Comments on: Bob And Larry Broke?

By: Cayenne

Cayenne — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oh my, Big Idea was struggling as a company? I didn’t know that,they seemed very successful, but I guess the cost of all the equipment they use to make the video’s outweighed the profit. That still amazes me, I am really glad they are still continuing with it though, Veggie tales has been a huge success everywhere I go.

By: Mac Swift

Mac Swift — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

There IS a God!!!

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve been looking for this news since I read about their losing a lawsuit. I’m glad it’s only a financial problem and that they are able to continue making stories. It shows the need for business wisdom to lead a company.

I take it Swift doesn’t like them.

By: Michael_in_TN

Michael_in_TN — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil / Robert,

Why would Mac not like Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie? After all, it just takes an Old Testament story about sin, repentance, and God’s grace and turns it into a Hollywood comedy. No sex, violence, or bad language. It’s all good, right?

Regarding the sins of the Ninevites: “They lie! They steal! But worst of all, they slap people with fishes!” Sure is funny! Let’s all laugh at the wickedness of Nineveh.

I’d rather teach my kids to true story of Jonah and look at sin in a very serious manner, deserving of God’s wrath and not a subject of humor.

Question: How does the VeggieTale portrayal of Jonah (and Khalil) in the whale’s belly give an accurate “sign” of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to your kids?
Here’s a link on ReThinking VeggieTales and another one here

The key statement is this:
“As much as we want to teach, as much as parents want us to teach lessons to their kids, and as much as we want to put impressive images on a screen, we never forget that we are in the entertainment business. And if our movies don’t first entertain a whole family, it doesn’t matter what else we’ve tried to do, because they’re not going to be there. They’re going to be out of the room.” – Phil Vischer, Baptist Press 10-2-02

Summary: Entertainment more important than Scripture.

Wow, Mac, you are good!

Michael

By: Jared

Jared — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Summary: Entertainment more important than Scripture.

What a bad “translation.” Vischer does not say or mean this at all. He simply means that they are an entertainment company, so that’s what they make. He would certainly agree that a person should get his Bible from the Bible.
They make cartoons for kids. No one believes they are straight Bible teaching.
Personally, I am glad for cartoons that use biblical ideas in their entertainment. But I’m sure that’s no surprise to anyone who already thinks I’m a worldly compromiser using a watered-down Bible version.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

By Mac and Michael’s logic, I suppose children’s Bibles are also bad. This would mean that ANY adaptation or retelling of Biblical stories was by definition an abomination. The only acceptable presentation would be man reading the entire Biblical story in a very solemn voice.

This is for kids! It leaves some things out, and modifies other things, and creates a fictional story BASED ON the factual Biblical account. It’s entertainment with morals. It’s not a substitute for expositional preaching and Bible teaching. It’s not intended to be.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’d rather teach my kids to true story of Jonah and look at sin in a very serious manner, deserving of God’s wrath and not a subject of humor.

Michael, do you have kids? If so, what ages are they?

By: Michael_in_TN

Michael_in_TN — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Robert,
I have two sons, one is 8 and the other is 2. And yes we have children’s KJV Bibles that have cartoons depicting bibical events.

Jared wrote:
They make cartoons for kids. No one believes they are straight Bible teaching.
Maybe adults, that have read and understand the true doctrines of the Bible, know this. But that isn’t the target audience, is it?
You are saying that teaching a kid that “the consequences of sin is something to laugh at” is OK?

As for Jared’s comment about children’s Bibles being “an abomination”, there is a big difference in simplifing the stories and illustrating events as children’s Bibles do and the perverting of the truth and events that VeggieTales does.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As for Jared’s comment about children’s Bibles being “an abomination”

That was actually my (Robert’s) comment.

You are saying that teaching a kid that “the consequences of sin is something to laugh at” is OK?

I don’t think this is a fair characterization of Veggie Tales. Could you refer me to the particular event and show that you think teaches a child that the consequences of sin is something to laugh at? I’ve never seen that taught in the slightest.

I was watching “Josh and the Big Wall” (which is a good retelling of Joshua at Jericho) and the show addressed your point. At the end, Junior asks Bob “Did the Israelites REALLY build a big rocket and have slushees thrown on their heads?” and Bob says “No. Those were things WE added. We’re using our imaginations, remember?”

By: Michael_in_TN

Michael_in_TN — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

That was actually my (Robert’s) comment.
My apologies to you and Jared.

Could you refer me to the particular event and show that you think teaches a child that the consequences of sin is something to laugh at? I’ve never seen that taught in the slightest.

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
According to the Big Idea website, Jonah set sail on a pirate ship that eventually went “to the heart of Nineveh for a hilarious showdown.” (4th paragraph). Their words, not mine.

And as I wrote the other day:
Regarding the sins of the Ninevites: “They lie! They steal! But worst of all, they slap people with fishes!” Sure is funny! Let’s all laugh at the wickedness of Nineveh.

When is entertainment more important than truth?
Are you saying that Big Idea can only make an entertaining movie by taking a few liberties with the story?