not Sola Scriptura that resulted in correct teaching, it resulted in both correct and incorrect.
So something else is involved, wouldn't you say?
Yes. Listening or not listening to the teaching of the Holy Spirit on the matter.
I've discussed it with a large number of Protestants. There's a variety of views.
It would help to hear yours...
There, I agree with you. However, earlier we had a discussion and had quite different experiences on what this results in in our view of God. And, I'm sure the folks we've discussed believe they are listening to the Holy Spirit also - as do a great many of those folks who follow them.
Yet... you see where I'm heading I think.
The Holy Spirit was promised to come and teach us all things. All Scripture is given by inpiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for instruction in righteousness. Scripture is spiritually discerned so that lost folks do not understand it properly but those whom have the Spirit of God at work in their lives can understand it for He teaches them. When there are varying views on matters it is one of 3 things 1)Someone was listening to the Spirit and got it right 2)Someone was going off half-cocked on their own and didn't get it right 3)The Spirit deliberately withheld information so that we would dig a little further. Sola Scriptura involves comparing Scripture with Scripture and relying upon the Holy Spirit to teach all things to us. We are all priests before the Lord and can all come boldly to His throne and ask whatsoever we will. Jesus is our advocate. The Holy Spirit our guide. Sola Scriptura ties in intimately with Solos Christos, Sola Gratia, and Sola Fide.
You want perfect knowledge here on earth. You aren't going to get it. Sometimes we listen. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes the Holy Spirit allows for a tension to exist (on non-essentials) that causes us to dig further. It's how we grow. Iron sharpens iron. One hard head bangs against another hard head and if both are believers then both will benefit from the discussion. Some things are important that you get them right in this life. Some things less important. In essentials Unity. In non-essentials liberty. In all things charity.
Paul and Barnabus disagreed with one another and parted ways. The various churches had all sorts of doctrinal and practice issues. Our sanctification is a messy thing. We have to go through all sorts of mud before we come to full truth. None of us will have that full truth until we reach Heaven. However, on the important essentials, we have faith that the Holy Spirit will do what He is supposed to do and draw us to the Lord.
Thanks for your explanations. You have a pretty basic view of Sola Scriptura. I've seen ones more elaborate, even more Catholic.
Looking at you and, Copeland or Van Impe for example, objectively, you both think you are listening and hearing right.
In what way do you know that you are right that they also don't know they are right?
What was the issue about my post quoting Augustine and Aquinas?
I can point to Scripture to show where they are wrong. Many of Hinns and Copeland's heresies (actually all of them) and Van Impe's excursions are extra-biblical or "revelation knowledge" that speaks more of cultism than Christianity. When Benny Hinn says that we can't be human but are Gods and that there are nine members of the trinity since the Father Son and Spirit ALL have a body soul and spirit- then there are big-time Scriptural issues with those views which Benny can not support keeping Scripture in its full context and applying the truth properly. The Scripture is a check on the Spirit (to make sure it is the right Spirit you are hearing from for He will not contradict Himself) and the Spirit is a check on certain Scriptural interpretations for the same reason. He will not contradict Himself so all Scripture must be compared with Scripture in order to get a right interpretation. Unfortunately, some folks will cherry pick one verse and build a whole system around it. They are not applying Sola Scriptura.
Do you believe you are in Unity with Catholics, Orthodox and Roman, on essentials?
No.
Impe would run circles around you with scripture.
;)
And you've been on these threads long enough to see "scriptural proof" for a wide variety of different theologies.
Surely, you can see the problem with this argument.
No more than I am in line with Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and the like on essentials and non-essentials.
I won't say this is true of all Catholics and all Orthodox for there are some who believe that their good works will merit them heaven and some don't.
On many basics we are in agreement. On the essential of salvation, my cue is from Scripture whereas RC and Orthodox also include tradition or at least a marginal reading of Scripture (such as last rites, confirmation, as sacraments).
How do you square that with this:
However, on the important essentials, we have faith that the Holy Spirit will do what He is supposed to do and draw us to the Lord.
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