Some of you may have heard about the upcoming episode of Big Love on HBO that is causing more controversy than the show has already created. While the show is supposed to be about a fictitious polygamous family and is not supposed to be about Mormon's, the lines between what is fictional and what is real is taking a significant jump this week. The show is supposed to depict a Hollywood version of the sacred temple ceremonies including the endowment session and the celestial room.
This is significant enough of an issue that the church has released a statement with their stance on the issue. Considering that the show is produced by outspoken Anti-Mormon Tom Hanks and in light of the recent Prop. 8 experience, it seems as this is a blatant act of revenge and a significant "below the belt" attack on sacred religious ceremonies in general. I for one am not going to give the shows producers the satisfaction of writing a letter expressing my displeasure with their decision because I know that is what this is all about. Doing such would be like giving a dog a treat for crapping on the carpet. I don't watch the show so it is no skin off my back directly. However I do feel that it is important to add my voice to those in opposition to such a display. Mocking any religious experience is in bad taste let alone experiences that are held to be most sacred by those who practice them.
Do what you wish, but I chose to "nothing" this despicable display. HBO will not hear from me, nor will I patron their services. I only share my voice of disgust that humans will treat other humans with such disrespect in the name of ratings and revenge.
Update!!! March 11th : HBO now says they are sorry for possibly offending anyone, but they are still going to show the scene because the ceremony is crucial to the story line. Heaven forbid ruin a story line! Funny how they said the show was not about Mormon's, but now they are saying that one of the main characters is going through the temple because her membership in the Mormon church is in question due to her polygamous relationship... funny how HBO lies like that. HBO does say that they are going to do their best to show the temple ceremony accurately and not distort any part of it. THAT IS WHAT IS OFFENSIVE NUMB NUTS! It is a sacred ceremony! If you depicted it wrong at least we can say "they did it wrong" and that it was not accurate. We would have an out! Now people are going to know exactly what goes on! If we wanted everyone to know about the sacred ceremony we would have put it on DVD and sold it at Deseret Book! I want to know which apostate spilled their guts in order to make this scene so "accurate".
Plus how sorry can you be if you are still going to do the thing you are sorry for !? (insert your own parallel here) "Sorry I ran over your kid. I didn't mean to run him over. But just so you know I am going to run over your other kids - and I am sorry that I am running them over too." I think I am more offended by the apology than I am by them showing the temple ceremony. One individual commented, "That the Temple ceremonies are protected intellectual / copyrighted material and the inclusion of them would expose HBO, producers and cable companies to a suit". Is that true? Do you think that the church would sue the producers of the show? Perhaps they should otherwise every joe schmo is going to think they can market the ceremony and sell it.
It's ok to do this becuase it is ok to make fun of Christions. Tom knows that and yes it is clearly a response to the church's beating of prop 8. Pay back can be an ugly game, Tom and HBO should remember that.
ReplyDeleteI learned on my mission that no one can stop the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ from progressing. The harder Satan attempts to thwart the plan of Salvation the more upset he becomes from the lack of success, because he is literally "kicking against the pricks". People will do what they will do, and they will seek to desecrate all that is holy and sacred, but those who have sold their covenants for a pittance will pay for their mistake and I pity the suffering they will have brought upon themselves.
ReplyDeleteYeah this is sick stuff; I wonder if Tom Hanks is consulting Ed Decker and Dave Hunt on his temple ordinance's? I love how Big Hollywood Libs think their being "responsible" by profaining the sacred. Gook luck fighting against God.
ReplyDeleteTom Hanks puts this brouhaha into perspective (and waxes prophetic) at the 3rd season premiere of Big Love:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7JgK_mmEBk
"There's gonna be lies, and secrets, and discoveries, and problems. Television!"
Couldn't agree more. I actually think things like this backfires on them. They put the church in the press and brings interest to a lot of people. Well, hopefully anyway. Tom used to be my favorite actor. If he was in the show, it was usually a great movie. No more. I will never see anything he santions anymore.
ReplyDelete