New History Channel series, "The Bible"

[Timon]

Did anyone watch this last night?  I dont have cable so I wasnt able to.  A lot of my evangelical friends were raving about it, and a few people whos opinions I trust said it was pretty well done.  I was curious if it was seen as "well done" from an Orthodox perspective.  Id like to check it out if its available online somewhere.

[Gamliel]

I don't get the History channel either.  I saw some previews in the movie theaters -- I am not holding my breath.

[ialmisry]

Did anyone watch this last night?  I dont have cable so I wasnt able to.  A lot of my evangelical friends were raving about it, and a few people whos opinions I trust said it was pretty well done.  I was curious if it was seen as "well done" from an Orthodox perspective.  Id like to check it out if its available online somewhere.

It's very Protestant, not Orthodox. I don't mean it was heretical-it actually was for a couple exceptions pretty much a straight forward presentation of the text (although it breazed through a lot, although it did that in many ways rather well).

What I mean by not Orthodox: although it had a scene of Abraham rescuing Lot, it had no scene of Melchizedek coming out to meet Abraham.  Perhaps too typological and liturgical-the reasons why an Orthodox version would (or, definitely should) include the coming of Melchizedek with bread and wine and the giving of the tithe by Abraham.

Definitely better than a lot of what slithers out of the TV.  I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

[Gamliel]

Did anyone watch this last night?  I don't have cable so I wasn't able to.  A lot of my evangelical friends were raving about it, and a few people whose opinions I trust said it was pretty well done.  I was curious if it was seen as "well done" from an Orthodox perspective.  Id like to check it out if its available on-line somewhere.

It's very Protestant, not Orthodox. I don't mean it was heretical-it actually was for a couple exceptions pretty much a straight forward presentation of the text (although it breezed through a lot, although it did that in many ways rather well).

What I mean by not Orthodox: although it had a scene of Abraham rescuing Lot, it had no scene of Melchizedek coming out to meet Abraham.  Perhaps too typological and liturgical-the reasons why an Orthodox version would (or, definitely should) include the coming of Melchizedek with bread and wine and the giving of the tithe by Abraham.

Definitely better than a lot of what slithers out of the TV.  I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Did it have any scenes of the visitation, and Abraham asking if Sodom and Gomorrah can be saved if there were 40, 30 . . . 10 righteous people there?

[genesisone]

I watched it last night. Condensing the Bible into a ten hour "docu-drama" is a major undertaking. It appears to have been done with good intentions and will likely be helpful in getting a chronological account of Old and New Testaments.

It is entertaining. The two hours went by very quickly - perhaps not brilliant, but the pace moves quickly and there are plenty of actions scenes that many will relate to.

However, I did find some things disconcerting, especially as an Orthodox Christian. One of the angels who visited Abraham then moved on to Sodom turned out to be an "angel ninja" involved in a street fight in Sodom. Cheesy.

The point is frequently made that one must trust God, especially in difficult situations. That's all well and good, but I kept hearing echoes of the bland theology of "Touched by an Angel".

Many scenes are highly fictionalized. The account of Sodom's destruction is over-emphasized as is the personal rivalry between Moses and Pharaoh. This left no time for some very important episodes such as the story of Joseph. The Orthodox Christological interpretation of the OT is striking in its omission. As I mentioned, no Joseph - a type of Christ; when Moses parts the Red Sea he strikes it (contrary to the Biblical account) rather than raising his hand above it, and later again, thus making the form a cross. The distinction between Ishmael and Isaac with the latter being clearly the child of the promise is lacking - or at least under-emphasized.

Overall, it's good for the entertainment value, but the Book is better.

[genesisone]

Did it have any scenes of the visitation, and Abraham asking if Sodom and Gomorrah can be saved if there were 40, 30 . . . 10 righteous people there?

Yes to both. But the whole destruction of Sodom event seemed to be mostly an excuse for special effects.

[Punch]

I turned it off a bit more than half way through.  Too many inaccuracies. Too much left out.  I probably will not watch it again.

[choy]

Did anyone watch this last night?  I dont have cable so I wasnt able to.  A lot of my evangelical friends were raving about it, and a few people whos opinions I trust said it was pretty well done.  I was curious if it was seen as "well done" from an Orthodox perspective.  Id like to check it out if its available online somewhere.

Here's one Orthodox perspective from Fr. Stephen Freeman's Facebook page:

I've turned off the TV show The Bible after 5 minutes. It's all it took to convince me that the Protestant imagination is so less rich than the Tradition. It's like watching scenes from another religion's Scriptures - but not mine.

[orthonorm]

I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Please tell me this is just a hanger-on of vocabulary from another era?

I know of one person who still tapes things and then that weirdo transfers them to DVDs. He has a VHS to DVD recorder. And I think he just got it last year to update his video collection.

[orthonorm]

However, I did find some things disconcerting, especially as an Orthodox Christian. One of the angels who visited Abraham then moved on to Sodom turned out to be an "angel ninja" involved in a street fight in Sodom.

LOL! Just skimming over threads you just can't miss the most ridiculous!

[podkarpatska]

I agree with Isa's take. It was "ok, sort of like a child's Bible stories book. Generally, I dislike biblical epics. Either they are cheesy or theologically suspect. Anyway, trying to present the OT as historical narrative doesn't do it for me at least.

[JamesR]

Wait for the episode about Acts--that is going to be the ultimate decider in whether or not this documentary was well done. If they ignore the physical Church or present it in a casual, non-liturgical way with no Sacraments, or minimal emphasis on Sacraments, we'll know the series is Protestant. If, however, it does portray the Sacraments and a liturgical Church, then we'll know it's Orthodox/Catholic and probably okay.

[Shiny]

I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Please tell me this is just a hanger-on of vocabulary from another era?

Considering I had to walk Isa through on taking a photo on his phone and uploading it on OC.net, I would not be at all surprised if he literally meant taping it on a blank VHS tape.

I love the fact Isa is way behind the tech age.

You think he winds his clock up to set the alarm?

Think he gives his kids "Speak N Spell"?

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

If he says yes to the last statement, it will cover a multitude of sins.

[JamesR]

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

I sure do...nothing will beat 1980s technology.

[Shiny]

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

I sure do...nothing will beat 1980s technology.

Except the Super Nintendo.

And my Sony Trinitron from the 90s.

[JamesR]

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

I sure do...nothing will beat 1980s technology.

Except the Super Nintendo.

Nintendo 64 > Super Nintendo

Super Mario 64 >>> every other videogame known to man

[Shiny]

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

I sure do...nothing will beat 1980s technology.

Except the Super Nintendo.

Nintendo 64 <<< Super Nintendo

Soulcalibur on the Dreamcast >>> every other videogame known to man

I agree.

But even that said, N64 ownz.

I played Ocarina of Time for probably a thousand hours.

x2 for Goldeneye 4 player multiplayer.

[JamesR]

That was back when they actually put effort into creating videogames that could last you months before you completely beat and mastered every element of the game. Now, all they care about is graphics and multiplayer, and most campaigns can be beaten totally within 6-7 hours and multiplayer gets boring after one week.

[Shiny]

Yeah I have been completely disillusioned and bored of the video game industry as a whole. There are a few titles that do come a long that surprise me, but that's far few in between.

Super Mario 64, 1996 at a Toys R Us for the first time was a life changing experience. And then getting the N64 for Christmas that year with Wave Race 64, yeah it was pure nirvana.

Soulcalibur did the same thing a few years later.

Life just seemed to me a whole lot better than it is now.

[Timon]

Thanks for the replies and input.

I thought it was going to be more of a historical documentary about things from the Bible but it seems to be largely a cheesy reenactment. I was hoping the New Testament part would feature some historically accurate information about the early Church.  Guess we will have to wait and see, although I wont be holding my breath.

[ialmisry]

I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Please tell me this is just a hanger-on of vocabulary from another era?

Considering I had to walk Isa through on taking a photo on his phone and uploading it on OC.net, I would not be at all surprised if he literally meant taping it on a blank VHS tape.

I love the fact Isa is way behind the tech age.

You think he winds his clock up to set the alarm?

Think he gives his kids "Speak N Spell"?

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

If he says yes to the last statement, it will cover a multitude of sins.

What's a NES?

No, the  WOW box was tapping this. Although we do have VHS tapes.

I avoid alarms.  I get up when I get up and grab the coffee (there's a timer, but I never use it).

[ialmisry]

Did anyone watch this last night?  I don't have cable so I wasn't able to.  A lot of my evangelical friends were raving about it, and a few people whose opinions I trust said it was pretty well done.  I was curious if it was seen as "well done" from an Orthodox perspective.  Id like to check it out if its available on-line somewhere.

It's very Protestant, not Orthodox. I don't mean it was heretical-it actually was for a couple exceptions pretty much a straight forward presentation of the text (although it breezed through a lot, although it did that in many ways rather well).

What I mean by not Orthodox: although it had a scene of Abraham rescuing Lot, it had no scene of Melchizedek coming out to meet Abraham.  Perhaps too typological and liturgical-the reasons why an Orthodox version would (or, definitely should) include the coming of Melchizedek with bread and wine and the giving of the tithe by Abraham.

Definitely better than a lot of what slithers out of the TV.  I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Did it have any scenes of the visitation, and Abraham asking if Sodom and Gomorrah can be saved if there were 40, 30 . . . 10 righteous people there?

Yes, and sorta.

[Αριστοκλής]

What an amazing thread hijack...guys.
But glad to see it back on track

Thanks for the replies and input.

I thought it was going to be more of a historical documentary about things from the Bible but it seems to be largely a cheesy reenactment. I was hoping the New Testament part would feature some historically accurate information about the early Church.  Guess we will have to wait and see, although I wont be holding my breath.

Thus far I do not see it markedly better than attempts from Hollywood in the past. It's just updated a bit for today's non-scripture reading audience. But we've nine weeks to go.

[serb1389]

Think he has an old NES with Super Mario Bros.

I sure do...nothing will beat 1980s technology.

Except the Super Nintendo.

Nintendo 64 <<< Super Nintendo

Soulcalibur on the Dreamcast >>> every other videogame known to man

I agree.

But even that said, N64 ownz.

I played Ocarina of Time for probably a thousand hours.

x2 for Goldeneye 4 player multiplayer.

dude..we just connected on levels you can't even possibly understand.  I can't even explain to you the hours we would play ocarina of time, we would even watch 1 guy play for hours!  and then goldeneye...dude those were tournaments we are still talking about today! 

nice to know others prized it as much as we did. 

[ialmisry]

What an amazing thread hijack...guys.
But glad to see it back on track

Thanks for the replies and input.

I thought it was going to be more of a historical documentary about things from the Bible but it seems to be largely a cheesy reenactment. I was hoping the New Testament part would feature some historically accurate information about the early Church.  Guess we will have to wait and see, although I wont be holding my breath.

Thus far I do not see it markedly better than attempts from Hollywood in the past. It's just updated a bit for today's non-scripture reading audience. But we've nine weeks to go.

It has far less "artistic" embellishment than usual.  Of course, taking up Tradition to fill in the story has been passed up.

Btw, I'm waiting to see if Maccabbees is included.

[podkarpatska]

What an amazing thread hijack...guys.
But glad to see it back on track

Thanks for the replies and input.

I thought it was going to be more of a historical documentary about things from the Bible but it seems to be largely a cheesy reenactment. I was hoping the New Testament part would feature some historically accurate information about the early Church.  Guess we will have to wait and see, although I wlooont be holding my breath.

Thus far I do not see it markedly better than attempts from Hollywood in the past. It's just updated a bit for today's non-scripture reading audience. But we've nine weeks to go.

It has far less "artistic" embellishment than usual.  Of course, taking up Tradition to fill in the story has been passed up.

Btw, I'm waiting to see if Maccabbees is included.

I wonder how a Russian production team using the same technology would produce a similar series for their large, mass audience with Orthodox advisers on the script? I suspect this series will be sold by History to a Russian network and be dubbed though.

[Shiny]

What's a NES?

You got to be kidding me.


Does this mean nothing to you?!



But I can imagine that you were probably a pro at Donkey Kong or Pac-Man in the arcades right?

[Shiny]

dude..we just connected on levels you can't even possibly understand.  I can't even explain to you the hours we would play ocarina of time, we would even watch 1 guy play for hours!  and then goldeneye...dude those were tournaments we are still talking about today! 

nice to know others prized it as much as we did. 

This is awesome to hear Father!

Goldeneye was the mainstay until Perfect Dark came along.

Super Smash Bros on the N64 united our neighborhood.

[Αριστοκλής]

You must be related to the other Achronos of internet gamer fame, but he's 35 years old and still plays.

May as well join the hijack.

[Shiny]

You must be related to the other Achronos of internet gamer fame, but he's 35 years old and still plays.

May as well join the hijack.

Who?

If you are talking about the guy who worked for Bungie, then yes I know him.

Fun fact: average age of gamers is 30.

[serb1389]

dude..we just connected on levels you can't even possibly understand.  I can't even explain to you the hours we would play ocarina of time, we would even watch 1 guy play for hours!  and then goldeneye...dude those were tournaments we are still talking about today! 

nice to know others prized it as much as we did. 

This is awesome to hear Father!

Goldeneye was the mainstay until Perfect Dark came along.

Super Smash Bros on the N64 united our neighborhood.

SSB UNITED US TOO!  that's so funny man.  We never got into Perfect Dark...i prefered the nostalgia of knowing every level & just that perfect game-play for players of all levels. 

[Shiny]

dude..we just connected on levels you can't even possibly understand.  I can't even explain to you the hours we would play ocarina of time, we would even watch 1 guy play for hours!  and then goldeneye...dude those were tournaments we are still talking about today! 

nice to know others prized it as much as we did. 

This is awesome to hear Father!

Goldeneye was the mainstay until Perfect Dark came along.

Super Smash Bros on the N64 united our neighborhood.

SSB UNITED US TOO!  that's so funny man.  We never got into Perfect Dark...i prefered the nostalgia of knowing every level & just that perfect game-play for players of all levels. 

We played a lot of Basement, Aztec, and Facility. The later was always my favorite.

I always picked Jaws as my character, and folks that didn't know how good I was scoffed at me. Well ranking number 1 in the kills sileneced any criticsm of choosing him.

Slappers only CTF hahahahaha...

My favorite weapon has got to be the remote mines. There was a multiplayer level where you get to play in the prison cells and outside in the snow, and you could glitch the mines to hang in a certain room.

I liked planting mines on the vent shaft to camo them.

[dcommini]

A: Don't have cable so I couldn't watch this show... not sure if I even want to

B: Ocarina of Time best Zelda ever? Best Zelda ever.

[serb1389]

dude..we just connected on levels you can't even possibly understand.  I can't even explain to you the hours we would play ocarina of time, we would even watch 1 guy play for hours!  and then goldeneye...dude those were tournaments we are still talking about today! 

nice to know others prized it as much as we did. 

This is awesome to hear Father!

Goldeneye was the mainstay until Perfect Dark came along.

Super Smash Bros on the N64 united our neighborhood.

SSB UNITED US TOO!  that's so funny man.  We never got into Perfect Dark...i prefered the nostalgia of knowing every level & just that perfect game-play for players of all levels. 

We played a lot of Basement, Aztec, and Facility. The later was always my favorite.

I always picked Jaws as my character, and folks that didn't know how good I was scoffed at me. Well ranking number 1 in the kills sileneced any criticsm of choosing him.

Slappers only CTF hahahahaha...

My favorite weapon has got to be the remote mines. There was a multiplayer level where you get to play in the prison cells and outside in the snow, and you could glitch the mines to hang in a certain room.

I liked planting mines on the vent shaft to camo them.

I am aswim in the milk that is nostalgia my friend.  you are taking me WAY back.  

On Station, you can get some pretty good sniping done from being in the train, which I always enjoyed.  Also on Jungle there were a whole bunch of great spots to pick people off, especially with the silencer on.  

[Shiny]

B: Ocarina of Time best Zelda ever? Best Zelda ever.

Majora's Mask would like a word with you.

[Shiny]

On Station, you can get some pretty good sniping done from being in the train, which I always enjoyed.  Also on Jungle there were a whole bunch of great spots to pick people off, especially with the silencer on.  

Man I don't even remember those maps. Was Cradle one of them?

I remember we used to mod the game using a GameShark to do all sorts of stuff. Like accessing the hidden island on Dam.

[That person]

I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Please tell me this is just a hanger-on of vocabulary from another era?

I know of one person who still tapes things and then that weirdo transfers them to DVDs. He has a VHS to DVD recorder. And I think he just got it last year to update his video collection.

I was born in the 90s and I say "tape." I think it's sort of like "dialing" phone numbers or whatever.

[Shiny]

I would appreciate it if you didn't shatter my image of Isa owning a VHS player, that person...

[That person]

Yeah, that is funnier, isn't it? My apologies.

[Eastern Mind]

B: Ocarina of Time best Zelda ever? Best Zelda ever.

Majora's Mask would like a word with you.

You shouldn't have done that...

[serb1389]

On Station, you can get some pretty good sniping done from being in the train, which I always enjoyed.  Also on Jungle there were a whole bunch of great spots to pick people off, especially with the silencer on.  

Man I don't even remember those maps. Was Cradle one of them?

I remember we used to mod the game using a GameShark to do all sorts of stuff. Like accessing the hidden island on Dam.

OMG GameShark was so awesome!  GameGenie was absolutely fun too. when everyone got unlimited amo & unlimited weapons.  made it so much more fun. 

[Eastern Mind]

And then suddenly, big hair man from Ancient Aliens pops in to give his opinion...

[orthonorm]

I was quite pleased my son wanted it taped.

Please tell me this is just a hanger-on of vocabulary from another era?

I know of one person who still tapes things and then that weirdo transfers them to DVDs. He has a VHS to DVD recorder. And I think he just got it last year to update his video collection.

I was born in the 90s and I say "tape." I think it's sort of like "dialing" phone numbers or whatever.

Dialing is pagan. Repent from your invocation of false gods.

To think of it, I can't remember when someone mentioned dialing a number in recent years. They call it or the person or organization.

[Punch]

And then suddenly, big hair man from Ancient Aliens pops in to give his opinion...

[vamrat]

From what I have been hearing from friends and family, I think that I am getting more spiritual gratification from The Walking Dead.  Plus, I hear The Vikings is more worthwhile as well.

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