www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Mel Gibson Making Movie About Armenian Genocide ?

I having trouble finding an official statement, but Armenian websites and blogs are a buzz with claims that Mel Gibson's Icon Productions are planning on making a movie about the Armenian Genocide. http://www.armtown.com/news/en/yer/20071128/33113/

What another movie on the Armenian Genocide? How could any movie top the one by Arminian-Canadian director Atom Egoyan.
It won 5 Genie Awards including Best Picture.
The title is Ararat.

I very much hope and pray that Mel Gibson will make such a film. I'm a bit startled at the thought of one or more Arminian-Canadians; what do they teach about soteriology?

But I would like to see Atom Egoyan's film on the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians. How can I obtain it - preferably on DVD?

Fr. Serge

Perhaps, I am missing something here... why are you startled? Are there no Methodists in Canada?

I'd like a copy of this film as well. I hope the rumors about Gibson are true. We could use a film about this that someone outside of Orest has heard of.

CDL

There are probably Methodists in Canada, though I don't remember runnng across them. But are the Methodists Arminians?

Then again, it's likely that a lot of Methodists joined the United Church of Canada. To the extent that the United Church of Canada has any soteriology, it's probably Arminian.

Anyway, I'm delighted that you also caught the reference!

Fr. Serge

It may not top it but there is no doubt it will reach a wider audience.

Yes, Fr. Serge, Methodism is Arminian.

Sorry, I can't tell if you're joking or not by asking. I thought I'd venture an answer anyway just in case you weren't.

Alexis

"There are probably Methodists in Canada, though I don't remember runnng across them. But are the Methodists Arminians?"

At a Protestant school some guy asked me, "So, are you Calvinist or Arminian?" I said that I was neither. He didn't know what to say, but he backed away slowly.

Terry

Since Calvinism is an utter and absolute blasphemy, inasmuch
as it maintains that God wills that certain people be damned,
I say "right on" to the Arminians, whoever they may be.

Edmac

I'm really more interested in the Armenians.

CDL

Dear Logos-Alexis,

My question was actually serious - I'm not acquainted with the fine points of Methodist theology.

Fr. Serge

Actually, I don't think the United Church believes much of anything . . .

Arminianism was condemned by Calvinism for its emphasis on "works."

Arminianism was supported by John Wesley who described himself as such. Typically, Wesley prayed one to three hours morning and night, prayed at the Apostlic hours of nine, noon and three, fasted a great deal, read the Fathers of the Church widely, attended Holy Communion, gave thousands of dollars to charity and, oh yes, then there was all that missionary preaching work of his . . .

And, as Fr. Keleher can attest, Wesley actually considered received Orders from Greek Orthodoxy . . .

Alex

Dear Professor Dan,

That's good - I'm working on legislatioin to formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide here. Many Armenian refugees from that genocide came to live in Toronto and Ontario.

Alex

From a Turkish site

Gibson urged to reject film with Armenian allegations
The Foundation for the Struggle Against Baseless Allegations of Genocide (ASİMED) has begun an e-mail campaign to try and dissuade actor Mel Gibson from playing a role in a film that underscores claıms of an alleged genocide of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I.



The president of ASİMED and faculty member at Atat�rk University�s history department, Professor Savaş Eğilmez, said in order to raise support internationally for Armenian allegations, various Armenian diaspora groups had set aside a fund of $100 million and this money had been given to Hollywood film production companies to encourage the making of such a film. Eğilmez noted that more than one such Hollywood company is preparing to shoot a film supporting the Armenian view. �It is now being said that actor Mel Gibson is to play a role in one of these films. There is a push to have the film shot at Icon Productions, the company Gibson is a partner in,� said Eğilmez.
Stallone changed his mind

Eğilmez noted that a similar situation occurred recently when Sylvester Stallone announced his plans to play a role in a new film adaptation of the book �The Forty Days of Musa Dagh.� After a campaign led by ASİMED in which more than 3,000 e-mails were sent to Stallone, the actor declined the role. �Stallone decided not to act in this film after the e-mail campaign we led. The European press also expressed concerns about the book�s accuracy. We have begun sending documents about the truth of the situation to Gibson. We started an e-mail campaign to urge him to decline the role and to not allow this film to be shot at his production company. What we are facing is a new slander campaign on the level of the �Midnight Express�. Everyone needs to be sensitive and aware on this topic. We need to put pressure on this famous actor by telling him the truth of the matter,� stated Eğilmez.