Douglas Howe: November 2006 Archives

If you care about spirituality, go see "The Nativity Story." Much of the film is more understated and muted than the typical church Christmas celebration and may challenge some of the holier-than-thou notions we have of some of the Biblical characters. It film also lacks Santa Clause, reindeer and any remnant of snow. But it’s the most accurate cultural telling of the story we’ve had since "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and stays true to the Biblical record for the most part.

I also liked it because it’s a rare, meaningful film that will be highly valuable for families and teens. As Mary is told of her betrothal to Joseph, she is confronted by the fact that she doesn’t have a hand in choosing. "You are to consider him your husband in all ways," her father says, but she must wait on the issue of "that which leads to family." Mary storms off, in a way that seems natural for a teenager but unnatural for the icon we know as Mary, The Mother of Jesus.

She’s not only a frustrated teen but also an anxious one when she miraculously becomes pregnant. "Are you frightened?" asks her cousin Elizabeth. "Yes," she says with candor and clarity. "Elizabeth, why is it me God has asked? I am nothing," Mary says.

Pastors and priests have sermonized and homilied for years, trying to emphasize how embarrassing it must have been for Mary and Joseph when she was found to be pregnant. But I think the visual image of the bashful Mary and the humiliation and disappointment of Joseph will get through even to the current ( and somewhat permissive) American audience.

She gains courage, of course, from both the angel and the promise of a sign from Elizabeth. Her parents are unimpressed. "Elizabeth has a baby," Mary offers, "even in her old age."

"Elizabeth has a husband," replies her dad. Mary's mother says, "They could stone you in the streets."

"Father," Mary says as respectfully as she can, "I have broken no vow … I have told the truth. Whether you believe is your choice, not mine."

Such it is for all of us, regarding the Christ child. And such it is that "The Nativity Story" is a must for all who desire to learn about the role of Christ in their own spiritual journey.

First, there is the news that religious groups are feeling pressure about not pulling their support for "The Nativity Story" based on lead actress Keisha Castle-Hughes being pregnant out of wedlock. Then comes the news that Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose-Driven Life" and pastor of Saddleback Community Church, is receiving complaints from evangelicals for inviting Sen. Barack Obama to speak at his church.

There used to be a time when the spiritual journey and politics weren’t inexorably linked. And there was a time when acting was just acting, and actors had their own personal lives separate from their work.

I miss the clarity.

If a young woman gets the high honor of playing the part of Mary--and if the movie tells the wonderful story of "The Birth"--I don’t see why a church or religious groups should need to boycott the story of Jesus because of activities in the personal life of Castle-Hughes. Christian groups didn’t support the movie or pick the cast, but they sure should be allowed to support the story!

As for Rick Warren’s issue, I think evangelicals and others in the Christian Church should be careful: When they start criticizing the author of the best-selling religious book (aside from the Bible) in all of history for inviting a probable presidential candidate to discuss solutions to AIDS, they run the risk of becoming the very pharisees that missed the story of Jesus the first time around.

"Our goal has been to put people together who normally won't even speak to each other," said Saddleback in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "We do not expect all participants in the summit discussion to agree with all of our evangelical beliefs ... the HIV/AIDS pandemic cannot be fought by evangelicals alone [and] will take the cooperation of all--government, business, NGOs and the church."

I’m going to order tapes of Obama, and I’m going to take my kids to see "The Nativity Story," and hope that doesn’t get me in trouble with my church friends!

The current James Bond movie is clearly different from most of the other 23 Bond (21 official) movies. The actor is different. The tone is different. The villain(s) is (are) different. There's no "Q," and though "M" is the same actor (Judi Dench), even she has a new edge to her.

That said, it's an important film for true Bond fans because it probably lands closer to the original Bond of the Ian Fleming novels than any of the prior movies, except perhaps for "Dr. No" and "From Russia With Love." I won't give away the details in this blog, but you need to see it. This guy is certainly nothing like Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan--and is probably more like Connery than any of the others, except for the hair. He's young. He's raw. He's human. He confounds those close to him. And he's a hero.

For the spiritually driven Bond fan, I think "Casino Royale" offers a potential bonus impact. This franchise couldn't have endured this long (45 years, going on a third generation of fans and its sixth lead actor) if all of us didn't have some kind of attraction to the idea of a Savior or Hero who transcends the normal bounds of human limitation to achieve the nigh-impossible for the benefit of others and his country. We're coming up on the Christmas season, and many of us will celebrate--or at least tolerate--an Americanized, Christmas-ized version of Jesus and the Christmas story that may or may not be true to The Original. Jesus Christ was not the watered-down, numbed, and muted version of himself that our culture--and even some of our churches--embrace.

Any time we get to re-discover anew the truth of who Jesus was--and is--then it's a good day. I know it wasn't the producers' intent, but if "Casino Royale" rocks some Bond-fans' notions of the true identity and character of this film's Savior, and if that can bleed over into a re-examination of Jesus as He impacts our own faith journey, then this may truly be a meaningful and Merry Christmas, and more than just a Happy Holiday.

I read Kris Rasmussen's blog piece as well as the rest of Elton John’s religion-bashing interview, which has been all over the media the past couple of days, and I was stunned at what he doesn't realize about, well, himself.

I’ve loved much of his music, especially the old stuff he resurrected for the Australia live concerts. But on this topic, E.J. doesn’t realize how his hatred of religion is not only as deep as the hatred of some religious people towards gays, but that his hatred is actually even the same kind of hatred. It is judgmental; it's biased based on his own beliefs; and it's largely uninformed.

"I think religion has always tried to turn hatred toward gay people," he says. "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays."

Now hear the same phrase as if posed from the other side:

"I think gays have always tried to turn hatred towards religious people; the gay agenda promotes hatred and spite towards the religious."

Sounds like the same hatred to me.

Perhaps we need Bernie Taupin to save him and write a smoother way for E.J.’s compassion to shine forth… and perhaps he could also pen something for the churches who say they hate the sin but love the sinner. It’s a nuanced thought that goes beyond cliché for most, but the sentiment doesn't seem to make it past the church walls.

Until we all--even Sir Elton--can disagree without demonizing the other "side" of any spiritually-driven debate, we'll never have meaningful dialogue, or the potential agreement and healing that comes after.

What’s the deal with the networks not wanting to show prayers on sports television? What is so bad about athletes trusting in--or at least pursuing--God?

After each game, when the fans are filing out of the stadium and the networks are switching to other games, players and coaches from both teams gather near midfield to pray together. Many of these players participate quietly in pre-game chapel services and the teams also have chaplains sponsored by local churches or Athletes in Action, a highly regarded national sports ministry.

The player-initiated tradition after the game is a wonderful sign of unity and faith, and it’s a reminder every Sunday that there are human beings and spiritual seekers underneath all those helmets and pads.

It’s really quite a sight, and if you don’t go to football games live at the stadium you’ll never even know what you’re missing. Why? Because the networks don’t show it. In fact, they go to great pains not to show it. Often, the cameramen will stand almost back-to-back against the circle of prayer in order to hide the group from the background of an on-field interview. Last night, the cameraman angled and zoomed in on Thomas Jones’ (Bears’ running back) head so that the prayer circle several yards behind him was hidden.

For years we’ve seen players acknowledging God after they score a touchdown or make a great play. According to the Christian Science Monitor, former Philadelphia Eagle Herb Lusk is believed to have been the first to kneel on the field after a touchdown. He did it in 1977. There are skeptics though, too. I’ve talked to several ex-NFL players who think a lot of the post-TD prayers are as much superstition as anything else. “Doug, you gotta understand,” one of them told me, “players will try anything if they think it’ll give them an edge in the game.”

But the post-game prayer is more than just a superstitious gesture after a touchdown--it’s an authentic attempt by players to reflect spiritually after having worked physically, mentally and emotionally all week long.

I guess the only real positive about the lack of coverage is that we know that the players aren’t doing it for show. But it’s a great tradition and a good piece of role modeling for kids and young athletes who watch the game, and I wish they’d show it more on TV.

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