Will American Churches defy their Congregations from seeing Fahrenheit?

Just as churces across America told their faithful to go see the Passion. Will they demand that their peoples not patronize this film?

I, for one refused to see the Passion. First of all I don't find blood and gore entertainment. Secondly, I considered it to be propoganda, and thats why I don't watch any TV news any longer.

I can just imagine the furor this movie is going to cause. It will raise questions in the people's minds where there weren't any. Most Americans believe the official story of 9-11 without any reservations. If this film if widely viewed, which I hope it is, it could cause the wheels to come off for alot of politicians on both sides of the aisle.

edit for sp
and clarity

churches definitely have too much control over people.. well SOME people anyway.

will just conclude it's all a pack of lies without ever actually going to see the movie.

They have a long history of ignoring facts that contradict their dogma.

Do you know that not all "fundies" are right wing?

They recommended Bowling for Columbine.

and I think most have no intention of telling their congregations not to see Farenheit. Have you ever actually been to a church?
Or do you just assume that all of them are run by Jerry Falwell because that is what you see on TV?

Have you ever actually been to a church?

I often get the feeling that most of those who have such a natural aversion to any kind of religion in any form either have not ever been to a church, had bad experiences in fundy churches growing up and equate that across the board, or haven't been to a church in many, many years.

Churches rented out whole theatres for thier congregations to view the Passion. I know this for a fact. My fundie ex-husband's large xian church in So. Orange County California did so.

By the way, smart one, I am a christian, just not of the neurotic variety.

One fundie church... so now "churches are renting out whole theaters and demanding that their congregations see The Passion. Of course it follows that "churchs" in general will be telling their congregations not to see Farenheit?
Since you are a Christian, I am sure you can see how your sweeping generalization was a bit off base. Surely in the church you attend now they didn't do either of these things, so assuming "churches" are doesn't make much sense.

...at the behest of his church. Seems the church bought a huge block of passes for that specific purpose.

Anybody else?

>One fundie church... so now "churches are renting out whole theaters and demanding that their congregations see The Passion.<

Multiple churches in our area rented local movie theaters for private showings of "The Passion".

Their congregations were told to see the movie, according to local news coverage. We are just outside of Seattle.

Julie

And many members of my congregation will probably see "Fahrenheit 911", so I don't think your statement really goes much further than the fundy churches.

Then again, I'm a UU, and we're known for being a bit wacky.... :silly:

tell folks that they should not receive communion if they see the movie...

Just predicting...

In general even catholic priests have more to do during mass than talk about what movies people should see. Beyond mass, being anti abortion takes up most of their time and energy.

didn't they?

Did you attend many catholic masses in the last few months where they talked about the DaVinci Code? Or do you have a Catholic ex who told you so?

BTW I was reemed by my devout Catholic but well-meaning girlfriend upon seeing the book on my shelf. She told me it was blasphemy. And where do you think she heard that?

therefore all catholics think as she does and I am sure she heard it at mass. :eyes:

BTW, exactly what church is it that you attend? I would be interested to know where they are teaching sweeping generalization about other christians as a Christian ideal.

to make by asking that question. As was pointed out in this thread already there were many churches that advocated the film and recommended it's viewing, even for children.

There was discussion for weeks here in GD regarding churches pushing this movie.

Obviously I have offended you, and perhaps I should have been more specific as to "which" churches might inflect themselves into politics.

that a few in the Catholic leadership have moved beyond politicizing democratic candidates - and at least this one has moved towards politicizing voters' votes. Expect this in some more charismatic congregations - just not from those within the Catholic Church. Don't know why I had made such a differentiation in my head... but there it is... Once crossed - I wouldn't make any bets on how far those few rightwingers in leadership in the Church will go in trying to interfere in politics.

And not just Catholic churches either.

Did you ever get one in your church? Nope, me neither.

the ground.

I DARED someone to speak to me about it!

Cause I have been to about 200 different chruches with about 10 different denominations represented and never once was handed a voter guide.

but I exlusively attend more intellectually based, spiritually based and nondogmatic churches. But have witnessed even some more mainline congregations get more and more rightwing both theologically and politically (in terms of politicizing the pulpit.) Recently at one service I attended to be supportive of a family member... I just sat there and wondered if I really can live in this state (where I was raised, and to where I returned a few years ago) permanently - as more and more "mainstream" churches have moved to being dispensationalist/old testament (where the point of Jesus was simply for "saving one's soul" and his teachings are moot/ignored, etc...) It wasn't like this 20 years ago when I graduated from college...

This is probably why I find the recent public proclamations by some in the Catholic leadership exceptionally disconcerting. I have attended numerous catholic services in different cities across the country, and have many Catholic friends - and it has always come across as much more thoughtful, much more wrestling with real issues and much less kneejerkonedimensional...

St. Stephen's, I think.

in that context... the merging of peer pressure with "salvation" messages and politics is very intentional.. makes it a much harder space in which to be vocally upset/resistant etc. You did more than that - probably actually got a few folks to think... for that a Huge :thumbsup:

The Christian Coalition began that way - and worked hard (in a very concerted effort way) to politicize the pulpits of fundamentalist evangelical churches. Initially there was resistance in many of those churches - and the strategy was to select a respected long-time member who would then ask the pastor to allow the member to distribute the voter guides... over time once the line was crossed it morphed into direct politicization of the message from the pulpit.

My perception of the Catholic Church, even though I know it has moved slightly to the right in the past 20 years, was of a much more thoughtful, deliberative clergy that wrestled with ideas such as spiritual vs secular, providing guidance to parishoners on wrestling with those issues, and a strong dose of social activism in terms of obligation to those in need within the community. Somehow I find disturbing... the move from publically chastizing politicians (not new) to singling out politicians with threats of what is in essence excommunication (new) and to singling out what seems to be exclusively DEMOCRAT pro-choice Catholics while remaining silent on pro-choice republicans. This one Colorado Bishop - now verbalizing messages we have come to expect from less intellectually based theological perspectives - that seeks to determine individual parishoners voting habits... has really surprised and saddened me. And I am not even Catholic...

I am kind of tired of these shallow thinking threads about religion. I am as angry as you about the catholic church interfering in politics because of abortion.... what about the death penalty?

I am not even Catholic - but I found that very disconcerting. More deliberative Christian denominations have for a long time wrestled more with the challenges of balancing our secular (eg govt) and spiritual lives. While the fundies who come from a more rigid (interpretation while) and strict obedience orientation - the move to politicization (vote republican or go to hell!) is less suprising. I have come to expect a small level of intrusion into the political debate from some Catholic leadership. But this? First the targeting in a blatantly political way (which issues and which politicians to be targeted while leaving Guiliani and other prochoice republicans alone)... worrisome. But the Colorado Bishop has just launched a grenade. It really bothers me - and I can't quite articulate why.

I will eventually see both "The Passion of the Christ" and "Farenheit 911". I don't see it as an either/or thing, it's a free speech thing. My church didn't endorse or denounce "The Passion", but the Easter message was that we don't focus in on Jesus' suffering and death, but on his message and his resurrection, teaching us that we are spiritual beings, not just physical beings.

We also have gay weddings, even if they aren't legally recognized in Michigan at this point.

:D

Actually, one of our members is friends with Kathleen.

be either neutral or positive about it.

It's mostly the fundies who are able to demand or ban films for their congregations these days, and it's all part of their attempt to create a total information environment in which no digressions from the party line are allowed.