Evan Almighty: A Gift to the Church?
Filed under: Comedy, Movie Marketing, Religious
The people over at Universal Pictures are smart, sneaky buggers. Evan Almighty just opened in the UK, and everyone was ready. You see, the company hired a special PR firm just to make sure Christian organizations knew about the film -- namely ministers, publications and websites. They held a number of "priest screenings," and also offered suggestions for just how these people could incorporate the film into their work. For example, they could take this super-handy route: "God: The Hollywood Years," and talk about God on the big screen. Or, there was "Noah and 9/11," where they could chat about religious extremism.Wow. Do you think these people would take to being spoon-fed angles by a Hollywood company? Apparently, they ate it up like candy. Rev David Birt says: "I've encouraged my flock to see the film. It has interesting subjects -- like whether we want a God who is judgmental -- and I've used it in two sermons already." Reading that, I can't help but imagine churches getting PR press releases that they then slide into their sermons. A publication called Christianity changed its cover at the last minute, and added a feature inside to discuss the themes that Almighty covered. Simon Jenkins, editor of rejesus.co.uk says: "It's not a hugely significant film, but it is unexpectedly religious. Hollywood and Christianity have an interesting relationship but this time they're singing from the same hymn sheet."
I'm not so bothered by priests, ministers and those in religious organizations citing a Hollywood movie, but am pretty creeped out that they're doing so after a solid PR campaign. It's a brilliant and successful move for Universal,
but what does it say for the content that comes down to devout followers? It's kind of eerie to imagine that what you hear in the church could be that easily influenced by a company. Sure, Evan Almighty is religious, but where will the churches draw the line between discussing religious phenomenon outside the church, and being told what to say by the companies behind said phenomenon?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-07-2007 @ 11:50AM
Jonathan Lapper said...
You wrote, "I'm not so bothered by priests, ministers and those in religious organizations citing a Hollywood movie, but am pretty creeped out that they're doing so after a solid PR campaign... It's kind of eerie to imagine that what you hear in the church could be that easily influenced by a company. Sure, Evan Almighty is religious, but where will the churches draw the line between discussing religious phenomenon outside the church, and being told what to say by the companies behind said phenomenon?"
I fail to see how this is creepy or eerie, aside from the fact that most religion itself is creepy and eerie. Religious leaders have always spewed out dogma to the flock that they were spoon fed by church leaders without giving it a second thought. Why should it be any different for a Hollywood company.
What I would find creepy and eerie is if the congregations of these dimwitted, gullible priests accepted a sermon so unimaginative, but perhaps I am giving the congregations themselves too much credit.
And if you're going to give a sermon based on a film can you at least use something like AU HASARD BALTHAZAR which might actually get people thinking about suffering and the strength derived from it?
Jonathan Lapper
http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com
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8-07-2007 @ 2:30PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Well, it is the UK, where it's estimated that only 7-10% of people attend church anymore (vs. 40-45% here.) Sounds like they're willing to try just about anything. Just don't spoil it by reminding them that their source material got a "24" on the Rotten Tomato!!
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8-07-2007 @ 2:30PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Well, it is the UK, where it's estimated that only 7-10% of people attend church anymore (vs. 40-45% here.) Sounds like they're willing to try just about anything. Just don't spoil it by reminding them that their source material got a "24" on the Rotten Tomato!!
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8-07-2007 @ 4:26PM
Kevin said...
I fail to see the problem here. If the Priests were being handed sermons than it would be despicable, but the job or a Priest or Preacher is to find ways to interpret Gods word to the masses. Their source seems to be of no consequence, its the message that is important. But hey, don't take my word for it. I haven't been to Church in a decade and I'm much happier without it. Just doesn't strike me as a disturbing situation is all.
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8-07-2007 @ 4:38PM
Cath said...
Obviously few people understand the Creeping Cancer of Control about which William Burroughs wrote. It doesn't start out evil, it starts innocently, like some squeaky clean cheerleading squad. Then the slow integrative process happens and next thing you know we're living in Body Snatcherville. What could have been more innocent than "love thy neighbor" and look where that got us?
Just because Britain currently has a small churchgoing population does not make them insignificant. They have had quite the clout on lawmakers.
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