I just watched a movie called "The Sin Eater." I think there should be a "C" rating for "Christian."

[Sparkly]

Movies about Christians? No problem. About Christianity? Sure. About any other religion? Of course.

But movies that actually require the viewer to believe in Christianity in order for the plot to make sense or be believable? I'd like a warning so I don't waste two hours of my life again.

This movie depicted people who'd apparently never heard of the Bible suddenly relieved of all their guilt and elated over the "Truth" that Jesus died for our sins. It was beyond preachy. It wasn't merely conveying the characters' belief, it was assuming I shared it the same way we believe in gravity.

I'm only half-kidding about the rating thing. And to be honest, I need to think more about how and why this particular movie was so different from movies about Christians and Christianity. Did anyone else here see it and get the same impression, or a different one? Meanwhile, flame away if you must.

[frogcycle]

1. thanks for the heads up n/t

[hfojvt]

2. I've seen ads for it on TBN

so I coulda told you it is meant to proselytise. Was the sin eater supposed to be a real tradition for some group? I can't remember.

You probably could have looked at the production company for your warning.

[cynatnite]

3. It should be rated PC...

Preachy Christians.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. It's an ancient belief, probably pre-Christian Celtic, and involves

a person who, for a fee, takes on the sins of a dying person - classic scapegoat stuff. Survived into the 19th century in England, Scotland and the US.

Seems to me that 'sin-eater' reference would actually be un-christian, like other Celtic myths, like faeries and leprechauns and banshees.

EDIT - I think there was a Night Gallery episode called The Sin Eater, in the early 70s.

[Donnachaidh]

6. There was another move called I believe *The Order*

which used the sin-eater myth in a fictional account. It was actually pretty good, because Ledger's character became the sin-eater, and was able to thwart an evil papal candidate. But it was fiction, of course.

[nealmhughes]

11. I somehow stumbled upon an essay on the orgins of sin eaters the other day.

I saw one depicted in an old movie set in the App. Mts. years ago and he was presented as a scapegoat who was shunned until his needs were required by the unrepenent's family. It seems that the use of ceremonial death cakes still survive in many cultures, and I know that a lot of old wills specifically called for loaves to be baked for the poor and "to be eaten at my funeral" up to Tudor times.

The last recorded sin eater was in England, on the Welsh border in 1834 or so.

I wonder if they will make a come back, along with corn dollies?

[gulliver]

5. Rod Serling had a "Night Gallery" on sin eating too.

It was some poor starving guy who had to eat the food layed out around a body. The food contained the sins of the deceased. Worked on many levels. Very, very creepy.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. That's what I immediately thought of when I saw the subj!ect! it was quite unforgettable

and yes, very creepy

[mcctatas]

9. I was watching "Worst Jobs in History" and they had a piece

about actual sin eaters. They were basically outcast, not allowed to live in the city limits or look people directly in the eye, sad pathetic lives these poor men lived.

[Skittles]

7. CC

Christian Crap

[blogslut]

10. Ichtyus

You know, those fish emblems.

[Disturbed]

12. I ordered it from Netflix because it sounded interesting.

It was pathetic drivel. Fox has a whole series of these Christian films. Be careful. The murderer in this dumb story was never even punished. I guess the community forgave him after learning about Jesus.