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Do supernatural movies take away from the spiritual message of Abrahamic faiths?

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher

legion-b-535x187.jpg




From the exorcist to the movie Legion, as a moviegoer myself, I had always wondered whether these types of movies take away the spiritual essence of Abrahamic faiths. In my understanding of movies, it is surely about entertainment, an appeal to our senses to stimulate us in the drama of action, suspense and even sorrow. I feel sometimes the imagery that is presented in film somehow takes away the seriousness of both doctrine and the metaphysical elements that are associated with divine providence. Don't get me wrong, these movies are quite entertaining, but in all seriousness if I'm going to take demonic possession seriously, then perhaps films like the following (which I find exhaustively hilarious) do in fact comically interrupt the spiritual essence of "God's message":


 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
I'm not a huge fan of movies. Almost every one of them has details you can disagree on. Recently I watched a science movie that had qualified scientific advisory, and even it had several details that made me feel it was false. Spiritual movies aren't any different. It's the depth of the director and actors that they can reach that's the problem. With more literal religious beliefs, there's also the problem of competing views as to what constitutes True Religion X. Abrahamic religions are very divided in their views. If you take an "average" Abrahamic from one country and another you're going to have conflicts of views that when spoken seem to often spoil the soup for both of them.
 

idav

Being
Premium Member
A lot of these movies may be an afront to traditional Abrahamic views. Especially ones like the one mentioned Legion where there is a hero antagonist, making the villain the good guy. Making it a good thing to fight against a god tired of humanity. Even movies like city of angels is an example of showing a certain mobility to being a fallen angel. You have shows like Lucifer showing the villains side of the story. More than the actual supernatural stuff what fascinates me is the character plots and the overall religious and spiritual views being portrayed in movies with supernatural aspects.
 

Frater Sisyphus

Contradiction, irrationality and disorder
Spiritual message? yes, I'd say absolutely. But I don't think they are even attempting to create something representing [said Abrahamic religion] in the first place. Usually it's not worth watching either, IMO.

Ironically (and honestly sadly) the same goes for most of the movies that come out from related churches themselves. They fall into self-parody and ridicule because they don't even understand their own religion (and treat it as propaganda than anything truly meaningful) - therefore giving more negative exposure.


Just my thoughts.
 

Buddha Dharma

Dharma Practitioner
Guess I'd better quit enjoying Percy Jackson books then. It might skew my views about the deities :rolleyes:

What @Axe Elf said. Most people can distinguish a movie/fiction from other aspects of life.
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
If the plot, the script and actors are good, like any movie, its a combination for great entertainment. I loved 'the omen', 'ghost', 'stigmata', 'the devil's advocate', etc.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
I think that there are many people who have bipolar disorder, probably about 2% of the population. They will have to be careful what they watch, because it can confuse them.

A lot of these kinds of movies are made by artists: people who wish to use the story as a medium to convey various messages. You do not know what the message is until you see the film, and it may have different messages for people with different kinds of lives. Very often the movie assumes you already know the story and uses that to convey its own message.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Certain environments and situations attempt to be uplifting, others to be distracting, cathartic or just funny.

Movies fall all over the place on that spectrum, albeit with a certain categorization due to their origins.

I am not sure that is a problem, since these days people have all but complete access to the whole spectrum as they see fit.

It seems to me that people should make an attempt at deciding what to value and for what reason.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
I think it's predicated in the notion that the Abrahamic religions actually know what they are talking about and are not as guilty as Hollywood for making things up as they go.
Indeed, that is a significant consideration as well.

Messages, spiritual or otherwise, can and will be misrepresented and misunderstood.

If the subject matter has any importance, those who value it will make an effort not only on presenting it accurately, but also (and IMO more significantly) on achieving mechanisms and protocols to perceive and correct any significant mistakes of either representation or understanding.

I just don't see how anyone can fail to do that and still claim in good faith to care for the subject matter. If even marbles need a measure of attention and care, so much more do spiritual messages.
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
Which or what intrinsic quality?

The sacredness of being connected with divine providence, that is, figures such as angels, prophets, people with divinely inspired foresight. The question poses that could movies such as legion which may not accurately depict angels and/or their behavior and in knowing that, could that take away the essence of spirituality? Now, to be clear when I mean take away I'm referring to the presentation not literally. For example if I watch the movie Legion, does the movie even with its entertainment value does it take away from the essence of what angels truly are?
 

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
I think it's predicated in the notion that the Abrahamic religions actually know what they are talking about and are not as guilty as Hollywood for making things up as they go.

Um ok...It kills me why you or anyone else participate in these threads if you think ultimately it is stupid.
 
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