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with comments by David Bruce

PROPHECY MOVIES
Subject: Prophecy
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001
From: "David"

I just found your site, sorry, but I am a big fan of C. Walken and the Prophecy movies. I have one question and you probably get tired of getting it, but what are the books that show the angels and their names in angelic script? I am just starting to do some biblical research and have hit alot of dead ends on that sort of thing. Seems alot of people don't believe the creator could create angels unless they are little girls dressed in cute dresses. I thought the line in the first movie was amazing."Do you really want to meet and Angel, and the comment about one wing dipped in blood"
Thanks for your time.

PLEASE THINK A LITTLE DEEPER
Subject: Megadeth_The_World_Needs_A_Hero
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001
From: "James Pond"

I think it would be interesting to note that Dave Mustaine, the lead singer and guitarist, is a Christian or is trying to find out what that means. He grew up in a Christian home, but failed to see the significance of Christianity. He struggles with it in his song "Looking up the Cross". He has been attending church in Arizona with his family and is pursuing God in his own way. It's funny to me that so many people have it so wrapped up tight with all of the answers. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil and yet, they shun their brother and cast the first stone.

Holy in your opinion or not, it is not what Jesus exampled. If you have it all together, you really don't. I am a father of three and I struggle daily with what is worth pursuing and what is chaff. I am also an actor and I have a deep respect for the power of media. Let's not jump into the judgment seat and deal in invective. Let's focus more on loving others and dredging this culture for the better together.
Peace. James Pond

DISENGAGEMENT??
Subject: Newsletter_27-Disengagement
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001
From: george woodward

It is right for Christians to avoid what is wrong. Example..pornography, filthy language, criminal activities, etc etc. We should never separate ourselves from people altogether. There is no question that seeing and hearing profanity, violence, immoral sex, etc. has a negative effect on people, of all ages. So it is very wise to avoid books, movies, tv, and people that are filled with these things. We should never disconnect from people or society. Jesus said to preach the good news to every person. He said His followers are the light of the world. In the world, but not of the world. We shoud live free in Jesus, love people genuinely, and share Jesus with them, never condemning or pressuring anyone. What we 'take in' has great impact on our lives. So, to avoid much of the trash that Hollywood puts out is VERY WISE INDEED. Wanna see something good?
Go see Megiddo.
Love ya'll, george woodward

THERE IS NO PROBLEM..
Subject: Newsletter_27-Kinkade
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001
From:

Talk about making something out of nothing. The artist paints beautiful pictures. Period. Your 'definition' of his work is totally void of reality. It is a painting...a pretty painting. It hangs on a wall. It does not tell the story of Christianity. Jesus did that very well, as do those who truly believe in Him. Jesus is God. He came to the Earth. Was born of a virgin. Was crucified at the age of 33. He shed His precious blood for all of mankind. And on the 3rd day, He rose from the dead. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. The Holy Spirit, Who is the third Person of the Trinity, is in the Earth, drawing all people to Jesus through the preaching of the good news!! Jesus still saves, heals, delivers, and sets totally free, all those who put their faith in Him. His blood alone cleanses from sin! And He loves all people. But it is not multiple choice. We must come to God through Jesus. Jesus is THE ONLY way to Heaven, to salvation. Jesus is Life. A PRETTY PICTURE IS JUST THAT. IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO TELL THE GREAT NEWS OF JESUS!!!
Sincerely, george woodward

Response: So what does your creedal statement have to do with your point? -David

SLEEP SAFE AND WARM
Subject: Rosemary's Baby
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001
From: "bluejay"

The song that Rosemary sings at the beginning and end of the film is "Sleep Safe and Warm." A rendition of it with full lyrics was recorded by Claudine Longet. It's available on her Best Of album.

The baby's father was played by Dr. Anton Szandor LeVay. He just used the name "Clay Tanner" for the film.

I know of no actual groups that act the way the one in "Rosemary's Baby" did, but I have had a couple of run-ins with individuals who behave very much the way the Castevets did; they're sooo friendly and helpful, you don't realize they're taking control of all aspects of your life. These are not satanists! -- two of them were devout Christian ladies who would do anything they could to get you into their church. The other one was of no particular faith, but simply needed total control in personal friendships as in business affairs. They used guilt and manipulation, psychological head games -- nothing occult involved.

The books that were used in the film were interesting. I've tried to track down the book they used for "All of Them Witches" but to no avail. In the film, Rosemary goes to Samuel Weiser's and buys another copy after Guy throws hers away; she also buys a copy of "The Book of Ceremonial Magic," by Arthur Edward Waite (who also conceived the familiar Rider-Waite Tarot Deck). It contains a history of the origins of white (ceremonial) magic, from the medieval days when priests performed such rites in addition to the regular sacraments. The page she reads in the taxi is on the literary detective work that's been done by various scholars to ascertain who wrote the original books of instructions for white magic. They are usually attributed to Popes such as Honorius, but as the book explains, it's not likely! The phrase about "Many people died under mysterious circumstances during this time..." was inserted for the film. It is not part of the original text.

In "All of Them Witches", we see the names Thomas Colley and Prudence Duvernoy. These people are both real. Colley was executed in 1751 not for being a witch, but for leading a mob that murdered an elderly couple believed to be witches.

Duvernoy, a milliner, may have been a confidante of Marie duPlessis, the real "Lady of the Camellias" in Dumas' story. Dumas does not refer to witchcraft practiced by Duvernoy, only that she was vulgar and bossy, spoke in a loud brassy voice and acted as a kind of manager for duPlessis. Sounds like Minnie.

R-RATED MOVIES
Subject: Newsletter_26
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001
From: Jacob

This is not about watching R-rated films: this is about making R-rated films.

I am a Christian (subspecies: Protestant, Evangelical). I am a screenwriter. I have written G- as well as R-rated screenplays. As I work at producing my R-rated scripts, I talk to various professional actors and actresses, who are Christians, about acting in these films. I get this general response.

After they finish the script, they are usually silent for some minutes. They may sigh deeply and sometimes wipe away a tear. Then they say, "I love this script. It is so deep and moving. You're going to have trouble distributing it because it is so obviously Christian (smiles come here).

"Do you have to have the nudity in it? Just think. If you are going to shoot this scene as written, a woman is going to have to come out on to the set naked, for everyone on the set to see, the grips, the gaffers, the go-fers, everyone. It is terribly embarrassing for a woman to do this. Would you want your daughter to play this scene as written? (My daughter is a beautiful, 20-year old, working ballet dancer. In my head, I answer "yes", but I want to hear them out, so I say "Go on.")

"Can't you just _suggest_ the nudity? The audience is smart. You just suggest and they will get it. Just don't degrade the actress by making her get naked.

It's a wonderful script, but I cannot do this part as written."

So, _watching_ R-rated films is not the only problem for a Christian. Writing them, acting in them, being involved in any part of the production of them, is a problem.

What artistic or spiritual reasons rank large enough to overcome the objections these Christian actors pose to me?

For example, I wrote a script in which I put a dynamic translation of the Sinful Woman in Pharisee Simon's House. The modern dynamic equivalent to the Sinful Woman taking down her hair, is, in Western culture, a porn star taking off her blouse. When I point out the Biblical reference and the translation, it does not get through their minds. These actors, who are sufficient Christians that they would literally give their lives for Christ (these people are neither hypocrites, nor are they stupid), will not allow even that justification for the scene, to alter their stand against it.

Of course, it would be easy to just use non-Christian actors, but the problem remains. How do Christians _make_ R-rated films in such a way as to glorify Christ?
Jacob

Response: You limit R-rated to topless women. You have Christian actresses crying and you throw in your 20 year old daughter. I have seen a lot of R-rated movies, and most do not have naked women in them -some do. Your argument seems to be somehow manipulative. R-rated can also have to do with violence, language, subject matter, etc. My question to you: How did Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel with nearly everyone totally naked for the glory of Christ? How did God inspire some of those R-rated portions of the Bible (oral sex and graphic passionate intercourse in Song of Solomon, or the extreme rape and dismemberment of Dinah by Shechem (Gen. 34:1-2) or the account of Lot's daughters making their father drunk and then raping him (Gen. 19:30-35)? And did not Jesus hang on a cross totally naked and severely beaten? Another question for you: What does it mean to be Christ like? -David

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