Baptists Are Capitalizing

[dUSt]

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1245047.html

Good?

Bad?

[cathgirl]

If I weren't Christian, I probably wouldn't like the advertisement. I don't really like it when denominations have advertisements like that b/c I feel kinda like they are fighting for my soul. I don't think that it is a good opening for this particular movie.

[cathgirl]

I think the people who don't have a church should be thinking about Jesus in the movie, not about what church they want to join.

[CatholicAndFanatical]

From that site:

Bridges says the ad is meant to arouse questions and direct viewers to Baptist churches for answers. Speaking to the BGCT News, she says the purpose of the ad is still accomplished with the modified version.

Bold part is mine..this is why it shouldnt be done and can be bad. In my opinion.

I wonder if the BG-whatever knows that the Passion was made by Catholics? Think they still would want to do this?

[M.SIGGA]

Since the Catholic Church won't officially support Gibson's film, I don't see a problem with it. If the Vatican would just make a statement and stick with it, Catholic churches might be able to capitalize, and the Baptists probably wouldn't touch it.

[Kilroy the Ninja]

hmmmm. Perhaps I have an initial dislike of the idea because I have underlying issues with our "separated" brethren to begin with... Perhaps it's because I'm hitting my head and saying, "Why didn't the Catholics think of that?". ('Course I realize the answer to that one is "'Cause that would imply "endorsement" of a movie..."

So.... while I don't like that it's the Baptist church "capitalizing" on it, I recognize that people without God in their lives at all going to any church would be better than none at all.

Please don't take that in a snide way - it wasn't meant that way. Sure I'd prefer it to be the Catholic church that people flocked to, but I'm sure that the Baptists, the Pentecostals, and well the rest of them would want it to be "their" church too.

[Theoketos]

Tis a good thing. More people will see it.

Edited February 6, 2004 by Theoketos

[Theoketos]

Bold part is mine..this is why it shouldnt be done and can be bad. In my opinion.

I wonder if the BG-whatever knows that the Passion was made by Catholics? Think they still would want to do this?

You know, people have to start on the path to truth somewhere. The Movie will lead millions back home to Rome.

[IXpenguin21]

i live in dallas (durring the school year) and i'm not used to so many protestantisms...

in the north east, where i'm from, it's prodominantly Catholic, and even the big protestant religions there aren't that far off from Catholic (methodist, luterhan, episcipal).

i dunno... i don't want to bad mouth baptists, but their evangelization that i've come across just seems very spiritually shallow...

i feel the passion makes a very historical Catholic statment, and there doesn't have to be much in the way of propaganda to prove that...

::sigh::

why can't we all just get along???

[BullnaChinaShop]

I don't realy care for one group or another to advertise their church along with it because that seems to me to draw attention to divisions in Christianity when all Christians should be able to come together and put aside their differences even if it is just long enough to watch a movie.

[Confessionator741]

they are goin for the profit not of money, but of people. It seems really odd that they are goin to be allowd to air this ad, reqruiting (sp) people to join their church. It is going to really take away fro the movie

[dUSt]

Historically, the Vatican and the Catholic Church have been one of the biggest supporters and promoters of art throughout the ages. Like it or not, film is the biggest medium of art nowadays... I think that once the final version of this movie comes out, we'll here something from the Vatican. In my opinion, speaking as a Catholic and lover of the arts, this movie is the greatest piece of work since the renaissance.

[crossingstandrewspass]

One, if Baptists are capitalizing, it's not really that big of a surprise. My parents being Southern Baptist are used to the Baptists asking for money all the time, again, it's not that big of a deal. Two, they always RECRUIT people to come to their churches. Who cares if it's not the Catholic Church?! People need to go wherever they feel closest to God and to Christ, they don't need to go wherever someone tells them to go. If they feel happy in the Baptist church, let them go there. If they feel more content in the Catholic Church, so be it. But no one can literally tell someone what church they should and should not join. At least the Baptists are opening their arms and not having people frown down upon them because they don't believe in God or so on. You all know good and well there's a group of Catholics in every church that frown upon non-Catholics and non-Believers. Instead of being so closed-minded they should really be inviting them in and asking them the right questions in order to become saved through Christ.

God Bless,

Andy

[socalscout]

When I first read this a couple of days ago I was upset. Not because M. Gibson is a Catholic or some see it as a "Catholic" movie but because this movie will bring up questions for non Christians and Agnostics and they will go somewhere for the answers. If they see this advertising, albeit before the movie, then they might go to that church to find the answers. As Catholics we know our Church to be the true Church where Truth lives so we would naturally get upset to see anyone being misled.

Well I do not feel that way anymore. We are not a political campaign trying to get voters to see it our way. We are not offereing free coffee and doughnuts at ever service(Not that Baptist do that either) nor have balloons for the kids or a camera for the first 100 who attend.

We are the True Church of Christ. When people actually seek Truth they will find it here. I truly believe that. No amount of advertising will make a difference. This is not an "us against them" scenario either so I am not worried at all as long as they seek Christ.

"People will come Ray. People will come"

Edited February 6, 2004 by socalscout

[PedroX]

I think it was Patrick Madrid who said that protestant churches were great "incubators" for future Catholics. Having more "separated brethren" might be better than having more pagans. Just my $.02

peace...

[cimlog]

You will always have controversy. Controversy is advertisement. Advertisement for the Baptists. Baptists want more people. More people are Catholic. Catholics disagree with what most Baptists say. Disagreeing equald controversy.

It's an endless cycle.

This particular case seems bad to me.

[Kilroy the Ninja]

I liked the incubator idea and I think that's very true with some people.

But separated brethren are better than pagans. So true!

[Kiddkapps]

Capitalists....hmmmm......i think it's a cultural thing but I hold my tongue.

[dUSt]

Well, having seen the movie, I don't know how any Christian will walk away from it not having a deeper love for Mary and Communion... and in what Church are those two things emphasised more than any other? hehehe

I think ol' Mel knows exactly what he's doing.

[Brother Adam]

Well some Baptists consider the film a tool of satan. By putting ads up, they can be correctly taught the truth in their churches about the evils of Catholicism. Bad thing.

If God uses good doctrine or bad, good situations or bad, to bring another soul to heaven that's his business, and I'm not one to say how it should be done. Good thing.