This Fellow Rips Lee Stroebel A New Asshole

[Jehanne]

The movie still hasn't broken $10 million:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?pag...christ.htm

I suspect that its theater counter will take a nose-dive here this week; usually, this occurs on Thursday or Friday.

I recently heard an interview with Strobel. It's actually foing fairly well.  The opening was smaller, only about 1100 theaters, and they are talking about adding about 500 more. It's getting excellent reviews.

From who?  Evangelical Christians?!  In the end, it will reduce Evangelical Christianity even further, hastening its decline.  Those who believe will continue to do so, as will those who don't; those who are on the fence will, however, encounter higher Biblical criticism and will inevitably come to realize that the movie is just a 2-hour long ad of bullshit, and not serious scholarship.

[Brian37]

I recently heard an interview with Strobel. It's actually foing fairly well.  The opening was smaller, only about 1100 theaters, and they are talking about adding about 500 more. It's getting excellent reviews.

From who?  Evangelical Christians?!  In the end, it will reduce Evangelical Christianity even further, hastening its decline.  Those who believe will continue to do so, as will those who don't; those who are on the fence will, however, encounter higher Biblical criticism and will inevitably come to realize that the movie is just a 2-hour long ad of bullshit, and not serious scholarship.

"The movie is popular" isn't evidence outside it being popular. Roadrunner doesn't want to face that. If you could ask the citizens of Pyongyang think Un's state TV and propaganda parades are nifty too. India also has their own "Hollywood" in India they call it "Bollywood" and I bet their heros look quite different when they put out religious themed movies. I am sure if you could watch Iran's state media or Saudi Arabia's state media, they too would put out popular themes their societies like. 

Roadrunner is simply excited about his club propaganda promotion, well so what, other nations put out their own pop heros and themes.

[The Grand Nudger]

No shit, at least the morons who write Children's bibles try to water down the violence. I wonder if the same movie would work if they had the Peter Cotton Tail tortured and executed instead?

IKR?  To be fair..sometimes it probably would.  My kids love to watch shitty things happen to the coyote.  CS Lewis, ever the clever indocrtinator, ritually kills aslan as an intentional analog to christ.  Regardless of whether you take that for it's intended theme or consider it a representative of secular fantasy, it's a kids book.  

I suppose the point here is that kids are cruel, violent sub-human works in progress who would squeal in delight if you blew up a cartoon puppy, and I bet more than a few would love to watch barney get lynched.  It doesn't get much better for our species with age, either.

[Thumpalumpacus]

This Fellow Rips Lee Stroebel A New Asshole

As many times as tht's happened, Strobel's got to be a regular sprinkler when he's got the runs.

[Simon Moon]

The movie still hasn't broken $10 million:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?pag...christ.htm

I suspect that its theater counter will take a nose-dive here this week; usually, this occurs on Thursday or Friday.

I recently heard an interview with Strobel. It's actually foing fairly well.  The opening was smaller, only about 1100 theaters, and they are talking about adding about 500 more. It's getting excellent reviews.

It's getting decent reviews as a piece of movie making. Rotten Tomatoes has it rated a 77%.

As anything to do with reality, not so much.


I mean, seriously. One of Strobel's main interviewees, Craig Blomberg, member of the Denver Seminary, has to affirm and sign the following doctrinal statements every year:

“We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak.”

Yeah, every honest investigative reporter (which Strobel is trying to portray himself as), actually looking for the truth, will always choose such an impartial source. [end sarcasm].

No investigative reporter with an ounce of intellectual honesty, will fail to interview at least one scholar with a dissenting opinion. Strobel does not interview a single one, in any of his books.

[Amarok]

The biggest argument for Jesus, IMO, is the Eucharist. Jesus lost half, or more of His following with the words: “Unless you eat my body and drink my blood, there is no life in you.” That is the single most important "Case for Christ" in my book!

So the authors who put words in Jesus mouth created a conflict among his followers  therefore the Christ character is real WTF ? 

Or the book talks about a ritual being rejected therefore Jesus is magic?

Or is the so called case proof the a lot of these followers realized this cult leader is fucking nuts

[Brian37]

No shit, at least the morons who write Children's bibles try to water down the violence. I wonder if the same movie would work if they had the Peter Cotton Tail tortured and executed instead?

IKR?  To be fair..sometimes it probably would.  My kids love to watch shitty things happen to the coyote.  CS Lewis, ever the clever indocrtinator, ritually kills aslan as an intentional analog to christ.  Regardless of whether you take that for it's intended theme or consider it a representative of secular fantasy, it's a kids book.  

I suppose the point here is that kids are cruel, violent sub-human works in progress who would squeal in delight if you blew up a cartoon puppy, and I bet more than a few would love to watch barney get lynched.  It doesn't get much better for our species with age, either.

Yes and? I liked Bugs Bunny or the sheep dog kicking the shit out of the scammer/bully. But first off it is a cartoon, nobody turned that into a religion. Secondly in the secular west we don't get to take the law into our own hands and while we might feel a sense of relief that a tormentor got stopped, revenge is an old tribal idea from antiquity, even in polytheism. 

Yes kids are cruel, but so what, as an adult it doesn't excuse adult violence. If our species is to survive we need to focus less on who pisses us off as adults and more on diplomacy. If we all got to silence others over things we would rather not hear, there is not one person on the face of the planet that could not think of something they don't like hearing. Kids have an excuse, and most kids dont have weapons at 2 or 3 or even 5 years old. Adults pass down their tribal bullshit.

[Harry Nevis]

A 51 on metacritic certainly does not constitute "excellent reviews."  That's not even as high as the scores for "The Fate Of The Furious."

Although, compared to all of the other Christian propaganda films, that practically makes it "Citizen Kane."

You're just not reading them right.  You have to believe they're excellent reviews first, then it will all make sense.

[RoadRunner79]

I recently heard an interview with Strobel. It's actually foing fairly well.  The opening was smaller, only about 1100 theaters, and they are talking about adding about 500 more. It's getting excellent reviews.

It's getting decent reviews as a piece of movie making. Rotten Tomatoes has it rated a 77%.

As anything to do with reality, not so much.

I'd agree. Although I'm sure there are some on both sides, who's reviews are biased based on what the story is about. Ratings are a reflection of the film itself (or at least should be), not necessarily on vindication of it's content.
As to having to do with reality... It's a true story, your feelings on the matter or aversion to it, doesn't allow for you to make things up.

I mean, seriously. One of Strobel's main interviewees, Craig Blomberg, member of the Denver Seminary, has to affirm and sign the following doctrinal statements every year:

“We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak.”

Yeah, every honest investigative reporter (which Strobel is trying to portray himself as), actually looking for the truth, will always choose such an impartial source. [end sarcasm].

No investigative reporter with an ounce of intellectual honesty, will fail to interview at least one scholar with a dissenting opinion. Strobel does not interview a single one, in any of his books.

So; what are you claiming here? That Blomberg (and possibly others) where not sincere in his testimony or are being coerced? What do you base that on? In any case, this seems to be questioning motives and the source, rather than the argument or evidence itself. It's unnecessary; and doesn't effect the reasoning.

I'm not that familiar with Strobel, other than hearing a few interviews here and there. I haven't read his books, and I'm only a loosely aware of his story; so I can't speak too much on particulars. However; if you feel that there is reasons, and facts, which go against his investigation, then I would focus on that, rather than going after people and origins. From what I am aware, Strobel described himself as an outspoken atheist, so his investigation, may have been into what he considered at the time as the dissenting scholarly opinion.

Now if you feel that Strobel's investigation is lacking in some way, then feel free to make your opposing claims, and give support for them.
(However as I am often told, atheist's don't make claims).

[The Grand Nudger]

IKR?  To be fair..sometimes it probably would.  My kids love to watch shitty things happen to the coyote.  CS Lewis, ever the clever indocrtinator, ritually kills aslan as an intentional analog to christ.  Regardless of whether you take that for it's intended theme or consider it a representative of secular fantasy, it's a kids book.  

I suppose the point here is that kids are cruel, violent sub-human works in progress who would squeal in delight if you blew up a cartoon puppy, and I bet more than a few would love to watch barney get lynched.  It doesn't get much better for our species with age, either.

Yes and? I liked Bugs Bunny or the sheep dog kicking the shit out of the scammer/bully. But first off it is a cartoon, nobody turned that into a religion.

Silence Heretic!

Secondly in the secular west we don't get to take the law into our own hands and while we might feel a sense of relief that a tormentor got stopped, revenge is an old tribal idea from antiquity, even in polytheism. 

Yes kids are cruel, but so what, as an adult it doesn't excuse adult violence. If our species is to survive we need to focus less on who pisses us off as adults and more on diplomacy. If we all got to silence others over things we would rather not hear, there is not one person on the face of the planet that could not think of something they don't like hearing. Kids have an excuse, and most kids dont have weapons at 2 or 3 or even 5 years old. Adults pass down their tribal bullshit.

I didn;t realize we were excusing any violence, you'd commented on whether or not the story would work with peter cottontail strung up instead  Well, kids are pretty gruesome..so even though we'd like to say no, the answer is probably yes, imo.