Propaganda Films and Hate Speech

[Neo-Scholastic]

Most of these Christian movies are mind bogglingly immoral and super toxic (accept marital violence! don't get psychiatric help! having any success in your job means you neglect Jesus!, the list goes on)

I've only seen Left Behind and that was when I was just a kid. Scared me

The real problem is they are just bad movies.

[Losty]

I've only seen Left Behind and that was when I was just a kid. Scared me

The real problem is they are just bad movies.

Yea I'm sure that's part of it. And we all know that not all Christians are like this. But if accepting marital violence and not getting psychiatric help is what is being promoted in these movies it certainly represents at least the Christians I associated with when I was a Christian.

[vorlon13]

I don't know if anybody here is a fellow fan of things like the Bible Reloaded youtube channel or the God Awful Movies podcast but I would have to assume some or most of us have at least heard of them and can easily look it up and get a gist of their purpose and sensibilities.

So, we all know that aside from the occasional high-quality Hollywood production like Noah, or Exodus: Gods and Kings, etc., most of what's produced are garbage by those opportunistic faith-heads looking to make a dishonest buck are putting out loads of Xtian films designed to denigrate non-believers and other faiths and stroke their own egos while promoting the worst of their own teachings.

It's already rather disgusting, the sort of writing and themes that go into these but I want to point out a particular example of their filmmaking that I would bet a kidney every single one of us on here has heard of, if only the title: God's Not Dead.

Subtlety is not their thing, as you are slapped in the face with the following:
Islam is bad and treats women like objects. Atheists aren't really unbelievers, they're just mad at god. And they're all completely obnoxious, insensitive, disrespectful, disloyal, stuck-up, intolerant assholes who push their agendas on others, not a single one being an exception. They should be killed for their lack of belief. Xtians are horribly persecuted for no reason at all. Science is either totally wrong or supports theism and creation. Only Xtians behave morally. Everyone wants to hear everything they have to say and supports them just because they are willing to stand up and say it, and they're never wrong.

So...I mean, I look at how much money that movie and its sequel (with, as is assumed, a third entry on the way) earn on theatrical releases and, at least by comparison to the Ark Park, it's frightening how many people have been able to sit through that and not publicly decry it for being a poor representation of their faith.

It seems we're lucky most people who profess faith are, if this is any indication, too cowardly to act upon their convictions even if they agree with the underlying messages in their holy books. But this passive-aggressive shit is hardly any different from any other propaganda released to push a tyrannical agenda. I don't see anyone getting called out over anti-defamation or attempting to incite violence in these films. Does this just not bother anyone or what?

More importantly, is there any kind of response that's appropriate? If there was a means of producing ant-propaganda, is that a viable counterattack or there just nothing to be done?

(emphasis mine)

I'm a big fan of religions competing in the marketplace of ideas.  Tell me how your faith is less fucked up than the Mormons, for instance, and how you cherry pick scriptures 28% less than those slacker Methodists !!!

[Drich]

@Drich, be honest. Not all Christians believe those are the two fundamental things. I mean take the second thing for example, I know of a Christian who publicly berated a rape victim for kicks and giggles on a forum one time. Pretty sure he didn't think loving thy neighbor was all that important. Or maybe he just thinks it literally means to diddle the person who lives next door...hmm. I don't know.


@OP, the thing I'm not understand is what part of the movie God's Not Dead was promoting killing Muslims and atheists?

I'm shocked!!! Who would ever do such a thing???

What a terrible person, unless he was calling someone out on their bullsh*t. At which point that person COULD be seen as defending real rape victims from those who use a sexual 'mistake' as an opportunity to pull the rape card and settle a discussion. Because Jesus never did anything like that, oh, wait he did when he told the murderous self righteous who wanted to stone a woman for adultery; 'the one without sin cast the first stone.' There Christ called out the real sinners who were pretending to be righteous and steer the crowd toward murdering an adulterer, rather than falling into their little trap (because if he said stone her he would be in violation with roman law, and if he said no he would be in violation with God's law.) So he called the B/Sers out on what they were really doing. and said (while reportedly writing out their sins in the dirt) those of you who have no sin cast the first stone.

I did the same when I challenged the other story and left my own. So what did the 'good people' do? they attacked the real victim. (me for not dragging this thing out after 30 years and relive it when ever someone tells a rape story. For not mentioning it as a method of one ups man ship. then I made the faupaux challenge someone else to stop burying their crap for 20+ years and get some help.) So in essence I was stoned verbally by you 'good people' for being the victim, trying to get another victim to help themselves, but I guess that is not how you remember it huh? You don't remember the ATHEIST tearing into me for 30+ pages and then started "a get rid of him thread, despite he has broken no rules" which went on for 60 more pages.

Yeah cause that is a great example of Christian atheist not loving you as himself..

[Losty]

Atheists don't have any "love him as you love yourself" type rules. I wouldn't in a million years love someone who attacks a rape victim for telling their story especially when he doesn't know the person or the particulars of her case.

But unlike that good Christian love you showed with your victim blaming, even though I think you're kinda awful I also think what happened to you is very awful and I'm sorry you had to go through that. (I mean the rape, not the thread where people wanted you gone because you're an overwhelmingly negative influence).

[Astonished]

I don't know if anybody here is a fellow fan of things like the Bible Reloaded youtube channel or the God Awful Movies podcast but I would have to assume some or most of us have at least heard of them and can easily look it up and get a gist of their purpose and sensibilities.

So, we all know that aside from the occasional high-quality Hollywood production like Noah, or Exodus: Gods and Kings, etc., most of what's produced are garbage by those opportunistic faith-heads looking to make a dishonest buck are putting out loads of Xtian films designed to denigrate non-believers and other faiths and stroke their own egos while promoting the worst of their own teachings.

It's already rather disgusting, the sort of writing and themes that go into these but I want to point out a particular example of their filmmaking that I would bet a kidney every single one of us on here has heard of, if only the title: God's Not Dead.

Subtlety is not their thing, as you are slapped in the face with the following:
Islam is bad and treats women like objects. Atheists aren't really unbelievers, they're just mad at god. And they're all completely obnoxious, insensitive, disrespectful, disloyal, stuck-up, intolerant assholes who push their agendas on others, not a single one being an exception. They should be killed for their lack of belief. Xtians are horribly persecuted for no reason at all. Science is either totally wrong or supports theism and creation. Only Xtians behave morally. Everyone wants to hear everything they have to say and supports them just because they are willing to stand up and say it, and they're never wrong.

So...I mean, I look at how much money that movie and its sequel (with, as is assumed, a third entry on the way) earn on theatrical releases and, at least by comparison to the Ark Park, it's frightening how many people have been able to sit through that and not publicly decry it for being a poor representation of their faith.

It seems we're lucky most people who profess faith are, if this is any indication, too cowardly to act upon their convictions even if they agree with the underlying messages in their holy books. But this passive-aggressive shit is hardly any different from any other propaganda released to push a tyrannical agenda. I don't see anyone getting called out over anti-defamation or attempting to incite violence in these films. Does this just not bother anyone or what?

More importantly, is there any kind of response that's appropriate? If there was a means of producing ant-propaganda, is that a viable counterattack or there just nothing to be done?

(emphasis mine)

I'm a big fan of religions competing in the marketplace of ideas.  Tell me how your faith is less fucked up than the Mormons, for instance, and how you cherry pick scriptures 28% less than those slacker Methodists !!!

Yeah, thing is, they do, and every last one of them completely misses the fucking point. So many different denominations (and even non-Xtian faiths) have films made promoting theirs and shitting on alternate interpretations, alternative religions and of course non-believers. On those occasions where it's not blatant hate speech, it's just inane and piss-poor apologetics.

So, just lie down and take it? Or does anyone have a potential solution to propose?

[Drich]

Atheists don't have any "love him as you love yourself" type rules. I wouldn't in a million years love someone who attacks a rape victim for telling their story especially when he doesn't know the person or the particulars of her case.

But unlike that good Christian love you showed with your victim blaming, even though I think you're kinda awful I also think what happened to you is very awful and I'm sorry you had to go through that. (I mean the rape, not the thread where people wanted you gone because you're an overwhelmingly negative influence).

IDK a lot of the brethren seem to think the golden rule is theirs...
http://atheism.wikia.com/wiki/Golden_Rule
Some even try and divorce it from the bible:
https://ffrf.org/publications/freethough...olden-rule

I know you don't tell a story like that to trump card an argument and still get to play the wounded victim. I speak from a position of self empowerment that comes from confronting what happening, grieving the loss and eventually moving one, so said event does not become the single life event that defines you. But again my opinion did not matter as everyone wanted to treat this as a fresh wound, which it is those type of people who use old hurt as a fresh wound set the wrong victim mind set in this country. You would do so much more for the person by PUSHING or shoving them off their rape nest and into recovery rather than let them sit on it for 25 years as if it happened yesterday. To see someone milk something so.. hurtful makes me sick sick for them and everyone else who is working so hard to not let this one thing define every aspect of life.

But again, what do I know. I am not a woman and I breached a traditionally woman only subject. which was the real crime here if we were to be honest with each other. There are certain no go zones in society. Things you can not say or do no matter what. slavery is one, rape is another. Can't be white and talk about slavery in the positive, can't be a man and have an opinion on rape no matter what.

[Losty]

Can't be a decent person and have an opinion on how someone else should deal with being raped. I would say. Also...can't be a decent person and think there's something positive about slavery either lol. Doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman or black or white.

Alas, I've pulled this conversation far away from the intended thread topic so I'm going to duck out. Feel free to have the last word.

[Mister Agenda]

The best thing that could happen to Christianity in the USA is for to become a minority religion. I bet the quality of their movies would improve then, with their majority entitlement pulled out from under them.

Of course, conversely, the worst thing that could happen to atheism in the USA would be for atheists to achieve a majority. Being in a strong majority is corrupting, and erodes empathy for less powerful groups.

Maybe the best thing would be for the USA to become a nation of multiple minority viewpoints on religion.

[Astonished]

I would like to think a dominant population consisting of rational skeptical secular humanists would break the mold of corruption if only because those around them would call them on any suspected dishonesty or exploitation and not put up with that shit. Every time theists point to an example of a non-Xtian conflict like Stalin's Soviet Union or Pol Pot, they're not exactly pointing to a nation or army run by those who are basing their beliefs or agendas on anything rational. Let's give that a try, considering that's how it seems to be in the most peaceful and prosperous European nations. Indications do seem to be that it's not automatically doomed to go down that same route.