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Movies and TV tell hidden stories with spiritual messages and parallels
People have always loved stories – indeed we are hard-wired to so, and we spend a considerable portion of our leisure time in the world of story, particularly through movies/TV. Yet many people probably enjoy them without necessarily discerning areas of deeper significance within the plot.
http://internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/3532
Avatar: new Cameron blockbuster promises embedded spiritual meaninngs and parallels.
Superlatives reign. Movie director Cameron does it again: probably the most expensive film ever made. And in 3D. Took 14 years to make. With its own language to out-Klingon Klingon.
http://internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/1127
Starting points for evangelism that few seem to use
Mary and I had three days in London last week, as a lovely Christmas gift from our grownup children. Thanks guys! Included were tickets to Oliver! the musical, of which more below.
First though, we went to the Babylon exhibition in the British Museum, where among the exhibits were the beautiful blue glazed bricks from the Ishtar Gate and processional way. The original has been reconstructed at the Pergamum Museum in Berlin (which also houses the reconstructed market gate from Miletus and the temple from Pergamum. Daniel would doubtless have walked or ridden through the Ishtar Gate many times.
Oliver! (based on Dickens’ Oliver Twist novel) starred Rowan Atkinson, and was a great experience. I was reminded yet again that most stories are based on the archetypal ‘hero’s journey’ and contain echoes from eternity – the universal themes of searching, finding, sacrifice and redemption, which reflect elements of The Story – God’s plan and purpose for us.
http://internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/138
Group dynamics and crowd behavior is often scary
The way that people behave differently in a group, and participate in a self-reinforcing bandwagon effect, is rather scary.
The famous Stanford ‘prison simulation’ experiment in the 70s was aborted after six days when things got out of hand. Though it was only on the instigation of his then girlfriend, now his wife, that Professor Zimbardo canceled the exercise:
A lesser-known experiment was conducted even earlier, in 1967 at Palo Alto, California; and a film The Wave has been made, based on this experience.
http://internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/158
Les Miserables is a parable of love, grace, law and forgiveness.
Music Quiz:
What is the most popular musical of all time?
Les Miserables.
How many people have watched this musical worldwide?
Over 51 million.
In how many languages?
English, Norwegian, Japanese, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Latvian, Estonian, Czech, German and French.
http://internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/39
Inception - spiritual parallels and meaning within this fascinating movie
Inception has been getting rave reviews. It’s certainly the sort of film you’d want to see a second time. In fact, this second viewing phenomenon is very widespread, as people return to work out the intricacies of the plot, not to mention looking for the many hidden visual and musical puns which have been deliberately embedded in the film. This is what the industry calls a ‘rehook’. (How can we make aspects of Christian and evangelistic ministry, offline or online, have this ‘rehook’, ’sticky’ attraction to return?)
http://internetevangelismday.com/blog/archives/2269
Parallel meanings, picture language and spiritual symbolism can communicate Christian truth
Every abstract concept must be turned into picture language if we are to understand it. Language is full of these metaphors and similes. Memory techniques create a set of memorable mind pictures for the same reason. The Bible uses this type of language constantly, or describes physical events which have spiritual meaning.
http://internetevangelismday.com/word-pictures.php
Find and use Christian parallel, parable, metaphor meanings in film, music, book or popular culture
Popular culture provides a huge bridge for us to use. How do many people spend much of their leisure time? They watch TV or movies, read books, and listen to music. Even though it may never have been the intention of the writer or director, there are often eternal truths and parallels just waiting for us to point at. Indeed, we should normally expect to find such echoes in the yearnings of writers.
http://internetevangelismday.com/parallel.php
Redemptive analogies - a key to meaningful communication of the Christian gospel
Don Richardson defined the concept of redemptive analogy in his books Peace Child and Eternity in Their Hearts. He explained how, embedded in a culture, there is usually some practice or understanding which can be used to demonstrate the Gospel. Findings these sometimes unexpected keys has been called a gorilla moment.
http://internetevangelismday.com/redemptive-parallel.php
Finding Christian themes and meanings in film and movies as starting point for evangelism using popular culture
Suppose God sent you a letter. And in it, He offered you a gift – a simple evangelistic approach similar to the parables that Jesus used. Something that would engage with people’s interests, and employ a common language and experience. Would you want to use it?
http://internetevangelismday.com/popular-culture.php