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/
I believe there's truth in some of that and in some Kosta is expressing his personal take on history. And a point, you seem to miss is he's illustrating that claiming to "possess" the only God does not make it so.
In addition he is exercising his ability to read and discuss the canon in his lights. Now THAT part you should at least appreciate.
Where does it say that one has to understand God in order to be able to worship Him?
Christianity has much more historic veracity that Mohammed. Mohammed also was concerned that he was demon possessed but his wife convinced him otherwise. Mohammed also was a pedophile.
There is NO comparison between Islam and Christianity.
You don't even believe in the same God as Scripture Kosta, if you believe it took a single Jewish man to re-work the Christian message in order for it to survive.
My goodness you have astounded me tonight. I have come face to face with a real live apostate, that is if you ever were close to the truth at all. With your words, you show you reject a Sovereign God who is truthful in saying that His Words will NEVER pass away. You reject 3/4 of the New Testament and more. You reject the teaching of your own church. Kostaism is your religion; but by any other name it is merely humanism repackaged. Man is placed above God and the definition of what is God is left up to man.
Make no mistake, you preach a different gospel. In our country you are allowed to do that. In our country you may even call it Christianity. But God doesn't operate according to the rules of our nation. And one day each of us will give an account for what we did with the testimony that He left us.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
You do not have faith in a vague blob, and abstract principle. God showed you what He was like (at least a glimpse of Himself) in Scripture. If you reject that, you worship a different God altogether.
The comparision between Muhammed and some forms of Christianity is in their view of scripture - not the same scripture but their view of it as 'Written directly by God.'
This is fundamental to Islam, most definitely not to Christianity.
Facts show that the Scriputres have been tampered with, intentionally or accidentally, it doesn't matter. The main message in the scripture is preserved, despite all the little additions and deletions and transcribing errors and, let's not forget, those books that have been identified as lost.
Satan is a counterfeiter of all that God has created. Of course others make the same claim or similar. We do not claim that anything but the 10 commandments were written by God's hand; but all of Scripture is given by Inspiration of God per the very testimony of Scripture.
Tonight's conversation has been quite enlightening. I am sorry that you all distrust God's word so.
Your comparison to eating grain on Sabbath, as all things Jesus 'contradicted' the Law was always explained as a true interpretation of the Law, not its violation. The Lord never advocated changing the Law, dropping the Law, etc. Circumcision is equivalent to Christian baptism. The Lord never advocated baptism be substituted for circumcision.
The Lord came to fulfill the Law, not to break it. And He said that nothing will ever be taken away from it until the end of times.
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
That's right Blogger. And where is the untampered rule book on that?
I think all those theories are utter nonsense.
I evolve in my writing style, emphases etc. from one year to the next--certainly over 10 years or so.
Paul was not frozen in time. He grew in the Lord and in his wisdom in The Lord! God is good about that.
Those of the "higher" textual criticism schools are usually some of the worst idiots in theological circles, imho.
When you promote that all one needs is to read the Protestant Scriptures, if you're elect of course.. Well it takes on the look of a magic book. Instead of what the canon is in truth and in history and the people and life of the Church - in context and in all the richness that is Orthodox Christianity since its birth.
Now if all you have is this book and you reject all the rest, then Bibliotry is a natural pull.
I am sorry that you all distrust God's word so.
And so is, again, conflating God's Word with the Scripture. Think about how you look at this.
And there's no need for Crocodile tears from anyone.
Who is trying to censor who?
BEHOLD THE LAW IN ITS PERSPECTIVE:
John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Galatians 3:23-25
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
James 2
8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
1 John 3
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Hebrews 7:19
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
That's right. Jews will be the first to tell you that man cannot be God and that Christianity is a false religion. The very same people we share the Old Testament with! And what about Christains? They read supposedly one and the same New Testament, believe in one and the same God and Savior and look what we have on this Forum! We have people calling each other heretics and apostates left and right.
In Northern Ireland Protestants and Catholics have been killing each other wondonly. In Germany, Protestant Reformation resulted in a 100-year war, slaugher of great proportions. Luther's own 'divines' made sure Anabaptists were exterminated in the East. All that in the name of Christ! Indeed, Satan is the great counterfeiter.
How easy it is to put oneself on a pedestal and congratulate onself and cover onself with righteousness, all in the name of Christ!
I would imagine there is very little of God's doing all of this.
Kosta, Your imagination is where your religion resides. You have been infected by the world's cancer. It will do you no good. As for me, I will contend with you no more.
D-fendr, if this is the path you wish to follow, follow on. I have patiently answered your questions in good faith. You obviously are on a different path.
Titus 3:9-11
What, calling your view of God regressive and cruel was a lesser offense?
We disagree strongly on Christianity, religion in general, sola scriptura and the reformers in particular.
If you wish to jump off now, it's really ok. There may be some way to be of use or interest to each other left, but when our blood begins to boil, some ice may be wise.
best wishes and thanks for the discussion.
Show me which Apostle actually wrote that circumcision (equivalent to Christian Baptism) is to be dispensed with? No one was willing to put his name on that idea, other than +Paul.
That would like someone now saying we don't need to be Baptized!
You keep saying that I reject [sic] 3/4 of the NT (I never rejected anything in the New Testament explicitly or implicitly). Do you not find it strange that two Apostles who did not know Christ personally (+Paul and +Luke) wrote more than those who actually walked with our Lord? I do!
I look at +Paul's writings the same way I look at his statements about women being covered in church, or not allowed to speak/preach. He also says that the head of a woman is man, as Christ is the head of man, and God (Father I suppose) the head of Christ (although this is strangely non-Triniatrian in my opinion).
As for +Paul, explain Rom 2:13 "for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." Not something the Protestants quote very often as "Pauline" teaching.
In fact, Romans 2:1-6 should be the assigned reading for this morning. Good night and may God bless you all.
Post 6475. Goodnight.
I was responding to #6473.
Dr E: Amen. A better question would be why do the EO think God died for us? Whimsy?
Inasmuch as love is an 'obligation' to some, I can see it in a distorted sort of a way.
The Orthodox Church would say, of course, that Christ had to die because Death demanded nothing less than God.
Christ's self-sacrifice, an act of love and free will of God, an incredible gift, attains its meaning when we realize that we are the ones who, trough our disobedience, became shackled by Death, by rejecting Life.
Protestants see man's disobedience (which God Himself programmed into His plan) as an "offense" against God which could only be paid back by someone of equal stature, completely neglecting the fact that God is not the author of our evil and that He could not have willed that man would disobey.
Consequently, the protestants believe that Christ made us righteous by dying on the Cross, and the EO believe that Christ gave us a chance to become righteous with God's help.
Just as God created Adam with a potential to do right or wrong; He made man with a chance to be good and God-like. Not some robot who followed a pre-programmed plan, which makes God the author his fall.
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