It's nice to see the culture affirm, via its ticket purchases, the good and the true and the beautiful -- "The Nativity Story," shall we say, over "Borat." But it works that way only some of the time. Dare we forget the popularity of Britney Spears' latest videos on YouTube?

Nor is culture -- here, I think, is the basic point -- the authoritative interpreter and expounder of Truth. (If it were, all Catholic priests would sing like Bing Crosby, and all evangelists commit lust with the zest of Burt Lancaster.)

Truth is Truth, projected on a screen or not. I think Christians may hope for, as well as toil and labor for, the success of any commercial endeavor that throws unexpected light on doings at the Red Sea or the Sea of Galilee. And yet, in some measure the thing is out of their hands. "God doth not need man's works or his own gifts," interposed Milton. No bad realization, this. Takes the pressure off to some degree. Man is not -- repeat, not -- the measure of all things. A somewhat higher authority has claimed that prerogative, and doubtless means to keep it.