Avoid the movie "Office christmas party"

[mikekle]

I usually like movies that have the cast from SNL in them, but this one, I had to turn it off, it was way too blasphemous, even for me.

They actually had people dressed up like Mary and Joseph, and even the baby Jesus, at this party, they were drinking, drugging, casual sex with strangers, etc. It was just too much for me.

The funny thing is though, they go to this extreme, but then they had all the characters implying how much they love Christmas, and showed them helping others out, giving money away, trying to save jobs, general kindness towards others, etc…I dont get it? They can depict the mother of Christ chugging beer and dancing, but then have characters doing ‘the right thing’, having morals, ethics…?

Im sorry but if someone is that anti-God/ anti-christian, why would they be concerned with helping others, doing good, and basically trying to be a good person?

I really wish the church would start to address things like this, what ‘Christmas’ has become today. each year I hope our priest will flat out instruct people to avoid retailers and buying gifts this time of year, but instead they make it seem very tame and lighthearted.

 

[ArielRussu]

Im sorry but if someone is that anti-God/ anti-christian, why would they be concerned with helping others, doing good, and basically trying to be a good person?.

Probably because people don’t have to be a Christian to be a good person and want to make a positive impact on the world. Being a good person and wanting too help others is not dependent on religious beliefs, atheists believe it or not can be good people simple because they like being helpful and making others feel good.

 

[RomanoAmerio]

Probably because people don’t have to be a Christian to be a good person and want to make a positive impact on the world. Being a good person and wanting too help others is not dependent on religious beliefs, atheists believe it or not can be good people simple because they like being helpful and making others feel good.

Dear ArielRussu,

It is true that even non-believers or non-Christians may do “good deeds” by worldly standards.

However, Saint Augustine teaches that such deeds are without merit if they are done without the grace of God. Only He can inspire and direct us to do truly good deeds. (The idea is not something he originated - it can be found in the book of Isaiah and the Pauline Epistles - but he is the one who set it forth most lucidly.)

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

There’s a tendency in adult comedies to continually up the ante. I doubt it’s so much that the movie is trying to be “anti-Christian” so much as they’re trying to be wild and off the wall.

I’m not saying it’s not in poor taste, and you probably should avoid it (both for those reasons and because it’s supposedly just not a very good comedy) but I doubt they are actually intending to make some kind of serious anti-Christian point.

 

[mikekle]

IDk, they are making a mockery of Christmas, something that is supposed to be very special to christians, and sadly they are succeeding…today Christmas is about gifts, and a time to make money for the retail world, I think thats what is most blasphemous, taking advantage of this holiday for the sake of profit and greed, imo that may be the most sinful part.

If 'christmas did not involve the exchange of gifts, do you all think it would be as popular and celebrated as it is today?

If this is what ‘christmas’ looks like in 2017, what will it look like in 20, 50, 100 yrs?

And really Im not sure what to make of those trying to do good that also seem to be content living in sin…I thought sin and immorality in general was progressive, how could someone content living such a sinful life, go on to care about others, strive to help and do good, wouldnt they eventually spiral down to a point where none of this matters to them?

Its things like this that are implying you can be happy and fulfilled living in sin…thats not really possible, is it?

 

[randomuser]

IDk, they are making a mockery of Christmas, something that is supposed to be very special to christians, and sadly they are succeeding…today Christmas is about gifts, and a time to make money for the retail world, I think thats what is most blasphemous, taking advantage of this holiday for the sake of profit and greed, imo that may be the most sinful part.

If 'christmas did not involve the exchange of gifts, do you all think it would be as popular and celebrated as it is today?

If this is what ‘christmas’ looks like in 2017, what will it look like in 20, 50, 100 yrs?

And really Im not sure what to make of those trying to do good that also seem to be content living in sin…I thought sin and immorality in general was progressive, how could someone content living such a sinful life, go on to care about others, strive to help and do good, wouldnt they eventually spiral down to a point where none of this matters to them?

Its things like this that are implying you can be happy and fulfilled living in sin…thats not really possible, is it?

That movie, IIRC, tanked badly. Gone from theaters in a few weeks. To the issue at hand, do we really want government or the church making pronouncements on a film’s content? The First Amendment gives any artist the freedom to be as blasphemous as they want.

 

[Beryllos]

To the issue at hand, do we really want government or the church making pronouncements on a film’s content? The First Amendment gives any artist the freedom to be as blasphemous as they want.

I think the issue at hand is the corruption of Christmas. The government certainly doesn’t have to get involved. The OP was wondering why bishops and pastors don’t say much about it.

But we don’t have to sit around and wait for someone else. We can talk with the people around us, like we are doing here, about what Christmas really means, and how modern society has got it wrong.

 

[edwest2]

I think the issue at hand is the corruption of Christmas. The government certainly doesn’t have to get involved. The OP was wondering why bishops and pastors don’t say much about it.

But we don’t have to sit around and wait for someone else. We can talk with the people around us, like we are doing here, about what Christmas really means, and how modern society has got it wrong.

Well said. We, the laity, have a role to play. Mocking Christmas is not a good thing. We should encourage others to avoid anything that corrupts the true Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Ed

 

[ArielRussu]

Dear ArielRussu,

It is true that even non-believers or non-Christians may do “good deeds” by worldly standards.

However, Saint Augustine teaches that such deeds are without merit if they are done without the grace of God. Only He can inspire and direct us to do truly good deeds. (The idea is not something he originated - it can be found in the book of Isaiah and the Pauline Epistles - but he is the one who set it forth most lucidly.)

An athiest who saves someone from being raped, or gives money to charities because they want to help those less fortunate or who opens doors from people is doing a good deed. Just because they aren’t religious does not mean there deed has no merit or that there good deed was any less good than that of a Christian or Catholic or Jew who did the same act.

 

[edwest2]

An athiest who saves someone from being raped, or gives money to charities because they want to help those less fortunate or who opens doors from people is doing a good deed. Just because they aren’t religious does not mean there deed has no merit or that there good deed was any less good than that of a Christian or Catholic or Jew who did the same act.

A good is a good dead, no matter what religion, or even if from a non-religious background. These deeds do have merit. At the same time, all should realize that after we die, we will be subject to judgement - not human judgement but judgement by God.

We - everyone - should be wary of statements like “Good without God.” As a Catholic, it is my responsibility to tell others that there is a living God.

Ed

 

[ClearWater]

I usually like movies that have the cast from SNL in them, but this one, I had to turn it off, it was way too blasphemous, even for me.

They actually had people dressed up like Mary and Joseph, and even the baby Jesus, at this party, they were drinking, drugging, casual sex with strangers, etc. It was just too much for me.

The funny thing is though, they go to this extreme, but then they had all the characters implying how much they love Christmas, and showed them helping others out, giving money away, trying to save jobs, general kindness towards others, etc…I dont get it? They can depict the mother of Christ chugging beer and dancing, but then have characters doing ‘the right thing’, having morals, ethics…?

Im sorry but if someone is that anti-God/ anti-christian, why would they be concerned with helping others, doing good, and basically trying to be a good person?

I really wish the church would start to address things like this, what ‘Christmas’ has become today. each year I hope our priest will flat out instruct people to avoid retailers and buying gifts this time of year, but instead they make it seem very tame and lighthearted.

Thanks! Point taken. If/when that movie comes here on NetFlix, I will make a point not to watch it.

 

[tomarin]

Anyway, it’s long past Christmas so even if it were any good, what would be the point? Better to see an Easter-themed bacchanal-centered movie.

 

[RomanoAmerio]

An athiest who saves someone from being raped, or gives money to charities because they want to help those less fortunate or who opens doors from people is doing a good deed. Just because they aren’t religious does not mean there deed has no merit or that there good deed was any less good than that of a Christian or Catholic or Jew who did the same act.

Dear ArielRussu,

It may be a good deed, but it is unprofitable towards one’s eternal destiny.

On the other hand, such a deed may be an early sign of God’s grace at work - but even then, it is possible for such an individual to resist that grace in the future.

Salvation is not of works. To assume this is to fall into the worst excesses of Pelagianism and Indifferentism.

 

[mikekle]

A good is a good dead, no matter what religion, or even if from a non-religious background. These deeds do have merit. At the same time, all should realize that after we die, we will be subject to judgement - not human judgement but judgement by God.

We - everyone - should be wary of statements like “Good without God.” As a Catholic, it is my responsibility to tell others that there is a living God.

Ed

I guess its similar to those ‘faith healings’, the people suffering, DO get healed and they are helped, but I think its the source of that healing/ help, that is the problem ultimately.

So people going around doing good deeds (for whatever reason), people may benefit greatly from their help, but God probably does not see it that way, if it was done ‘without him’.

 

[tomarin]

Good advice. I saw on an airplane parts of ‘Sisters’ (I believe it was called) starring SNL alums Tina Fey and Amy Poehler cast against type (Fey was the wild, outrageous one this time) and it also revolved around a bacchanal where everyone ‘goes wild.’ It’s a pretty tired formula and it doesn’t always guarantee hilarity will ensue on cue. I guess the Bachelor Party movies are a more successful version of this worn-out trope.