The producer behind NetflixTranslational Therapy Documentary Pray to leave The film is being defended from criticism by Christians, who believe that the film is one-dimensional and misinterprets Christianity.
Film director Kristine Stolakis told Weekly newspaper Her main purpose in making this documentary was to capture what she described as “the undeniable pain and drama in the conversion therapy movement”.
“I’m not interested in trying the Bible in this movie,” Stolakis said Weekly newspaper. “Behind the coherent part of this cross-organizational movement is the idea that the only way to change is to treat your life as healthy is to go with the flow. This idea is harmful.”
Pray to leaveReleased on August 3 by Netflix, following the ex-leader of Exodus International and the “Pray for Gay Leaving” movement, also known as conversion therapy or restorative therapy. Translational therapy is a counseling and/or psychotherapy practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Behind it is a belief that homosexuality is a mental illness that needs to be cured. Exodus International itself is a former gay Christian umbrella organization that aims to “help people who want to limit their gay desires”, which closed in 2013.
This movie was written by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Glee) Jason Blum is concerned with the destructive results that the leaders of the organization now believe their actions have caused to others. It also emphasized a member’s pursuit of healing and accepting what she said was more than ten years of trauma.
This film is the official choice of the Tribeca Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival, which has received significant media attention. Media channels include time arrive Los Angeles Times Publish articles about it.
Stolakis said that she made this film because she grew up in a religious culture and looked at the pain and trauma in real life experienced by her gay uncle. She said that this culture “taught him He is sick”.
Stolakis said: “This is a wound that will never fully heal for people.” “It creates self-hatred in the deepest and darkest way, and self-harm is part of this movement.”
Netflix
But some Christians, including a former Hollywood insider, said that the film was missing a key segment and described the film as “another unabashed attack on Christianity by Hollywood.”
The writer Becket Cook is a former gay who has worked in Hollywood for decades and achieved remarkable success as a set designer in the fashion industry before dedicating his life to Christ. Changes in feelings: an incredible story of redemption for gay men. Cook has worked for the following major fashion events Fashion with Harper’s Bazaar.
The 53-year-old Cook recently said in a video on his YouTube channel: “The secular world will eagerly appreciate this one-dimensional movie because misunderstandings and mischaracterizations of the Christian life are Hollywood’s favorite pastime.” Mistakes NS. “
This episode, he released after writing an article/review for the movie Gospel Alliance, It has been viewed more than 19,000 times and received more than 600 comments, including one of the support of Christian and singer Chynna Phillips from the vocal group Wilson Phillips.
Cook told Weekly newspaper It is not that he does not recognize the ill-fated mission of Exodus International.
“Exodus International only sees the trees but not the forest, allowing people to prepare for failure,” he said.
“It’s no surprise that these dubious methods have failed. Attempts to’pray for homosexuality’ often fail, leaving struggling people not only angry with God or personally scarred, but also worse, in a state of apostasy. “Cook wrote in his recent article. piece.
His more important point is that this film firmly captures the false science and unbiblical theology of conversion therapy as he described, in order to punish anyone who “dare or want to leave the LGBTQ community”. At that time, he noticed the contradictions in the LGBTQ movement. “On the one hand, he insists that homosexuality is unchangeable, and on the other hand, he insists that sex and gender are fluid.”
“It’s no surprise that Netflix will catch a false gospel and secretly provide popular articles about Christianity in an unbalanced and tragic story,” he wrote, noting that what the film lacks is a correct understanding of theology, and This misunderstanding was actually doomed to Exodus International from the very beginning.
“As the author Christopher Yuan-who was redeemed from gay life like me-wisely pointed out: the goal is not heterosexuality, but Saint Sex,” Cook wrote. “The message (in the movie) is clear: if you deny your sexuality in order to follow Christ, you are just deceiving yourself.These desires define your identity and tamper with your identity real It is dangerous and delusional. “
In all this, Cook said that Jesus and the message of salvation were lost.
Chef Beckett
Cook’s own story of transformation is one of the contrasts. In 2009, he and a friend met a group of young people in a coffee shop in Los Angeles, and they opened the Bible to chat. After approaching them and asking about their beliefs, Cook accepted their invitation to join the church.
That happened six months ago, when he was looking across the room at a party in Paris. He said that an overwhelming sense of emptiness came to his mind and made him question the greater meaning of life.
“I did everything in Hollywood, met everyone, traveled everywhere, but was overwhelmed by emptiness,” he said Weekly newspaper“This is one of the strongest’Is this all?’ moments in my life.” Before that, Cook said that he refused to believe that God was a choice because he was gay, and he was gay about the Bible. The view is not confused.
As far as she is concerned, Stolakis said that she directly understands that religion “can be a source of strength, beauty, and connection in people’s lives.” If someone feels more complete or healthier because of their religious practice, her intention is not Challenge that.
“The problem is that when someone uses their personal stories as evidence that the only way to maintain mental and mental health is to go with the flow. I can’t believe that there is a higher power to support this idea… We know gender fluidity and gender identity fluidity Sex is real to people,” Stolakis said.
The producers also want people in the LGBTQ community to know that there are many religious communities that deal with the trauma they have experienced with them and represent the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people.
Stolakis added: “There is a stereotype that conversion therapy is a thing of the past, which is not the case,” he pointed out that most conversion therapy takes place in religious organizations. She emphasized the importance of prohibiting this practice.
“This is indeed a current issue, and it is something we want the audience to be very clear about, because we really want to start a domestic and international dialogue on the necessity of ending this situation in culture,” she said. “I hope that by documenting this in this movie, we will have the tools to demolish the movement.”
At the same time, Cook was fired from his talent agency three months after his book was published. He went on to earn a master’s degree at Talbot Theological Seminary. Nevertheless, he reiterated that misunderstandings and mischaracterizations of the Christian life are Hollywood’s favorite pastimes, which he said he has experienced firsthand.
“I understand why I was cancelled by Hollywood — it’s difficult to publish a book in the world and work with Jessica Chastain like me,” he quipped.
“I am an atheist and a homosexual. I walked into an evangelical church 12 years ago, heard the gospel, and experienced an experience that completely changed my life,” Cook said Weekly newspaper, Noting that he is still struggling with same-sex attraction and is not heterosexual, but this is not important to him because of his relationship with Christ.
“Now I feel that I am doing what God has called me to do-he called me to get rid of the gay life, and sent me to help the church understand this problem from theological, biblical, cultural and personal aspects, from a person who has been on both sides of it ,”He said.
His story exists among countless people who seem to support LGBTQ rights.A typical example is people This week it exclusively tells a heartwarming story about divorced couple Jessica and Matthew Turner, who parted ways after 16 years of marriage and gave birth to three children. Matthew Turner, a best-selling author who has worked in a fundamentalist/evangelical church for more than 30 years, talked about his long-standing fears before becoming gay. This article explores the couple’s journey through love, grief, and out of the other side of their previous marriage relationship.
But Cook said that he only has a passion for the gay community. He said that in Tinseltown, tolerance for different beliefs is unevenly skewed.
Cook said: “It’s strange that the whole concept of tolerance has changed so drastically.” “When Alan Page became Elliot Page, Hillary Clinton Applause, but when I decide to become a Christian and single, what is my tolerance? “
“Culture says you can change your identity at any time, including our gender and pronouns, but your sexual orientation is absolutely fixed, if you try to change you are crazy,” Cook said, “if a Christian wants to Disgusting change.”
