Churches showing graphic scenes of violence

[melv]

Here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mel Gibson's new film is apparently quite the rage.

The drive-by sign at Grace Fellowship(a local fundie church) is currently programmed to play certain scenes from Mel Gibson's new film. While I do not have a problem with Mel Gibson making a film which contains violence he feels necessary to present a more accurate portrayal of an event, I DO have a problem with Grace Fellowship showing parts of the violent scenes on their drive-by street signs.

The scenes I have seen so far:
1. a *very* bloody Jesus with the crown of thorns smashed down on his head,
2. nails being driven into Jesus' hands.

I have 2 small children. We drive by that sign at least every other day(at least up until now, we did).

This is a rated R movie. For a reason. While I may go see an R-rated movie with my husband, my children are not old enough to comprehend the greater significance of the violent scenes. They only see someone getting hurt very badly.

Just as Janet did, Grace Fellowship has taken the choice of viewer ship out of the parents hands.

[xultar]

1. I think the movie is gonna cause a backlash, because they are trying

to promote sending children to see this violence as "purposeful" and other violence is gratuitous. Kids I think are gonna have nightmares and won't know where to catalog the violence in their little minds.

Then what is mommy gonna say, what will daddy say, when they ask who were those people and why did they do that to Christ.

I honestly don't see a difference in the violence between what is in Passions and what is in any other blood and guts film.

Is there a such thing as good violence.

What is it that people are now making money and selling nails, $17.50 for the big nail to wear around your neck.

That isn't right.

[tjwash]

2. What's wrong with taking children...

to see a movie with buckets of blood, and a slow lingering death. As long as it doesn't show a female tit what's the problem?

[htuttle]

3. What religion are these people, anyway?

I think they went and invented a new religion here in the US -- sometime in the 1800's, probably. It has the same name as a religion from elsewhere ('Christianity'), but seems to take the EXACT OPPOSITE view of each of what I thought were Christianity's precepts.

Weird. A Jesus cult that's into violence. That's like a cult of Aphrodite that's into abstinence or Buddhists who are into the Atkins diet.

Can someone sue them for false advertising, and make them call it something other than 'Christianity'?

[melv]

4. I called them

Spoke with the Associate Pastor (this is a big fundy church, Bob Yandian is a popular televangelist ). He says they are not taking the sign down, and they encourage parents to take their children. I explained that my 4 year old cannot possibly grasp the story line behind all the violence *hence* the R rating. I explained that all small children will see is people being hurt. Even Mel Gibson himself says to not take chidren.

Guess what he asks me? "Are you a Christian? Do you go to church?"

So he automatically gears up to attack my faith when he can't answer my allegations. Typical.

Then he says the trailer they play is has been approved by the movie industry "for all audiences." I ask "since when did churches agree with the movie industry with what is approvable for all audiences?"

Then he says "Well, what do you do when your children see ads for lingere, cigarette ads (gotem-those are illegal here) and liquor ads?" My response "I know they are out there, I talk to my children ahead of time, I am prepared. Now, are you saying I should equate your church marquee ad with those sorts of ads? How very interesting."

Oh....this ain't over yet!

[melv]

5. kick

shameless *kick*