Nativity Angels Disarmed After Negative Publicity
By Patrick Goodenough
CNS London Bureau Chief
08 December, 1999
London (CNSNews.com) - In an attempt to make the Christian faith "relevant" 2,000 years after Jesus' birth, a British church is planning a nativity play with a James Bond theme, featuring black-clad "special agent" angels engaged in "Operation Emmanuel."
Earlier plans for the angels to be armed with plastic imitations of Bond's particular weapon of choice, the Walther PPK, and gun down anyone who opposed the spreading of the news of the Messiah's birth was abandoned after negative media publicity. Some reports dubbed the play "Godfinger."
A spokesman for Anglican Archbishop George Carey - in whose diocese the church falls - said the archbishop had voiced concerns.
The play's director, Alis Vile, said the idea was simply to use the modern equivalent of the fiery swords the Bible says angels wielded.
"People should realize that angels are not fairies ... angels are not tutued and tinseled little cherubs of most nativity plays, but God's warriors."
"There was a suggestion that the angels should be armed like 007, but there will be no gun-toting on stage," Vile said.
The reworked plot was an attempt to make the nativity story relevant to the 10 to 14-year-olds involved in the play, to be staged at an Anglican church in Canterbury on December 19.
The church's curate, Phil Cansdale, said the modern retelling of the Christmas story "brings relevance to the story in an age when many people are saying the Church is irrelevant."
By Patrick Goodenough
CNS London Bureau Chief
08 December, 1999
London (CNSNews.com) - In an attempt to make the Christian faith "relevant" 2,000 years after Jesus' birth, a British church is planning a nativity play with a James Bond theme, featuring black-clad "special agent" angels engaged in "Operation Emmanuel."
Earlier plans for the angels to be armed with plastic imitations of Bond's particular weapon of choice, the Walther PPK, and gun down anyone who opposed the spreading of the news of the Messiah's birth was abandoned after negative media publicity. Some reports dubbed the play "Godfinger."
A spokesman for Anglican Archbishop George Carey - in whose diocese the church falls - said the archbishop had voiced concerns.
The play's director, Alis Vile, said the idea was simply to use the modern equivalent of the fiery swords the Bible says angels wielded.
"People should realize that angels are not fairies ... angels are not tutued and tinseled little cherubs of most nativity plays, but God's warriors."
"There was a suggestion that the angels should be armed like 007, but there will be no gun-toting on stage," Vile said.
The reworked plot was an attempt to make the nativity story relevant to the 10 to 14-year-olds involved in the play, to be staged at an Anglican church in Canterbury on December 19.
The church's curate, Phil Cansdale, said the modern retelling of the Christmas story "brings relevance to the story in an age when many people are saying the Church is irrelevant."