Currently Listening Kansas By Jennifer Knapp see related

Again, not my original thoughts, but I did find a few points of interest in the article below.  I know that when this movie is released, there will be many discussions sparked within the Christian community and around the world.   Let me know your thoughts.   Especially from those of you who may have read the book.  I personally have not read it.

Christians and The DaVinci Code

By George Barna
January 24, 2006

There are some indisputable facts in life. Everyone will die. Republicans and Democrats will never get along. Poverty will always plague humanity. And Americans love movies.

In 2005, adults watched an average of 45 movies. The mean was identical for born again Christians and nominal Christians. And that figure doesn't even include the movie clips that they were shown while the faithful were in church! Currently, two-thirds of all Protestant churches have big-screen projection capabilities. In congregations that use movie clips for teaching purposes, 77% of congregants contend that those visual media are helpful in their spiritual development. Movies have become the benign educator of choice in our media-happy society.

Coming soon to a theater near everyone will be the big screen interpretation of the mega-selling novel, The DaVinci Code. This spellbinding work of fiction has captivated the minds of more than 30 million readers. The forthcoming film, featuring a huge budget and some of the best talent Hollywood has to offer, promises to intrigue audiences while challenging people's perceptions about the Christian faith.

The book makes many claims that are at odds with Christian teachings. Author Dan Brown's engaging conspiracy fantasy has Jesus Christ married to Mary Magdalene and the father of children; the Bible being doctored by church leaders in 325 A.D. in order to control the Roman Empire and oppress women; claims that the idea of Jesus' divinity was fabricated for political reasons; and asserts the Roman Catholic church has conspired for centuries to keep the documentation of such religious scandals a secret.

Many followers of Christ fear that the movie, which will be even more accessible to the public at-large than the book, will distort people's theological perceptions. This fear is well-founded. Americans already possess an unorthodox profile of religious beliefs, indiscriminately blending biblical and cultural views. Among adults who are aligned with a Christian church, 59% do not believe that Satan exists, 42% contend that Jesus Christ committed sins during His earthly tenure, and just 11% believe that the Bible is the source of absolute moral truth. In fact, millions of Americans are confused about the Bible. On the one hand, six out of ten (61%) believe that "every word in the Bible is true and can be trusted." On the other hand, only half as many affirm that the Bible is "totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches." Americans admit that they are more likely to seek theological clarity from friends, family, experiences and even media input than from diving into biblical texts.

So it is in the midst of this environment of confusion that this blockbuster movie will offer attractive heretical propositions. Entering theaters essentially as biblical illiterates, millions of adults are vulnerable to the seductive religious arguments it will propose.

Many Christians recognize that the book is a fictional tale and that its religious principles are not to be taken seriously. Conveying that point to the 80 million adults who consider themselves Christian but who do not crack the Bible may be more difficult than usual. After all, 53% of a national sample of adults who have read The DaVinci Code from cover to cover stated that the book had been helpful in their "personal spiritual growth and understanding."

How might Christians who accept the Bible's account of the life of Christ react to the release of this movie?

Should We Fight It?

One reaction would be to become distressed and to attack the movie. Heresy rightfully gets Christians upset and responding is necessary. Based on recent history, it is easy to imagine such resistance in the form of a boycott. Research and experience have shown, however, that boycotting movies may do more harm than good to the cause of the boycotters. Such action serves to raise public awareness of and interest in the movie being attacked. Those who are not familiar with the content underlying the controversy tend to choose a side based on emotion rather than factual exploration, siding with whichever faction seems more rational. Those not keenly familiar with the issues at hand are also prone to wonder what the boycotters are seeking to hide or suppress. And most people will develop their perceptions of the boycott on the basis of how the media present the boycotters - and, when it comes to matters of religion, they are rarely portrayed as rational people with a legitimate beef.

Should We Ignore the Film?

Many Christians will ignore the controversy altogether and dismiss it as a marketing ploy common in our entertainment culture; after all, Marketing 101 teaches that controversy sells. Sadly, this response ignores a vital reality: Movies are among the most powerful instruments of change and impact in our society. Nearly one-third of adults (29%) contend that movies have had a substantial impact on the development of their personal morals, values and religious beliefs. Educators, activists and church leaders have learned that movies can be a helpful discussion starter and teaching tool, if used appropriately. The DaVinci Code has the potential to be one of the great tools for motivating people to confront the theological apathy and confusion that is so widespread in our nation. Indeed, a central principle of Christianity is that truth changes lives. The release of this movie will give Christians the privilege of exploring truth claims with the masses, and watching truth transform people's lives.

Should We Accept the Film As Fact?

Another response to this film would be to accept its information about the Christian faith as if it were accurate and reliable. To do so, however, would require us to overlook two critical facts. First, The DaVinci Code is a novel. Novelists often take great liberties with reality in order to spin their yarn. Mr. Brown has written an intriguing story, but it was published and marketed as a work of fiction. Second, embracing the information in the novel as factually accurate requires a frontal dismissal of the facts contained in the Bible and in historical documentation and scholarship. In addition, one would have to believe that the Roman Catholic church has knowingly conspired to manipulate human history for political advantage and that even the people who were close associates or followers of Jesus Christ were duped by the authorities of their day. Mr. Brown's story, in other words, essentially asks us to rewrite human history and experience in order to support a conspiracy theory that revolves around a two millennia pursuit of a chalice. Now that's bold!

Should We Use It As A Springboard?

Perhaps a more thoughtful and strategic reaction by Christian people would be to use the movie as a springboard for conversation and exploration regarding the roots and foundations of the Christian faith. Igniting such conversations would not be difficult; already, 66% of adults say that in a typical week they dialogue with friends and work associates about the content of movies and TV shows they have recently seen. Americans are abundantly ignorant of the history and reliability of the Bible, the mind of God regarding divinity and worship, the connection between family and faith, the distinction between heresy and biblical teaching, and key events of Church history and their significance for us today. It is within such a vacuum of knowledge and understanding that new concepts such as those proposed in novels like The DaVinci Code gain a foothold in the minds and hearts of readers. And it is that gap in our knowledge that the book invites us to address. But the reach and slant of this movie will raise countless opportunities for open discussion of such matters. Christians who recognize and engage those moments of opportunity can do much to advance the cause of truth.

Movies Have Influence

Our studies show that movies are one of the most powerful influence agents in the world today. The alluring combination of ideas, action, relationships, music and visual stimulation causes us to temporarily inhabit another time and place - and, sometimes, to import the philosophies and behaviors proposed on screen into our daily existence. Some of the language, beliefs and behaviors evident in your life today can be traced back to movies that initially proposed those elements to our culture.

Clearly, a media event like The DaVinci Code will facilitate conversations about what is real and how we know it to be real. Are Christians prepared to rationally discuss the genesis of their faith and the development Church history? Millions of people who do not know what to believe about Jesus Christ, the Bible and the organized church will have questions after watching the movie. Followers of Jesus Christ have a tremendous chance to engage those inquirers in thoughtful dialogue and discovery regarding the actual history, content and reliability of the Bible, the outcomes of the Council of Nicea (which Mr. Brown uses as the fulcrum of his conspiracy tale), the life and divinity of Jesus Christ, and the relationship of the early Church and the political powers of the era.

Once the movie hits theater screens, Christians will be surrounded by people who are curious about spiritual matters that are generally not topics of polite conversation in our society. Believers must earnestly pray for open minds among the curious, and for their own ability to intelligently and compassionately interact on issues that are often contentious and emotionally charged. We must also pray for wise, non-hysterical leadership to emerge from within the community of believers in response to this challenge to Christian orthodoxy.

Copyright Disclaimer: All the information contained on the barna.org website is copyrighted by The Barna Group, Ltd., 1957 Eastman Ave. Ste B, Ventura, California 93003. No portion of this website (articles, graphs, charts, reviews, pictures, video clips, quotes, statistics, etc.) may be reproduced, retransmitted, disseminated, sold, distributed, published, edited, altered, changed, broadcast, circulated, or commercially exploited without the prior written permission from The Barna Group, Ltd.

www.myspace.com/kellylawson22

Currently Listening Audible Sigh By Vigilantes of Love see related

Lexington is bigger than I thought
Current mood: accomplished

Well, I had some adventures driving around town today. I had a ton of errands to run today. I went to the bookstore and bought all of my textbooks for the semester... (a bit of an overwhelming experience).  Then I went to Office Depot to find a new Day Runner/planner.  

After that,  I went to Barnes & Noble.  I had a giftcard to B&N and it just so happened that they carried one of my required texts for class, so I decided to at least buy that one there on the free money I had.  Barnes & Noble of Lexington is NOT close to where I live, but I discovered a whole new part of Lexington while searching for B&N, that I didn't even know existed-- here are some things I was delighted to discover:

Chick-Fil-A
Moe's Burritos (a place we discovered  and loved JUSt before we left Dallas)
Johnny Carino's (a place we frequented in Lubbock, but did not have easy access to in Dallas)
Graeter's Ice Cream (Oh my goodness, it's good.)
White House Black Market (one of my very favorite clothing stores)

In other news, I had my first day of work yesterday and had the best time ever.  Great church, great people, great staff, and I have the most adorable little office ever.

Happy Day.

www.myspace.com/kellylawson22

Currently Listening Psalms see related

I am employed!

Hooray, hooray! I got a job!!  I am now the Director of Children's Ministries at Versailles United Methodist Church in Versailles, KY.  I absolutely have no idea what I am doing, but the Lord will show himself to me and will help me figure it out. :) That, I do not doubt.

Happy Sunday. Peace out.

Farewell, Xanga...

Okay, I'm not REALLY leaving Xanga. But my new addiction is myspace.com. It turns out that I'm having WAY more fun there than at Xanga. So if any of you are interested, my myspace url is: www.myspace.com/kellylawson22

I've updated it, made it mine, and posted fun pictures.  Check it out.  In case you are interested, here is today's blog from my myspace page:

Friday, January 27, 2006

Freegans and Consumerism Current mood: peaceful Okay, so I know it doesn't REALLY count as MY blog if I am just posting articles that I've found but did not write myself.  But again, below is an interesting article that I found on today's Drudge Report.   I am not sure that I have even any editorial comments on the below, but I will say that it IS incredible how much WASTE we all create....  Garbage Gourmet on the Streets of New York I've got yogurts!" Stephen Woloshin shouts in triumph, causing other members of his group to lift their rummaging arms and heads from the rubbish bins outside a Manhattan supermarket. Teachers, social workers and students, Woloshin and his fellow scavengers are far removed from the swollen ranks of New York's homeless, belonging instead to a new faction on the fringes of the environmental movement. As "freegans," they regard over-consumption as a pernicious global trend and seek to demonstrate how people can feed themselves for "free" on the mountains of produce discarded by others. On one particular evening, the group, kitted out with small backpacks and string bags, are on a mission in Greenwich Village, scoping the streets of the chic district before the garbage trucks rumble through. Their first target is a large pile of black bags dumped on the sidewalk outside a supermarket. Squatting down, they give different bags an exploratory squeeze before pulling off the string ties and plunging hand first into what they hope will prove a mystery hamper of edible seconds. The results are mixed, both in origin and appeal -- apples, oranges, garlic, baby carrots with seasoning, and vacuum-packed chestnuts. The freegan rule of thumb for what goes into the shopping bag and what stays in the garbage is simple: "You look at it. You smell it. You feel it. If it seems okay, you take it." Next stop is a bakery -- "who wants some bagels?" -- followed by the upscale wastage of a "Gourmet Garage" outlet, where the attractive aroma of rejected pastries mixes with that of rotton lettuce. For Woloshin, a social worker, this is his second freegan expedition. "It's a good thing to expose the waste," Woloshin says. "I make good money and I can afford to buy food, but it's a shame to see this waste." Janet Kalish, a 47-year-old high school teacher, criticizes stores for overstocking as a cosmetic measure to keep shoppers happy. "It's an attempt to give people a sense of wealth .... people feel good to see shelves that are full," says Kalish, a veteran freegan of more than one-year standing. Kalish has become so adept at scavenging that the only food she still purchases in traditional fashion are the soy-based products she requires for her strictly vegetarian diet. "My meals have become more diversified because I find surprises," she says. "Things I probably wouldn't buy in stores, like endives and avocado. I wash them well and I know where there's clean garbage." Discussing memorable finds, math teacher Jason Samuels recalls with a gourmet's grin the still-frozen, whole turkeys he picked out of a top-end grocer's rubbish. "There's not a single food we can't find in perfect condition in a bag on a sidewalk," Samuels insists. Founded several years ago, the freegan movement embraces aspects of myriad other groups, including ecologists and the anti-globalization lobby. "The solution to world hunger lies on the streets of New York," says Adam Weissman, the organizer behind the local chapter. "So much food is wasted in the United States," says Weissman. "When I go to a restaurant, I bring my meal." According to City Harvest, a non-profit organization and "food rescue" program set up in 1981, millions of pounds of good, edible food are thrown away each year by New York City food businesses. The New York freegans hit the streets as a group two or three times a month, although many scavenge on their own, guided by a freegan website that carries recommendations for where the most palatable garbage bags can be found. Their activities inevitably attract the attention of passers-by, some of whom, like Ronnit Keha, approve of what they see. "This consumerism, this waste ... is disgusting," Keha says. Some of the group members acknowledge to moments of discomfort when their rummaging in garbage bins draws stares. "There's a bit of a stigma. I used to feel my heart pounding and people looking down at me," says Kalish, for whom the rewards outweigh the embarrassment. "I once found some fantastic strawberries," she beams. Currently listening: Classic Sinatra By Frank Sinatra Release date: By 28 March, 2000