Lee Strobel's Hope for Apologetics in a 'Post-Truth' Culture

From Christianity Today-

Nearly two decades have passed since Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ first hit bookstore shelves. Written as a response to the former journalist’s conversion from atheism, Strobel’s investigation into the truth claims of Christianity remains a landmark work of apologetics, often mentioned alongside mainstays such as C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. And while the culture has changed much since 1998, Strobel insists that using reason to defend—and, more importantly, to share—the gospel remains as important as ever.

Later this week, the film adaptation of The Case for Christ, which tells the story behind Strobel’s investigation and resulting conversion, will premiere at theaters across the country. For this week’s episode of The Calling, CT managing editor Richard Clark sat down with Strobel to learn more about the challenges of adapting his book for the big screen, the role his marriage played in his conversion, and the future of apologetics in a “post-truth” world.

More here-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2017/april-web-only/lee-strobels-hope-for-apologetics-in-post-truth-culture.html

Crowe meets Anglican leader after ‘Noah’ premiere

From The AP-

The pope said no but the leader of the world’s Anglicans was happy to meet Russell Crowe, star of watery Biblical epic Noah.

Crowe was denied a private audience with Pope Francis when he was promoting the movie in Rome last month.

But Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby met the actor at the cleric’s Lambeth Palace home yesterday, the day after the movie’s British premiere, to discuss faith and spirituality.

Director Darren Aronofsky’s film is a box-office hit in the United States but some Christian conservatives have complained it takes liberties with the Biblical account of the flood. It has been banned in much of the Muslim world because of its depiction of the prophet.

Welby’s office said the archbishop had seen Noah and found it “interesting and thought-provoking.”


http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/11401621-95/crowe-meets-anglican-leader-after-noah-premiere

also here-

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/russell-crowe-spots-hugh-jackman-during-meeting-with-archbishop-of-canterbury-after-noah-premiere/story-e6frfmw0-1226872056895

Noah vs. Son of God: The Twin Pitfalls of Biblical Films

From The Atlantic Monthly-

“The persons and events in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional.” This line, tucked among Noah’s credits in tiny, swirling, Tolkien-esque script, captures something very important about the movie: It was intended as art, not evangelism.

Critics may have dubbed 2014 “the year of the Bible” in Hollywood, but it’s a mistake to group every Biblical flick into one trend: Not all movies that crib their plotlines from the two testaments are alike. In fact, the biggest Biblical hits so far this year, February’s Son of God and last week’s Noah, don’t have much in common at all, other than their roots in the good book. While Son of God is an earnest story of heaven, miracles, and the salvation of the soul, Noah is a human drama, crafting a fantasy-like world into a parable about how people should act.

More here-

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/03/-em-noah-em-vs-em-son-of-god-em-the-twin-pitfalls-of-biblical-films/359909/

Noah After a flood of reviews and controversy, it's finally here. So should you see it?

From Christianity Today-

Here's my take: Christianity Today reader, you should see Noah.

I can't promise you'll like Noah. Nor would I suggest that if you don't, it indicates that something is necessarily wrong with you.

But as I struggled to write about this film this week—in the wake of dozens of other excellent pieces from both mainstream and Christian sources—that's what it all came down to. So yes, if you're wondering: Noah is worth your time and your ticket price.

More here-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/march-web-only/noah.html

Non-linear Verite

From The Living Church-

The Tree of Life is nominated for three Academy Awards (best picture, best director, and best cinematography). It is also a film very few Episcopalians have seen. This strikes me as odd, particularly in light of the director’s background.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/81467024/Tree-of-Life-review

The Mockingbird parables: Christian lessons in Harper Lee's classic

From CNN via my daughter "Scout"

The social relevance of Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird and the subsequent film is profound. It has remained a beacon of hope for the marginalized, pointing the way toward our continued pursuit for equality.

The novel has been described simply as the story of one man’s stand for racial justice, but we cannot ignore the other valuable messages–including Christian ones-for today’s culture of distrust.

From Wall Street to Washington to Main Street, it seems our decisions are governed by what is financially, politically, and socially expedient. Oour faith is more of an afterthought than a guiding force.

The many lessons of Lee’s novel can lead us back to a restorative way of making choices by following these four principles:

1. Try understanding others. The theme is revealed in lawyer Atticus Finch’s memorable explanation to his daughter: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view–until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

More here-

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/03/the-mockingbird-parables-christian-lessons-in-harper-lees-classic/

Joyeux Noel

If you follow 3RE with any regularity you know that most of the posts are about the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion (with the occasional baseball story thrown in). I don't deal a lot with popular culture (pictures excluded).

However I have watched twice, in the past week, one of the most extraordinary films I have ever seen, entitled Joyeux Noel. It was made in 2005. It is based on the true story of French and Scottish troops and their German enemies who left their trenches, laid down their arms, and called a truce for Christmas eve in 1914. It then tells what happened to them and how they changed after worshipping together that night. It is extremely powerful and works as an extended metaphor about much that we are going through as a church.

It was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe in 2006 for Best Foreign Language Film. If you can't find it at the local video store (its in three languages with subtitles) do yourself a favor and buy it.