When Hollywood Attacks – New Batch Of Films Strike At Christian Beliefs and Values

Just when you thought the Da Vinci Code controversy was wearing off, several more high-profile Hollywood projects are reportedly in the works that will once again challenge some basic Christian precepts.

Johnny Depp is said to be producing and starring in a big-screen adaption of the graphic novel Rex Mundi, which tells the story of “descendants of Jesus” searching for the Holy Grail. Like Dan Brown’s best-selling novel and the Da Vinici Code film, the basic plot point revolves around Jesus having children. According to Christianity Today, the movie is an “alternate history” set in the 1930s in a world where Martin Luther was assassinated, and as a result, the reformation never happened and the inquisition was still highly active. Also like Dan Brown’s novels, secret societies in this case the Templar Knights are said to have a key roll in the film.

In another upcoming graphic novel-turned-action movie, Jenna Dewan is set to play a holy warrior who fights supernatural enemies. In Magdalena, Dewan’s character is a descendant of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, and is also part of a secret society charged with fighting evil. This is no kid’s story though—the Magdalena comics are dark stories.

Along with similarities in plot secret societies, fighting evil, the supernatural, both of these films also suggest a proposition that most Christians find incredibility offensive—that Jesus fathered children.

And if that’s not enough controversy for you, Variety is reporting that Mark Ruffalo is set to direct a film about a faith healer called Sympathy for Delicious. Unlike the other two religious-based films, Delicious takes aim at the contemporary Church. The movie tells the story of a paralyzed man who discovers a mysterious ability to heal the sick, a Jesuit priest who tries to help him maintain a balanced perspective of his gift and a rock star who begins to exploit him.

And finally, there’s Religulous, the most blatantly ant-faith film in the mix. Hosted by the Politically Incorrect HBO personality Bill Maher, the documentary picks up where New Atheism best-sellers like God Is Not Great, The God Delusion and Letter to a Christian Nation left off—not only trying dispel the logic of believing in a higher power, but showcasing what they say is its detriment to humanity itself.

The movie isn’t just anti-Christian though because of Christianity’s popularity it has become a center-point in the marketing materials for the film; it’s anti-faith—a direct challenge to everything Christians, and anyone who believes in God, thinks.

Unlike films that showcase values that are often contrary to Christian teachings, some of the releases in this new batch of movies coming out of Hollywood are in direct opposition to the foundations of what Christians believe. Recently, movies like The Da Vinci Code, the Harry Potter franchise and Brokeback Mountain, have drawn protests from Christians for what has been perceived as their anti-Christian themes.

But should that be our reaction?

Do we view these types of films—which, ultimately are meant for entertainment however unpleasant they may or may not be—as attacks on our faith or opportunities to talk to people about what we really believe?

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