Battlefield Hollywood
12 November 2007
Battlefield Hollywood
Recently this week, Southern Adventist University held a two night “joint worship” program in Thatcher Chapel. The program was titled Battlefield Hollywood: The greatest war ever waged is for your mind. The presenters Thom and Scott Mayer are brothers that work in the Hollywood Entertainment Industry. Their primary focus was on the spiritual battle being waged beyond our human perceptions in the Entertainment Industry. Aside from some historical/detail inaccuracies and sourcing Wikipidia as a scholarly resource, the presentation was thoughtfully presented with conviction and passion.
While I sincerely disagree with some of their premises and anecdotal information, the main point, as I understood it, is one based around a concern that Christians need to thoughtfully consider – that point being, the amount of time we allow ourselves to become enraptured in entertainment juxtaposed to our spiritual growth and consideration.
This may be a more progressive spin on the presenters’ message, but I believe it serves the same general underlying purpose – to better adjust the time we spend watching movies/television, going to theater, opera, or concerts, (basically entertaining ourselves) and the time we spend worshiping and learning more about God and the world that we are an integral part of.
The presentation went much like one of Dr. Walter J. Veith’s Amazing Discoveries pseudo-lectures; a production which I personally find neither to be ‘amazing’ nor deserving of the scientific termv‘discovery,’ but I digress. There was a lot of emphasis on the symbols that Hollywood production companies use to represent their product. There was presented some five or six companies that have symbols that could have duel meanings and interpretations.
Such, however, is indicative of symbols in general and does not in and of itself connote demonic forces; not that I rule out that possibility, only that Christians sometimes ascribe to the forces of evil more credit than that in which ought be entitled. For instance, before Hitler and Nazi Germany modified the Swastika that same symbol was used by Native American Indians and Buddhists monks hundreds and thousands of years before as a symbol connoting peace and representing protection, not evil and oppression. The point being that symbols have multiple meanings and are only as meaningful as that which man ascribes to them; which is to say that symbols are ever-changing, like language, to meet the demanding needs of communication. I’m not convinced that all of Hollywood is part of a grand scheme to promote a demonic agenda.
The statistic that over 99% of American households have a television was shared with students, faculty, and community members to an astounding “ohhh.” I wondered silently to myself how many Americans have a Bible or read the Bible, should they have one. It is interesting that for a nation that prides itself on being “Christian” there is a plethora of unchristian aspects of our American society.
The presenters went into the many tactics that advertising community use and there were many valid points made. Many of these companies hire psychologists to consult on how to make children brand loyal at an early age; this is a smart advertising technique and though it may constitute an important ethics issue, it does not connote demonic forces behind advertising – rather money. A brief overview of the brain and how it functions was presented in less than five or seven minutes, which is far too insignificant an amount of time to represent such a topic as the brain with its many complexities and intricate functions.
There was much discussion about “subliminal messages.” Lance Prichard, a psychology major at Southern, opined that, “According to reports in newspapers and magazines, James Vicary, an advertising expert, had secretly flashed, at a third of a millisecond, the words "Eat Popcorn" and "Drink Coke" onto the movie screen. This study, lasting six weeks, involved thousands of movie going subjects who received a subliminal message every five seconds during the film. Vicary claimed an increase in Coke sales of 18 percent and a rise in popcorn sales of almost 58 percent, however there is another side to the "Eat Popcorn/Drink Coke" study that is rarely discussed.
“In a 1962 interview with Advertising Age, James Vicary announced that the original study was a fabrication intended to increase customers for his failing marketing business.”
Lance stated that, “During the past few years, I have been collecting published articles on subliminal processes-research that goes back over a hundred years (Suslowa 1863) and includes more than a hundred articles from the mass media and more than two hundred academic papers on the topic (Pratkanis and Greenwald 1988). In none of these papers is there clear evidence in support of the proposition that subliminal messages influence behavior.”
When asked similar questions about subliminal messages psychology professors at Southern agreed with the statement made by Lance. Additional research online substantiates these claims. It would seem that the presenters were misinformed on the affects of subliminal messaging on the human mind; this could be due to presenters being influenced too much by Amazing Discoveries and the lack of credible sourcing in that production.
Further in the presentation some movies were cited as having either demonic elements or suggestive satanic influences. The following six movies were cited in the presentation. A brief discussion about these movies and the presenters’ arguments will be presented.
1. Pan’s Labyrinth – two contentions presented with this film were regarding the title and part of the script from the theatrical trailer. In regards to the title of this film the original Spanish title was El Laberinto del Fauno which literally translates to The Labyrith of the Faun; for English speaking countries the title Pan’s Labyrinth was selected for length and because the faun’s name in the film is Pan. The presenters incorrectly state that Pan is the Greek god of rape/orgies.
In the Greek pantheon Pan is the god of shepherds and flocks, mountain wilds, hunting, and rustic music. In Greek the word “paein” actually means “to pasture.” Like many worshiping practices in paganism there are sexual connotations associated with Pan, however, this later addendum made to the god of shepherds was not an original practice only associated with Pan, but rather a common practice of worshiping the gods and performing religious sexual rituals. Pan is also the god representing male virility.
The following is from the movie’s theatrical trailer:
“In a dark time when hope was bleak, there lived a young girl whose only escape was in a legend that wanted her back. The legend speaks of the lost soul of a princess from a lost world who would one day be reborn. There will be signs that mark her return. There will be secrets that reveal her destiny. There will be a journey that will make you believe . . . in darkness there can be light, in misery there can be beauty, in death there can be life.”
There is nothing in this statement that renders an overt or subliminal satanic message. While there are common fantasy and mythological motifs present, these alone do not constitute or connote some grand conspiracy on the part of the filmmakers to promote satanic worship. Instead this film depicted civil war through the eyes of a child and how her only escape was through a world of fantasy and wonder – satanic, rent the movie and decide for yourself.
2. The Golden Compass – while it is true that the author of the trilogy His Dark Materials, Phillip Pullman, is an atheist this fact in and of itself should not prohibit Christians from respecting and appreciating his work. Pullman has said that far from a critique on the views of Christianity, his books are rather a critique on the hierarchal system of the Church and organized religion. His Dark Materials is more of a “fundamental objection to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel’s pagan characters puts it, ‘every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling.’”
The presenters criticized the title of the series of books, suggesting that it has satanic meanings; the title “His Dark Materials” is not a satanic reference, but a reference to Milton’s Paradise Lost where it refers to the drawing instrument, rather than the navigation instrument.
I believe that many Christians could benefit from looking into some of the more rigid history of the Christian Church’s past and realizing some similar elements in Christendom today that prohibit change and progression in thinking. Pullman is viewed as presenting a children’s story that need not rely on Christian themes to have morality or be successful in conveying a storyline marketable for children. I believe that these stories are more suitable for an adult audience, although the producers and directors of the movie have removed some of the books more antireligious elements for marketing purposes.
3. Superman – the comic was created by Jewish authors Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The presentations suggested that the recent influx of “superheroes” might be due to Satan’s great plan of preparing mankind to accept a man (but in reality Satan himself) as coming to the rescue of mankind. While this is at best a fringe-theory and not worthy of serious scholarly debate, the facts surrounding the creation of Superman and other superheroes suggests that this is yet another representation of the great creative ability that God has endowed mankind.
Religious commentators as well as renowned pop-culture scholars have offered several possible expatiations why the character of Superman resembles some biblical counterparts. Rabbi Simcha Weinstein and British novelist Howard Jacobson have both suggested that Superman's creation was partly influenced by the biblical character of Moses in addition to other Jewish elements. For instance, it is interesting to note that Superman's Kryptonian name, "Kal-El," resembles the Hebrew words קל-אל, which roughly means vessel of God.”
It is interesting that, “the suffix el , meaning of God is also found in the name of angels (e.g. Gabriel, Ariel), who are flying humanoid agents of good with superhuman powers.” Additionally, “Jewish legends of the Golem have been cited as worthy of comparison, a Golem being a mythical being created to protect and serve the persecuted Jews of 16th century Prague and later revived in popular culture in reference to their suffering at the hands of the Nazis in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.”
Some Christians have suggested that Superman could be an analogy for Jesus, being a saviour of humanity.
Far from being a story influenced by the “forces of darkness,” I find the Superman story to be another creative venue to express the concepts of Jesus as the saviour of humanity or of Moses or angelic beings.
4. Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – there have been many Christians and non-Christians that have enjoyed reading C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia as fantasy novels for children. In addition to employing Christian themes, Lewis also borrows characters and ideas from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as from traditional British and Irish fairy tales.
The main point of the presenters was the character of Mr. Tumnus represents the faun-god Pan. Mr. Tumnus is depicted as faun in the story and movie and Lewis might have been inspired by the Greek god Pan or his Roman counterpart of Faunus, a nature spirit. The presenters are worried that if Mr. Tumnus represents Satan and that Mr. Tumnus is depicted positively in the storyline than the message is that “Satan is your friend.”
It is interesting that “Lewis has said that the first Narnia story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, all came to him from a single picture he had in his head. It was a picture of a faun carrying an umbrella and parcels through a snowy wood. In that way, Tumnus was the initial inspiration for all of the Narnia stories.” If one believes that Tumnus is representing of the Greek god Pan or the Roman god of Faunus and that these characters were inspired by Satan, then the whole impetus of The Chronicles of Narnia was due to the inspiration of demonic forces. I’m not willing to believe in such a theory.
5. Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk is the author of Fight Club. The book, like the motion picture adaptation, centers around the “protagonist who struggles with his growing discomfort with consumerism and changes in the state of masculinity in American culture.” The film and book is “popularly considered to be an uncompromising critique of humanity's loss of identity through mass consumerism.” The message is focused around consumerism and not about atheism or Christianity though one author makes the point that “consumer-based” Christianity needs to be reconsidered. Dan Revill writes,
“Well as a Christian I could sprout off a scripture about how we are not part of the world. We should not be part of it. That leads to sin…yadda yadda yadda…Shut up! We’ve all heard it. Some even try to use it to guilt trip people into Christianity. Yes, there is nothing better than the Christian guilt trip. What we should be telling people is that there is an answer. You can say "Jesus." Or you can say, "Let me show you.”
“What’s the difference you may ask? Well by saying Jesus there is a chance that you will turn people off. In this postmodern generation people are looking for a new spirituality. They want to break free of the consumerist ideas that they have grown into. Shopping may get you high for awhile but after awhile you probably are going to realize that you are not your Star Wars collection. Organized religion doesn’t exactly light anyone’s fire these days. It seems that the church has done some damage and people are still bitter about that. But when you say, "Let me show you," people will become curious. No longer can you just invite a friend to church, now you must show him/her God for him/her to come. And that involves actions, loving words and most importantly friendship. Is the drug addict going to respond better to the person that says "Jesus will help," or to the person that says, "I will help.”
“Now onto the theory that you cannot truly live until you have hit rock bottom. Interesting theory. And in some ways it is true. I think for some people that it is true. Look at the apostles. They were tortured, stoned and cursed at, yet they were more alive than anyone else at the time was. They had a reason to live and a reason to die. I can tell you for a fact that I don’t live my day to day life with that kind of fervor. In our society a lot of Christians can tell you that the fire of God comes in waves. I’ve sometimes felt more alive than ever before but other times I have felt like God is nowhere to be found.”
I find this to be an interesting take on contemporary Christian issues rather than a movie promoting atheism or antichristian beliefs; I could be wrong and this could be yet another movie part of the greater Hollywood conspiracy.
6. The Nativity Story – the major contention with this film was that the poster had a prominent photo pf Mary and did not depict Jesus. It is true that Mary was depicted larger on the poster along with the other primary characters of Joseph and King Herod. As I recall the Nativity Story of Scripture Jesus is not a significant character in the story until the eventual birth. The story focuses around Joseph and Mary, the environment that Jesus was to be born into, and primarily Mary’s divine pregnancy. The fact that Jesus is not in the poster makes perfect sense. There is not hidden agenda here, rather a simple depiction of the main characters on a poster.
One additional point was made that this was one of the first films that premiered at the Vatican – playing on an anti-Catholic minority in the Adventist Church. There was also a quotation of Time Magazine’s past article ‘Hail Mary’ which discussed how some Protestants now revere Mary. Personally I have no problem with such a position, I don’t worship Mary because of my belief on the State of the Dead, but that’s because of my Adventist theology. In the greater context of this presentation this is a moot point at best.
David George, film professor at Southern, said when asked about the presentation that, “There are people in Hollywood trying to make good films and I don’t doubt that people are making bad things; but I don’t believe that all of Hollywood is involved in one grand conspiracy.” I would concur with these statements. There have been many prominent “Adventist” films that have been received by Hollywood and audiences. The Conscientious Objector, A Cry In the Dark, Secret of the Cave, Goodbye Lenin, and Hotel Rwanda (about the 1997 genocide in Rwanda and Paul Rusesabagina and Adventist at the time of the genocide).
Southern’s School of Visual Art & Design has graduated several talented film majors that are currently working in the Entertainment Industry. I’m not willing to give up on the Entertainment Industry or to condemn Christians that seek entertainment. I’m also not convinced that entertainment is antichristian.
Thursday, November 8 was the Chattanooga premiere of Secret of the Cave with over 1,600 community members of the greater Chattanooga community present along with the Mayor of Chattanooga and Director of the Department of Education, Arts, and Culture. The movie was well received by the community. It is in endeavors like Secret of the Cave and others that Christians can produce films that are family oriented and representing of Christian messages and motifs. Adventists have done much work in the Entertainment Industry to demonstrate that it too can be used as an avenue to display our many God-given talents.
I don’t doubt that there are less than respectable reasons and motives behind much of the Entertainment Industry, however there is also much good to be seen and celebrated. Hollywood cannot be clumped into one category as so often is the case. Human beings are creative by nature and that God-given talent must be celebrated and respected. I’m not convinced that Hollywood is part of a grand scheme conjured up by the devil, although I do believe that there are many films that Christians ought not to endorse. Hopefully we don’t become fanatical in our zeal for Christ and reject different forms of and avenues for creativity.
Search
- Donna Haerich on Mt. Ellis on the Brink of Winning Big
- Elaine Nelson on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Steve Moran on Mt. Ellis on the Brink of Winning Big
- Bonnie Dwyer on Mt. Ellis on the Brink of Winning Big
- Donna Haerich on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- victor on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Andre Reis on Hate Speech?
- Your Friend on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Your Friend on Hate Speech?
- Donna Haerich on Hate Speech?
Comments
Interesting commentary Raymond. I'm not sure why, but Adventism often attracts people who need to believe in conspiracy theories to make sense of the world. I've no doubt there is an overarching theory (nothing conspiratorial about it) in Hollywood--make money! (You'd really have to stretch to find a problem with Mr. Tumnus and the Chronicles of Narnia.)
While there are certainly good reasons to assess what we put into our minds, this sounds like a lot of silly (possibly uninformed) assertions. I heartily second your thoughts on symbols--we attach the meaning to them (why it's possible for us to celebrate Christmas and Christ's birth with a Christmas tree in the house and a porcelain Santa on the coffee table).
Paul gave the church in Philippi a pretty good check list:
Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil. 4: 8 The leaves out about everything but "Chariots of Fire". Tom It certainly wouldn't include the Passion of the Christ!
I see... so since I have watched Superman, Batman and Spiderman I will probably fall for this Satan guy who will come and impersonate one of them...? Seems like there should have been a warning on the rating guide.
Newt Ginrich says he saw Sands of Iwo Jima six times in one day. Neither John Wayne nor Newt saw a day of combat. Both became ego centric to the point of nausea. Funny how those who are afraid to get a hangnail love to make killing and dying heroic.
But SDA evangelists do the same thing with power point--with the same ego centric ring. Tom.
One things I've always noticed about these 'did you KNOW about all the horrors they've been trying to suck you into???' lectures/presentations -- most of the time, I never would have known that the so-called evil persona was really trying to get me to worship the devil, unless the presenter had told me.
[Just like it probably would've taken me longer to figure out that the purple teletubby was gay, or that if I listened to 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters' (the Simon&Garfunkel version) backwards I'd either want to smoke pot or kill myself - I can't remember which. Of course, I never had a record player that I could play backwards, so the whole issue was moot with me. I figure, if you listen to it ...forwards [I guess]... that's more the point, anyway.]
I never would've known Mr. Tumnus was supposed to be the devil in the Chronicles of Narnia. Who's the White Witch supposed to be, then? Confusing.
All that to say this: righto. Discernment is a gift to be used and exercised. Blanket statements are rarely accurate.
Dear brothers, please remember the SDA church has one mission. To finish the gospel commission in Matt 24:14 (the three angels messages being a part of that).
The Apostle Paul tells us not to give heed to "Jewish Fables" that turn from the truth (Titus 1:14). In both of Paul's letters to Timothy he told him to shun "Profane Babblings", which are defined simply as an empty, vain, or useless discussion. Modern day movies and music easily fit this category.
These things are the modern day equivalent of the "skubalon" (dung) the Apostle was talking about in Php 3:8. In Luke 16:15 Jesus spoke about things that are highly esteemed among men but are an abomination in the sight of God. Again, modern day entertainment easily fits into this.
How do we justify watching this stuff? Our Lord's name is repeatedly taken in vain. Don't we all want to be translated with the 144,000? Then shouldn't we like Elijah start being "very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts"? (I Kings 19:10) Our senses are assaulted with adultery, fornication, foul language and violence. What is the difference between watching this on TV and actually, physically having these people in our homes? By watching these things, are we not making friendship with the world, and thereby making ourselves the enemy of God? (James 4:4)
We are living in the very last days of earth's history. People all around us are perishing without the truth. We are not doing our jobs while we busy ourselves with the "dung" of this world. God is angry with us- "terribly grieved, wildly indignant". If you don't believe me read the last paragraph on page 825 of the Desire of Ages. And if you're still not convinced, then take another look at Rev. 3:16. May God have mercy on us for our adulterous ways.
"We are living in the very last days of earth's history."
That has been the continual strain since the Resurrection. Presumably, it will still be said thousands of years from now. "We do not know the day nor hour." How soon we forget that statement.
"Presumably, it will still be said thousands of years from now."
Though we're getting off topic from this thread, yes Elaine, your point is well made. "We do not know the day nor the hour". But do you really think this incredibly Holy, Perfect God of ours, who takes the time to carefully fold His grave clothes after His resurrection, is going to put up with this sick, twisted, evil planet (a blot in His otherwise spotlessly clean universe) for another 1,000 years? Remember, He only put up with the pre-flood world about 1,700 years before destroying it. And it's already been over 4,000 years since the flood.
I saw a YouTube.com presentation by former FBI agent Ted Gunderson about Satanic Ritual Abuse. He estimates there are about three million people in the U.S involved in the occult. He says a lot of child abductions are used for human sacrifices by some of these people. At the end of the presentation a lady got up and told the audience what they do to these children before they sacrifice them. I'm not going to tell you what it is, and you don't want to know (trust me on that one).
And we SDA's are in part responsible for the continuation of this madness. We need to turn off our TV's, lay aside our differences, repent of our spiritual adultery, and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and in His power finish the work. But no, it seems like David, we've taken up residence at Ziklag, in the land of the enemy. And I suspect that we, like David, are going to have a rude awakening by God someday, and I don't think that is going to happen 1,000 years from now.
Whether he comes tomorrow or 10,000 years from now makes little difference to most of us alive today. Because in every generation there have been believers in his soon coming is true. However, for all those here who will be dead before 100 years have passed, it is inconsequential. His coming will be at our next breath.
The evils in the world have always been with us. The rapidity of communication, together with the fast growing population allows us to know immediately of evil as well as natural catastrophes around the world within minutes. The ancients knew very little of what happened on the other side of the world, only in their own immediate surroundings. If we believe that evil originated in the Garden, it has always been here, and the severity is in our subjective view.
There have always been wars with the accompanying horrors. Did it begin with Adam & Eve, or Cain? Were atrocities not commaned by God by explicit instructions given the Israelites? Does anyone wish to return to any of the "Good Old Days"? Today, with all the evil, if we look for it, we can easily find it; if we look for the good, it is all around us and needs no substantiation. Whatever you look for, you can find it. To focus on evil is a pursuit I do not wish to follow.
Luis,
Widespread Satanic ritual abuse is a myth. Ted Gunderson spins loony conspiracy theories, including the right-wing myths about the OK bombing, the death of Sonny Bono, the Illuminati, and George H. W. Bush having sex with children.
While we're praying for the Holy Spirit, perhaps we can also pray for an outpouring of critical thinking as well.
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/illegals-illegals-illegals/barbara...
Elaine,
You make lots of good points. Among them you said:
"However, for all those here who will be dead before 100 years have passed, it is inconsequential. His coming will be at our next breath".
As you well know, this sleep you speak of is only true for the Christian. Those not born again have eternal death to look forward to. This should be the source of our sense of urgency of why we need to turn off our TV's and finish the work. We need to save as many people as possible before they die.
The other reason for a strong sense of urgency is simply to put an end to human suffering. I know it's existed for 6,000 years, but that doesn't mean I'm OK with it going on for another 1,000 or 10,000 years. Especially since I know the Lord has left it in our power to bring sin and suffering to an end.
The incredible irony of it all is the amount of people who sit around wondering why God allows so much suffering, not realizing it is in their power to end it by finishing the gospel commission!
Alexander,
Wow, you are really trying to open up a can of worms here! I've spent a lot of time over the last three years looking at the things you've mentioned, plus a host of other things you didn't bring up like 9-11, the Federal Reserve, CFR, etc.
Don't get me going on this stuff. And don't be so sure it's all right wing conspiracy theories either or something concocted by "nut jobs" as Hannity on FoxNews would put it.
OK, I have to say at least this. Do you really believe a handfull of guys with box cutters can hijack four planes, bring down 2 buildings, put a hole in the pentagon, (basically hit 75% of their targets) and make the multi-billion dollar US defensive system stand down while it's all happening? Oh, and just by pure luck, bring down WTC building 7, which was never even hit by a plane? And they all fall beautifully at the speed of gravity?! Please!
It's 9-11 that opened my eyes. Especially WTC 7. Silverstein ,the Leaseholder of WTC 7 went on PBS and said there was such a loss of life that day they decided to "pull it", which is demolition terminology. Later he realized his poor use of words and said he meant to pull the firefighters out. Now there are people all over the internet saying "pull it" is not demolition terminology. Even if it isn't, how many people do you know who refer to firefighters as "it".
After that I started questioning everything. I've learned it's all about control and about creating relationships based on dependency. The devil has been tightening his noose around Americans for a long time.
Think back 150 years ago. So they pass a National Sunday Law. You're a farmer, you grow your own food, get around on your horse. Big deal! Most Americans work for other people now, we depend on other people for our food, gas, etc. A National Sunday Law now would definitely be enforceable and have some bite to it. And with technology, much easier to enforce compared to 150 years ago.
It's always great to check in with the National Sunday Law Illuminati lunatic fringe. I bet you spent lots of time on the interwebs.
You forgot to mention how the UN is all a part of this.
From the racists who exposed themselves on the Neo-Nazi post, the angry and scared proof-texters on the homosexuality post and now the 9/11 nuts who base entire theories on pronoun confusion, sometimes it's good that Adventists in the mainstream see how the chthonic wing of the church intersects with our theology.
Alexander,
Diabolos! You know I just found out recently that's the Greek word for Devil in the New Testament and that it means "slanderer" or "false accuser". Isn't that something?! That's how they were known in Christ's day, and that is how you've just made yourself known to me.
I've been slandered plenty in my day, but what you just did beats them all. God bless you anyway.
Alexander, didn't you read all of what I wrote? It's not just about Billionaire Silverstein confusing his pronouns. I hope in the future you take a more objective look at the events surrounding 9-11 and reconsider your position.
Raymond,
It's enlightening to read the post and comments.
Thanks!
So modern "psycho" have deemed subliminal advertising not affective to getting people buy product, which I'm not doubting, but the question remains why do they still place these subliminal ads in?
As Christians, specifically SDA's we want to try so hard to be like the world and use products and idea's of the world to tell the gospel, in high hopes that our youth will come back to the church or stay in the church - but its not working. And if they do stay in the church what do they know about the Bible and its content pertinent to salvation, righteousness by faith, the final atonement etc. In reference to the author's attempt to once again tie Jesus to a pagan figure (Superman) is blasphemy in MHO. It would be like saying a hero from a horror movie shares the concepts of Jesus as a Savior because he saved human kind from the zombies. Ok everyone go watch "Evil Dead 45" because we can get closer to Jesus from it. Enough said.
Knowing the presenters personally and watching their DVD (the one filmed there) I know that their presentation has evolved since then. As we all grow, I know that they have grown. They are not perfect and have grown from their mistakes. Give them a break.
Overall the article seemed more like an over educated self glorified opinion. But that is just my opinion. =)
God Bless
I have watched the same presentation and was very moved by the point the film was trying to make. However, I believe that there is a greater point to be made which the reviewing author totally misses.
If you believe that hollywood is totally innocent in its attempts at changing cultural moorings and morals of our society than you must be living with your eyes closed (no disrespect intended). I think that even the authors attempt to review and critique this information illuminates his priorities and a fundamental misunderstanding of our message to the world.
My brothers and sisters, we are living in the anti-typical day of atonement. Do you truly believe that during this time in the Jewish year that people were making light of religion, watching disparaging potrayals of God and watching others live a completely opposite life of that proscribed by the bible and then laughing about it and glamorizing it. These are the exact things that hollywood majors in, it is not innocent but deliberate, it is a deliberate rebellion against the principals and laws of God, if not hollywood would spend its' time making movies which highlight the times that we are living in and the importance of repentance. Hollywood has turned lying into a point of pride. Even the most innocent films charactizes those things that God hates as the basis and reality of life rather than God's sincere call to live a holy and consecrated life.
The funny thing is that we sermonize in church about the importance of living a pure life, being different from the rest. We tell young girls not to engage in pre-marital relations with their boyfreinds but then we tell them that hollywood and movies are okay. We laugh at our past lives of licentiousness and laugh at the testimony of satan from our televisions screens. No wonder we are no different than the world. Even our heros become those who regard other gods, those who are in open rebellion to the word and law of God.
the sad thing is we don't even believe that by beholding it we become. We don't even believe the word of God when it says think upon good things and shun all evil. We tell God we are stronger than that, we won't fall for it.
Finally, all of you who like to disparage Adventism as a conspiratorial minded religion. Have you not read Daniel. Did you not comprehend that a conspiracy resulted in Daniel being thrown into the Lions' Den. I guess this is just a story we read when we were young.
Do you not believe in the great controversey theme whereby satan was in a conspiracy too over throw God. Do you not believe that satan would be working in grand conspiracy today to diminish the importance of God's work and make light of his precepts. Have you not read where by these tradings Satan became completely corrupted. Have you not read the psalms where it says that the Godly will not stand in the counsel of the ungodly.
Our mission, our stregnth is the three angels message which calls us out, it calls us reject the godless society that we live in and march under the bloodstained banner of Jesus Christ. The remnant is the third Elijah, the remnant should be calling the world to repentence not beholding their films and their so called god's.
The Authors disparaging remarks about these presentations and his half hearted support of hollywood and the commentators pointing out that adventism is a conspiratorial religion is a sign of the times.
May the Lord come soon
where can i get a free copy of this? i'm from the philippines
hi i want to have a DVD copy of battlefield hollywood could you please let me know where i can get a copy im in depserate need thank you so much!
i watched this and loved it...im doing my english project on it and using the superman part:)and im only twelve years old!
Why are we being entertained (laughing, watching, talking about, repeating lines from) movies that promote the sins that Jesus DIED for? Defending these movies that blaspheme our Holy God is just sad.
Silly urban legends have always rolled through Christianity - not specifically SDA Christianity, but also Catholicism, Baptists, Mormons, the lot.
It is so much easier to amuse and amaze if you don't have to stick to the truth
- Noah's ark has been found
- The ark of the covenant has been found
- Miracles at Lourdes
- The Illuminati are out to get you
- Rock musicians get their lyrics from seances
- The Government has this amazing computer
- ...
What do you expect, when Christian churches teach their people not to be critical of messages that are pro- their favorite belief
/Bevin
Hi,
As a fellow Adventist, I'm wondering if your appreciation of the prophetic gift (as expressed in EG White) informs your current views on entertainment, or whether those views are informed, perhaps, simply by what you "like"--without regard for the former.
Not so few real testimonies come out of the lips of the Entertainment-Industry millionaires about the danger of Hollywood such as Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Steven Spielberg or Tom Cruise, etcs...just to name a few.
Those superstars having continuous education and warning to their family members and friends about the danger of today's entertainment, TV, movies and medias.
Yes, how about those Hollywood superstars which choosing not to allow their family members watching even TV (not only movies)?
Would you also condemn them as fanatics?
We're NOT Adventists but extremely offended by this article (by Raymond Thompson) due to the fact about important decision we made: That we must come out of any faking stimulant Industries-ENTERTAINMENT & Movies. Yet this article seems so fanatics about worshipping Movies, Entertainments or any other Hollywood Media.
There's no conspiracy theory here. We are the men/women directly involved in all of those b****sht (excuse us) Industries. Yet they're so "smooth" in deceiving and even using some jokes--to slumber you down.
That's not fair if you as the Hollywood supporters critically condemn but only to the same your fellow Adventists but sadly so coward in proclaiming the same condemnation to us, non-Adventists and superstars as well, which are not disagree that modern day entertainment industries are nothing but dangerous. Are you Adventists? Why/why not?
The fanaticism issue here is not about their carefulness, but much more about your carelessness you love in refusing the fact that Hollywood is all about mixing truth and errors. That’s why it’s always more dangerous—you agree or not.
Wake up men...!!! and u better cold or hot.
~ X Hollywooders
There is no doubt that entertainment can be a tool for the enemy, as well as for good. Enlightened minds should understand the difference, and make decisions accordingly.
This article lost credibility at "I don’t worship Mary because of my belief on the State of the Dead, but that’s because of my Adventist theology." Christians should not worship Mary because she is not God.
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