Evangelical Filmmakers Criticized for Hiring Gay Actor

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 — Christian ministers were enthusiastic at the early private screenings of "End of the Spear," made by Every Tribe Entertainment, an evangelical film company. But days before the film's premiere, a controversy erupted over the casting of a gay actor that has all but eclipsed the movie and revealed fault lines among evangelicals.

The film relates the true story of five American missionaries who were killed in 1956 by an indigenous tribe in Ecuador. The missionaries' families ultimately converted the tribe to Christianity, and forgave and befriended the killers. The tale inspired evangelicals 40 years ago with its message of redemption and grace, and the film company expected a similar reception.

On Jan. 12, though, the Rev. Jason Janz took the filmmakers to task for casting Chad Allen, an openly gay man and an activist, in the movie's lead role as one of the slain missionaries, and later, his grown son.

...........

One Web log, nossobrii.blogspot .com, written by Kevin T. Bauder, president of Central Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis, stated in a Jan. 13 entry: "Granted, we must not overreact. And it would probably be an overreaction to firebomb these men's houses. But what they have done is no mistake. It is a calculated strategy."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/02/national/02spear.html?ei=5094&en=656f7613d09368cf&hp=&ex=1138942800&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

[mzteris]

1. current spin

by local fundies is that "GOD" chose this actor in order to send him a message. To speak to his heart through this "Godly movie" so he will change his "evil" ways.

I want SOOOO badly to ask them if MAYBE "God" chose this actor in order to send THEM a message. To speak to THEIR HEARTS and change THEIR UN-Godly/evil hatefilled hearts!!!

[orleans]

20. Don't Forget--God Hates Shrimp

"As you may have realized, this site is a parody. It is meant to poke fun at people like Fred Phelps, and at people who protest against gay people and gay marriage."

http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/about.php

[LibDemAlways]

2. "It would probably be an overreaction to

firebomb these men's houses...." Gee, ya think? The mere thought that anyone publically purporting to be a Christian would even entertain the notion of firebombing anyone's house is beyond the pale. What a sick degenerate mindset these assholes have.

[arcane1]

5. "probably"

:eyes:

[yellowcanine]

19. That is an implied terrorist threat. Off to Gitmo with him.

[skypilot]

3. They're just upset because he's so good looking.

Eat your heart out scumbags.

[nofoil]

10. Woo Hoo. Why am i sad he's gay?

'cause I can't have him for myself. :-)

[cpamomfromtexas]

11. Hey, even I'm sad he's gay!

What a looker!

[superconnected]

12. What a hunk!

Interesting how people who believe in hostile Gods, make them full of regulations that just happen to match their own.

[mzteris]

16. One of my favorite quotes is:

"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Lamott, Anne

[arcane1]

4. if I had been part of this indigenous tribe in Ecuador...

I would've killed them too

[FlaGranny]

6. Converting innocent people always

upsets me. I remember when that event took place. Evangelicals believe that these innocents are saved if they've never heard about Christ. Then they go tell them the good news, and inevitably (if evangelical beliefs are true), they are condemning a percentage of them to hell - those that heard and didn't believe, where otherwise they would have gone to Heaven. Then, those who ARE converted now have to worry about their "souls" for the rest of their lives.

[arcane1]

7. yep, and it's sadly all too easy to murder someone, or their child..

if you are convinced that they are going to Hell :evilfrown:

[justroots]

8. Not all evangelicals believe that.

I know some who assume that all non-believers have no way to get to heaven, regardless of what they know or not about Jesus. Their motive is that without Christ, people who have not heard the gospel will never have a way to heaven. I don't know the percentage of evangelicals who believe either way. Have you seen the movie? I haven't, but have read some good reviews.

[FlaGranny]

9. That's what the fundies I know believe.

Also have a couple of cousins who are missionaries and they believe that way too. That's just my experience and I should have said so.

[dsc]

15. Most evenagelicals don't believe that people

who don't hear the message are going to Heaven. Most believe the exact opposite that in order to go to Heaven you have to accept Christ.

[UrbScotty]

13. OMG! He LOVES ANOTHER MAN! How dare he!

:eyes:

[Rex]

14. Did somebody say firebomb peoples houses?

How nazi of them!

[mainer]

17. A GAY ACTOR? Who woulda thunk it?

Have these evangelicals been living in a cave for the past century?

[phylny]

18. I guess nobody told them that movies are...shhh...

pretend.

[Charlie Brown]

21. I wonder if these guys saw the Lord of the Rings movies

and realized that Ian McKellan (Gandalf) has been openly gay for a generation, and is one of the most outspoken supporter of gay rights in the world.