Comments on: Horror, Gore, Fear & the Christian…

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:16:49 +0000

We have such a strange view of Christianity in America, as if Jesus has a different commission for us to develop Utopian rural communes where our children are safe and moral and we experience greater faith (simply due to our removal from anything that would challenge our faith). We are like ignorant soldiers trying to build a comfortable house on a battlefield, perhaps forgetting that we are not home. A soldier who thinks only of home will be a terrible soldier (though a soldier should certainly long for home).

Horror films are good if only for the fact that their sharp edge bursts our American Christian bubble.

By: James

James — Mon, 31 May 2010 17:03:37 +0000

Joy, the verse you’re paraphrasing is “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—THINK about such things.” It seems easy to throw that at a conversation about our stimuli, but note the CONTEXT of that verse by the verses that surround it:

7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians is referring to our THOUGHTS, not our stimuli. The goal is that we are following Philippians 4:8 no matter WHAT is before us: comedy or tragedy, Rom-Com or Horror flick… or the real life equivalents. If I can’t think about what is true/noble/right/pure/lovely/admirable/excellent/praiseworthy when confronted with fictional horrors, what hope have I when bombarded with a season of life wherein there are TRUE horrors? Verse 7 implies that God will guard our hearts and minds; note, this implies things are being set before our hearts and minds that we need guarding from, filtration and discernment. NOT disengagement.

A lot of people use this verse in regard to our stimuli, when it’s talking about how and what we think regardless of life’s stimuli. It’s talking about our mental output, in light of or in spite of, the input. There might be other scriptures to appeal to in regard to this, but this isn’t one of them. “Garbage in, Garbage out” is a behavioral psychology model, NOT a biblical/relational model. Jesus refutes this soundly in regard to unwashed hands and eating when he says it ISN’T what goes into a person that makes him unclean, but what comes OUT, but the Pharisees refused to accept it. (Matthew 15:10-20)

Even moreso, verse 9 tells us: “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Paul remained in culture, a student of culture, as Jesus said about his disciples – that they would be IN the world but not OF it. Paul knew Pagan poetry and the idols of his culture, but many Christians shy from engaging and understanding sinners and their stimuli. They’re engaged in a religion of personal piety versus bravely engaging the lost with a confidence in Christ.

One thought, however: I think

James
Posted May 27, 2010 at 12:49 pm
and – a final thought – Phillipians 4:8 is beautiful in light of its surrounding verses…

Paul, in all his fearless culturally-engaging glory… facing everything from pagan pop-poetry to very real shipwrecks. I pray I can face life’s real shipwrecks as well as I can face the fictionals.

By: joy4800

joy4800 — Mon, 31 May 2010 06:27:03 +0000

The Bible tells us that whatever is pure, righteous, holy, good, pure, to think on these things. I don’t think that movies like the SAW series promote pure, righteous, holy, good and pure thoughts or actions. I always ask myself, why would I WANT to watch this? what is it going to do that positively affects the way I think and live my life? Also, why would I want to watch a movie like SAW that encourages self mutilation? these movies are also just continuing to de-sensitize our country and the next generation that is growing up. they are watching all these horror shows and thinking that the things they see in these movies are okay and completely normal. movies that deal with the spiritual realm and demonic activity can open the door to all sorts of problems in our lives.

By: ELM STREET won’t put you to sleep, but doesn’t slice deep - cinemagogue

Mon, 10 May 2010 07:35:42 +0000

[...] great possibilities to provoke thoughts and conversations about dreams, death, afterlife and more. Christians should NOT overlook or avoid the horror genre as it’s one of the few storytelling mediums that deals with things beyond the material world [...]

By: Film and Theology « The Road Less Traveled

Film and Theology « The Road Less Traveled — Thu, 06 May 2010 10:21:36 +0000

[...] you love movies like I do, you’ll enjoy this blog. For starters, check out this article on the horror genre and Christians (it’s sure to raise some debate–it has on the [...]

By: solomani

solomani — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:14:20 +0000

Open hand issue IMO. I enjoy Poe and Lovecraft and that style of horror (both book and movie) but do not enjoy Hellrazor and its ilk. More because they are not “beautiful” to watch. If I want ugliness I just have to look around. I prefer my entertainment to have some redeeming quality. Even if that quality is purely aesthetic.

However I will try the movies listed above.

By: 1… 2… Freddy’s Coming for You… - cinemagogue

1… 2… Freddy’s Coming for You… - cinemagogue — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:57:54 +0000

[...] Horror, Gore, Fear & the Christian A sharp look at scary movies and reasons and/or excuses for avoiding them. This is my favorite quote from writer/director Scott Derrickson: “In my opinion, the horror genre is a perfect genre for Christians to be involved with. I think the more compelling question is, Why do so many Christians find it odd that a Christian would be working in this genre? To me, this genre deals more overtly with the supernatural than any other genre, it tackles issues of good and evil more than any other genre, it distinguishes and articulates the essence of good and evil better than any other genre, and my feeling is that a lot of Christians are wary of this genre simply because it’s unpleasant. The genre is not about making you feel good, it is about making you face your fears. And in my experience, that’s something that a lot of Christians don’t want to do.” (click here for full article) [...]

By: admin

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:44:07 +0000

Taylor, first of all you’re stereotyping horror movies. Jaws is a horror movie. Sharks are animals, not demonic.

Also, whether we feel comfortable with it or not, God definitely encourages us to read about murders, rapes, kidnappings, demon possession etc. and then expects us to say “wow, that was an awesome Bible”. I don’t think God detailing this throughout the Old and New Testament gives Satan power or makes a story with those facets inherently of Satan.

I also believe the verses you are paraphrasing are Ephesians 5:11, which actually says “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Note how this still implies an engagement with the matters at hand, not a culture of fearful avoidance. Also, from Philippians 4: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse is promising us that God can and will guard us in the midst of our stimuli, not telling us to be afraid of a movie. To top that off, both of these were written by Paul, who was reading pagan poetry and schooling himself on local idols and encouraging disciples of Jesus to emulate his example.

If you’re watching horror movies purely for self-indulgence, I’m not certain what the point is. If you’re watching Bambi purely for self-indulgence (i.e. self-worship) I’m not certain what the point is either. If non-Christians are watching these movies and feeling fearful about death and the afterlife and the supernatural and more open to conversation, this seems like an arena we should be able to speak to.

Also, even if your premise “horror movies have no point except to scare you, which is not of God” is accurate, my answer would be engage them as you see fit and have no fear. I could watch a film or read a book advocating abortion, or lying, neither of which is of God, but see what culture is saying in their defense and justification. Just because the filmmaker or genre has an agenda doesn’t mean I can’t engage it from a godly foundation. Jesus made it clear what defiles a man in Mark 7:

“Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

By: Taylor

Taylor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:15:40 +0000

I just simply think, would Jesus sit here, and watch this. How would i feel if Jesus walked in right now. Honestly, i dont believe that Jesus likes us sitting there watching things of the devil. I dont believe He would sit there and watch those movies. Real or not, i dont believe God wants us sitting there watching murders, rapes, kidnaps, demon possession etc, and say wow, that was an awesome movie! I feel that that is almost like giving Satan recognition and power. I see no good that comes out of it. I always think of these verses’ as well:
Have no fellowship with evil;
Protect your heart, mind, body, and soul
Yes, there are movies such as the Passion of the Christ, or even movies such as Taken,
but those are true stories that people need to be aware of.
Horror movies have no point in watching them, except to scare you, which is not of God.
Its almost like capitalizing on Satans work. Sure, you can say well in Taken, the men do awful things
to those girls, which is of Satan, but it gets the message across and raises awareness.
Movies such as Saw and The Hills Have Eyes, have absolutely no point, other than to get that wordly pleasure, like i said before. Its just as if you watched a documentary on history, yes, it might have gory details, but its history and you cant change that, same as watching the news. You can not watch evil movies though.
Why would one, especially a Christian, want to watch a movie, where bad things happened to people while making the movie?! Thats clearly the devil. Those people that make those movies usually do research on the topic and many have gone as far as talking to satanist, people that experienced things of satan, and so forth; which once again, i dont think God is too fond of. People have even gotten freakishly killed while working with those movies, and you cant say that has nothing to do with satan. When you give satan a foot hole, he’ll take it, and especially for non-Christians, he’ll work his way in.
I just feel that there is enough evil in the world; watching gory movies that only have negative affects are not Godly.
Now tell me that that is not of God, which therefore, should not be watched by Christians.

By: Bud

Bud — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:19:41 +0000

Thanks, James. And if Coyote had really scrutinized what I do over at FT, he would have noted that I navigated the Horror Club there away from the gore they were concentrating on, and steered them toward classical horror, which is an entirely different animal altogether from the likes of SAW, etc. I toned the club down a great deal, and tried to lead the gang there to re-examine the basics and ponder the significance of cinematic horror on an intellectual level. And, for the record, most of my reviews have been fairly negative, and I’ve even snuck in some Christian theology from time to time. I am respected there because, sometimes, I watch a film with the membership via what we call a “synchro,” which is a concept I came up with where we all watch a movie at the same time and make live comments, and there have been times when I watched something that I knew would offend my Christian sensibilities…but I watched it anyway, to have a gateway for conversation and dialogue, and I’ve received several messages of respect from agnostics and athiests who applaud me for reaching out to them where they are. Until the Lord tells me to switch venues, I’m not going to stop.