Webzines blistering attack on church hypocrisy over Gibson film

-19/3/04

The satirical web site Ship of Fools has released a blistering attack on th

Webzines blistering attack on church hypocrisy over Gibson film

-19/3/04

The satirical web site Ship of Fools has released a blistering attack on the hypocrisy displayed by some churches in welcoming Mel Gibsonís ìThe Passion of the Christî

In a press release entitled; ìGory, Gory Hallelujahî, churches are accused of adopting ìBreathtaking Double Standardsî over ìGibsonís Paschal Bloodbathî.

ëThe Passion of the Christí is released in the UK next week (26 Mar) to roars of approval from church organisations who traditionally campaign against violence in movies.

In the web magazine www.shipoffools.com, Steve Tomkins reviews US church reaction to Gibsonís film.

îThe display of double standards from people who have happily denied everything they have preached for a quarter of a century is thoroughly entertaining,î says Tomkins.

ìWithout so much as a grinding of gears, they have stolen all the liberals’ best arguments to explain why the film Roger Ebert called ëthe most violent I have ever seení is the greatest story ever sold.î

The ìfirst exemplar of conservative doublethinkî is named as Jerry Falwell, founder of Moral Majority, pastor of the largest church in North America and scourge of the Tellytubbies. His booklet Taking Back Your Children: How to protect your kids from todayís culture calls movie violence one of the most ëimmoral, evil and depraved elements in modern societyí.

îI am praying that Mel Gibson’s movie will have a powerful impact on our culture,î Falwell recently wrote in his regular newsletter.

The next person to come under fire is Dr Billy Graham. The webzine points out that Graham regrets that îviolent television programmes are increasing in numberî and likens their effect to ìa sewer gurgling and spilling over its filth into [one’s] mindî. However, commenting on the Passion Graham said; ìI feel as if I have actually been there.î

ìI was moved to tears. I doubt if there has ever been a more graphic and moving presentation of Jesus’ death.î

Third to come in for criticism is James Dobson’s Focus on the Family – an organisation broadcasting for ìfamily valuesî in 95 countries. Its online magazine argues for an ëirrefutable linkí between violent films and real violence.

îWhat then did Dobson make of the barbaric brutality of The Passion?î asks Ship of Fools. ìTremendously refreshing – a film that must be seen,î insisted his review. ìThe violence is intended to emphasise the reality of the unspeakable suffering that our Saviour endured on our behalf.í

Steve Tomkins from Ship of Fools said; ìThe assumption that no other violent films have a similarly serious purpose – because they don’t feature Jesus – is breathtaking.î

îMeanwhile, the Midwest Conservative Journal says: ëMel Gibson is giving us a chance to stay with our Saviour during His most terrible hours. And it’s interesting that lots of alleged Christians still prefer to run away.íî

îSo,î argues Tomkins, ìif you can’t take celluloid ketchup explosions, you’re a coward, a traitor and probably not a true Christian.î

îWhen the church sees value in violence, it seems to abandon virtually all objectivity. In this case, there needs to be a serious discussion about gratuitous violence – whether itís Jesus up on the silver screen or Reservoir Dogs. But instead, the church has moved the goalposts down to the other end of the pitch and lurched into propaganda mode.î

Hundreds of thousands of ëPassioní tracts have been printed and cinema sessions bought out by US and UK churches keen to evangelise neighbourhoods.

îIf there were serious questions before this film came out about violence in films, Gibsonís work hasnít made those questions go away,î argues Tomkins. ìSo what happened to the discussion?î

Webzines blistering attack on church hypocrisy over Gibson film

-19/3/04

The satirical web site Ship of Fools has released a blistering attack on the hypocrisy displayed by some churches in welcoming Mel Gibsonís ìThe Passion of the Christî

In a press release entitled; ìGory, Gory Hallelujahî, churches are accused of adopting ìBreathtaking Double Standardsî over ìGibsonís Paschal Bloodbathî.

ëThe Passion of the Christí is released in the UK next week (26 Mar) to roars of approval from church organisations who traditionally campaign against violence in movies.

In the web magazine www.shipoffools.com, Steve Tomkins reviews US church reaction to Gibsonís film.

îThe display of double standards from people who have happily denied everything they have preached for a quarter of a century is thoroughly entertaining,î says Tomkins.

ìWithout so much as a grinding of gears, they have stolen all the liberals’ best arguments to explain why the film Roger Ebert called ëthe most violent I have ever seení is the greatest story ever sold.î

The ìfirst exemplar of conservative doublethinkî is named as Jerry Falwell, founder of Moral Majority, pastor of the largest church in North America and scourge of the Tellytubbies. His booklet Taking Back Your Children: How to protect your kids from todayís culture calls movie violence one of the most ëimmoral, evil and depraved elements in modern societyí.

îI am praying that Mel Gibson’s movie will have a powerful impact on our culture,î Falwell recently wrote in his regular newsletter.

The next person to come under fire is Dr Billy Graham. The webzine points out that Graham regrets that îviolent television programmes are increasing in numberî and likens their effect to ìa sewer gurgling and spilling over its filth into [one’s] mindî. However, commenting on the Passion Graham said; ìI feel as if I have actually been there.î

ìI was moved to tears. I doubt if there has ever been a more graphic and moving presentation of Jesus’ death.î

Third to come in for criticism is James Dobson’s Focus on the Family – an organisation broadcasting for ìfamily valuesî in 95 countries. Its online magazine argues for an ëirrefutable linkí between violent films and real violence.

îWhat then did Dobson make of the barbaric brutality of The Passion?î asks Ship of Fools. ìTremendously refreshing – a film that must be seen,î insisted his review. ìThe violence is intended to emphasise the reality of the unspeakable suffering that our Saviour endured on our behalf.í

Steve Tomkins from Ship of Fools said; ìThe assumption that no other violent films have a similarly serious purpose – because they don’t feature Jesus – is breathtaking.î

îMeanwhile, the Midwest Conservative Journal says: ëMel Gibson is giving us a chance to stay with our Saviour during His most terrible hours. And it’s interesting that lots of alleged Christians still prefer to run away.íî

îSo,î argues Tomkins, ìif you can’t take celluloid ketchup explosions, you’re a coward, a traitor and probably not a true Christian.î

îWhen the church sees value in violence, it seems to abandon virtually all objectivity. In this case, there needs to be a serious discussion about gratuitous violence – whether itís Jesus up on the silver screen or Reservoir Dogs. But instead, the church has moved the goalposts down to the other end of the pitch and lurched into propaganda mode.î

Hundreds of thousands of ëPassioní tracts have been printed and cinema sessions bought out by US and UK churches keen to evangelise neighbourhoods.

îIf there were serious questions before this film came out about violence in films, Gibsonís work hasnít made those questions go away,î argues Tomkins. ìSo what happened to the discussion?î