Catholicism WOW!

I just watched Dogma again, and it's really growing on me. If you are sensitive to cursing or fake-violence, you won't like it, but if you have a good sense of humor, this movie will become a favorite.

There's plenty of great lines about life and religion.

My favorite (this was kind of a rib on Catholics, but applies to many faiths):

"I have issues with anyone who treats faith as a burden instead of a blessing. You people don't celebrate your faith; you mourn it." -Serendipity (from Dogma, the movie)

Sometimes people use comedy to make a point.

I personally don't have a problem with "cuss" words or the fake-violence used for a purpose in this film, but be warned, it's potentially very offensive and rated R.... Watch it on Comedy Central to see the edited version (it's on a lot).

-Michael

Here's another quote from Serendipity....

"When are you people going to learn? It's not about who's right or wrong. No denomination's nailed it yet, and they never will because they're all too self-righteous to realize that it doesn't matter what you have faith in, just that you have faith. Your hearts are in the right place, but your brains need to wake up."

I'm sorry, I really can't help myself. Here's another quote from a character called Loki:

"Church laws are fallible because they're created by man."

I actually liked the movie. I can't quote anything, but they hit the nail right on the head, more than once, dealing with the fakeness of religion.

Originally posted by ZeroTX: Here's another quote from Serendipity....

"When are you people going to learn? It's not about who's right or wrong. No denomination's nailed it yet, and they never will because they're all too self-righteous to realize that it doesn't matter what you have faith in, just that you have faith. Your hearts are in the right place, but your brains need to wake up."

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Sounds like relativistic pluralism to me. "It doesn't matter what (or in whom) you believe, just as long as you are sincere".

Of course, one can sincerely believe, but be sincerely WRONG!

The denominations being spoken of (see "No denomination's nailed it yet...") are Christian denominations...

The statement is in reference to them. Not all religions.

-Michael

Originally posted by ZeroTX:
The denominations being spoken of (see "No denomination's nailed it yet...") are Christian denominations...

The statement is in reference to them. Not all religions.

-Michael

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Granted, but the law of non-contradiction still applies. God cannot be both 'a' and 'non-a' at the same "time" and in the same sense. Ultimate Truth is still objective whether one is considering different denominations or different religions.

I do agree that no one can fully comprehend God and His Truth, since God is infinite and we are finite. However, two mutually contradictory doctrinal statements about God cannot both be true. God has revealed certain Truths about Himself to His Church that man-made denominations cannot contradict.

I have no idea why a Christian would recommend the movie Dogma to anyone. Anti-Catholics once again make strange bedfellows with atheists and agnostics. Besides promoting moral relativity, it ridicules the pro-life movement that all Christians should share in.

From the script of Dogma:

"Leave this for the unenlightened. Poverty is for the gullible - it's
another way the church is trying to control you. You take that money you've
been collecting for your parish reconstruction and go get yourself a nice
piece of ass. You deserve it."

I'm fairly sure the director is a Catholic. It's mostly full of ridiculous things that nobody should take seriously... It does have a couple of good lines, and that's all I was saying...

That and it's hilarious. I'm sorry if some people have no sense of humor.... I believe God has a great sense of humor. He invented it.

-Michael

Why don't you try, "What would Jesus do?" Jesus Christ never taught this kind of blasphemy. There is no humor like this in the Bible. The premise of the movie itself is that God is fallible.

"Two banished angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) have discovered a loophole that would allow them back into heaven; problem is, they'd destroy civilization in the process by proving God fallible. It's up to Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), a lapsed Catholic who works in an abortion clinic, to save the day, with some help from two so-called prophets (Smith and Jason Mewes, as their perennial characters Jay and Silent Bob), the heretofore unknown 13th apostle (Chris Rock), and a sexy, heavenly muse (the sublime Salma Hayek, who almost single-handedly steals the film). "

http://www.atheistempire.com/entertainment/movies.html


Anyone under the sun can call themselves a “Catholic” and peddle garbage. The movie in attacking Catholics also attacks all Christianity. Just the premise that God is fallible should be a clue.

You imply that God invented humor, so he must believe everything people call "humor" is humorous to Him, has no basis in logic, Scripture, or Christian teaching. According to the reviews, atheists and agnostics loved this film and found it hilarious. I can't see God laughing with them about his "fallibility". The sexual content is not a Christian view of sex within marriage. Getting a "piece of a___" isn't something God would joke about, or would want us Christians laughing about for entertainment. “Fallen angels” are not loveable, funny characters.

I have a sense of humor, but I don’t find this stuff funny, and there is no way you can convince me that God thinks it’s funny entertainment for Christians.

Point taken.

One correction to the above synopsis, though. The movie isn't about God being fallible. It's about man (The Catholic Church) being fallible, and thus creating this "loophole" when they created fallible doctrine.

If anything, it pokes fun at the Catholic Church's belief that they (their Pope and Bishops) can create/change God's will by making their statements of doctrine ... or DOGMA. The term "infallible" is only repeatedly used when referring to Papal Declarations... The Word of God is said to be inerrant. A much stronger statement....

I guess yeah, the movie does poke fun at the Catholic Church. Perhaps I am just not taking that personally as an attack on Christianity.

I do see your points... I'll let it be at that. I suppose I'll just shut up now

-Michael

Greetings,

I hated the movie. it was as if an atheist and a fundamentalist got together to write an anti-catholic film.

I actually thought the Catholic Wow part with George Carlin Was very funny and appropriate humor. I am not even one to attack the vularity and violence.

It would have been better without the Chris Rock character: all his character did was monologue anti christian sentiments. His long speaches were not even attempting at humor.

The Plot was terrible: Jesus' descedent(problem 1), who works in an abortion clinic(problem 2), saves the world by Euthanasia(problem 3), because God was trapped(problem 4). God is played by a near porn star.

Religious humor is okay, but taking everything a catholic believes and line it up and mock it ALL is just nasty.

peace

ZeroTX-

Oh, I get it, as long as the movie only makes fun of the Catholic Church, then it's ok!!! Yeah, right! Just as long as no one insults YOUR faith, right? - Meercat

all in good fun...

Hrm. I think some people are losing touch with reality here. This movie was fiction, guys. Do you ridicule Chaucer for his scathing attack on the Catholic church's hypocrisy of the era (and if you can't see that in Canterbury Tales, then God help you)? I'm not putting Kevin Smith on a par with Chaucer, but lighten up. Everyone is so wrapped up in not offending people today that we don't say what we mean any more. I found this movie funny and refreshing.

Do me a favor and try to forget about the real world when you're watching a movie. If you don't want to watch it because it has language and violence in it, fine. But don't say those who enjoyed it aren't Christians. The only person who knows that is God.

If I were to make a movie ridiculing the hypocrisy rampant in the Baptist denomination today, I wonder what would happen. Or if a methodist did the same to his denomination. Every denomination has stuff wrong with it. Recognize it, laugh about it, fix what you yourself can, and get back to evangelizing people rather than trusting your pastor to do it. There's a big world out there and only a few faithful. Don't let spats over minor differences make us unappealing to a lost world. Paul sure didn't.

Respectfully,
Landon

It's one thing to attack what's wrong in a denomination. It's another to attack what's true and right about the Christian faith.