Worlds collided last month in Brooklyn. In a dark neighborhood of warehouses called DUMBO, in a theater usually reserved for edgy bands and performance artists, real actors performed, straight up and without irony, “Hell House,” an evangelical Christian version of a haunted house. With a demon as their guide, visitors walked through a series of live tableaux, each one depicting a different way to stray from God. In one, a young woman commits suicide after being raped. In another, a gay man gets AIDS. At the end, audience members stand before Satan, who is horned and jubilant (“You think sin has no consequence!” he exults)—and finally before Jesus Christ himself, who calls on them to repent and be saved. On a recent night, audience members looked stricken as they listened to this appeal. When invited to join the Lord in prayer, all remained silent.
Inspired by Jerry Falwell’s “Scaremares” from the 1970s, Roberts launched the first Hell House in his church in 1993. Three years later, he created a Hell House “kit,” now available for sale online, which contains a script, a sound CD and a 263-page instruction manual. The kits retail these days for $299; Roberts says he has sold more than 800 of them.
For a really scary ending, they should have a showing of Jesus Camp. Freddy ain’t got nothin’ on the nightmares that pairing should cause.
Anyone who really understands even the earthly (“this life”) consequences of all their actions would find them quite frightening, however
scaring people into heaven is all wrong.
God Loves, why do so many (not all!) Christians scare?
or is it just American culture? just like the right wing gov’t and the left wing media
As someone who volunteered for a similar event held in Marshfield, WI I can say that I seriously doubt they are making money. At least the one I was involved with took many volunteers who sacrificed a lot of their time. The cost to run it exceeds the money they bring in.
I’m not sure I fully understand and certainly disagree with #1’s criticism. No one is forced to enter the haunted house (or Nightmare in our case) and no one is forcing someone to become a Christian. The purpose is to show the consequences of your actions and to make you think. In the end, you can go through it and still choose not to believe in God. Having discussions and showing what one believes in is not forcing one’s beliefs on another nor a bad thing. That is what is great about this country is that we are free to do just that.
I do not understand one of the scenes. What is supposed to be conveyed by the image of the woman committing suicide after being raped? Does the Hell House editorial POV imply a raped woman should die?
Is the doctor wearing a yarmulke? If so, does this performance contain hate speech against other religions?
Quote from the article: Roberts defends the gore as a theatrical opportunity to save souls. “A lot of the people in the audience never go to church … We’ve got 45 minutes to push the pedal to the metal to make the most indelible imprint we can, because the rest of the year we do it with a milk-and-cookies kind of approach.”
#3 – Normal Christians would not think that suicide is the inevitable conclusion to rape…
…but that bizarre brand of fire and brimstone, Fred Phelps, tent revival, speaking in tounges kind of street corner ranting preacher brand of Christianity (admittedly a rather small group even compared to Rapture cultists) would assume that the woman is asking for it…
For cultural cross reference, check out Islam and covering of women under the veil…
Some imaginiary friends are meaner than others.
#2 I said nothing of force, I’ve walked freely into sermons preaching hell, I’m just saying that without its proper context, it is a misrepresentation of the message of the bible, which is Love.
#4 woah now….
#3 it could be speaking to the rapist.
#5 on #4 “whoa now”
Whoa now, what? This is fire and brinstone crap. This isn’t a right wing agenda. It’s the hillbilly Jesus freak agenda. It’s the idea that AIDS is God punishing homosexuals. It’s the idea that a miniskirt makes a woman a whore.
I know you are on the right, and I have a notion that you attend a church of your choice… But you aren’t touring college campuses with Brother Jed, pointing at random students in a crowd and shouting “sinner” at the top of your lungs.
What could I possibly be saying that would offend anyone who matters?