The folks at OregonLive know the importance of starting articles with gripping opening sentences.
Twelve hundred men sat silently inside New Hope Community Church on Saturday morning watching Kevin Costner plunge from a helicopter into a churning sea.
Holy moly! Hundreds of Christian men witnessed Kevin Costner plunge into a churning sea? Was it a chance coincidence? Is the church located next to a churning sea and the men just happened to look out the window at the very moment that Costner was plunging? Or, was the timing intentional? Did Costner purposely perform the stunt for them? Is he a member of New Hope church? Or, even a Christian? I don’t know. Was he hurt? Oh my God. I have to know.
The article continues:
Costner fought powerful waves and a desperate, frightened man to save two lives…”
[GASP!] Why didn’t I see this on the news?!
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Earlier Mike Silva, a Christian evangelist based in Portland, had reminded participants in the Northwest Men’s Conference of the rescue swimmers’ motto: “So others may live.”
When the clip ended, the lights came back on. The room was still quiet.
“There are people everywhere drowning,” Silva said softly. “They are so exhausted they can’t keep up the fight. The only thing that ever kept me afloat in turbulent times was the Bible.”
Wha? Wait a minute. The men were merely watching a movie clip of actor Kevin Costner pretending to jump from a helicopter and fight powerful waves and save innocent lives?? Shown for the purpose of inspiring the action hero-style courage and strength required to rescue non-believers drowning in the deep and turbulent waters of meaninglessness??
Geez. I’ve been had.
I wasn’t able to find a YouTube promotional video for this particular conference, but I think it’s true that, in these cases, “if you’ve seen one,…”
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Parlate italiano, destra?
Ugh… and Oregon is supposed to be the least religious state in this country. I don’t read the Oregonian, so I had no clue about this. LOL Thanks for sharing. :)
When we started a new men’s group thingy at my church they played us clips from Apollo 13 and Fast and the Furious. Thankfully they skipped the almost requisite Braveheart clip.
I really like movies. I have a movie night at my house every Saturday. I find movies inspiring, insightful, interesting and fun. And I’m even okay with using them as a reinforcement or illustration of your point.
But this does underscore some of the problems with “Christian” media.
An, no, the video series at men’s group isn’t very good. It’s sad times. But the stuff the women’s group is doing is reportedly awesome [smile]. My wife and mom are really enjoying it.
~Luke
Ute:
Hi Ute,
I thought it might be. It’s why I’ve been surprised at the aggressive “released time” program (PREP4 kids) run out of Portland. I have a google search alert on “released time,” and links to Oregon come up most. Not sure if it means anything; there’s more than one way to get to ps students. I think it’s just that the Oregon RT law is the most lenient, which the PREP4Kids director brags about, by the way.
By the way, the OregonLive article says that the men’s conference was attended by men from other areas including my own (Orange Co, CA), so Oregonians are *importing* some of that man-folk religiosity from us.
You’re welcome :)
Hi Luke,
I know what you mean about “Braveheart.” We actually own the DVD, but I have to leave the room whenever my husband watches it. It’s much too gruesome for me.
I didn’t develop the ideas in this post, but the article talks about the psychology behind contemporary Christian men’s movements, which is such a fascinating topic of study. You’re probably too young to know this, but it all started with a guy. His name is… Alan Alda – LoL. :) Oy. Male perogative has never been the same. :)
Male Inequality — that’s how the Jon Stewart show tackled the issue this past week.
http://bit.ly/bImBhc
http://www.hulu.com/watch/125909/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-male-inequality#http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Ffeed%2Fshow%2F902%2Fclips
Nance
LMAO :) Thanks Nance.
I *love* Samantha Bee!
And, talking sticks and “circles” are always ripe for ridicule, as far as I’m concerned. :)
I think I’d go insane without the Daily Show to make me laugh at the end of the day.
btw Ute,
re: “Oregon RT law is the most lenient”
I’ve always been a little curious if humanists would be able to use RT as an opportunity to do – for example – what you do in Rational Sunday School. ;)