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Published On: Tue, Apr 8th, 2014

New Poll: Christians want Biblical films which strictly follow scripture

A recent BibleGateway poll suggests that the majority of readers only want Hollywood adaptions which “adhere strictly to the details of the original story.”

noah-movie-posterThe week of Noah‘s release, BibleGateway found that over 60 percent of respondents preferred Hollywood adaptions that “strayed little from the story.”

Twenty-eight percent asserted that “Bible stories are a good fit for the big screen and can withstand artistic license,” while just over 10 percent wished that “Bible stories should never be grist for the Hollywood mill.”

The website noted that the film’s release instigated a ton of interest in the scriptures detailed the events of the flood and Noah.

“Over the weekend, visits to the Noah story in Genesis 6-9 at Bible Gateway saw a 223% increase over the previous weekend,” the article notes.

“I think it’s interesting to think about what we mean when we say strict adaption, because in any adaption of a text that is going from one medium to another, for example, from the written to visual on screen, you have to make some adjustments. You have to add and subtract. You have to edit things and make adjustments and put dialogue in the mouths of characters. It wouldn’t be much of a movie if Russell Crowe’s character didn’t say anything,” film critic Brent McCracken said after noting Noah only speaks after the flood.

“This is a sacred text to us and it’s important to our faith as Christians. We worry, what is the liberal Hollywood machine going to do?” continued McCracken.

Exodus, the next Biblical film directed by Ridley Scott, is set to hit the big screen in December and will tell the story of Moses, who will be played by Christian Bale.

“Even when these [big-budget Bible] films are made by atheists, as the case may be with Darren Aronofsky and Ridley Scott, I don’t think Christians shouldn’t be worried about that,” said McCracken. “The fact that these movies are being made, [the fact that their apart of] conversations, the news, that everyone is talking about it the Bible and wrestling with these stories is a good thing.”

McCracken questioned Christians who were apprehensive about the narrative of particular films.

“As Christians what are afraid of? The worse that can happen is people actually explore what the Bible says and ask their Christian friends about the story. Maybe we’re afraid that we don’t have an answer and that’s not good,” he said. “If anything, we should see the fact that these movies are being made as an opportunity for us to dialogue with our non-Christian friends and engage with the culture even when the secular filmmakers and atheists are the ones prompting the conversation. I don’t think it’s healthy for us to boycott or refuse to see it just slam the films.”

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About the Author

- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

Displaying 4 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Sony Exec: ‘Heaven Is For Real’ is ‘for everyone,’ talks about role of faith in Hollywood - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] the account from his son after a near-death experience. Franklin appears to agree with a recent poll which found believers want films to adhere to scripture and involve people of […]

  2. ‘Noah: The True Story’ author Dr Joel McDurmon discusses theology of ‘Noah,’ the new film - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] More on that survey HERE […]

  3. Jason says:

    The “dialog” isn’t so much as the problem. The problem is making Noah a murderer, and somewhat insane about his grandchildren.

    The Bible teaches that there were 8 people on the Arc, and it was closed by God to everyone else.

    The movie took 1 wife off, and killed the other (by Noah). And it also made his son a betrayer full of hate and rage when he let in a evil murderer — a man who had killed Noah’s father btw.

    Also, Methuselah did not “choose to die in the flood”. His name literally meant: “when he dies it will be sent”. Methuselah died before the flood; not in it.

  4. Latest Film Critic News | Media free says:

    […] New Poll: Christians want Biblical films which st… It wouldn't be much of a movie if Russell Crowe's character didn't say anything,” film critic Brent McCracken said after noting Noah only speaks after the flood. “This is a sacred text to us and it's important to our faith as Christians. We worry, what … Read more on The Global Dispatch […]

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