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/
Grace is unmerited favor. Sufficient grace (unmerited favor) is given in that all see enough of God through His creation to make Him guilty. God does not leave the world (even those who do not hear about Christ) without a witness of Himself. None will choose Him. All turn away from Him and instead set up gods to themselves that better match their desires in a god.
Dont take this wrong, but how do you know you haven't set one of these up?
"Surely this important principle is itself written down somewhere?"
John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
1 Peter 1: 9-12, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Showing that salvation in Christ is a thing prophesied of old of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."
2 Peter 1: 16-21, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2 Tim. 2: 14-16, "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the
hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."
2 Tim. 3: 14-17, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
Acts 17: 11-12, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few."
Psalms 119.
That should be enough to demonstrate that "the scripture alone contains all that God has revealed for the salvation of man and fellowship with Him". Nowhere does the scripture say that there is a revelation outside of scripture that reveals God's plan of salvation for man or how sinful man can have restored fellowship with Him.
Nowhere does the scripture say that there is a revelation outside of scripture
Sure it does:
the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. [...] 30 I will not now speak many things with you.(John 14)
Note the future tense.
You can go even quieter: "Be still and know that I am God."
"Sure it does:
the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. [...] 30 I will not now speak many things with you.
(John 14)
Note the future tense."
Yes and here is what Jesus was talking about. You really have to compare scripture with scripture to get the full picture, you can't just pull "proof texts" out of context that are explained in other scripture.
John 20: 30-31, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
As you wish. Likewise.
You know D-fendr, you have asked me a lot of questions. Why don't you answer the same question.
God's Spirit testifies to my spirit that I am a child of God. I test that Spirit by what I see written in Scripture. The written Word and the living Word are the reason why I know.
Do you have anyone you could go to with this question, or others that you might have?
Well, experience cannot be explained, Alex Murphy. I imagine even Protestants would have to agree with that unless they never experience anything. :)
God is an ineffable Mystery that even Protestants can't explain and must take on faith.
Nonsense! God came to call the sinners to repentance! [Cf Luke 5:32] Nothing is "imputed" without repentance.
Back to the old subject, would someone who didn't see God the same as you've been describing, be setting up a god as you mentioned earlier? Are Protestants who don't share this predestination view of God with you insufficient in exegesis, intellect or grace, or...?
The conjecture that the "signs" in John 20 are the entirety of the teaching that the Church received from the Holy Ghost as promised in John 14 is yours. It is not in the scripture, and in fact is contradicted by the wording and context of John 14, where Christ speaks of teaching rather than of signs, that is, miracles and actions.
Further, the purpose of the gospel as stated in John 20:31 is to furnish proof of divinity of Christ; it does not say that everything necessary for the Christian faith formation, "for the salvation of man and fellowship with Him" is contained in it. At any rate, you asked if revelation exists outside of scripture, and John 20 and 21 directly state that yes, there was such revelation given the Apostles.
Your salvation begins with repentance and ends with God's mercy. But I am beginning to believe Protestants consider even repentance "works-based salvation." Humility seems to offend them.
Hey, even random sometimes scores. :)
He is a she.
Did you have teachers?
That was rhetorical of course. It was ironic to hear of your professors in Seminary in the same graph as not needing any teachers. Hope you saw that.
Did you trust the Seminary to teach True Christianity?
" At any rate, you asked if revelation exists outside of scripture, and John 20 and 21 directly state that yes, there was such revelation given the Apostles."
No, what I said was, "Nowhere does the scripture say that there is a revelation outside of scripture that reveals God's plan of salvation for man or how sinful man can have restored fellowship with Him." There is none. That is what John is saying in John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
There are many things, as John says that are not written, but what is revealed is God's plan of salvation and as Paul states in Gal. 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
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