History's 'The Bible' sets home-video sales record.

[Windy Wilson]

A tattooed Samson? Perhaps the most polite thing that could be said about this film is that it's "based on a book by Moses."

And I doubt that Jesus ever answered "What are you going to do?" with "Change the World".

[dfwmtx]

Hey, considering the recent tack that History Channel has taken, be glad they didn't say God was an extraterrestrial, Elijah and Jacob were taken up in UFOs, and Jesus was a human-alien hybrid.

That's not good. I kind of stopped watching the History Channel when they decided to change format to the Hitler Channel. I guess it hasn't gotten much better.

At least back when they were the Hitler Channel they were still showing historical documentries. Nowadays, your regular History channels are filled with "reality TV" like Pawnstars, American Pickers, Swamp People and Ice Road Truckers. I've switched to watching H2, which used to be History International. Even that's gone downhill in the last year though. And then there's the psudeo-scientific science stuff, like Ancient Aliens (a guilty please because it's so bad, I confess) and all these Nostrodamus and Armeggdon prophecy BS shows. The history in these shows is minimal, at best.

I wonder if because of the success of docu-dramas like "Hatfields and the McCoys", and "THe Bible" and "Vikings" we'll see more of te genre on TV. It'd be nice to get away from the "reality TV" trend.

[Termite]

Hey, considering the recent tack that History Channel has taken, be glad they didn't say (#1)God was an extraterrestrial, (#2)Elijah and Jacob were taken up in UFOs, and (#3)Jesus was a human-alien hybrid.

#1. Well, if God created the Earth, then by definition he is NOT OF THIS EARTH. IOW, extraterrestrial.
#2. I once nearly got into a fight with a Pentecostal minister when I ask him what a fiery chariot was. He admitted he didn't know, so I ask him had he ever seen an F-16 take off at night on full afterburner............ I thought he was gonna punch me.
#3. Ummmm.....not gonna go there.......

[Aglifter]

Just to clarify on the tattoo comment - someone photoshopped some kind of logo on the pic I posted of Joe Greenstein as a younger man.

As Greenstein was known to be very devout, and was raised a rabbi, I find it rather unlikely that he had a tattoo.

[MiddleAgedKen]

A tattooed Samson? Perhaps the most polite thing that could be said about this film is that it's "based on a book by Moses."

And I doubt that Jesus ever answered "What are you going to do?" with "Change the World".

Had the actor answered, "The will of Him who sent Me," it would be better.

[Odahi]

I'm ambivalent about the series. I am glad it has done well in sales, proving to the Hollywood establishment that there are many more Americans who identify as Christian than they believed or would like. OTOH, I have seen enough of the episodes, and remember enough of my Bible, to be a little disappointed in it. Good, not great. A basically entertaining retelling of some of the stories, but they just feel like they were made on a low budget. Scripting aside, I felt like all the battle scenes were done with 15 guys and a bunch of different camera angles to make it look like there were more actors. The sets weren't particularly majestic, either. All in all, though, if it gets more people to actually read the Bible, I'm all for it. Especially if it offsets some of the crap coming out of Hollywood and the networks these days. For confirmation, watch an episode of "Ridiculousness," if you can stomach a whole episode. Not so much the videos, the so-called personalities. Or "The Talk." Or "The Big Bang Theory," which happens to be a guilty pleasure of mine. It's funny, very funny sometimes, but trashy? You BET. Definitely not for the kiddies. "The Bible" isn't the King James version, nor even the NIV, more like "Good News." But if it gets people reading, and talking about, the Bible, it's a Good Thing.

[Windy Wilson]

But if it gets people reading, and talking about, the Bible, it's a Good Thing.

Even if they only (or especially?) talk about how it is the source for so many literary allusions and references that would otherwise be unnoticed.

Dfwmtx, I consider Ancient Aliens and all those Nostrodamus and Armeggdon prophecy BS shows to be "scientistic", that is, they have the language and clothing of science but none of the actual thought. Sort of like Cargo Cult. When I feel like it, I watch them because they are amusing, especially in how they so quickly jump off the deep end into the pet theory.

I happen to think their beliefs are weird... but they are [strike]Christians[/strike] Religious.

Whether an old man on a cloud throwing lightning bolts, a burning bush, an elephant-headed man, an abstract force, turtles and coyotes, or a talking toaster, it all looks strange to someone on the outside looking in.

My only real beef with the movie is that many of our illiterates will take it as a sort of documentary of doctrines contained in the book.

[martini]

#1. Find a REALLY hardline southern Baptist, who insists that every single word of the Bible came straight from God's mouth.
#2. If they are male, make them read aloud part of the Bible to an unrelated attractive female, one-on-one. If female, they have to read aloud to an unrelated attractive young man, one-on-one.
#3. The part they have to read is Song of Solomon.
#4. Watch them squirm.........

ROFL!
I have no problem seeing this happen and it makes me giggle.

[martini]

Especially if it offsets some of the crap coming out of Hollywood and the networks these days. For confirmation, watch an episode of "Ridiculousness," if you can stomach a whole episode. Not so much the videos, the so-called personalities. Or "The Talk." Or "The Big Bang Theory," which happens to be a guilty pleasure of mine. It's funny, very funny sometimes, but trashy? You BET. Definitely not for the kiddies.

I had to google both the Talk and Ridiculousness, they both look like steaming piles of crap. That said you must understand my confusion, nay, dismay when you mention The Big Bang Theory with that drek. Come on, at Big Bang Theory is witty, even if Chuck Lore is one of the most fucked up individuals producing television today, just read his vanity cards.

[workinwifdakids]

I happen to think their beliefs are weird... but they are Christians.

I don't think so, and here's why: I asked this missionary who came to my door, "So, if we're all Christians, and I can go to heaven without converting to Mormonism, why should I switch to your faith?" The look on his face was priceless, because he knew he was caught.

Summary? You can think THEY'RE Christians all day long. The fact is, at the core, they don't think WE'RE Christians. They certainly don't believe we're saved.

One of their doctrines says that one is saved through Christ's sacrifice... plus his own works. In other words, their official doctrine and religious manuals state that you do not do good works because you're saved, but in order TO be saved. Belief in Christ's suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection do not save you from hell, according to Mormons. It takes additional human sweat to save you.

I've always said on that basis alone they're a cult (that is, a non-Christian church masquerading as a Christian denomination, which is the definition of a cult that I'm using here).