# A Movie That Might Change Your Life . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 2, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822 "2001-02-02T04:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/201 "2001-02-13T21:20:33Z")
David B wrote, re the front page of the Feb. 2 _State Journal-Register_ (Springfield, IL): > [@](#): > > There is a large color photo of kids laughing at a mime/magician at Blessed Sacrament school as part of Catholic Schools Week. According to LaHaye and his ilk, Catholics are probably evil, and according to me, mimes are _definitely_ evil. **AND** , don’t forget that if he’s a “magician” as well as a mime, he’s obvious practicing Wtichcraft, which makes him a tool of SATAN! Or at least that’s what [Jack Chick says](http://www.planetadnd.com/humor/DD-MST3K/?file=dd-mst3k.php). ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/202 "2001-02-15T00:40:08Z")
Thanks, PLD. Now I just wish I had some archive where I store stuff like this for future use. I’ll find a place somewhere though. This is just plain disgusting – and about what I expected from W… ---
**Author:** ![FriendofGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@FriendofGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendofGod)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/203 "2001-02-15T03:07:39Z")
Hi folks, I have a few minutes to catch up on a few more posts. I’d like to give a disclaimer for one thing: whoever responded to my last post on page 4 must have used some, ah, colorful language because my Internet provider blocked page 4 from right after my last response to the end of the page! So anything in that part of the thread I can’t read. If any of it was directed to me, feel free to repost in page 5. Okay, where’d I leave off? **jab1** , you hinted that I believed the devil was behind a spiritual conspiracy in the earth. Whether “conspiracy” is the right word or not, his goal is to destroy people’s lives: making life on earth a living hell and then continuing into literal hell for eternity. He makes Hitler look like a good guy. To turn around a popular Christian phrase, ‘Satan **hates you** and has a horrid plan for your life!’ **Cervaise** said: > [@](#): > > Well, okay, this is just plain ridiculous. Sorry, but it is. Are you honestly asserting that extramarital sex never took place before movies and TV started showing it happening? I can’t believe you would suggest something so silly. We may disagree about certain issues, but you seem far more intelligent and erudite to make such an asinine suggestion. > > So, instead, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you mean something different, to wit: Extramarital sex did, in fact, happen, but it is immoral (or amoral) to actually show it. Never mind Shakespeare; never mind the part of the Bible where Lot’s daughters, through ignorance, take it upon themselves to repopulate the planet by sleeping with their father. Yes you misunderstood. And I don’t think it’s wrong for a TV show or movie to make it clear that immoral things are going on (although to **show** it going on in graphic detail is, in and of itself, immoral). The main problem I have with TV/movies of the past 30 years is that MOST of them make immoral sex out to be **normal** and healthy behavior with little or no consequences. **ITR Champion** said: > [@](#): > > The post by FriendofGod on the topic of sexual attitudes on TV displays once again how many Christians are unable to view themselves as members of just one religion among many. Yes some shows display actions that are against Christian morality, but they are also against Jewish morality and Islamic morality and against the morality of many other religions. Why should these shows be described as being opposed exclusively to Christianity? I am not denying or confirming what you said. I am a Christian, therefore it should make sense that I come from a Christian perspective on things. > [@](#): > > Although there are certainly many shows which do show adultery and other misdeeds, many of them are highly critical of such actions, and there are also still numerous shows where characters do uphold high moral standards. _Some_ are highly critical of those actions, but not most. And sure there are always clean shows on TV. Someone else in this thread mentioned Touched By an Angel and 7th Heaven as current examples. If this were 20 years ago we’d be saying The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. But it’s always like two or three clean spots on an otherwise dirty shirt. **RickJay** said: > [@](#): > > Oh, please. IF we’re going by cinema (to stick to the OP) the most put-upon religious group, by a very wide margin, are Muslims. Sit down one evening and try to watch Executive Decision AND Rules of Engagement; either of those movies are more insulting and racist towards Arabs and Muslims than all the films released this year will be towards Christians. Never seen either (although I’ve wanted to see both of those and never got around to it!). I’m not at all saying no other religious group is ever bashed. I think I’ve said elsewhere in this thread that I think the media as a whole has a problem with religious belief (again, with Catholics being the exception). **DavidB** , here’s a response to the rest of your thoughts: > [@](#): > > Oh, please. Just because standards have changed does not make it “an outright attack” on your religion. It’s not _just_ standards changing. There is very specific and outright hostility toward Christianity and what Christians believe. Christians are portrayed on TV & movies as buffoons, or swindlers, or immoral, or take your pick. On _top_ of that, Christian _principles_ are attacked and lampooned as well. > [@](#): > > If your “dozens” of other examples are as poor as this one, you’re in trouble. (The example in question was the one about morality in media) Actually it was a great example. It’s one of the more obvious ones. I don’t think even an athiest would deny that sexual standards have been on the decline for 30 years (admittedly with some changes starting to take place among teens, thankfully). > [@](#): > > Read: You have no evidence whatsoever to back up your claim. Thanks for playing. As I said to someone else in this thread, I never claimed there was a conspirasy, and I never claimed there was a big leader in charge of it. I never claimed to know of any specific names of people. I don’t even claim to have evidence that would convince you. I’m just stating what I believe based on what I’ve seen, that’s all. > [@](#): > > Yes, there are countless stories. That’s exactly what they are: stories. Now, if you could provide countless pieces of evidence, that would be much better. But I guess you can’t do that. _Sigh_ … no, unfortunately David I have a job. If I worked for the ACLJ it might be a different story. THEN I could give you hard cold facts. > [@](#): > > I suspect you just don’t pay attention to anything that doesn’t get you mad. LOL … you might be right, I just read today about Microsoft’s new version of Windows (XP) coming out this fall and pulled my hair out…_why_ can’t they let us get comfortable with the current version before putting out a new one?!!? Ahhh! Having said that, the last paragraph is not to be taken seriously ;). I read a wide variety of stories. I actually like reading the mainstream press actually! I don’t “look” for anything but objective news reporting, and it irks me to no end when I see the truth get skewered. > [@](#): > > I think the main problem here is that you see “an agenda” pretty much everywhere. So of course you will see one in the newspaper. And on TV. And in the workplace. And in the entire world. The rest of us aren’t looking for Satan behind every bush and therefore can be a bit more objective. LOL! Cute. No, I’m not a conspiracy buff (except for JFK but don’t get me started…). No Satan is obviously not behind everything, nor is God. Some things just _are_. But I stand by my original comment: you’d have to be completely blind to not see the rotting standards of truth and morality in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/204 "2001-02-15T03:22:10Z")
Don’t know if this got censored or not, but you were talking about no Christian-positive shows, and the few that were were Catholic-positive, and I responded by mentioning: > [@](#): > > WB’s _Seventh Heaven. Touched By An Angel. Highway To Heaven._ All extraordinarily high-rated shows. None of them were Catholic ( **David B** also mentioned _TBAA_.) Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/205 "2001-02-15T03:54:06Z")
I will only address three items from FoG’s latest posting. First: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriendofGod \* > I’m not at all saying no other religious group is ever bashed. But, from what I’ve seen in my personal life, it’s you Fundamentalist Christians doing most of the bashing! > [@](#): > > As I said to someone else in this thread, I never claimed there was a conspirasy, and I never claimed there was a big leader in charge of it. Originally posted by FoG at 02-12-2001 06:51 PM: > [@](#): > > Because it _is_ an attack. There has been nothing pleasant or polite about the media’s attempt to portray anyone who believes in morality as prudish, old fashioned, and out of touch. Certainly looks like you claimed that the media is making an attack. Granted, you did not name a particular person, but you certainly named a group of people. Oh, and you claimed Satan was behind it. > [@](#): > > Some things just _are_. But I stand by my original comment: you’d have to be completely blind to not see the rotting standards of truth and morality in this country. From where I sit, the rotting standard is from you, FoG. Doesn’t the Bible forbid bearing false witness. Here’s a good plan for you, if you really want someone to buy your arguments: 1. Quit telling lies about other faiths, 2. Quit telling lies about other people, 3. Quit telling lies about yourself, & 4) Quit telling lies about your deity. Bundle those four together and you just might find that people respect your view just a tad. Otherwise, you’re just a liar. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/206 "2001-02-15T03:56:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by FriendofGod \* > [Bwhoever responded to my last post on page 4 must have used some, ah, colorful language because my Internet provider blocked page 4 from right after my last response to the end of the page!_\* _Sound of Fly’s jaw hitting the floor_ Your ISP blocks pages containing “colorful language?” Talk about sticking your head in the sand and screaming “I can’t hear you!” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/207 "2001-02-15T04:09:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by FriendofGod \* > > [Bwhoever responded to my last post on page 4 must have used some, ah, colorful language because my Internet provider blocked page 4 from right after my last response to the end of the page!_\* > > _Sound of Fly’s jaw hitting the floor_ > > Your ISP blocks pages containing “colorful language?” > > Talk about sticking your head in the sand and screaming “I can’t hear you!” \*\* I went back and looked…it was a typo that did it. ITR Champion meant to type “count” and instead typed “oc\*nt”. I agree, though…the principle is ostrich-like. ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/208 "2001-02-15T04:16:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriendofGod \* > \*\*Hi folks, > > I have a few minutes to catch up on a few more posts. I’d like to give a disclaimer for one thing: whoever responded to my last post on page 4 must have used some, ah, colorful language because my Internet provider blocked page 4 from right after my last response to the end of the page! So anything in that part of the thread I can’t read. If any of it was directed to me, feel free to repost in page 5. > \*\* FoG, do yourself a big favor and get an ISP that treats you like an adult. -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/209 "2001-02-15T04:18:19Z")
Here is my repost: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ben \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by FriendofGod \* > > **Are you serious? It depends on the corporate culture, but I’d say in _most_ cases, the Christian would be the one for sure! I mean there are exceptions, but do you really think in this day and age that an atheist or a Wiccan would be attacked for their beliefs _more_ than a Christian??** > > FoG, have you not heard a single word that we have said during this entire conversation? > > Christians are stoning Wiccans for their beliefs in “this day and age.” > > Not too long ago, the President of the United States suggested that atheists should not be considered true citizens “in this day and age.” And his son, who is now our President, has publically stated that the First Amendment rights of freedom of religion _do not apply to Wiccans._ > > When our Christian Presidents are saying that atheists and Wiccans shouldn’t have the full rights that are accorded to Christians, how on earth can you be so blindly hypocritical as to react with _incredulity_ when someone suggests that atheists and Wiccans are more likely to be attacked for their beliefs than Christians? > > FoG, you have once again managed to disgust me to the very core. While fundamentalist Christians like Bush Jr., Bush Sr., and Bob Barr try to take away the fundamental rights of non-Christian Americans, you are so enmeshed in your masturbatory fantasies of persecution that if someone presents you with a reality that is at variance with your porn, you incredulously ask whether they are joking. It’s no joke for us, FoG. You might live in your little fantasy world, but Wiccans and atheists have to live in reality, and it makes me utterly sick to my stomach to know that the real prejudice we suffer forms the vicarious substance of your base fantasies. > > -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/210 "2001-02-15T04:24:27Z")
Friend of God: Just spoke to God on ICQ. She didn’t remember you at first and then said she thought of you as an acquaintance. She’d like you to cease and desist calling her a friend as she thinks that is too familiar for someone she doesn’t know well. Regards, Hastur ---
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/211 "2001-02-15T05:23:05Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by jayjay \* > I went back and looked…it was a typo that did it. ITR Champion meant to type “count” and instead typed "oc_nt". I agree, though…the principle is ostrich-like. And just what do you have against Irish female genitalia, mister? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/212 "2001-02-15T05:27:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by super\_head \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by jayjay \* > > I went back and looked…it was a typo that did it. ITR Champion meant to type “count” and instead typed "oc_nt". I agree, though…the principle is ostrich-like. > > And just what do you have against Irish female genitalia, mister? 😃 > \*\* LOL! However, just to correct a false impression that my imprecise wording may have created, I meant that I agree with Flymaster that FoG’s ISP is just a bit childish, not that I agree that the word in question should have engendered a blackout of the page. The thought that someone might think I agree with that attitude makes me feel the need to take a shower… ---
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/213 "2001-02-15T05:33:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ben \* > FoG, do yourself a big favor and get an ISP that treats you like an adult. Yes, FoG, how do you keep aBREAST of the TITtilating conversation and verbal INTERCOURSE which we have here in the SDMB? Not just every Tom, DICK, and Harry has an ISP like yours. To think that such BONDAGE of the posts here is possible blows my mind much like an ORGASM. Did I mention my PUSSY cat likes to read SDMB? So does my pooch, he likes to read it DOGGY STYLE though. Wow, it’s harder to sneak bad words into a post than I thought. I’ll quit while I’m ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/214 "2001-02-15T05:47:55Z")
Since FoG will never see this page either, I might as well say… _CUM SPIRITUS SANCTUS!_ FoG, doesn’t it bother you that your ISP would probably screen out _Gulliver’s Travels_ and the KJV? (This is assuming FoG can actually see a page with Latin words like “cum” on it.) -Ben ---
**Author:** ![FriendofGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@FriendofGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendofGod)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/215 "2001-02-15T06:11:17Z")
> [@](#): > > FoG, do yourself a big favor and get an ISP that treats you like an adult. Somehow I knew this incident would cause some interest :). I chose this ISP on purpose for one reason: it automatically blocks pornographic web sites. I have this funny feeling some of you will find this humerous, but I do it for one reason: to follow the Bible’s challenge to “flee temptation”. In addition to blocking porn sites, it also has some kind of filter to check words on a page as it’s loading. If there are any obviously offensive words on the page, the page is blocked even if it’s not in their database. Now, in this _context_, I wish they hadn’t blocked the page, but I put up with irritating situations like this because to me it’s worth it. I emailed them about it, and they did say they are going to switch in the near future to three levels of blocking, which would allow for situations like this one. Anyway, hope this helps clarify what happened 🙂 By the way, I do not plan to respond to any of these most recent posts that were blatantly cruel and rude. I like to have thoughtful, but polite debates with people but I will ignore those who choose to be mean. Having said that, I _will_ respond to the _other_ posts sometime in the next day or so. Night all 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/216 "2001-02-15T06:30:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriendofGod \* > \*\*I like to have thoughtful, but polite debates with people but I will ignore those who choose to be mean. \*\* You seem to be overlooking the fact that the reason some of us are being “mean” is because you’ve been ignoring us all along! The fact is, FoG, that while you’ve been engaging in vague hand-waving about nebulous anti-Christian sentiment, the rest of us have provided solid examples of Christians being bigoted- sometimes murderously so- towards non-Christians. To wit: 1. A Christian community tried to hound an atheist professor out of his job. 2. One President declared that atheists should not be considered patriots or citizens. 3. One President and one Congressman declared that the First Amendment does not give Wiccans the right to practice their religion. The Congressman actively worked to prevent some Wiccans (in the military) from freely exercising their religious rights. 4. One homosexual was beaten, stripped, tied to a post, and left to freeze to death. (While the murderers may or may not have been Christians, the anti-gay rhetoric of Christian bigots isn’t helping.) 5. One parade for religious tolerance was stoned by Christian protesters, because some ministers whipped them into a violent frenzy by telling them that it was their duty to “suffer not a witch to live.” 6. One girl was suspended on the suspicion that she had cast a hex on a teacher. And so on. FoG, I want six solid examples from you of anti-Christian bigotry in America which are at least as bad as the six I have listed here. -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/217 "2001-02-15T06:39:48Z")
Reposting something that was probably missed, from the previous page, due to your kindergarten-teacher ISP. > [@](#): > > **FriendofGod:** Oh I believe there’s a specific leader in the spiritual realm. I’m sure you can guess who it is :). But no, I definately don’t believe there’s one human leader somewhere in a dark basement running the “Beast” computer. > > **And I responded:** Well, there we go then. Your enemy is Satan. You can’t point to a specific human conspirator, because the Prince of Darkness is subtly influencing and maneuvering and manipulating events and choices. (Shades of Crowley’s re-architecture of British highways in _Good Omens_, no?) > > Unfortunately, that’s known as an _a priori_ position. You begin with an assumption that Satan is actively engaged in a battle against God and Christians, and that his handiwork is visible in the world. You start with that position, and you must therefore perceive the world in that manner. Ergo, sex on television, atheist newspapers, and all the rest. > > This is called a “reality tunnel” by fringe writer/philosopher Robert Anton Wilson, who’s kind of a crackpot but occasionally comes out with something really interesting and perceptive. Your reality tunnel tells you that Christians are, by definition, being opposed and persecuted by dark enemy forces, and as a result you look at the world and you see these dark enemy forces. > > Unfortunately, this is a faith-based (to coin a phrase) viewpoint. Observers who do not have the _a priori_ belief in Satan and his influence will look at the world in a different way. Yes, they will have their own reality tunnels, whether they be economic or sociological or whatever. Personally, I think the prevalence of sex and violence on television has more to do with how our minds are composed of a fast, sharp, overdeveloped intellectual center sitting on top of (and awkwardly joined with) an ancient, primal chimpanzee brain. In other words, our intelligence and creativity are mostly occupied with figuring out more and more efficient ways to compete, reproduce, and consume, and our hyperalert sensory center is therefore drawn to representations of same. That’s my reality tunnel. > > Given that your entire worldview depends on a different _a priori_ position, one in which you, as a Christian, are in fact being persecuted by dark forces, you’ll just have to forgive those of us who elect not to buy into it. In the same way, we have to accept that you’ll never be able to prove your beliefs in any kind of rational, concrete way. (“And God said, ‘Without faith, I am nothing,’” as the issue was summarized by some philosopher whose name I no longer recall.) You can advocate them as long and as loud as you want, but those who don’t share your starting point will never be converted to your point of view. > > I suspect I will view the film _Left Behind_ through a similar lens. I’m planning on seeing it tomorrow night… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/218 "2001-02-15T07:07:32Z")
Back to the OP-It looks as if the movie is a large flop. In the first week in my area, it was playing in four theatres(all in the same theatre chain). In the second week, it was in two theatres. This week, all the theatres have dropped it. I do hope that Friend of God doesn’t think that the supposed second movie, if it ever gets made, has the slightest chance of _ever_ seeing the inside of a theatre. The theatre manager I spoke to here in Portland is rather upset about the inflated numbers given him by the group that sponsored the film in this area. He was told that they would advertise on television and radio-they didn’t. He was told that the video was only going to distributed in Christian book stores and wouldn’t be for rent-both of these were lies. He was NOT told that most of the people who were going to the theatre were people who already had the video, and thus had a discount coupon that was included in the video, deeply cutting into his profits. There isn’t a theatre chain in the world gullible enough to touch another movie made by Cloud Ten Pictures, especially another one in this series, with a ten-foot pole. IMHO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/219 "2001-02-15T09:29:15Z")
It is my opinion that FOG and others of his kind would stone wiccans to death if given the opportunity, after all that’s what the bible commands. I think the only thing that holds these people back is the secular government and our tradition of religious freedom that sadly is being eroded by FOG types. If you listen to “Christian” radio the American tradition of freedom of religion to them only applies to Christian religions and they would forbid nonchristian faiths if they could. The Ft. Hood Wiccan incident proves this beyond all shadow of a doubt, you had prominent conservative leaders including our new president declare that free exercise of religion does not apply to some citizens! BTW has anyone read the book “Live From the Gates of Hell” by Jerry Reiter which supposedly links the radical Christian identity movement with the mainstream Republican party, I have not been able to find it locally. I would value an opinion of the books claims. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822/220 "2001-02-15T12:44:24Z")
FoG said: > [@](#): > > It’s not _just_ standards changing. There is very specific and outright hostility toward Christianity and what Christians believe. Christians are portrayed on TV & movies as buffoons, or swindlers, or immoral, or take your pick. On _top_ of that, Christian _principles_ are attacked and lampooned as well. Yet you haven’t been able to give us examples of this sort of behavior. The best you’ve been able to come up with is that the standards of what can be shown on TV regarding sex have changed, which you seem to see as some great attack on Christianity. :rolleyes: Where have we seens this mass of Christians portrayed on TV & movies as buffoons, swindlers, and immoral (as opposed to, say, everybody else)? Etc. > [@](#): > > Actually it was a great example. It’s one of the more obvious ones. I don’t think even an athiest would deny that sexual standards have been on the decline for 30 years You may “think” it was a great example, but that doesn’t make it so. Sexual standards have _changed_ on TV, but that doesn’t make it a “decline.” And even if it is considered a decline, that doesn’t make it an attack on Christianity. Everything doesn’t revolve around you. > [@](#): > > _Sigh_ … no, unfortunately David I have a job. If I worked for the ACLJ it might be a different story. THEN I could give you hard cold facts. Nice excuse. Won’t cut it here, though. Everybody here has day jobs, yet most of us manage to bring forth evidence for our claims. Funny thing is that the ones who most often don’t are the ones like you (fundamentalist/creationist/whateverist). Now, we can either conclude from this that you guys are just the busiest people in the world, or we can conclude that you _can’t_ come up with evidence because _it doesn’t exist_. Hmmm… > [@](#): > > No, I’m not a conspiracy buff You may not “think” so, but you’ve demonstrated quite the opposite. You see Satan behind every bush (except maybe the burning one). You “think” simple changes in society are direct attacks on _your_ religion. Get over it – you’re not the center of the universe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-movie-that-might-change-your-life/52822.md?page=12)