Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
So, I was looking over Amazon Prime Movies, and they currently have all the Indiana Jones movies on tap, part of Prime Videos.
And I thought-- why not? I've not seen the original in years. So I put it on, and yeah, it's silly. But it's well done silliness nonetheless.
As I was listening to Indiana Jones' character speaking as a skeptic-scientist (even though he's really a tomb raider) it hit me: Jones says he does not believe in magic in the least, yet he's certain a mythical, mystic power box is Historical, and exists.
And in the final scene, he warns his friend "Don't look Marian! Don't look!" as to look at the Magic, You'll Die.
So much for being a skeptic... but I'm getting ahead of myself.
I really, really had not given the Ark of the Covenant all that much thought in the last decade or so since I lost the last dregs of my faith. As a theist? Of course the ark had to exist! It was central to both Christianity and Judaism. A Magic God-Box, that possessed Super Magic Powers...
... or as they say in the movie? "A direct telephone to God. Anyone possessing the Ark, if used in an Army, the Army would be unbeatable."
Magic.
Now that I'm comfortable in my unbelief, and I'm quite used to questioning all my old too-quick assumptions? I now discover that I'm quite skeptical there ever was an ark in the first place!
Seriously. I have strong doubts there ever was a Moses, and I doubt there ever was an Ark, either-- not even a non-magical version 100% without Super Powers-- no, not even one of those.
No Ark. No Exodus, no Moses either. (and certainly no Abraham-- not as written, at least, not even a tiny bit...)
But. It's a darn fun movie! The bad guys all Get Their Just Deserts. And the "good" guys survive to raid another day.
Bad Theology. Good Action Sequences. Even better: NO DIGITAL SPECIAL EFFECTS (in the original).
Edit: I'm just at the scene where Jones and his friend, have found the Real Ark© and have lifted it from it's stone coffin, just using a pair of long ornately carved wooden poles (that they just conveniently had on hand). Two men. Lifting a large **gold** box. Yes it was supposed to be hollow, but... it was solid gold, was it not? Two men would not be capable of such a feat.
Oh well. It's a lovely Reveal Scene, wherein Spielberg's version of the Ark is shown. I remember when I saw this in the theater, there was a gasp in the audience. As if it was not just a movie prop.... I was amused then, and I'm amused now, thinking back.
And I thought-- why not? I've not seen the original in years. So I put it on, and yeah, it's silly. But it's well done silliness nonetheless.
As I was listening to Indiana Jones' character speaking as a skeptic-scientist (even though he's really a tomb raider) it hit me: Jones says he does not believe in magic in the least, yet he's certain a mythical, mystic power box is Historical, and exists.
And in the final scene, he warns his friend "Don't look Marian! Don't look!" as to look at the Magic, You'll Die.
So much for being a skeptic... but I'm getting ahead of myself.
I really, really had not given the Ark of the Covenant all that much thought in the last decade or so since I lost the last dregs of my faith. As a theist? Of course the ark had to exist! It was central to both Christianity and Judaism. A Magic God-Box, that possessed Super Magic Powers...
... or as they say in the movie? "A direct telephone to God. Anyone possessing the Ark, if used in an Army, the Army would be unbeatable."
Magic.
Now that I'm comfortable in my unbelief, and I'm quite used to questioning all my old too-quick assumptions? I now discover that I'm quite skeptical there ever was an ark in the first place!
Seriously. I have strong doubts there ever was a Moses, and I doubt there ever was an Ark, either-- not even a non-magical version 100% without Super Powers-- no, not even one of those.
No Ark. No Exodus, no Moses either. (and certainly no Abraham-- not as written, at least, not even a tiny bit...)
But. It's a darn fun movie! The bad guys all Get Their Just Deserts. And the "good" guys survive to raid another day.
Bad Theology. Good Action Sequences. Even better: NO DIGITAL SPECIAL EFFECTS (in the original).
Edit: I'm just at the scene where Jones and his friend, have found the Real Ark© and have lifted it from it's stone coffin, just using a pair of long ornately carved wooden poles (that they just conveniently had on hand). Two men. Lifting a large **gold** box. Yes it was supposed to be hollow, but... it was solid gold, was it not? Two men would not be capable of such a feat.
Oh well. It's a lovely Reveal Scene, wherein Spielberg's version of the Ark is shown. I remember when I saw this in the theater, there was a gasp in the audience. As if it was not just a movie prop.... I was amused then, and I'm amused now, thinking back.
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