The Big Lebowski at church!?!?! - Page 2

Rejoice Always · #16 Jun 25, '12, 8:18 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by knotanes

I knew a nondenominational Christian pastor in our old neighborhood who held "services" in bars, and the like.

I know Catholics, priests and laity, who attend Theology on Tap!

knotanes · #17 Jun 25, '12, 10:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rejoice Always

I know Catholics, priests and laity, who attend Theology on Tap!

I agree with the sentiment: taking the message to the people in a place they are comfortable and in a way that begins to open the door to deeper thought. Please don't take my comments as derogatory toward that mission. For me, there is a fine line and people have to walk very carefully to make efforts like this work without causing people to disrespect the Church.

Done well, though, it's a great thing.

AthenaC · #18 Jun 25, '12, 1:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillP

I think its an excellent program.

It seems the book in questions may actually be "The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers". Here is a capsule description of that book:

Sounds like an excellent program for an Anglican (or even a Catholic) Church, showing how can be found in all things if my parish were running the program I'd go.

Agreed. Just wanted to add that I love these types of thought experiments - "Let's talk about the Christian values you find in Harry Potter / <insert movie name here>."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatekeeper

The Big Lebowski is a pretty good movie but I don't think it would be very good movie to teach the gospel with.

"A Man for All Seasons" would be better.

Far be it from me to disparage such a movie, but if ALL we watched for spiritual development are lives of the saints movis and if ALL we read for spiritual development were the Bible, the Catechism, and lives of the saints books and ALL we listened to for spiritual development were Gregorian chant ... we would be very dull and intellectually infantile indeed.

We need to have some analytical tools at our disposal to understand, appreciate, and interpret all sorts of art in all sorts of mediums in order to appreciate and learn from what is good while setting aside what is bad or questionable.

thebookofesther · #19 Jun 25, '12, 1:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurlyMermaid

Let me open with saying this, I'm a huge Coen Brothers fan and I own The Big Lebowski. It's one of the few movies I own, in fact. And... this church NOT Catholic but Anglican.

Here's my question:

Do you think it's okay for a church to advertize and have a meeting in the parish hall to study The Gospel According to the Big Lebowski, along with showing the film? "Please no one under 14."

My sister was appalled. I admit, I was excited at first, then thinking it's not a great idea. My pretty liberal hubby was "uncomforable" that they're doing this. None of us is going, I'm just presenting this to you lot for discussion. Thanks!

Yeah well...that's just like your opinion man.

thebookofesther · #20 Jun 25, '12, 1:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatekeeper

The Big Lebowski is a pretty good movie but I don't think it would be very good movie to teach the gospel with.

"A Man for All Seasons" would be better.

Don't be fatuous.

austenbosten · #21 Jun 26, '12, 9:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebookofesther

Yeah well...that's just like your opinion man.

I was wondering when someone was going to say that!

mini_me640 · #22 Jun 27, '12, 10:44 am

You're all entering a world of pain!

april32010 · #23 Jun 27, '12, 8:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebookofesther

Don't be fatuous.

and that is "fatuous" how?

Rejoice Always · #24 Jun 28, '12, 8:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebookofesther

Don't be fatuous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by april32010

and that is "fatuous" how?

thebookofesther is quoting The Big Lebowski.

april32010 · #25 Jun 28, '12, 8:07 pm

yeah,it came back to me a while ago.don't worry donnie ,their nihilist.

Rejoice Always · #26 Jun 29, '12, 9:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by april32010

yeah,it came back to me a while ago.don't worry donnie ,their nihilist.

My fav line!

austenbosten · #27 Jun 29, '12, 11:12 am

I mean say what you want about the tenants of National Socialism dude, at least it's an ethos.

NeedsMercy · #28 Jun 30, '12, 3:57 pm

Daim3 · #29 Jun 30, '12, 7:03 pm

I've seen The Big Lebowski a couple of times. I enjoyed it and might even consider watching it again but I can't say that it strikes me as being rich in spiritual value. Reviews of the book make it seem less than mediocre. I suppose you could find Christian value in lots of things if you tried but this seems like a stretch. I wonder at the prudence of using a film that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has rated as "morally offensive" to spread the Gospel our Lord at a function sanction by a Catholic church. But yeah, let's bring the Word of God down to the level of a pop culture cult film that features drug use, sex and 267 f-bombs so we can laugh at the funny dialog at a church function because someone wrote a book about it with the word gospel in it.