Why is the work of Roma Downey and Mark Burnett in their “Bible” and A.D. the Bible Continues series finding such followings?
Why are we seeing a growing movement of redemptive movies in Hollywood, across the country, and around the world? Could it be that this work provides Hope through faith in the God of the Bible, who provides Truth and absolute, universal values that lead to meaningful life for all people?
On April 19 Roma Downey shares preview videos, an update, and a prelude with her supporters for tonight’s review airing of episode two and the new airing of episode three of A.D. the Bible Continues on NBC.
She also shares a long list of auxiliary Bible study helpers to go along with the series such the following; The Revolution That Changed the World by pastor Dr. David Jeremiah; The Book of Acts: The Incredible Story of the First Followers of Jesus, according to the Bible by pastor Dr. David Jeremiah; Official A.D. Church Kit (Designed for pastors to be used as a 12-week church campaign, including sermons from respected Bible teachers and access to video clips) and more. These auxiliary Bible study tools are encouraging a following among Bible-believing viewers, but more fundamentally than the extra learning tools, is the fact that the A.D. series conveys hope even in the midst of trials and hardships.
Movie and television films can portray hope or hopelessness. Basically, stories in movies are based on worldviews. Worldviews today fall into two basic categories that Dr. Peter Jones has categorized as “oneism” or “twoism.” The first,”oneism,” is a closed system (pantheistic monism) and the second is a “twoism” (that includes a creature and creator).
In the first there is only man, the creature, with no moral absolutes and with relativity of values. This includes humanism in which man is the measure of all things. In the second there is man, the creature, and a good, loving God, the creator who sovereignly governs the world by absolute physical and moral principles revealed in His incarnate Word (Jesus Christ) and in His God-breathed Word, the Bible.
Adam Levy as Peter; Photo Courtesy of NBC.
In the first basic worldview there is no hope other than what seems good or feels good to each individual person, which can lead to a conflict of wills. In the second there is hope that when men align themselves with eternal true universal principles beyond man, they can find meaning, peace, and an abundant life (as Jesus said).
This second worldview is that of Roma Downey’s and Mark Burnett’s series The Bible and A.D. The Bible Continues, as well as that of many redemptive, faith-based, Christian movies and television programs today. In our dark world of horrible brutality, terrorism, and cruel domination, this Hope is sorely needed. Many are finding their way to this Hope by redemptive, faith-based, and Christian movies that present the reality of Infinite, Good, Loving, Truth in God outside of and beyond finite, relativistic, self-oriented man.
NBC provides online ongoing updates on episodes in the weekly Sunday evening series of 12 weeks. They also provide ongoing auxiliary tools for more in-depth historical and Biblical study related to these episodes. On IMDb (internet movie database where viewers can rate the series) NBC summarizes the series in the following way, ” A.D. picks up where the smash hit, The Bible, left off, continuing the greatest story ever told and exploring the exciting and inspiring events that followed the Crucifixion of Christ.
Principal cast members together at the premiere of A.D.; Photo Courtesy of NBC.
As most of the world knows, the Crucifixion was only the beginning of the story. The immediate aftermath of Christ’s death had a massive impact on his disciples, his mother Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the era, completely altering the entire world…Watch as the disciples struggle to survive and share their beliefs, guiding us from the sorrow of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice to the awe-inspiring wonder of the Resurrection and beyond. From Executive Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett comes an uplifting spiritual journey through the later chapters of biblical history.”
In ongoing exclusive communication and interviews with this writer with leaders in successful redemptive movies and television with a “twoism” Biblical worldview, they have shared what is on the horizon for more and more redemptive and hopeful movies and television programs. Stay tuned for more about upcoming projects and exclusive interviews.
Written by Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performance Studies), dianehoward.com
“A.D. The Bible Continues” with Juan Pablo Di Pace Interview on Faith & Hollywood
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