Donna GMar 3, 2012 08:40 PM
The parallels of the "Saved" movie's Mary and Jesus' mother Mary, speaks volumes in how Christianity is appropriated to suit ones needs in this movie. In cheapening the sanctity of Christian values in the movie to seem like a bunch of fanatics, rather than the essence of Christian movement, this movie helps to erode the benefits of Christianity ethos and fictionalize the narrative around the birth of Jesus.
However, it is interesting that you mention that in the movie, the character "Hilary Faye" includes the citation of "the bible not being used as a weapon", when the NIV version in Ephesians 6:17 cites, "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God", (http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-17.htm. March 3, 2012) and so many Conservative Christians rely on this passage faithfully.
It is not uncommon in the Bible Belt of the U.S. that you see this dialogue take place on news media (CNN, Fox and others) around topics depicted in the movie "Saved". One great example is the Republican Nominee debate process that has been taking place in the U.S. over the last few months. This includes churches being obligated to providing contraception to women and a law student for being chastised by Rush Limbaugh in the media forum debates.
But I think the ethos of Christianity is that Jesus came to the world to "save" Christians from their sins, and it is only through Him that Christians are saved. The interpretation of how and who is saved helps popular culture to subvert and leave behind the foundational precepts of Christianity of getting saved through Jesus and presenting it as a impediment rather than a tenent of Christian values.
Moreover, when popular culture outlets encourage, stream or pick for people through movies like this, to "pick and choose" what Christian values they ought to subscribe to, I think the need for spirituality slips down a slippery slope that society may not recover from. Media outlets push these issues so hard that people get addicted to the consumption of the debate like an alcoholic to the bottle. What's even worse is the the glamorization of the teen pregnancy shows that polarize the lack of skills and money issues they face and forego the Christian values all in the name of marketing these reality television shows.
Oddly enough as a side note, CNN has included images of people praying and then saved from the path of disastrous tornadoes this weekend. I only am left to wonder, why people have to appear to be desperate to talk about the "safety" of spirituality and how much better ratings will be with these images included.
However, it is interesting that you mention that in the movie, the character "Hilary Faye" includes the citation of "the bible not being used as a weapon", when the NIV version in Ephesians 6:17 cites, "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God", (http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-17.htm. March 3, 2012) and so many Conservative Christians rely on this passage faithfully.
It is not uncommon in the Bible Belt of the U.S. that you see this dialogue take place on news media (CNN, Fox and others) around topics depicted in the movie "Saved". One great example is the Republican Nominee debate process that has been taking place in the U.S. over the last few months. This includes churches being obligated to providing contraception to women and a law student for being chastised by Rush Limbaugh in the media forum debates.
But I think the ethos of Christianity is that Jesus came to the world to "save" Christians from their sins, and it is only through Him that Christians are saved. The interpretation of how and who is saved helps popular culture to subvert and leave behind the foundational precepts of Christianity of getting saved through Jesus and presenting it as a impediment rather than a tenent of Christian values.
Moreover, when popular culture outlets encourage, stream or pick for people through movies like this, to "pick and choose" what Christian values they ought to subscribe to, I think the need for spirituality slips down a slippery slope that society may not recover from. Media outlets push these issues so hard that people get addicted to the consumption of the debate like an alcoholic to the bottle. What's even worse is the the glamorization of the teen pregnancy shows that polarize the lack of skills and money issues they face and forego the Christian values all in the name of marketing these reality television shows.
Oddly enough as a side note, CNN has included images of people praying and then saved from the path of disastrous tornadoes this weekend. I only am left to wonder, why people have to appear to be desperate to talk about the "safety" of spirituality and how much better ratings will be with these images included.
