MovieChat Forums > The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008) Discussion > Anyone surprised by the lack of Christia...

Anyone surprised by the lack of Christian themes?

posted 16 years ago by supermario-2000
23 replies | jump to latest

I saw the movie on Sunday with my little boy and we had big fun! The movie as a whole was pretty entertaining and I liked it lots. But I couldn't help but notice that this Veggietales movie was lacking in Christian themes.

By comparison the Jonah movie was trying to espouse the complex concepts of Compassion and Mercy through the biblical story of Jonah. And they did an excellent job of letting the viewer (including very young kids) learn the importance of these concepts and the need to use them in everyday life.

I'm not entirely sure what I was supposed to have gleamed from this movie. I understand the problematic issues were timidity, lazyness, and low self-confidence, but it seemed that these issues were never fully discussed and why it is important to overcome these traits. And it seemed as if it was too wrapped up in what it takes to be a hero.

I understand that it is my job as a parent to make sure my kids understand this (and I will). It's just that VeggieTales has always been so good about addressing moral quandaries. It's one of the many reasons why we all watch them.

I also understand that not every VeggieTales story is based on the bible (and I don't expect them to be either.) But even when they weren't, they were always related back to God. I could be wrong, but I don't think they mentioned God even once in the film. How can you have VeggieTales without God?

I guees it feels as if Big Idea is trying to go mainstream and garner a wider audience by toning down the God factor. But that's what made VeggieTales so special in the first place. When you remove God from VeggieTales, it becomes just another kid's movie.

[–] fruits_basket_freak 16 years ago

But God was in the movie. The king was there to represent God. The main point was that if we trust in God, then we can do even those things we think we can't.

Don't get the name? Check out this series: http://imdb.com/title/tt0328738/

[–] TheConfounder 16 years ago

The King represented God. The blind guy at the dinner theater was a prophet. The gourd gets out of the cave (darkness) by finding the light. The moral is deciding to do what is right instead of doing nothing and sticking to it, which is a message of fighting slothfulness.
If you missed the morality and Christian themes, well, then you had your eyes closed. Did you also miss the Christian themes in Lord of the Beans?

What can I say? I was raised by wolves.

[–] rufustfirefly 16 years ago

Agreed. It is teeming with Christian themes.

[–] supermario-2000 16 years ago

Well, your arguments make sense. In the past, VeggieTales has always been so straight-forward with their messages. Almost too much so. I just can't see too many kids in theatres making those connections about who represents what. Who knew you were supposed to be analyzing talking vegetables for deeper meanings?

Perhaps growing up in the 80s I've just seen too many kid's movies where you're required to check your brain at the door.

[–] jashobeam5 16 years ago

I would rather have seen obvious references to God like Bible verses, Bible characters, anything other than a hidden message.

[–] Zudrak 16 years ago

I had no problem with the movie "as is". I don't need Veggie Tales to preach every time they release a movie or video.

This movie was much like the Book of Esther. It never mentions God, per se, but His hand is seen moving things along and guiding the characters.

I think the movie was brilliant for its change of pace. No spoonfeeding is necessary -- I could explain the Christian themes to my 5 year old afterwards and I think that's where this movie succeeds: it makes for a great post-movie conversation between parents and children where the children learn how God, just like in the real world, works without being seen because He works in His own way "behind the scenes." That's what I got out of it. YMMV.

[–] kamelot3201 16 years ago

Maybe that's the problem with today's religions. Faith isn't always just handed out in obvious forms. God DOES test those that he feels has something meaningful to contribute, (Abraham and his son Isaac comes to mind) it's choosing to follow blindly when there is no clear path...

[–] chilledout247 15 years ago

I would rather have seen obvious references to God like Bible verses, Bible characters, anything other than a hidden message.-Quote from jashobean

Well, if this is the case, have them read the bible. The whole point of films like this is to apply morals and messages to real life situations and to do so in a more subtle way, while also entertaining the viewer. If you just want straight forward Bible verses and characters, go to church or watch a movie that is a direct Bible story(10 commandments?), don't look to a cartoon about talking vegetables to completely teach your kids about your religion of choice. They use Christian themes because they want to reinforce them and show how they still apply today, not because they want to be a reenactment of the Bible.

[–] christina-hass 16 years ago

I can understand the concern regarding the Christian theme. But that is also the complaint that was used for C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia.

I am in no way saying that the VeggieTales are in the same caliber (though an excellent ministry and highly entertaining!), but I do think that we as Christians need to open up our minds a little. Here is an allegory to the care and love of God for his children. The children are seeking their Father. The Father comes to save them from evil. Ring a bell?

Maybe we as Christians need to stop nit-picking over the fact that they were not pounding heads with Bibles, and be THANKFUL that they are reaching out to the mainstream and inviting others to view a Christian based form of entertainment.

[–] supermario-2000 16 years ago

"Maybe we as Christians need to stop nit-picking over the fact that they were not pounding heads with Bibles, and be THANKFUL that they are reaching out to the mainstream and inviting others to view a Christian based form of entertainment. "

Now that I can get behind! Thanks christina-hass!

[–] macmic6 16 years ago

Perhaps we should all remember that Christ often spoke in parables. C.S. Lewis did the same. Christ is preached in many ways. The important thing is for Christians to be in harmony with each other, which is God's will.

[–] ehutter 16 years ago

No, I'm not surprized and neither should anyone who's watched the series. While Veggi Tales is a good values driven family oriented series, it has ALWAYS been Gospel-lite. Even in the Big Idea days it was moral in its teachings but never Christ-centered. The "god" it sometimes mentioned could be any "god" and therefore no god at all. So you can't be "Christian-themed" without Christ. I do recommend it for families, but don't get the idea that it was ever Christian. A person from ANY religion or NO religion could accept anything they are presenting. And I think that's the point of it. Vischer and Nawicki may be Christian, I don't know, but their product has never been Christian. It is not anti-Christian either its just sort of neutral. I guess what I'm trying to say is that while good and wholesome and all that, you bring your own values to watching it (as you should). If you are Christian you do see some Bible themes intertwined into the stories, but never to you get the Gospel, its all Law; and in pseudo Christian America the Law sells. That's what sold it to the conglomerate that bought Big Idea, and why you can find it on cable/dish tv, it is non-specific in it application of moral platitudes. I used the VBS series based on the movie this summer and while it was gospel-lite too, I could import it and speak about Jesus Christ, when Bob and Larry couldn't or didn't.

[–] Vargur 16 years ago

This is a religious cartoon?? What's the world coming to...

[–] Mordraneth 16 years ago

Meh....I guess Christians need talking vegetables to get their message across now since pedophile priests, confused ministers, delusional teachers and crotchety ol'nuns just don't do it anymore.

I mean I know if I had a cucumber start talking Jesus stuff to me I would scream "Jesus Christ, God in Heaven!!!!" while I was stomping it into relish.....

[–] slyn4ice 16 years ago

Mordraneth - you are my man (or woman)!!! Brief but to the point. Oh, and by the way if any of the Christians here (capital C, as with any other life-threatening disease) want to re-educate themselves, hit Hitchens (or many other truly enlightened men and women). I recommend the 2007 debate/book opening of Hitchen's book "God is not great, how religion poisons everything" with him and Al Sharpton. Available here: http://fora.tv/2007/05/07/Al_Sharpton_and_Christopher_Hitchens

Saludos a todos.

[–] arstudio-2 16 years ago

No I not (thankful maybe), but I am surprised that there still are so many people that believe in God (in the form that humans have contrived him to be)

Quite scary actually

[–] revoxir 16 years ago

I really think these kind of christian kidlike proganda films shouldnt even be rated on imdb, they really dont fall into the category of a movie, they are simple propaganda tools to make children believe this or that.

[–] hedgielady 16 years ago

Revo, I don't know that I'd call this a christian propaganda films. Sure, Christian themes can be found in it by those willing to consider such, but it's not going out there and preaching "Believe in God and Christ!" Quite honestly, I'm an atheist, and I enjoyed this movie. I can see where Christians would also enjoy the movie, true, but it's not a religious propaganda movie. It's about the human spirit or soul, yes, but that doesn't have to be taken in a Christian context.

If anything comes out of this movie other than simple entertainment, though, I'd be quite happy to have any child I love learn the lesson that you don't have to be perfect to be a "hero" to someone. There's a line in there, I can't quote it exactly, but it goes "It's not about being the best looking, the strongest, or the smartest. It's about doing what you believe is right and not giving up just because things get tough." How is that a bad message for *anyone* to learn? Too many people think that if you don't automatically succeed at something, then you can't do it. We're told by some school systems that "Failure isn't an option." That's meant to be positive, but who is going to teach our youth that failure isn't an end, that we can triumph over things, though they may require a struggle? I'd rather my loved ones learn that lesson, to keep trying to do what's right, to never give up on your goals.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] timothysbickel 15 years ago

the story from the bible in this movie i believe is when lucifer (the brother) tried to overthrow god (the king) and he was cast out of heaven. then lucifer tried to come back to take over the kingdom again using cannons (the special technology, the mines)