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/
Whoever claims that quantum theory has refuted some truth of logic does not understand the relation of experimental science and philosophy, and has gone beyond the justified limits of the experimental results. No scientific experiment has or can refute a truth of logic.
-A8
The RCC came into being about 313a.d. "succession" is a fleshly myth.. generated to hijack authority from Jesus words and the Holy Spirits ministry..
Attributing to the Holy Spirit wrongly is the ((ONLY)) un forgiveable sin..
FOR that act rejects your only real spiritual help..
I am glad you have your wordly priorities straight, FK. However, our Lord Jesus Christ did not teach that we should be 33,000 denominations, but one. So, while the Prots and Baptists may rejoice in their never-ending splintering and man-made churches, in their endless protests against anyone's "magistrerium" by their own, it is not fulfilling the wish of our Lord and God.
So whose determination of what the Holy Spirit is saying is authoritative? Yours?
-A8
I was being sarcastic visavis the relativistic quantum theory Christians. I have been told in a mind manner than they can't get me to stop using the slipper slope LEM either/or logic.
No I'm not.. for I don't know you.. maybe you are supposed to be a Roman Catholic club member.. For you could be a Roman Catholic and be attentive to the Holy Spirit also.. I know some of those.. Same deal with some Baptists..
Your relationship with the Holy Spirit is very personal..
Some sheep follow the lords voice and some religious dogma(sheep pen)..
Again with John Chapter 10.. (its not about you its about Jesus)
While I hold a covenant view, I tell people that I believe we’re devolving. I believe the church is simply here to call out God’s chosen people and, once that’s done, boom! Somewhat like the countdown in Independence Day.
No one believe me... ;O)
Actually, all that are indwelled by the Holy Spirit are one.
ICor. 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
It looks like you are trying to have it both ways. You seem to be telling me that if I believe that the Holy Spirit is saying that the Eucharist as the actual Body of Christ, that I'm wrong. But it also looks like you are trying to avoid telling me I'm wrong. So please clarify. In my belief that the Holy Spirit is saying [through the Magisterium] that the Eucharist is the actual body of Christ, am I right or wrong?
-A8
Going back through the posts, I don't see where b-d stated that it began at the times of Adam. I believe that b-d was refering to the "last days" as the time from Pentecost to now.
However, 2 Timothy and 2 Peter do not share that view but rather continue to speak of the last days as a future event: "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come." [2 Tim 3:1]
Of course they speak of future events. They are future things in these last days
O.K. It O.K. to be a heretic.. Its not about what you believe its who you ARE that counts(family) to the Holy Spirit.. "You MUST be born again"- Jesus.. NOT you must be completly accurate in dogma..
So then... you can say(to yourself) that Jesus is magisterially transformed from bread into flesh which is of course nonsense.. and the Holy Spirit will not reject you.. Cause we are ALL heretical in some points.. because of the observer problem.. Heresy is just being wrong spiritually in some point.. Being a human means you are a little thick.. surely the Holy Spirit knows that.. If you are not born again then you are not even on the train and are still at the train station..
But who made you an authority over me? Why assume that your Holy Spirit leading is superior to mine?
-A8
Good question.. Because YOU are a slave to Roman Catholic dogma.. at least some of it.. thats why.. You overlook that I said the place for you might BE as a Roman Catholic.. A spirit needs to and will seek its own level.. same with Baptists by the way.. or even Mormons.. The sheep pens are varied and full.. The metaphor is rich and deep.. and worth considering the meaning of it..
“Blue-duncan says the last days started with Adam.”
What I said was “the end of times began as soon as Adam sinned and the only thing keeping us from the day of the Lord is His grace and mercy.”
HP: Good question.. Because YOU are a slave to Roman Catholic dogma.. at least some of it.. thats why..
That's a non sequitur. I could just as easily say to you that my Holy Spirit leading is superior to yours, because you are a slave to anti-Catholic bias. Such a claim simply begs the question, by *assuming* precisely what is in question.
I cannot tell from your replies who you think has the authoritative interpretation of "This is my body".
-A8
;O)
I told you.. you did not reply to my response to that and blame me for your not responding to me.. Or maybe you did not understand my response to you.. Are you dyslexic?..
When I posed this question, you replied by saying that Jesus's interpretion of "This is my body" is authoritative. I then asked you who had Jesus's interpretation, and you replied, "Solo Scriptura". I then asked you, "And who knows what "Solo Scriptura" says about Jesus's interpretation of "This is my body"? You replied "the Holy Spirit", saying "ask him".
So I told you that the Holy Spirit is telling me that "This is my body" means what the Catholic Church says it means. You replied that your leading of the Holy Spirit has more authority than mine because I am a "slave to Roman Catholic dogma". I pointed out that this was a question-begging non sequitur, and so my original question regarding who has the authoritative interpretation of "This is my body" remains unanswered. Right now it looks like your answer (effectively) is: "Me and anyone who agrees with me.
-A8
Well, I think it’s nice that you’re not on the side of such folks who construe it that we are perfecting the world through our flawed living out of Christianity! LOL.
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