Censor boards in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have sunk Darren Aronofsky’s new Biblical epic, Noah. The Paramount movie is now banned because it allegedly contradicts Islam by portraying a prophet and no one in these countries can see an alternative account of religion other than Islam.
To be clear, I have no intention of seeing this movie which I view as an entirely silly concept. I do not know the point of this film but I really do not want to spend the time to find out (even if it would seem a bit of a challenge to remake a 600-year-old biblical guy into a buff action hero). Aronofsky has said that he is most concerned in bringing “nonbelievers” into the movie to watch the story of the biblical hero.
Egypt is moving to also ban the film to protect the faithful. The leading Sunni Muslim institute Al-Azhar declared that the film is “contrary to faith and to the fundamentals of the Islamic Sharia [law]” and insult the “feelings of the faithful.” Given the country’s blasphemy law, that view would potentially allow for criminal charges. By the way, the same fate awaits any film that “characterizes Allah’s prophets and messengers and the companions of the Prophet [Muhammad].” The key in enforcing orthodoxy is to deny any alternative view to be seen or heard.
The reaction of these religious, free-speech-hating fanatics almost makes me want to go out and buy a ticket. Almost.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
I have never figured out if you purposefully misrepresent what people say or if you just don’t understand. My point has been it is wrong to EQUATE fundamental Christians w/ radical Muslims. That is when I speak about DEGREE. Do we agree radical MUSLIMS are much more vicious and hateful? I am just looking for a bit of perspective. I’m looking for agreement, not conflict. No where have a stated, inferred, or thought anyone should not criticize fundamental Christians.
nick,
You must be having strange visions if you saw a “straw man.”
I see. You’ll decide what is the appropriate “degree of wacky” fundamentalism that should be criticized. I think all evil/nastiness prepertrated by fundamentalist groups should be called out. Don’t forget what the issue of this post is about–the banning of a movie…not beheadings.
Straw man, Elaine. I have said several times it is a matter of DEGREE of wacky, hatred and viciousness. Any Christian beheadings links? Any harlots stoned to death. Mother Jones or The Nation would have those stories if they existed.
What is the relationship of prophecy with profit-see?
There are plenty of Christian fundamentalist wackos. Think of the Westboro Baptist Church…as but one example Should we remain silent about some of the terrible things they do/have done?
*****
Americans’ Role Seen in Uganda Anti-Gay Push
By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN
Published: January 3, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html?_r=0
Excerpt:
KAMPALA, Uganda — Last March, three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” homosexuals have been widely discredited in the United States, arrived here in Uganda’s capital to give a series of talks.
The theme of the event, according to Stephen Langa, its Ugandan organizer, was “the gay agenda — that whole hidden and dark agenda” — and the threat homosexuals posed to Bible-based values and the traditional African family.
For three days, according to participants and audio recordings, thousands of Ugandans, including police officers, teachers and national politicians, listened raptly to the Americans, who were presented as experts on homosexuality. The visitors discussed how to make gay people straight, how gay men often sodomized teenage boys and how “the gay movement is an evil institution” whose goal is “to defeat the marriage-based society and replace it with a culture of sexual promiscuity.”
Now the three Americans are finding themselves on the defensive, saying they had no intention of helping stoke the kind of anger that could lead to what came next: a bill to impose a death sentence for homosexual behavior.
One month after the conference, a previously unknown Ugandan politician, who boasts of having evangelical friends in the American government, introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009, which threatens to hang homosexuals, and, as a result, has put Uganda on a collision course with Western nations.
*****
Evangelizing Hatred
By Tim Wu
1/21/13
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/01/21/god_loves_uganda_shows_how_american_christians_export_homophobia_video.html
Excerpt:
God Loves Uganda, which premiered on Friday at Sundance, is more disturbing: It documents the efforts of evangelicals to export America’s culture war to Africa. Missionaries, of course, have been going to Africa for centuries now. What’s different is an effort not just to bring Jesus to Africa, but the entire political agenda of the American conservative movement. They’re not just bringing the message that “Jesus saves,” but a raft of positions about which Christians may disagree: abstinence over birth control, adoption over abortion, and, most disturbingly, the complete eradication of any trace of homosexuality from society.
“Though it is very important for man as an individual that his religion should be true, that is not the case for society. Society has nothing to fear or hope from another life; what is most important for it is not that all citizens profess the true religion but that they should profess religion.”
— Alexis de Tocqueville
Uninquisitive. I must’ve misspelled it so many times, my iPad learned to correct the right spelling to the wrong spelling. Is this possible?
Some very uninqusative people cannot differentiate between agendas that hurt and agendas that help society. “Agenda” is not a bad word, neither is “Politically Correct”, despite what some would believe and continually parrot.
People who feel compelled to compare Christian fundamentalists to Muslim fundamentalist every time a Muslim wacko story is posted have an agenda that most everyone can see.
Yes, instead of humans using religion to make more of themselves, it’s usually the opposite. Fit the available narrative to suit your immediate purpose. By way, not mocking Islam. Just an observation. Representative art is seen as idolatry.
However, you guys are light weights (literally…) we’ve got a big steel ‘merikan ark out this way. Well… largely rust now, but mainly still steel, I guess.
Side note, Islam was radically liberal in its introduction. Must have been real fun there before that.
Rewrite the book to reflex the movie…
Theocracies are dangerous to humans. The most chilling thing about the application of BLasphemy laws is that violation of those laws can result and often does result in physical harm including death to the accused. Western nations including the US that support such laws are wrong, wrong, wrong.
Wisconsin already has a Noah’s Ark theme part. Fantastic waterslides, wave pools, you name it. What a great family fun place with not one more drop of religion beyond the odd name.
Fundamentalism is a scourge on free speech. Islamic fundamentalism and Christian fundamentalism aren’t as far apart as they used to be.
It has been a long time, since I’ve been to the movie theather. How much is it per ticket $9 or $10 per person? Are we still subsidizing the movie companies with tax payer funds, so that they can keep their ticket prices down?
“a 600-year-old ancient Jewish guy” – JT
According to the narrative, Jews did not come into existence until way after this flood.
The Jews are descendants of one of the “riders on the storm”, Shem (origin of the Semitic lineage).
Judah, the first Jew, was the fourth son of Jacob (a.k.a. Israel).
Before we get too carried away mocking Islamist governments we should remember that it wasn’t that long ago that the Cathloic church had substantial control over what movies were seen in the U.S.
Really cute…. a Fairy tale religion, banning a ‘Fairy tale’ Movie……..
Noah’s Ark park in Kentucky will be built, officials say
Chris Kenning, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal
2/27/14
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/27/ark-encounter-theme-park/5881323/
Excerpt:
Founders of Northern Kentucky’s controversial Creation Museum said Thursday that enough money has been raised to proceed with a biblical theme park built around a 510-foot replica of Noah’s Ark.
The museum and its founder, President Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis, gained national attention earlier this month after a debate with Science Guy Bill Nye.
“We’re going to begin construction, and this is going to be great for the area,” Ham said in an online announcement, indicating the 800-acre Ark Encounter park would open in summer 2016. “Let’s build the ark.”
The organization’s website said it has raised $14.4 million in private donations toward the $24.5 million needed to build the ark alone. The complete first phase would total more than $70 million, officials have said. They did not say how much they had raised from a $62 million municipal bond offering.
Along with the wooden ark, which Ham said would be the largest timber-frame structure in the USA, the park eventually would include a pre-flood themed area, live animal shows and a Tower of Babel featuring a special-effects theater and a 1st-century village.
Representational art is not allowed in Islam anyway. That’s why everything is abstract. Don’t know where movies ever came in, and how they would be allowed to watch them anyway. I’m sure there’s a caveat, especially if it supports the stater, er…. Islam, in their case. Let them do what they want. No more aid.