Spirituality in Movies
One of the groups I’ve been involved in starting is a bunch of folks interested in looking at spiritual themes in movies. I know this is not a new concept, so I’d love any thoughts you guys have on possible movies to use. . . The idea is to look at genuinely interesting and provoking flicks (on my buddy’s 9 ft screen/home theater!) and then have coffee and discussion after. No agenda, just open discussion . . . .
We’ve done “Crash”. The next one will be “Invisible Children.” Other ideas on the bubble right now include “Constantine”, “Signs”, “Last Holiday”, “Field of Dreams” (an oldie but goodie!).
Do you guys have any other suggestions?
June 21st, 2006 at 8:19 am
Sounds like a great idea. We’re going to do something similar at some point I think. “Hotel Rwanda” is a great movie that’d make for some good discussion. The South African movies “Tsotsi” could be another good one.
I’ll come back if I think of any more.
June 21st, 2006 at 9:03 am
Thanks Sam - I had seen Hotel Rwanda but forgotton - that would be an excellent one. I’ll have to check out Tsotsi also. - Please let me know if you think of more - I’m also adding “Born into Brothels” - I think Alex or Niza posted on that . . .
June 21st, 2006 at 9:10 am
One of my absolute favorite “spiritual films” for the past year or two is Donnie Darko. Although it is a bit bizarre and confusing at points, I have never watched it with someone without having an awesome discussion about the meaning behind it all. People often balk when I argue that this movie is all about the human search for God…but I think it’s there if you think about it. A good article on the movie’s meaning can be found at http://metaphilm.com/philm.php?id=10_0_2_0 (Metaphilm is an amazing website for discussion of deeper meanings in film)
June 21st, 2006 at 9:58 am
I can’t help but notice that some of those movies listed aren’t at at spiritual. In fact a lot of them contain graphic content and the themes aren’t glorifying to God. Just a thought
June 21st, 2006 at 10:41 am
M- just a comment reguarding Alyssa’s post. Is God not in everything? if WE are to believe that God is soverign(sp) and that the great comminssion is true, then any movie can be looked at as redeeming & usable to further His kingdom. I find the ones on your list especially so, as the more popular they are with mainstream culture, the more impact you can achieve with a wider demographic of believers and non alike. I feel believers are who are stuck in their own “christian ghetto” are worse off than non-believers who still are open to discovering the message in the movie, instead of those who find it “graphic & non-glorifying” from the start. c’mon all, take a step outta the box! God’s there!!!!!
June 21st, 2006 at 10:49 am
I thought contact was great… think there may have been some slight suggestive content in there though as well if you’re trying to screen things out.
June 21st, 2006 at 10:50 am
If you read my latest blog, I think you will understand where I am coming from. It isn’t that I am not willing to “step out of the box” but I think we often times lean towards one side or the other. Conservative or Liberal and I want to make sure that I am grounded and not swayed. Also, God is in everything in the sense that he is omnipresent but I don’t believe for one second that he would be glorified by a movie that has a few “spiritual” themes but otherwise is filled with profanity and sex. Do you? I will admit that movies suggested aren’t the worst that could have been mentioned but that does not make them glorifying. The word says to surround ourselves with things that are pure, noble and right. “think on such things”. Right?
June 21st, 2006 at 11:12 am
Hey guys . . . Thanks for your comments - Alyssa, I posted a response to your blog entry on this as follows . . . Hope this helps clarify what the group is about:
________________________________________________
Hey guys . . . Thanks for your comments - Since Alyssa is referring to my blog post just thought I’d weigh in with a bit of context here so there is no misunderstanding.
The goal of the group is not to “justify watching R-rated movies” at all. I see plenty of movies for kicks, but that is not what this is all about. You mention “But I think that there is something terribly wrong when someone tries to justify watching a show or movie like that by pointing out all the “spiritualâ€? themes.” - Again, this is not what this group is for at all.
Rather, the goal of the group is for us to watch and discuss poular and relevant movies with spiritual themes that have captured the culture’s attention, and use that to springboard us forward into meaningful Christ-centered action. Obviously, which movies to choose becomes a matter of careful consideration, as you mention happens with tv also.
This group was an attempt to draw together a band of folks who are already watching movies and generate discussion and action from that.
You raise a great question though . . . How do followers of Jesus retain relevancy in our culture and impact lives?
June 21st, 2006 at 11:19 am
Thanks for that post Mark. I just see so many people in an effort to impact the world today, begin to abuse their freedom in Christ by leaning to the far left and critisizing those who lean more right. I am known in my cirle of friends to be more liberal, which I am okay with. But in my experience, more souls are won, not conforming but being strong, yet loving to those who have yet to know Christ. I appreciate your comments and thoughts Mark.
June 21st, 2006 at 11:29 am
X-Men 3: The Last Stand.
I just led a Bible Study based on that movie, looking at the nature of man - our origins, purpose, morality, and destiny. All are found and addressed from humanistic viewpoints in the X-Men.
Plus, it’s just a great movie.
June 21st, 2006 at 11:32 am
Thanks Alyssa. I think love is the key - To quote a phrase “Mission is the reason the church exists, and love is the best apologetic”. We’re just all looking for how to do that in the best possible way.
June 21st, 2006 at 11:37 am
I want to believe the world is pure and if I don’t cuss then I get a disney fast-pass to heaven. sound ridiculus? maybe just a little? I think some posts are missing the point on “God & movies”. to justify that a spiritual theme is in a movie just to watch it for its violence or sex or whatever is a hrd sell, but I think that is the opposite of what was being said and asked. the movies listed are ones that do have spiritual themes and as far as glorification, I would be hard pressed to find a definitive answer to that. ever see Dogma? horrendous movie for its language and content,it had everything (sexual content, the f bomb; socially demeaning labels and a black apostle!…. but inevitably one of the most spiritually addressing movies made. did it glorify God? absolutly it did. I dare you to see it…in a bar!
June 21st, 2006 at 1:12 pm
I truly thought that one might have been able to hear my heart through what I wrote to Mark. lostelement, I have seen Dogma and “religious” it sure is, but God is certainly not glorified in a movie like that and I have yet to hear a believer rant and rave about the great spiritual message that movie has. Please! And if you read my blog you would know that I didn’t say I would not go to a bar but I believe that drunkenness is a sin. Don’t you? So, do your research before you comment.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Thanks for all the good input guys - Lon, Wailer, Sam and Dave those are great movies for me to check into!
Thanks Alyssa and lostelements for your feedback also. This is obviously a delicate area, and I know we have lots we can learn from each other in all subjects as we remain gentle. God bless you guys!
June 21st, 2006 at 2:42 pm
A- ouch, I just read this after saying nice, nice things to you on your blog, even calling you graceful and such. you sound a bit distraught about any claims of Dogma and the failure of the spiritual counsel you belong to not giving it a A+ rating. I truely thought one might see the inevitable hypocracy in most of your statements and yet you stand so tall. don’t go to a bar or do (I’ll get my research staff on that right away), that’s your call. all sins are the same aren’t they? please let this end our quips, I don’t know you well enough to know you anymore than on what you write, but maybe I’ll buy you a drink in the next pub I see you at, but don’t spill cause cardboard gets wet.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Mark is right! We shouldn’t be arguing over something that now seems so trivial. I respect your opinion and I am sorry if I caused any hard feelings. I truly feel bad for being so judgemental. I am just very opinionated and I am sorry that I retaliated in such a way. Thanks for understanding.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Lostelement- Also, I hope this doesn’t affect future blogs. I love, love, love hearing all of your thoughts. You are very nice and I can’t apologize enough. Thanks.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:43 pm
i’m enjoying the debate.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Hi Mark -
It is a great book. What has stood out to you most in it?
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:17 am
While I don’t believe that God is directly glorified in Dogma (I don’t really believe that anything with numerous sex jokes does this), its theme has a lot to do with the difference between dogmatic legislation and faith, as well as some general ideas surrounding contemporary Catholicism. It’s simply a parable about faith. Dogma was written by Kevin Smith to reach people through his own means…which some of us Smith fans know is salt-of-the-earth humor. While anyone can question whether this method is ethical, I would say that is not important. What matters is whether or not it God was working in it. See, God can use ANYTHING to reach people; and he does. There have been literally over a hundred testimonies from people who re-evaluated their lives after watching the movie, soon thereafter becoming born-again Christians. I am in no way promoting it as a converting tool for us Christians to utilize. But I do think that it was written for nonChristians who are against the church to realize that there is a big difference between the imperfection of Christians, and the perfection of God and Christ. To quote Smith directly: “Spreading the Word of God is a time-honored profession with a checkered past. When pioneers of the field were starting out, they’d find themselves martyred for their efforts– as folks generally liked things the way they were, and really didn’t want them changed by a group of upstarts maintaining that there was no longer a host of gods, but rather one True God. Thankfully, that era passed, but was soon replaced by another, even darker era– one in which the tables were actually turned when the spreaders of the Word of God found themselves at the other end of the sword. Suddenly, it was no longer a punishable offense to be into God; the punishment came when you were more blase about the Lord. Many agnostics and atheists were martyrs for their beliefs (or lack therof), as those who started out spreading the Word of God build what they called their Church. Soon, the Church people forgot about God altogether and found that what they really wanted to spread was the Word of the Church.”
To sum it up, there is a gargantuan misconception that Christians and Christianity are one-and-the-same. Hence, when Christians do not act Christlike or take extremist political stances, the religion and faith are blamed because Christians make up the church body. The men and women who claim to be Christ-followers are representatives of the Church. Unfortunately, we’re also sinners. Imperfect. Sometimes we even act and think like Pharisees. And then there’s God. Holiness and grace and love that knows no bounds. In this idea, we have faith. The point that the movie pushes is faith(or lack thereof) in man vs. faith(or lack theorof) in God. There is a difference in what is true and what is perceived.
With that said, I don’t think I would recommend getting a bunch of Christians (specifically those who are easily impressionable) together to watch a rated R movie with sex jokes, cussing, and a satirical take on Catholicism. I guess it really depends on the level of conviction that each individual is on. For me personally, this film inspires me more than it makes me stumble.
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:37 am
Hey Tina!! For me it was the whole concept of “belonging, and then believing”; of setting up true community and of inviting folks of all backgrounds into that; of impacting culture. I also found it so interesting to see what happened when Rome made Christianity an official “religion” and stopped what the celtic christians were doing. I see a lot of similarities in the Celtic way to what “the spring” is doing, and what I would love to do!
What points stood out for you?
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:41 am
Hey Ryan! I love your quote:
“To sum it up, there is a gargantuan misconception that Christians and Christianity are one-and-the-same.”
Really interesting food for thought! Thanks!
I have always felt Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion, but to do away with religion and point people to God.
July 12th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
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