SINCE when does the so-called Family Channel host so many programs that center around transhuman themes? Simple answer: when Disney owns it.
Back in the late 1990s, Fox’s Rupert Murdoch (Newscorp) and Haim Saban made Pat Robertson an offer he couldn’t refuse — sell his highly successful Family Channel and make a bunch of loot. Robertson had nothing to lose (although many of his followers might disagree). Murdoch, et al. continued airing The 700 Club while slowly morphing a genuine, family-friendly, childsafe entertainment network into a low-profile psy-ops venue. Bad enough, but back in 2001, Murdoch and Saban counted their own green when Michael Eisner ponied up $3 Billion to assume command of the cable network’s 18 million loyal, and impressionable viewers.Fast forward to July 2006. Disney’s interesting choice to call their number 5 cable network ABC Family keeps America tuning in, and it allows ABC to shuffle and recycle new and old shows, while also permitting ABC to produce original movies that might otherwise be an odd fit. Well, odd anyway.
It used to be that only Bible thumpers talked about fallen angels over supper, but today’s insider teens are discoursing on doctrinal issues via cellphones, locker chats, and instant messaging — why they’re even playing RPGs (role playing games) that dovetail (forgive the pun) with angelic programming — that is Fallen Angelic programming.
Fallen premiered last week with a two-hour movie that introduces the audience to Aaron Corbett, a foster child who’s just been adopted by a young couple with an autistic son. Corbett’s 18th birthday celebration opens the show, which kicks the plot into high gear, for – according to ‘fallen angel’ Ezekiel (played frenetically by Tom Skeritt) – young Aaron is a Nephilim – half angel/half man. After issuing a warning that God’s angels have been dispatched to slay all Nephilim (abominations in the eyes of God), Ezekiel hastens to get out of the way of the coming battle, but several events lead the wizened old fallen angel (disguised as a bum) to believe Aaron might just be the prophesied ‘Savior’ who would be born a Nephilim but exhibit angelic traits. This ‘Promised One” would have the power to redeem fallen angels.
Sorry, folks. That just doesn’t square with scripture. ABC employs enough Biblical knowledge to lend credence to their balderdash, but the writers take more liberties than a lovesick sailor on leave in Tahiti. While Nephilim did and do exist (fallen angels really did and still do try to muck up human DNA), their souls are not from God. All references to them in the Bible and in extra-Biblical literature speak of Nephilim as horrendous, ravenous, hateful beings. And Fallen Angels? If there is redemption for these rebels, then God has kept it to Himself. There is no scriptural evidence for it; on the contrary, these angels are described as being held in chains, pending their final judgment (with human judges, by the way — no wonder they’re cheesed).
Fallen deliberately twists and turns small truths into big lies that lead teens into gnosticism and even witchcraft. Just like BBC America’s new souped up supernatural offering, HEX. Fallen angels seek no redemption here; no, they just wanna have fun. At least that part of this tale bears some truth in it.
In Genesis 6, angelic beings did come down to earth, presumably sent by God to ‘watch’ humans, but some wanted more than spectatorship — some took human women as mates, and the Nephilim were born.HEX centers around Cassie Hughes, played by Christina Cole, a young woman who learns she’s descended from witches, and as such, is genetically one herself. Hughes soon begins seeing a disarming man – or is he a man? – who calls himself Azazeal (no doubt based on a real fallen angel with a very similar name). Cassie’s demure, geeky character soon heads south, and she slips into sluthood with the best of them. Of course, her roommate becomes involved — her lesbian roommate. Need we say more?
This show packs a double whammy against true Christianity. Not only does it twist scripture on its head, but each scene is punctuated with enough near nudity to hook any 17-year-old male while empowering female watchers. What a load of — well, you get the picture.Back in my day — not B.C., but close — Bewitched furrowed the foreheads of honest preachers, but Samantha’s nose-twitching seems tame nowadays. Mundane. Teens now demand high adrenalin programming with a salsa beat and a scantily clad ingenue on every corner.
So parents, don’t assume the Family Channel label makes any show safe or that a network with BBC in its name lends sophistication to its programming. After all, BBC gave us Benny Hill, but that’s another story.
