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/
You must have missed Bubba and Jimma's memo..
Didn't miss it. Just glad they are leaving our denomination.
believe it or not I was just stating the orthodox position not contrasting it with anything
The word "the Church" is a metaphor.. meaning "the called out ones".. Called out of "the world", which is another metaphor..
The "Church" and "The Bride of Christ"(yet another metaphor) are similar.. The "Church" is NOT an earthly organization, the masses for some clergy to manage, sheep for some pastor to be the husbandman to cull, or a polity to be governed..
The church and bride of christ are governed by the Holy Spirit completely.. even though many organizations call themselves churchs when they are really clubs wholly and completely.. as is outlined in the book of relevation which is the Revelation of Jesus Christ(Ch 1;1)..
The Holy Spirit allows membership in clubs, but a club is not the church.. nor is it the Body of Christ or Bride of Christ.. Membership in a club can be and many times is Idolatry.. Missing the metaphors in the metasphere of spiritual reality exposes whether you are a goat or a sheep.. Which MUST be separated(goats from sheep).. and will be separated..
Must be WHY? clubs are allowed by the Holy Spirit, to the sheep..
Pretty tricky.. Is GOD cool or WHAT?...
They were you're denomination?
I see this is still marching to 15,000 posts. Will have to catch up.
Yes, but we are independent, meaning things like church discipline are done on a local church level. There is a liberal minority in my denomination that hopefully will leave with the dynamic duo.
"We're number 1, We're number 1, We're number 1 :)"
And don't forget, we believe in the Rapture!
:)
So will others at some point.
Do not want to stir things up again, but does the local church decide which parts of Calvinism they preach? Does independent include this too?
Do you feel the spiritual lift already with Carter and Clintin leaving the Baptist? Next Campolo will leave and then the Lord will return. Just you watch. Won't those post-everything and a-everything people be surprized when they find we have saved seats for them in the Rapture.
"If Mary was sinless, why would she "need a savior?""
God saved her at conception. She did need a savior. She was saved. It just happened at an earlier time for her.
They're not leaving the Baptist as I read it. No SBC invited, but lots and lots of other Baptist, if I remember correctly.
Yes you do want to stir things up again, so don't fib :)
The local church body typically will have some sort of constitution/statement of faith. Rarely does this include a secondary set of doctrines like Calvinism. Others will just go with the Baptist Faith and Message which was put out by the Southern Baptist Convention. It isn't a binding creed or anything like that, but a very basic statement about the essentials of the faith and some non-essentials. I don't recall it getting into Calvinism that much either.
I have taught Calvistic doctrines in my Sunday School class, and am able to do so in a way that those who disagree can still remain very good friends (though when I was done, I'm not sure that anyone really disagreed with the doctrines). When I was at Seminary, there were frequently secondary issues that we disagreed on with one another. IT was one of the BEST aspects of Seminary. We could sit down and discuss issues that we disagreed with, see what biblical foundation we had for our doctrines and still remain the best of friends. Sometimes we might even say "hey, that has some merit!"
You see, D-fendr, the Body of Christ is NOT all about everyone being robotic and believing exactly the same thing about everything. About the essentials of who God is and what salvation is all about ,there should be unity for sure. But there are many parts of Scripture that are a little vague in their wording and people can go away from it with different opinions. For example, whether or not you believe Peter was the Rock or not to me, a Protestant, is a secondary issue that I care far less about than whether you know Christ as your Savior.
The Bible talks about Iron sharpening Iron. That's what happens when we debate some of these lesser issues and even some of the greater ones. It is like the strong meat of Scripture that isn't for babes who still need the milk of the word but is meat to chew on to help us to grow strong.
So, I know that was a long answer but there are different types of Baptists too. I'm not sure how the American Baptist work in their churches. I know that the Southern split from the American Baptist not over a doctrinal issue but over slavery. Today, the American Baptist denomination is more liberal than Southern (particular with the exit of folks like Carter and Clinton).
Typically our pastors are seminary educated, though it is not required; but typically, they are. And typically, they are congregational in church government. My Pastor was well aware of what I was teaching and was fine with it. I had some borderline Arminians in my class as well but part of that was because they had been exposed to some extreme Hypercalvinists which I believe is a perversion of the doctrines.
When Christ came Paganism was number 1.
I think they are making their own Baptist Denomination as I read it.
The SBC has a moderate-liberal group that hangs on in spite of the conservative direction of the denomination. Personally, I believe it is because the pastors of these churches have their money wrapped up in the annuity board.
But, to understand the SBC you just need to understand one thing. The Cooperative Program. That is our Missions organization. SBC member churches typically give to this program to help supply the needs of our missionaries - many of whom live daily in harms way. There are other commonalities, but really if you wonder what will distinguish the SBC from other Baptists it is the CP.
The liberals have their own missions organization called the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. It reflects the views of its supporters.
Yes, but then the Baptists took over and all was well.
Thank you. It's not something I spend a lot of time on. As you know, Orthodoxy did not include Apocalypse into the canon until the 8th century. It is the only book never read in the Divine Liturgy.
The misapplication of St. Paul's description of the events living believers will experience at the time of the General Resurrection to an event before the horror of the end-times sketch prophetically in St. John's Apocalypse to promulgate a notion of 'pre-tribulation' rapture, dates to the 1820's
I knew it was "born" in 1820, but I am still not entire sure what you just said there. Can either of you explain?
I know of many who are surprised by not doing an immediate U Turn :) Watch that landing if you are already on the Mount of Olives in that case! Ouch!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.