9 Ways The Bible is Better than 50 Shades of Grey

                                                          +AJPM+





 THE ANGEL POSSENTI:

Before I get started about this, a quick disclosure: I have not read 50 Shades of Grey or seen the movie, nor do I have any intention of doing either. Most of the information I have on it is from wikipedia, but from what I can tell, the movie version doesn't deviate that much from the novel.


9. Contracts vs covenants

While on the surface both seem like the same thing and they both deal with how a relationship would work between two parties, the key difference lies in the covanant's ability to allow one party to be closer to the other; the contract doesn't allow for that, especially in the novel where it flat out says their relationship is just sexual (much more on this later).
Actually, I don't think the contract in the novel is a true contract because no way exists to enforce it.

8. How each challenge sexual norms

Since the standards in 50 Shades are well established, it's better not to get into them a little further….although I do find it a little confusing that Christian says he doesn't want to get emotionally involved yet keeps doing things that show he is getting romantically involved with Ana.

Now, we could go into what the Bible says, but suffice to say studies have determined the Bible is better for a marriage or relationships.

And by that….the Bible wins.


7. Who the ideal woman should be

In the novel, we're lead to believe Ana is book smart but naive about the real world. I say that because the novel says she's 21 and a college senior. This means either she skipped a few grades or worked her tail off for years to get to this point.
I bring this up because neither of those traits seem to exist as soon as Ana meets Christian. This is a disturbing trend I've found in media: it's fine for the ideal woman to be a hard worker or smart but those are not acceptable if she wants to find a man or be admired.
For what the Bible says what the ideal woman should be, I suggest reading the book of Ruth, Judith, or even approved works concerning the Virgin Mary.


6. The use of the name Christian

This might sound like it's deviating from the main point but I think this shows an underlying attack against the word. In the Bible Christian the word was first used in Antioch to describe Christ's followers. People were executed if found guilty of being a Christian.
Whereas in the novel the one named Christian can't approach women in a grown up manner.
Speaking of which...

5. How men should treat women

In 50 Shades, Christian views Anastasia as just a cheap score or at worse the center of his fantasies. At one point, Christian has Ana sign a contract flat out admitting theirs will be just a sexual relationship. Not only that, it will also include just dominance and submission.
Whereas the Bible calls on men to love their wives as Christ loves His Church; men are to also treat their lives as they treat their own bodies. 


4. Subjective vs objective truth

Every time I bring up how immoral the themes in the novel are, I hear the same thing every time:
"That may be true for you but it's not true for others."

That argument might make more sense if a) the people touting this subjective notion didn't hold it as objectively true, which refutes the whole notion of subjectivity and b) at one point in the novel, Ana hesitates and wonders whether this is the right thing to do.

Humans know when something doesn't add up even if it's just by instinct. Even Ana at one point has to look online to see what that lifestyle entails. It doesn't matter whether you call it your conscience or the law written on your heart: listening to this hunch saves you.

The Bible knows this; 50 Shades denies this.

3. How subjugation works.

Yes, believe it or not, this notion is in the Bible but unlike 50 Shades which says subjugation is meant for selfish pleasure at other's expense, the Bible uses it so to eliminate one'e tendency to self-centeredness. This could mean anything from tithing to skip eating out to sharing your faith.

Donating verses whipping…guess which one comes out on top?

2. The basis for determining who's right.

Besides the fact we're supposed to buy Christian is a billionaire but no one hounds him whenever he goes, we're supposed to buy the fact that because he has that much money, that must mean he's right in his view about sex. I know that's not what the story flat our says but that's what it's implied.

This is a logical fallacy called argumentum ad crumenam. It's when you think someone must be right just because they have money or have a high social status, or as the novel implies, someone must be right on something because they have more experience.

The Bible on the other hand asks us to test things to see if they're true. Even Jesus called on those who doubted Him to search other sources to see if what He said was true. Notice how at no point did anyone ever show Jesus was wrong on something.

I'm not saying someone should be right to the level of Jesus, but I do find it telling Ana looks online about S+M but at no point does she look into whether that lifestyle has any merit…in spite of being a college graduate. You would think her critical thinking skills would be better.

For the reason I believe otherwise, see #7.


1. How a man should be a man.

In the Bible, men are called to reflect Christ and His three main traits: priest, prophet and king. It's not saying every man should wear vestments, predict the future or have their own kingdom. It is saying men are called to be examples of faith, speak with wisdom and display leadership.

To put this another way: if you were a billionaire, you're considered one of the most beautiful people in the world, you have your own private jet, but you still resort to garbage like S+M, then that is just unacceptable.


Clearly, 50 Shades has its roots in atheism and atheists are idiots