Of late, i've had some people pestering me to uncover what my "favorite dish" is to eat. The whole episode reminded me of an article in the Smithsonian Magazine last year: Coalition of the Differing. I found the first part on the difference in mindset between the British and Americans most fascinating.

A very thought provoking article The Menace of the Religious Movie, calls to question the validity of drama, especially for use in relaying spiritual truth.

The thing that grabbed me in this article was point number 3, on the violation of sincerity:

Without doubt the most precious thing any man possesses is his individuated being; that by which he is himself and not someone else; that which cannot be finally voided by the man himself nor shared with another.

In order to produce a religious movie someone must, for the time, disguise his individuality and simulate that of another. His actions must be judged fraudulent, and those who watch them with approval share in the fraud. To pretend to pray, to simulate godly sorrow, to play at worship before the camera for effect--how utterly shocking to the reverent heart! How can Christians who approve this gross pretense ever understand the value of sincerity as taught by our Lord? What will be the end of a generation of Christians fed on such a diet of deception disguised as the faith of our fathers?

The etymological lesson on the word hypocrite (actor, to play a part, pretend) finally gave me a concrete way to express my discomfort at the role acting: i hate hypocrisy!

David McNeill gave an excellent talk titled A Pebble, a broomstick, and the color brown on faith and science, or equally on each person's search for God. Applicable, short, and to the point: definitely worth watching! You can also read the transcript.