Has anyone seen the movie, "The Shack"? (films, theme, watch)
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I didn't know this was a Christian-themed movie. Not that it matters. Our local second-run theatre will be showing this later in June and we plan to see it then.
I saw it a month ago. I don't find it to be a particularly CHRISTIAN movie. Yes: it features three characters who are God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit -- and Jesus is God's son. I suppose that right there makes it somewhat "Christian." But it is not a movie that's constantly throwing bible verses at you or anything. And the movie DEFINITELY doesn't suggest that the only way you can "be saved" or have a relationship with God is by believing that Jesus is your savior.
As someone who is not a Christian (or an adherent of any organized religion) but still someone who does believe in God, I tend to differentiate between "religion" (and "dogma") and "faith. To me, religion is all about the scriptures and the endless directives...all the "Thou shalts" and "Thou shalt nots." Religion is a book of words telling you what's allowed and what isn't allowed, updated regularly based on the interpreter. It's exclusive, not inclusive, because it's always telling you who is part of the club (and how you get to be part of that club) and who isn't. But faith is just about belief, and that's it.
In the movie, God says, "Religion is way too much work. I don't want slaves. I want friends. Family." She -- because God is mostly portrayed as a woman in this movie, and she tells the main character that she chose that form because she thought he couldn't handle a father right then -- stresses over and over that what she wants is to have a relationship with people. And she stresses that she's not an interventionist God: she doesn't punish people.
Mack: Everybody knows you punish the people who disappoint you.
Papa: No. Sin is its own punishment. … I’m in the middle of everything you see [as a mess], working for your good.
Wisdom: God didn’t cause it.
Mack: He didn’t stop it.
Wisdom: He doesn’t stop a lot of things that cause Him pain… You want a promise of a pain-free life… [It’s not possible] as long as there’s free will.
I really enjoyed the movie, quite a lot, actually. I liked its focus on having a relationship with God. The God in this movie is accessible and welcoming and loving. You don't have to be a member of an exclusive club in order to be loved by the God portrayed in this movie. The spirituality in this movie is more innate than informed.
I, too, have avoided this movie because the standard "Christian movie" makes me want to barf, and based on the trailers I thought that that was what this movie was going to be. It sounds like the trailers did this film an injustice! I may see if I can catch it at our local second-run movie place.
I, too, have avoided this movie because the standard "Christian movie" makes me want to barf, and based on the trailers I thought that that was what this movie was going to be.
Hmmm. It's interesting how some people saw that... and how some people such as CatsinSnow and myself didn't.
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