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/
"A close friend said to me recently when we were discussing Orthodoxy, "We really don't live like Christians anymore." In context his meaning was close to what your reply describes."
That living like Christians is what the Orthodox phronema is all about. It determines virtually everything in our lives to one degree or another. As my wife once observed in the village down in the old country, "People "walk" Orthodox here." Funny thing about it is that in many ways I think that's why (the obvious historical experience aside) Orthodox Christians tend to understand Mohammedans so much better than Westerners because Mohammedanism tend to envelope people in the same way, though for evil.
Yes it is, sometimes. :) I actually have a personal twist on the saying. Most of the time it is perfectly good, but then it occurred to me that Jesus never would have made the same decisions that other righteous people have, because we all have different purposes within God's plan. So, my turn on it is to say "what would Jesus have ME do?" The prime example is David. He did as God wished, and that made him unfit to build the Temple.
+Nil Sorsky taught: "The Holy Spirit often visits us; but if He does not find rest how can He remain? He departs. Joy is in the hearts of those who are cleansed and who are able to maintain within themselves the grace of the Holy Spirit of the All-holy Trinity. ..."
After baptism, is the normal residence of the Spirit indwelling, or does the Spirit just visit when we do good things? I had understood the Apostolic view to be that the Spirit stays until booted out because of sin. Then upon confession, the Spirit returns until the next sin. I was confused by "often visits us".
Long post, lots of points.. too many really.. so I will limit myself on this one..
Jesus being "gone".. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are ONE.. not one personality but one spiritually.. To say Jesus or the Father is gone is looking at being "here" 3/dimensionally.. These personality's live and work in another paradigm.. Gone!.... might just be an obsolete term IF you could see as they see..
What distinguishes us from the Jews, who think Messiah(or anybody else) has not come?...
Faith.. The currency of God in this paradigm for humans IS FAITH..
Faith buys a lot.. Counterfeit faith buys nothing.. fools nobody(that counts)..
Private discussion..
thanks very much, BB..
I think maybe, the Orthodox, and contemplative catholics speak of 'the Spirit' differently.
Particularly when it comes to speaking of the presence of the spirit.
I'm sorry that would be clearer like this:
Protestants as opposed to the Orthodox (and contemplative catholics) speak of 'the Spirit' differently.
Check out this scripture annalex. Homosexuality IS a sin, whether you act on it or not. Even thinking about it is a sin in God's eyes.
1Cor. 6: 9 Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites (homosexuals). 10 Thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Repentance, turning away from sin and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life to take over Lordship of it, will wash away a person's sins. Has nothing to do with works, although works are necessary after we've been saved.
I've never heard anti-Catholic stuff from any of the pentecostal churches I've attended. And what is this dislike of authority? What BS.
Thanks, annalex.
Judson Cornwall's former pastor, a woman, was commissioned by God to preach when she was 17 years old. Her name was Fuschia Pickett. If you are called, you HAVE to go, whether you are a man or a woman. If you don't, you will be miserable until you decide to obey God. It all comes down to obedience, doesn't it?
Define Judaizer. St. Paul clearly teaches why Judaism is a distinct religion from Christianity. We know of some groups today that combine European Jewry culture with Christianity, and do so while retaining the essentials of the underlying Christian theology. I am thinking of Jews for Jesus and they seem to be Baptists in Hassidic garb. I don't see any particular problem with that.
If you are looking for a Christian fulfillment of the Jewish temple worship, then of course you are looking at the Catholic of Orthodox liturgy.
I think of the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, Samaritan's Purse, Operation Blessing and a host of other Christian organizations that are constantly on the front lines with charity. How many Catholics actually tithe? We're expected to in our church and we give liberally to missions and to our Christian school. Missions is a big part of our church. Catholics don't have the corner on that market.
Actually, these days we can go to the Dead Sea Scrolls for that. The LXX is useful the same way the Targums are useful--the translation choices give us an idea of what the rabbis before the time of Yeshua believed about numerous verses. But it's hardly a sacred translation any more than the KJV is, and there are numerous places where the Apostles did their own translations of the Tanakh (OT) into Greek for their quotes rather than rely on the Septuagint.
What D-fender said (6784). A heterosexual who is aroused by a member of an opposite sex and not his spouse is not sinning; he is merely being a healthy human being. Likewise, a homosexual aroused by some situations is simply being what he is. There is no engagement of the mind, not lusting and no sin. Once one begins to seek arousal outside of marriage, he is sinning, but it is already acting out as soon as the decision to seek the situation is made. He will, of course, make it worse by deepening the illicit contact, in degrees.
True.
Priestly and monastic vows are to Christ. This being said, calling the Bride of Christ satanic is an act of moral depravity in itself.
The scripture you offered does not say so. St. Paul presumes some form of practice where he condemns it. It is clear because most of the sins he enumerates are defined by action. do you seriously think that an alcoholic who abstains from drink is sinning nevertheless?
[ If you are looking for a Christian fulfillment of the Jewish temple worship ]
I'm not..
[ then of course you are looking at the Catholic of Orthodox liturgy. ]
Litergy is droneing the dead letter of scripture or other concepts.. Buddists are much better at that.. with their Mechanical God.. Repeating the same prayers, dogma, or "scripture" over and over again.. i.e. prayer wheels and other mechanical pingings to a mechanical God..
Brings several so-called christian practices to mind.. Most of the pagan religions do that including Islam.. which is absolutely pagan.. To a Mechanical Christ..
I think God has a different viewpoint. He says if one even thinks about another woman (man) lustfully, s/he sins.
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