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Fizban_the_Grey
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Name: Lee
Birthday: 11/18/1985
Gender: Male
Interests: God, NT studies, theology, working out, martial arts
Expertise: not a dadgum thing
Occupation: Student
Industry: Research
Message: message me
Member Since:
3/4/2004
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| I'm up to my old tricks and buying more books than I have time to read. However, currently I'm reading:
"Christianity" by David Chidester (not really thrilled about this book...kinda boring and very left leaning)
"Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views" by James K Beilby and Paul R. Eddy
The second book is more enjoyable, so far.
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| Well, I just got back from seeing the controversial DaVinci Code movie
with Chris. At 2 1/2 hours, its fairly long, and I was hungry to boot,
so that added some interest in wishing the movie ended more quickly. I
guess I'll start out with the good things about the movie.
1. A lot of the junk in the book is taken out of the movie, and Ron
Howard even throws a bone to the more conservative people out there,
with a tacit defense coming from Tom Hanks character.
2. Hans Zimmer did the soundtrack. Parts of it sounded exactly like
"The Last Samurai", which made me want to watch that movie instead.
3. Audrey Tatou is pretty hot. Just being honest.
Other than that, I don't have much positive to say about it. Mostly, it
isn't that great of a movie. It drags at points and just goes on and on
and on, it would seem. Also, you get tired of seeing the formula of
"Travel+revelation+chase" used. It happens again and again. The acting
isn't bad or anything; it just seems needlessly long. And this is
coming from a guy who can sit through Return of the King without
complaining. I can be patient for a story if you do it right.
Unfortunately, I don't think this was done so well. So, the movie
wasn't really enjoyable. Its success hinges on it being a good mystery.
I had figured out who and what the revelations would be before it
happened (I haven't read the book either). That's not a good sign when
I know what will happen before it will happen. Maybe the book was
better--the response varies depending on whom I talk to. Some like it,
others hate it. But the movie was ok--go see it if you really want to,
but don't look for any Oscars on this one.
My other problems with it came from an academic perspective. There are
still numerous errors in it, historically and theologically. One such
glaring error is the Council of Nicea. In the movie it is said that
they discuss the issue of the Canon at Nicea (basically, which books
should be in the Bible and which shouldn't). That was not the issue at
Nicea. Nicea was convened to talk about the Arian controversy. An elder
named Arius begin teaching a theology that said Christ was divine, but
that He was created by God as the firstborn, meaning there was a time
when Christ didn't exist. The church convened its bishops to discuss
this matter. Constantine, who had just recently unified the empire
under his rule, decided to attend and invited himself. He did not make a decision about this controversy.
He merely enforced the decision that the council came to. The council
decided that what Arius taught was heresy and Constantine had all of
the "Arians" banned and thrown out of their churches. Oddly enough,
within 15 years Arianism had returned in full force and it was the
Orthodox members who were thrown out, as Constantine had switched what
he believed. Constantine was basically a politician. He didn't really
care all that much about Christianity. He just wanted it to be united,
because he saw it as a vehicle that he could use to help solidify the
unity of his own empire. And, Constantine became a "christian" only on
his deathbed, with an Arian bishop overseeing the conversion.
Next up, there are a few claptrappings about differing gospels, like
the Gospel of Thomas, or Phillip, or Mary Magdalene. Supposedly these
were suppressed by the church. Nevermind the fact that the church was
in no position to suppress anything, as they were a persecuted minority
within the vast Roman Empire. Also, scholars know of all these Gospels
and none of them were even written remotely near the time of Christ.
Even liberal scholars still date the Canonical gospels within the first
century. Thomas wasn't written until 140 at the very earliest. The rest
come even later.
Then you have some "pagan" sybolism thrown in there, talk about phallic
symbols and the divine feminine. It gets really boring after awhile.
All in all, if you're going to watch a movie about the Holy Grail, I
suggest you either watch Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, or
the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Both are much more satisfying
movies.
Now if you'll excuse me, my pizza is done.
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| Ok, I'm premillenial. Happy?
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| Onimusha 4 is a really cool video game.
I can't play soccer to save my life, nor is basketball my thing,
either. Found that out (again) tonight at church. I'm almost an
"official" intern. Kinda scary. But I'm very excited about it.
And here's hoping for China, 07.
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| My sleep cycle is jacked beyond all compare. On the plus side, though, I'm going to be ready for my chinese final today.
Ready to be at home. Waco is nice, but...ready for my own bed.
Time for breakfast (and more studying)!
Peace
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