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* AscendedFanboy: KevinSmith is a big fan of AlanRickman's, which is why he wanted him to play Metatron. Rickman is a fan of ChasingAmy, which is why he wanted to work on ''Dogma''. So, they're kind of fanboys of ''each other''.
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* AscendedFanboy: KevinSmith is a big fan of AlanRickman's, Creator/AlanRickman's, which is why he wanted him to play Metatron. Rickman is a fan of ChasingAmy, which is why he wanted to work on ''Dogma''. So, they're kind of fanboys of ''each other''.
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me")[[hottip:*: Or he's talking to himself]]. The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels Creator/{{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
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Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman [[Creator/AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me")[[hottip:*: Or he's talking to himself]]. The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels Creator/{{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
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-->'''(cut to hood open, smoke pouring out) Jay:''' Well, what do I know about shifting?
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-->'''(cut to hood open, smoke pouring out) Jay:''' out)'''
-->'''Jay:''' Well, what do I know about shifting?
-->'''Jay:''' Well, what do I know about shifting?
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* InsistentTerminology: Rufus corrects Bethany's characterization of him as "undead" by saying "not the undead, the dead."
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* ApocalypseHow: Class X-4, to Class Z threatened, depending on whether or not there's more than one universe, and if a God can be reborn.
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* ApocalypseHow: Class X-4, to Class Z threatened, Metaphysical annihilation on ''at least'' a universal scale, depending on whether or not there's more than one universe, and if a God can be reborn.
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* FlippingTheBird: The [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jaywalking]] bit of Loki's resignation as the Angel of Death.
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* NeckSnap
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* NeckSnapNeckSnap: The unlucky security guard who gets his head torqued 180 degrees by Bartelby.
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* QuitYourWhining: When Bethany gives her story(Barren, husband left her, etc.) Metatron is less than impressed.
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* JesusTheEarlyYears: The Metatron told Jesus who he was at the age of 12; the gap is the result of one enormous HeroicBSOD as he tries to come to terms with that fact.
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Nice to know, but sadly natter.
Deleted line(s) 132 (click to see context) :
** Incidentally, I'm Catholic, and I love this film!
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* ShoutOut: The common View Askewniverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about a JohnHughes film.
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* ShoutOut: The common View Askewniverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about a JohnHughes Creator/JohnHughes film.
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** And who wrote it? JohnHughes.
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** And who wrote it? JohnHughes.Creator/JohnHughes.
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added a trope that should have been included since it was referenced elsewhere
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* PassThePopcorn: When Loki talks a nun into becoming an Atheist (using an analysis of Alice in Wonderland, of all things) Bartleby watches with box of popcorn in hand, very obviously amused.
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No examples please.
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* PantyShot: At one point, Bethany rolls out of bed wearing nothing but a shirt and panties.
** Also you have Stripper!SalmaHayek dressed down to her skivvies.
** Also you have Stripper!SalmaHayek dressed down to her skivvies.
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me")[[hottip:*: Or he's talking to himself]]. The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels {{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
to:
Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me")[[hottip:*: Or he's talking to himself]]. The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels {{B|enAffleck}}artleby Creator/{{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
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** Incidentally, I'm Catholic, and I love this film!
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Deleted line(s) 128 (click to see context) :
** Possibly justified in that [[spoiler: the men are all {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s and the woman is the creator of the popular children's character-turned-restaurant-mascot Mooby and a former kindergarten teacher.]]
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Changed line(s) 84 (click to see context) from:
* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: In-universe example -- Loki explains to a nun at the beginning that the Walrus and the Carpenter scene from ''[[Literature/AliceInWonderland Through the Looking Glass]]'' is a scathing attack on Christianity, which she finds so compelling that she abandons the cloth.
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* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: In-universe example -- Loki explains to a nun at the beginning that the Walrus and the Carpenter scene from ''[[Literature/AliceInWonderland Through the Looking Glass]]'' is a scathing attack on Christianity, which she finds so compelling that she abandons the cloth. Subverted, though, when it turns out that Loki doesn't really believe his little explanation. [[ForTheEvulz He's jut screwing with her for kicks]].
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* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train, each unaware that the other is one of the people they're trying to track down.
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* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train, train; each unaware that the other is one of the people they're trying to track down.
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* HollywoodAtheist: Bethany, but she slowly regains her faith during the movie.
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* HollywoodAtheist: Bethany, Bethany but she slowly regains her faith during the movie.
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* HomoeroticSubtext: Bartleby and Loki, so very much subtext, which is mentioned and played with throughout the movie.
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* HomoeroticSubtext: Bartleby and Loki, Loki; so very much subtext, which is mentioned and played with throughout the movie.
Changed line(s) 166,167 (click to see context) from:
'''Bartleby:''' ''(grabs Loki and pushes him to a wall)'' ''WE'RE GOING HOME, LOKI. And no one, not you, not EVEN THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF...is going to make that otherwise.!!''
* RaisedCatholic: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortion clinic, but still goes to Mass on every Sunday.
* RaisedCatholic: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortion clinic, but still goes to Mass on every Sunday.
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'''Bartleby:''' ''(grabs Loki and pushes him to a wall)'' ''WE'RE GOING HOME, LOKI. And no one, not you, not EVEN THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF... is going to make that otherwise.!!''
* RaisedCatholic: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortionclinic, clinic but still goes to Mass on every Sunday.
* RaisedCatholic: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortion
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Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me"). The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels {{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
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Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me").me")[[hottip:*: Or he's talking to himself]]. The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels {{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
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** Also, Bartleby says that no-one has taken over Loki's job as Angel of Death. While this doesn't mean no-one can die, it does mean God can no longer smite those who anger him.
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* WagTheDirector: Kevin Smith has said he wished that he had cast a different actress as Bethany because some days on set Linda Fiorentino refused to speak to him, which is understandably frustrating.
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Revive Kills Zombie refers to healing magic being detrimental to the undead. Unusual strategies that should otherwise be useless but are very effective against certain enemies have been transplanted to Outside The Box Tactic.
* OutsideTheBoxTactic: Air freshener defeats Golgathan fits the pattern quite nicely.
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* ReviveKillsZombie: Air freshener defeats Golgathan fits the pattern quite nicely.
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* LudicrousGibs: What the fuck happened to that guy's head?
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* LudicrousGibs: What "What the fuck happened to that guy's head?head?"
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'''The Metatron''': [[SoWasX Noah was a drunk]], and look what'' he ''accomplished--and no one's asking you to build an ark!
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'''The Metatron''': [[SoWasX Noah was a drunk]], and look what'' he ''accomplished--and what ''he'' accomplished--and no one's asking you to build an ark!
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-->'''(cut to hood open, smoke pouring out) Jay:''' Well what do I know about shifting?
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-->'''(cut to hood open, smoke pouring out) Jay:''' Well Well, what do I know about shifting?
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* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train, unaware the other is the people they are trying to track down.
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* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train, each unaware that the other is one of the people they are they're trying to track down.
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-->The humans have besmirched everything bestowed on them. They were given Paradise, they threw it away. They were given this planet, they destroyed it. They were favored best among all His endeavors, and some of them don't even believe He exists. And in spite of it all, He's shown them infinite fucking patience at every turn. What about us? I asked you... once to lay down the sword because I felt sorry for them. What was the result? Our expulsion from Paradise. '''Where was His infinite fucking patience then? It's not right! It's not fair!''' We've paid our debt! Don't you think it's time? Don't you think its time we went home? And to do that, I think we have to dispatch of our would-be dispatchers. (...) Don't let your sympathies get the best of you. They did me once. Scion or not, she's still just a human, and by passing through that arch, our sins are forgiven. No harm, no foul.
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-->The humans have besmirched everything bestowed on them. They were given Paradise, they threw it away. They were given this planet, they destroyed it. They were favored best among all His endeavors, and some of them don't even believe He exists.''exists''. And in spite of it all, He's shown them infinite fucking patience at every turn. What about us? I asked you... once you, once, to lay down the sword because I felt sorry ''sorry'' for them. What was the result? Our expulsion from Paradise. '''Where was His infinite fucking patience then? It's not right! It's not fair!''' ''fair''!''' We've paid our debt! Don't you think it's time? Don't you think its it's time we went home? And to do that, I think we have to dispatch of our would-be dispatchers. (...) Don't let your sympathies get the best of you. They did me me, once. Scion or not, she's still just a human, and by passing through that arch, our sins are forgiven. No harm, no foul.
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* PetTheDog: Metatron comforts Bethany when she breaks down at whats being asked on her, that Christ reacted the very same way when Metatron told him of his own destiny and that he'd one day have to die to save the world. Metatron then softly tells her that he's never told anyone, but even ''he'' questioned God's decision, feeling it wasn't fair to deliver this cruel news to a poor, scared child.
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* PetTheDog: Metatron comforts Bethany when she breaks down at whats over what's being asked on of her, that Christ reacted the very same way when Metatron told him of his own destiny and that he'd one day have to die to save the world. Metatron then softly tells her that he's never told anyone, but even ''he'' questioned God's decision, feeling it wasn't fair to deliver this cruel news to a poor, scared child.
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* ShoutOut: The common Viewaskewverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about JohnHughes film.
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* ShoutOut: The common Viewaskewverse View Askewniverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about a JohnHughes film.
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** The Metatron mentioned Jesus himself did the same at age 12 when he learned he was the son of God.
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** The Metatron mentioned [[SoWasX Jesus himself did the same same]] at age 12 when he learned he was the son of God.
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** The Metatron mentioned Jesus himself did the same at age 12 when he learns he's the son of God.
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** The Metatron mentioned Jesus himself did the same at age 12 when he learns he's learned he was the son of God.
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Changed line(s) 202 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Loki:''' "Our last four days on Earth; if I had a dick, I'd go get laid. But we can do that next best thing." \\
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-->'''Loki:''' "Our last four days on Earth; if I had a dick, I'd go get laid. But we can do that the next best thing." \\
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* ChekhovsGun: The inability of humans to withstand hearing God's voice is revealed early on in the plot, but it turns out to be [[spoiler:how God dispatches Bartleby at the film's climax]].
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* ChekhovsGun: The inability of humans to withstand hearing God's voice is revealed early on in the plot, but it plot. It turns out to be [[spoiler:how God dispatches Bartleby at the film's climax]].
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Dropping completely undetailed entry
Deleted line(s) 173 (click to see context) :
* RuleOfSeanConnery: Alan Rickman.
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[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DogResized_2124.jpg]]
->'''The Metatron''': I am to charge you with [[TheQuest a holy crusade]].\\
'''Bethany Sloane''': For the record, I work in an abortion clinic.\\
'''The Metatron''': [[SoWasX Noah was a drunk]], and look what'' he ''accomplished--and no one's asking you to build an ark!
KevinSmith decided to take TheViewAskewniverse into the realm of religion with '''''Dogma'''''. May God have mercy on our souls.
Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me"). The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels {{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
The angels' potential absolution presents a big problem: God had specifically barred them from ''ever'' returning to Heaven, so their dogmatic absolution would disprove God's infallibility -- ''and bring an end to all existence''. Since God cannot directly interfere with the angels' plan, Bethany must do the job herself.
Jay and Silent Bob turn up as "prophets" sent to guide Bethany, and the trio later finds allies in disgruntled apostle [[ChrisRock Rufus]] and muse-turned-stripper [[SalmaHayek Serendipity]] -- but even with God's blessing on their side, the group's mission grows more difficult thanks to someone working behind the scenes to ensure the absolution of Bartleby and Loki…
Around the time of the film's release, Kevin Smith heard of a [[MoralGuardians group of people]] planning to picket ''Dogma'' at a theater near his hometown, so he decided to go and ''help picket his own film''. When he arrived, less than two dozen people had actually showed up for the "protest", including [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QepgKVOVfZ8 the reporter and camera crew for a local TV station]] ''who recognized him''.
----
!!''Dogma'' gives holy blessings to the following tropes:
* ActorAllusion: In ''Dogma'', SalmaHayek plays Serendipity, a muse from Heaven who works as a stripper on Earth. In ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'', she plays a stripper from Hell.
** Also, Loki and Bartleby are MistakenForGay on more than one occasion, which mirrored the then-prevalent rumors about Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
** Another one was written into the script, but orphaned by a cast change. The original actress chosen to play God was Holly Hunter. When she appears, Jay angrily asks "What the fuck is this, ''ThePiano''? Why ain't this bitch talking?" The actress for God was changed to Music/AlanisMorissette, but the line stayed in.
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: "I get it! 'Holey Bartender!' That's a ''great'' one!"
* AmbiguouslyGay: Jay.
** Apparently {{Word of God}} has said that Jay is bisexual but closeted ([[TransparentCloset he thinks]]), mainly for more room for jokes.
* ApocalypseHow: Class X-4, to Class Z threatened, depending on whether or not there's more than one universe, and if a God can be reborn.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: "But you didn't say 'God bless you' when I sneezed ..."
** Also, "What Jesus doesn't like is all the shit you people do in his name. Wars! Bigotry! Televangelism!"
* AscendedFanboy: KevinSmith is a big fan of AlanRickman's, which is why he wanted him to play Metatron. Rickman is a fan of ChasingAmy, which is why he wanted to work on ''Dogma''. So, they're kind of fanboys of ''each other''.
* AssholeVictim: Definitely the executives of the corporation, except for one woman. The adulterer on the bus also seemed to be a Jerkass.
* ATeamFiring: "COUNT THE SHELLS, SUCK-A-DUCK!" [[spoiler:Granted, Jay actually did hit the target, but exclusively the parts of Bartleby's body that were detrimental to Jay's plan and beneficial to Bartleby.]]
* AxCrazy: Loki against the board of executives, [[CrossesTheLineTwice Crossing the Line Twice]]. Also, Bartleby when he goes off the deep end.
* BadassNormal: Silent Bob holds his own against demons, renegade angels and poopmonsters.
* BarbieDollAnatomy: In [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_1old1orj0&feature=related this]] clip, somewhere around 1:10 onwards, the Metatron demonstrates that this makes angels ill-equipped to rape.
* [[BatmanGambit Bluntman Gambit]]: [[spoiler:Serendipity pretty much relies on Azrael giving Silent Bob a free shot.]]
* BigBad: Azrael, in a "TheManBehindTheMan" sort of way.
* BigDamnHeroes: Jay and Silent Bob of all people get one of these.
* BoardToDeath
* BondOneLiner: Loki after destroying the speakerphone in the Mooby boardroom scene.
-->'''Loki:''' All lines are currently down.
* BrickJoke: When Bethany take Jay and Silent Bob to a diner to ask their help, Jay propositions her in response. Bethany turns him down, but Jay persists: "What if there's a bomb about to go off or something and we're all gonna die? Would you fuck me then?" Mostly to shut him up, she agrees. Flash forward all the way to the end of the movie, when Bartleby is close to un-making reality, and Jay drags Bethany behind some overturned equipment to make good on the deal.
** Early in the movie, Rufus rants about the Bible being edited to say that Jesus was white, when he was, in fact, black. Then much later in the movie, Rufus reveals that [[spoiler:Bethany is the great-great-great-etc.-grand niece of Jesus. Then, stoned out of his mind, Jay responds "Wait, does that make Bethany part black?"]]
*** And again at the end of the credits in the DVD. [[spoiler:Jay: "So, Bethany... part black?"]]
* BrokenAngel
* TheCanKickedHim: A gang member is killed by the Golgothan in a public restroom.
* CelestialBureaucracy: The whole premise revolves around a loophole in Christian Dogma.
* ChekhovsGun: The inability of humans to withstand hearing God's voice is revealed early on in the plot, but it turns out to be [[spoiler:how God dispatches Bartleby at the film's climax]].
** Also, [[spoiler:the blessed golf clubs.]]
*** The most important Gun in the film are the facts that [[spoiler:God is missing, God loves skee ball, and there's an anonymous old man in a coma who got beaten up in the very first scene and happens to be in a hospital down the street from the church...]]
* TheChessmaster: Metatron ([[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation and possibly God]]). Azrael is also one, despite being an OmnicidalManiac.
* ChristianityIsCatholic: Catholic law is the main reason why the universe is in peril.
* ClusterFBomb: Jay is a master of this specific art.
* ContinuityNod: Jay & Silent Bob have the tickets to Illinois in their pocket during their scene in ''ChasingAmy''.
** When talking to "Larry" and "Barry", Jay talks about trying to wreck the Dating Game stage in ''{{Mallrats}}''.
** In the end, Jay says they should go to [[{{Clerks}} Quick Stop]].
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: A whole boardroom's worth, less one.
* CorruptChurch: Cardinal Glick.
* CouncilOfAngels
* CrapsackWorld
* CreatorCameo: Besides the obvious (Smith as Bob), producer Scott Mosier is the adulterer on the bus.
* CrossoverCosmology: Loki is the name of the Norse god of mischief and muses come from Greek mythology.
* CrowdPanic: After Bartleby breaks Officer [=McGee=]'s neck.
* ADateWithRosiePalms:
-->'''Rufus''': You [Jay] masturbate more than anyone else on the planet.\\
'''Jay''': Shit, everyone knows that. Tell me something nobody knows.\\
'''Rufus''': When you do it, [[AmbiguouslyGay you're thinking about guys]].\\
'''Jay:''': (Off Silent Bob's shocked stare) [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday ... Dude, not all the time!]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Pretty much the entire cast, but most notably Alan Rickman's Metatron.
* DeathTakesAHoliday: God frequently takes human form to play skeeball.
* DefiedTrope: Serendipity tries to goad Azrael into [[JustBetweenYouAndMe explaining his evil scheme to them]], but he says, "Oh, no, you don't; [[GenreSavvy I've seen enough James Bond movies]] to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter ''how'' close you think you are to winning."
* DeusExMachina: At the end. Justified for the obvious reason.
* DivineRaceLift: God as a woman, Jesus (and Rufus) being black.
* DramaticIrony: The scene on the train where our heroes and the angels meet, yet don't realize who the other group is until well into the scene.
** Another example is the (presumably) Christian folk protesting pulling the plug on the John Doe [[spoiler:who turns out to be ''God'' ''herself.'' If only someone had told them that pulling that particular plug would save reality as we know it...]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Jay burns out the transmission on the heroes' car going around 100mph.
-->'''Bethany:''' What gear are you in?
-->'''Jay:''' GEAR?!?!
-->'''(cut to hood open, smoke pouring out) Jay:''' Well what do I know about shifting?
* DumbassHasAPoint: It is Jay who recommends the idea of trying to get Glick to close the church. Even the Metatron is surprised. No one seems to notice that it's Silent Bob's idea.
-->'''Metatron:''' ''"Good lord, the little stoner has a point.''"
* DynamicEntry: [[spoiler:Jay and [[TheSilentBob Silent Bob]] during their BigDamnHeroes moment.]]
** What, no love for Rufus falling from the sky?
*** Or for the Metatron? It's offscreen, but he actually ''trips over'' in Bethany's apartment - you can hear it on the soundtrack. That's ''before'' the whole BEHOLD THE METATRON, HERALD OF THE ALMIGHTY, VOICE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD thing.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt
* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: In-universe example -- Loki explains to a nun at the beginning that the Walrus and the Carpenter scene from ''[[Literature/AliceInWonderland Through the Looking Glass]]'' is a scathing attack on Christianity, which she finds so compelling that she abandons the cloth.
* ExpositionOfImmortality: Various conversations between characters evoke this. Bartleby and Loki idly discussing the tiring nature of raining fire and brimstone at Sodom and Gomorrah whilst purchasing handguns and their later argument about Bartleby reminding Loki of Lucifer.
* FamousLastWords
-->[[spoiler:'''Azrael: ''' "But... I'm a fucking demon..."]]
* {{Fanservice}}: "''Candy Girl! You Are my World!''" Indeed.
* FateWorseThanDeath: Bartleby and Loki were forced to stay on Earth (Wisconsin, to be more precise) until the Rapture -- and then, they have to stay outside Heaven for all eternity.
-->'''Azrael:''' Have you ever been to Hell, human? I'd rather '''not exist''' than go back there.
** This was fully explained in a deleted scene where it was revealed that Hell was originally "just" the absence of God; because humans believe that God would never forgive them for their sins and (subconsciously) beg to be punished, Hell gradually transformed into a "suffering pit" where horrible things happen -- things so horrible, even the fallen angels can't stand the howling of the damned.
* FlatEarthAtheist: Parodied.
-->'''Bartleby:''' Here's what I don't get. You know for a ''fact'' that there is a God. You have stood in His presence, He has spoken to you ''personally'' -- and yet I just heard you claim to be an atheist.
-->'''Loki:''' I just love fucking with the clergy, man. I love it, I love it. Gotta keep those fuckers on their toes.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: While Loki and Bartleby are on the moving sidewalk in the airport, the nun from Loki's earlier conversation is apparently drunk and running away with a big mug of beer.
* GenreSavvy: Subverted in that Azrael is GenreSavvy enough not tell the heroes his plan before it completes, but not quite savvy enough to [[OhCrap realize]] that he shouldn't [[EvilGloating brag about this before killing them all]] or allow someone to take a [[HitMeDammit free swing at him]].
* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train, unaware the other is the people they are trying to track down.
* GodIsInept: The plot is based on the existence of a design loophole in Creation and -- by some cynical interpretations -- poor judgment on God's part. On the other hand, the loophole is purely the fault of humans and their silly dogma.
* GodlySidestep: After the heroes save God, the day, and the universe, the main character asks to be told the meaning of life. God simply giggles and runs away.
* GodsNeedPrayerBadly: While God, Angels, and Demons apparently exist independently of Humans, they're definitely affected by the way Humans believe in them.
* GratuitousGerman: Ben Affleck apparently decided that German was the language of angels. When Bob is throwing him from the train, he yells "I'll get you, Schüler[[hottip:*:"student"]] Bob!", apparently assuming it meant "Silent." Or possibly because they sound somewhat alike and he thought Bartleby would have misheard Silent Bob's name or something.
* HaveYouSeenMyGod: The main plot driver (aside from the [[IncrediblyLamePun cardinal's driver]]).
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: At the climax of the film, [[spoiler: Loki]] has a change of heart and tries to stop [[spoiler: Bartleby. Bartleby promptly and unrepentantly murders him.]]
* HollywoodAtheist: Bethany, but she slowly regains her faith during the movie.
* HolyHandGrenade: Glick's blessed golf club.
* HomoeroticSubtext: Bartleby and Loki, so very much subtext, which is mentioned and played with throughout the movie.
-->'''Bartleby:''' And quit leering at me. People are gonna think I just broke up with you.
* IKnowMaddenKombat: The Hockey Demons.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Metatron. When he first talks to Bethany, he's [[{{Jerkass}} rather rude and snarky, and refuses to give her questions any straightforward answers]]. Later, though, it's revealed that he has nothing but sympathy for her. Jay and Silent Bob are more obvious examples.
* JesusWasWayCool: Even if he does owe Rufus twelve bucks.
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Bartleby absolutely ''flips'' after he finds out about what will happen if his quest for absolution is complete.
-->The humans have besmirched everything bestowed on them. They were given Paradise, they threw it away. They were given this planet, they destroyed it. They were favored best among all His endeavors, and some of them don't even believe He exists. And in spite of it all, He's shown them infinite fucking patience at every turn. What about us? I asked you... once to lay down the sword because I felt sorry for them. What was the result? Our expulsion from Paradise. '''Where was His infinite fucking patience then? It's not right! It's not fair!''' We've paid our debt! Don't you think it's time? Don't you think its time we went home? And to do that, I think we have to dispatch of our would-be dispatchers. (...) Don't let your sympathies get the best of you. They did me once. Scion or not, she's still just a human, and by passing through that arch, our sins are forgiven. No harm, no foul.
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Averted ''and'' lampshaded.
--> [[spoiler:'''Azrael''':]] Oh no. I've seen way too many Bond movies to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter how close you may think you are to winning.
* KingOfAllCosmos: God is best expressed as a wide-eyed, giggling, beautiful young woman, played by Music/AlanisMorissette. (Alternately, as a cheerful, fat old man who likes playing skee ball.)
* KnightTemplar: Bartleby and Loki's original plan, which has GoneHorriblyWrong.
* LargeHam: Glick, Azrael and special mention to Metatron, whose entrance is the very epitome of this trope, but the rest of Rickman's performance is surprisingly un-hamlike.
** Loki is an in-universe example during the Mooby boardroom, Bartleby tries to dial him back.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the commentary during the climax when Smith comments that Affleck's deliver of the line "Soon a cadre of police will arrive..." is quite [[WilliamShatner Shatner-like]].
* LateToThePunchline: Jay's reaction to Azrael's "Holey Bartender" routine.
* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Jay and Silent Bob, Bartleby and Loki.
** There is a bizzare subtext between God and Metatron that implies this, despite Her being TheVoiceless. Particularly the look that crosses God's face when Metatron complains about Her voice causing him to be covered in LudicrousGibs ''again'', making him spit-polish it off with Her dress for a moment, before realising what he's done.
* LudicrousGibs: What the fuck happened to that guy's head?
* ManInWhite: Azrael.
* ManipulativeBastard: Azrael.
* MeaningfulName: Played with. One of the Skater Triplets wears a "Hellboy" T-shirt. Doubles as a ShoutOut.
* MenAreTheExpendableGender: [[spoiler:All of the Mooby's boardroom members that are killed are male, with the one female being the "only good" person in the room; this is also possibly in UnfortunateImplications territory.]]
** Possibly justified in that [[spoiler: the men are all {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s and the woman is the creator of the popular children's character-turned-restaurant-mascot Mooby and a former kindergarten teacher.]]
* MessianicArchetype: One guess. But He never shows up in the film.
* MistakenForGay: Bartleby and Loki. Arguably also Jay and Silent Bob.
* MolotovCocktail: Serendipity starts to make one when they are being attacked by the Golgothan.
* MoralGuardians: Catholics protested this movie. ''Kevin Smith actually [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QepgKVOVfZ8 joined them.]]''
* MustMakeAmends: [[spoiler:Loki leading to his RedemptionEqualsDeath moment.]]
* NakedOnArrival: Rufus' entrance ([[TemptingFate Guys like us just don't fall out of the fucking sky, you know.]])
** Leading to Jay's Funny Moment.
-->'''Jay:''' (to the sky) Beautiful, naked, big-titted bitches don't just fall out of the sky, you know! *{{Beat}}* *ShrugTake*
* NayTheist: Bethany, who by now has seen the Metatron and thus is pretty sure God exists:
--> '''Bethany:''' When some quiet little infection destroyed my uterus - where was God? When my husband decided he couldn't be with a wife that couldn't bear his children - where was God? ... To Hell with Him.
* NeckSnap
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: A [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9qAqwIW704 deleted scene]] had Azrael describe that Hell was originally just {{Nothing|IsScarier}}ness, they suffered by being completely removed from God's gaze until Humans made it ''worse'' by believing that they ''deserved to be punished'' for the smallest sins, which then turned Hell into an infernal suffering pit filled with the screams of the damned.
--> '''Azrael''' I'd rather not exist than go back to ''that''.
** Also when Jay [[spoiler:shoots off Bartleby's wings; by destroying them, he had become human, and by crossing the arch as a human, he can be absolved from his sins, thereby bypassing God's judgment. He doesn't get to actually do it, though.]]
* NoMoreForMe: Toyed with. The characters, including Jay and Silent Bob get teleported by an angel from the middle of the woods to a fancy restaurant. Jay looks at the joint he had been smoking and says, "Damn, I think this shit just kicked in!" and continues puffing away.
* NoodleIncident: Whatever deeds the CEO of the corporation did; Bartleby claims "[[TakeOurWordForIt I cannot even mention them aloud]]".
-->'''Loki''': You're his ''father'', you sick fuck!
* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: Azrael's talk of being "a fucking demon" meant nothing when Silent Bob smashed his chest (literally) with a blessed golf club.
* OfficeGolf: The cardinal in New Jersey does this.
* OhCrap: Two of them. Azrael and Bartleby both discover their plans have GoneHorriblyWrong in the worst way.
* OmnicidalManiac: Azrael.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Very much so.
* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Pretty much the opening minute of the film.
* PalsWithJesus
* PantyShot: At one point, Bethany rolls out of bed wearing nothing but a shirt and panties.
** Also you have Stripper!SalmaHayek dressed down to her skivvies.
* PetTheDog: Metatron comforts Bethany when she breaks down at whats being asked on her, that Christ reacted the very same way when Metatron told him of his own destiny and that he'd one day have to die to save the world. Metatron then softly tells her that he's never told anyone, but even ''he'' questioned God's decision, feeling it wasn't fair to deliver this cruel news to a poor, scared child.
* PhysicalGod
* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Bartleby finally loses it close to the end.
-->'''Loki:''' I've heard a rant like this before.\\
'''Bartleby:''' What did you say?\\
'''Loki:''' I've heard a rant like this before.\\
'''Bartleby:''' Don't you fuckin' do that to me.\\
'''Loki:''' You sound like [[{{Satan}} The Morning Star]].\\
'''Bartleby:''' You shut your '''fucking mouth'''!!!\\
'''Loki:''' You do! You sound like [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]], man! You've fuckin' ''lost'' it!... You're not talking about going home, Bartleby, you're talking about fucking '''war''' on '''God'''! ... Well, fuck ''that''! I have seen [[CurbStompBattle what happens to the proud when they take on the Throne]]! ''*Bartleby just stares at him with a quiet glare*'' [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere I'm goin' back to Wisconsin.]]\\
'''Bartleby:''' ''(grabs Loki and pushes him to a wall)'' ''WE'RE GOING HOME, LOKI. And no one, not you, not EVEN THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF...is going to make that otherwise.!!''
* RaisedCatholic: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortion clinic, but still goes to Mass on every Sunday.
** In a deleted scene she's the only one who pays attention to the clergy while everyone in Mass are either uninterested, indifferent, or apathetic. This follows Serendipity's discussion of how people treat religion as a burden.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Loki, and possibly Bartleby.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Well, that's a bit of a stretch using the term, but while Loki starts off as Red and Bartleby as Blue, their roles end up being reversed once they realize the implications of their quest.
* RefusalOfTheCall: Bethany, initially, but of course [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive the Call knows where she lives]] and attacks with demonic hockey players. Thankfully [[NameAndName Jay and Silent Bob]] act as the BigDamnHeroes.
* RetroactiveWish: "Beautiful, naked, big titted women don't just fall outta the sky, y'know!"
* ReviveKillsZombie: Air freshener defeats Golgathan fits the pattern quite nicely.
* RollerbladeGood: The Stygian Triplets
* RuleOfSeanConnery: Alan Rickman.
* RuleOfSymbolism: Mooby's mascot is a mix between the Golden Calf and MickeyMouse.
** The hoodies the angels wear under their suit jackets represent their halos.
* ScreamingWarrior: "SNOOTCH TO THE MOTHERFUCKIN' NOOOOOOOTCH!"
** Doubles as ContinuityNod, as Jay complains to Holden in ''ChasingAmy'' that their Bluntman and Chronic alter egos use "baby talk" like "snootchie bootchies!"
* ShoutOut: The common Viewaskewverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about JohnHughes film.
** A fairly obscure one: The Golgothan's first line -- "Not born, ''shit'' into existence." -- is taken verbatim from GrantMorrison's ''ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth''. It pertains to a very disgusting-looking Clayface in that, if you're wondering. The next line -- "No man of woman born" -- is an odd shout out to ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''.
** Silent Bob throws the angels off the train, then points and says "[[Film/TheLastCrusade No ticket!]]".
** Bartleby gives a shout out to the Comicbook/{{Incredible Hulk}} before he kills a police officer.
--> '''Bartleby:''' Mister [=McGee=], don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
** Immediately after Rufus falls to Earth, Jay speaks up standing over the body.
-->'''Jay''': You think someone threw him out of a plane with a message written on him like in ''Film/ConAir''? Did you ever see that flick?
** After God revives Bethany at the end:
--> '''Metatron''': [[TheSixMillionDollarMan She can rebuild you. She has the technology. She can make you better... stronger... faster.]]
* SiblingRivalry: Azrael and Serendipity, technically. Serendipity berates him for refusing to pick a side in the war between God and Lucifer, believes Azrael deserved his banishment to Hell, and hates his "life isn't fair" speech.
* TheSilentBob: Three guesses, no prizes.
** .......[[ComicallyMissingThePoint God?]]
* SmiteMeOMightySmiter: Bethany, when she finds out she's a descendant of Jesus.
** The Metatron mentioned Jesus himself did the same at age 12 when he learns he's the son of God.
* SmugSnake: Azrael and Glick.
* SophisticatedAsHell: Jay, discussing women's rights. "What a woman does with her body is her own fuckin' business!"
* SpitTake: The woman on the elevator has this reaction to the UncomfortableElevatorMoment.
* TheStoner: Jay and Silent Bob.
* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: Azrael's plan.
* TakeThat: Serendipity the Muse is adamant that she had nothing to do with ''HomeAlone''. She claims that the writer for that film made a DealWithTheDevil.
** And who wrote it? JohnHughes.
** A little HarsherInHindsight after Hughes' death. [[invoked]]
* ThisTropeIsBleep: The encounter with the Golgothan (a being created out of...well, shit) is often cut out of television showings altogether. This has the unfortunate side effect of creating a plot hole in regards to where Serendipity disappeared to after Bethany and the gang find her.
* TranslatorBuddy: The Metatron, to God.
* UncomfortableElevatorMoment
-->'''Loki:''' "Our last four days on Earth; if I had a dick, I'd go get laid. But we can do that next best thing." \\
'''Bartleby:''' "What's that?" \\
'''Loki:''' "Kill people." \\
[cue SpitTake from lady in between them] \\
'''Loki:''' "Oh, not ''you''."
* TheVoiceless: Silent Bob (subverted, of course) and God (who speaks through the Metatron because her own voice is fatal to humans).
* WalkOnWater: Metatron.
* WingedHumanoid: The angels have the traditional white, feathered wings...which they have to rip off in order to become human.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Azrael, who would rather not exist (and take the universe down with him) than stay in Hell any longer. Later, [[spoiler:Bartleby]] becomes one as well, because of the [[spoiler: unfairness of God loving humans more than angels.]]
* TheWonka: God
* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn: SalmaHayek as Serendipity. Yes.
* YouNeedToGetLaid: People on both sides tell this to each other. When Bartleby goes really nuts at the end, Loki notes that it's just '''eons''' of repression being purged. "If only they'd let us jerk off..."
* YourHeadASplode: This occurs if a living human hears God's true voice.
-->'''Metatron:''' Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the ''awesome'' power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode inside your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.
----
->'''The Metatron''': I am to charge you with [[TheQuest a holy crusade]].\\
'''Bethany Sloane''': For the record, I work in an abortion clinic.\\
'''The Metatron''': [[SoWasX Noah was a drunk]], and look what'' he ''accomplished--and no one's asking you to build an ark!
KevinSmith decided to take TheViewAskewniverse into the realm of religion with '''''Dogma'''''. May God have mercy on our souls.
Late one night, abortion clinic employee Bethany receives a visit from [[AlanRickman The Metatron]], the angel who acts as the voice of {{God}} ("Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they're speaking to me"). The Metatron tasks Bethany with a [[MissionFromGod holy mission]]: she must visit a Catholic church in New Jersey on a specific day to prevent disgraced angels {{B|enAffleck}}artleby and [[MattDamon Loki]] from taking advantage of a special absolution ceremony being held there. The ceremony would grant forgiveness to ''anyone'' for ''any'' sin, and because the Bible says God must hold true in Heaven what holds true on Earth, this ceremony would allow the angels to return to Heaven.
The angels' potential absolution presents a big problem: God had specifically barred them from ''ever'' returning to Heaven, so their dogmatic absolution would disprove God's infallibility -- ''and bring an end to all existence''. Since God cannot directly interfere with the angels' plan, Bethany must do the job herself.
Jay and Silent Bob turn up as "prophets" sent to guide Bethany, and the trio later finds allies in disgruntled apostle [[ChrisRock Rufus]] and muse-turned-stripper [[SalmaHayek Serendipity]] -- but even with God's blessing on their side, the group's mission grows more difficult thanks to someone working behind the scenes to ensure the absolution of Bartleby and Loki…
Around the time of the film's release, Kevin Smith heard of a [[MoralGuardians group of people]] planning to picket ''Dogma'' at a theater near his hometown, so he decided to go and ''help picket his own film''. When he arrived, less than two dozen people had actually showed up for the "protest", including [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QepgKVOVfZ8 the reporter and camera crew for a local TV station]] ''who recognized him''.
----
!!''Dogma'' gives holy blessings to the following tropes:
* ActorAllusion: In ''Dogma'', SalmaHayek plays Serendipity, a muse from Heaven who works as a stripper on Earth. In ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'', she plays a stripper from Hell.
** Also, Loki and Bartleby are MistakenForGay on more than one occasion, which mirrored the then-prevalent rumors about Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
** Another one was written into the script, but orphaned by a cast change. The original actress chosen to play God was Holly Hunter. When she appears, Jay angrily asks "What the fuck is this, ''ThePiano''? Why ain't this bitch talking?" The actress for God was changed to Music/AlanisMorissette, but the line stayed in.
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: "I get it! 'Holey Bartender!' That's a ''great'' one!"
* AmbiguouslyGay: Jay.
** Apparently {{Word of God}} has said that Jay is bisexual but closeted ([[TransparentCloset he thinks]]), mainly for more room for jokes.
* ApocalypseHow: Class X-4, to Class Z threatened, depending on whether or not there's more than one universe, and if a God can be reborn.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: "But you didn't say 'God bless you' when I sneezed ..."
** Also, "What Jesus doesn't like is all the shit you people do in his name. Wars! Bigotry! Televangelism!"
* AscendedFanboy: KevinSmith is a big fan of AlanRickman's, which is why he wanted him to play Metatron. Rickman is a fan of ChasingAmy, which is why he wanted to work on ''Dogma''. So, they're kind of fanboys of ''each other''.
* AssholeVictim: Definitely the executives of the corporation, except for one woman. The adulterer on the bus also seemed to be a Jerkass.
* ATeamFiring: "COUNT THE SHELLS, SUCK-A-DUCK!" [[spoiler:Granted, Jay actually did hit the target, but exclusively the parts of Bartleby's body that were detrimental to Jay's plan and beneficial to Bartleby.]]
* AxCrazy: Loki against the board of executives, [[CrossesTheLineTwice Crossing the Line Twice]]. Also, Bartleby when he goes off the deep end.
* BadassNormal: Silent Bob holds his own against demons, renegade angels and poopmonsters.
* BarbieDollAnatomy: In [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_1old1orj0&feature=related this]] clip, somewhere around 1:10 onwards, the Metatron demonstrates that this makes angels ill-equipped to rape.
* [[BatmanGambit Bluntman Gambit]]: [[spoiler:Serendipity pretty much relies on Azrael giving Silent Bob a free shot.]]
* BigBad: Azrael, in a "TheManBehindTheMan" sort of way.
* BigDamnHeroes: Jay and Silent Bob of all people get one of these.
* BoardToDeath
* BondOneLiner: Loki after destroying the speakerphone in the Mooby boardroom scene.
-->'''Loki:''' All lines are currently down.
* BrickJoke: When Bethany take Jay and Silent Bob to a diner to ask their help, Jay propositions her in response. Bethany turns him down, but Jay persists: "What if there's a bomb about to go off or something and we're all gonna die? Would you fuck me then?" Mostly to shut him up, she agrees. Flash forward all the way to the end of the movie, when Bartleby is close to un-making reality, and Jay drags Bethany behind some overturned equipment to make good on the deal.
** Early in the movie, Rufus rants about the Bible being edited to say that Jesus was white, when he was, in fact, black. Then much later in the movie, Rufus reveals that [[spoiler:Bethany is the great-great-great-etc.-grand niece of Jesus. Then, stoned out of his mind, Jay responds "Wait, does that make Bethany part black?"]]
*** And again at the end of the credits in the DVD. [[spoiler:Jay: "So, Bethany... part black?"]]
* BrokenAngel
* TheCanKickedHim: A gang member is killed by the Golgothan in a public restroom.
* CelestialBureaucracy: The whole premise revolves around a loophole in Christian Dogma.
* ChekhovsGun: The inability of humans to withstand hearing God's voice is revealed early on in the plot, but it turns out to be [[spoiler:how God dispatches Bartleby at the film's climax]].
** Also, [[spoiler:the blessed golf clubs.]]
*** The most important Gun in the film are the facts that [[spoiler:God is missing, God loves skee ball, and there's an anonymous old man in a coma who got beaten up in the very first scene and happens to be in a hospital down the street from the church...]]
* TheChessmaster: Metatron ([[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation and possibly God]]). Azrael is also one, despite being an OmnicidalManiac.
* ChristianityIsCatholic: Catholic law is the main reason why the universe is in peril.
* ClusterFBomb: Jay is a master of this specific art.
* ContinuityNod: Jay & Silent Bob have the tickets to Illinois in their pocket during their scene in ''ChasingAmy''.
** When talking to "Larry" and "Barry", Jay talks about trying to wreck the Dating Game stage in ''{{Mallrats}}''.
** In the end, Jay says they should go to [[{{Clerks}} Quick Stop]].
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: A whole boardroom's worth, less one.
* CorruptChurch: Cardinal Glick.
* CouncilOfAngels
* CrapsackWorld
* CreatorCameo: Besides the obvious (Smith as Bob), producer Scott Mosier is the adulterer on the bus.
* CrossoverCosmology: Loki is the name of the Norse god of mischief and muses come from Greek mythology.
* CrowdPanic: After Bartleby breaks Officer [=McGee=]'s neck.
* ADateWithRosiePalms:
-->'''Rufus''': You [Jay] masturbate more than anyone else on the planet.\\
'''Jay''': Shit, everyone knows that. Tell me something nobody knows.\\
'''Rufus''': When you do it, [[AmbiguouslyGay you're thinking about guys]].\\
'''Jay:''': (Off Silent Bob's shocked stare) [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday ... Dude, not all the time!]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Pretty much the entire cast, but most notably Alan Rickman's Metatron.
* DeathTakesAHoliday: God frequently takes human form to play skeeball.
* DefiedTrope: Serendipity tries to goad Azrael into [[JustBetweenYouAndMe explaining his evil scheme to them]], but he says, "Oh, no, you don't; [[GenreSavvy I've seen enough James Bond movies]] to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter ''how'' close you think you are to winning."
* DeusExMachina: At the end. Justified for the obvious reason.
* DivineRaceLift: God as a woman, Jesus (and Rufus) being black.
* DramaticIrony: The scene on the train where our heroes and the angels meet, yet don't realize who the other group is until well into the scene.
** Another example is the (presumably) Christian folk protesting pulling the plug on the John Doe [[spoiler:who turns out to be ''God'' ''herself.'' If only someone had told them that pulling that particular plug would save reality as we know it...]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Jay burns out the transmission on the heroes' car going around 100mph.
-->'''Bethany:''' What gear are you in?
-->'''Jay:''' GEAR?!?!
-->'''(cut to hood open, smoke pouring out) Jay:''' Well what do I know about shifting?
* DumbassHasAPoint: It is Jay who recommends the idea of trying to get Glick to close the church. Even the Metatron is surprised. No one seems to notice that it's Silent Bob's idea.
-->'''Metatron:''' ''"Good lord, the little stoner has a point.''"
* DynamicEntry: [[spoiler:Jay and [[TheSilentBob Silent Bob]] during their BigDamnHeroes moment.]]
** What, no love for Rufus falling from the sky?
*** Or for the Metatron? It's offscreen, but he actually ''trips over'' in Bethany's apartment - you can hear it on the soundtrack. That's ''before'' the whole BEHOLD THE METATRON, HERALD OF THE ALMIGHTY, VOICE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD thing.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt
* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: In-universe example -- Loki explains to a nun at the beginning that the Walrus and the Carpenter scene from ''[[Literature/AliceInWonderland Through the Looking Glass]]'' is a scathing attack on Christianity, which she finds so compelling that she abandons the cloth.
* ExpositionOfImmortality: Various conversations between characters evoke this. Bartleby and Loki idly discussing the tiring nature of raining fire and brimstone at Sodom and Gomorrah whilst purchasing handguns and their later argument about Bartleby reminding Loki of Lucifer.
* FamousLastWords
-->[[spoiler:'''Azrael: ''' "But... I'm a fucking demon..."]]
* {{Fanservice}}: "''Candy Girl! You Are my World!''" Indeed.
* FateWorseThanDeath: Bartleby and Loki were forced to stay on Earth (Wisconsin, to be more precise) until the Rapture -- and then, they have to stay outside Heaven for all eternity.
-->'''Azrael:''' Have you ever been to Hell, human? I'd rather '''not exist''' than go back there.
** This was fully explained in a deleted scene where it was revealed that Hell was originally "just" the absence of God; because humans believe that God would never forgive them for their sins and (subconsciously) beg to be punished, Hell gradually transformed into a "suffering pit" where horrible things happen -- things so horrible, even the fallen angels can't stand the howling of the damned.
* FlatEarthAtheist: Parodied.
-->'''Bartleby:''' Here's what I don't get. You know for a ''fact'' that there is a God. You have stood in His presence, He has spoken to you ''personally'' -- and yet I just heard you claim to be an atheist.
-->'''Loki:''' I just love fucking with the clergy, man. I love it, I love it. Gotta keep those fuckers on their toes.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: While Loki and Bartleby are on the moving sidewalk in the airport, the nun from Loki's earlier conversation is apparently drunk and running away with a big mug of beer.
* GenreSavvy: Subverted in that Azrael is GenreSavvy enough not tell the heroes his plan before it completes, but not quite savvy enough to [[OhCrap realize]] that he shouldn't [[EvilGloating brag about this before killing them all]] or allow someone to take a [[HitMeDammit free swing at him]].
* GoKartingWithBowser: Bethany and Bartleby have a heart to heart talk on religion, while Loki and Jay bond over smoking joints on the train, unaware the other is the people they are trying to track down.
* GodIsInept: The plot is based on the existence of a design loophole in Creation and -- by some cynical interpretations -- poor judgment on God's part. On the other hand, the loophole is purely the fault of humans and their silly dogma.
* GodlySidestep: After the heroes save God, the day, and the universe, the main character asks to be told the meaning of life. God simply giggles and runs away.
* GodsNeedPrayerBadly: While God, Angels, and Demons apparently exist independently of Humans, they're definitely affected by the way Humans believe in them.
* GratuitousGerman: Ben Affleck apparently decided that German was the language of angels. When Bob is throwing him from the train, he yells "I'll get you, Schüler[[hottip:*:"student"]] Bob!", apparently assuming it meant "Silent." Or possibly because they sound somewhat alike and he thought Bartleby would have misheard Silent Bob's name or something.
* HaveYouSeenMyGod: The main plot driver (aside from the [[IncrediblyLamePun cardinal's driver]]).
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: At the climax of the film, [[spoiler: Loki]] has a change of heart and tries to stop [[spoiler: Bartleby. Bartleby promptly and unrepentantly murders him.]]
* HollywoodAtheist: Bethany, but she slowly regains her faith during the movie.
* HolyHandGrenade: Glick's blessed golf club.
* HomoeroticSubtext: Bartleby and Loki, so very much subtext, which is mentioned and played with throughout the movie.
-->'''Bartleby:''' And quit leering at me. People are gonna think I just broke up with you.
* IKnowMaddenKombat: The Hockey Demons.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Metatron. When he first talks to Bethany, he's [[{{Jerkass}} rather rude and snarky, and refuses to give her questions any straightforward answers]]. Later, though, it's revealed that he has nothing but sympathy for her. Jay and Silent Bob are more obvious examples.
* JesusWasWayCool: Even if he does owe Rufus twelve bucks.
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Bartleby absolutely ''flips'' after he finds out about what will happen if his quest for absolution is complete.
-->The humans have besmirched everything bestowed on them. They were given Paradise, they threw it away. They were given this planet, they destroyed it. They were favored best among all His endeavors, and some of them don't even believe He exists. And in spite of it all, He's shown them infinite fucking patience at every turn. What about us? I asked you... once to lay down the sword because I felt sorry for them. What was the result? Our expulsion from Paradise. '''Where was His infinite fucking patience then? It's not right! It's not fair!''' We've paid our debt! Don't you think it's time? Don't you think its time we went home? And to do that, I think we have to dispatch of our would-be dispatchers. (...) Don't let your sympathies get the best of you. They did me once. Scion or not, she's still just a human, and by passing through that arch, our sins are forgiven. No harm, no foul.
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Averted ''and'' lampshaded.
--> [[spoiler:'''Azrael''':]] Oh no. I've seen way too many Bond movies to know that you never reveal all the details of your plan, no matter how close you may think you are to winning.
* KingOfAllCosmos: God is best expressed as a wide-eyed, giggling, beautiful young woman, played by Music/AlanisMorissette. (Alternately, as a cheerful, fat old man who likes playing skee ball.)
* KnightTemplar: Bartleby and Loki's original plan, which has GoneHorriblyWrong.
* LargeHam: Glick, Azrael and special mention to Metatron, whose entrance is the very epitome of this trope, but the rest of Rickman's performance is surprisingly un-hamlike.
** Loki is an in-universe example during the Mooby boardroom, Bartleby tries to dial him back.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the commentary during the climax when Smith comments that Affleck's deliver of the line "Soon a cadre of police will arrive..." is quite [[WilliamShatner Shatner-like]].
* LateToThePunchline: Jay's reaction to Azrael's "Holey Bartender" routine.
* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Jay and Silent Bob, Bartleby and Loki.
** There is a bizzare subtext between God and Metatron that implies this, despite Her being TheVoiceless. Particularly the look that crosses God's face when Metatron complains about Her voice causing him to be covered in LudicrousGibs ''again'', making him spit-polish it off with Her dress for a moment, before realising what he's done.
* LudicrousGibs: What the fuck happened to that guy's head?
* ManInWhite: Azrael.
* ManipulativeBastard: Azrael.
* MeaningfulName: Played with. One of the Skater Triplets wears a "Hellboy" T-shirt. Doubles as a ShoutOut.
* MenAreTheExpendableGender: [[spoiler:All of the Mooby's boardroom members that are killed are male, with the one female being the "only good" person in the room; this is also possibly in UnfortunateImplications territory.]]
** Possibly justified in that [[spoiler: the men are all {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s and the woman is the creator of the popular children's character-turned-restaurant-mascot Mooby and a former kindergarten teacher.]]
* MessianicArchetype: One guess. But He never shows up in the film.
* MistakenForGay: Bartleby and Loki. Arguably also Jay and Silent Bob.
* MolotovCocktail: Serendipity starts to make one when they are being attacked by the Golgothan.
* MoralGuardians: Catholics protested this movie. ''Kevin Smith actually [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QepgKVOVfZ8 joined them.]]''
* MustMakeAmends: [[spoiler:Loki leading to his RedemptionEqualsDeath moment.]]
* NakedOnArrival: Rufus' entrance ([[TemptingFate Guys like us just don't fall out of the fucking sky, you know.]])
** Leading to Jay's Funny Moment.
-->'''Jay:''' (to the sky) Beautiful, naked, big-titted bitches don't just fall out of the sky, you know! *{{Beat}}* *ShrugTake*
* NayTheist: Bethany, who by now has seen the Metatron and thus is pretty sure God exists:
--> '''Bethany:''' When some quiet little infection destroyed my uterus - where was God? When my husband decided he couldn't be with a wife that couldn't bear his children - where was God? ... To Hell with Him.
* NeckSnap
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: A [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9qAqwIW704 deleted scene]] had Azrael describe that Hell was originally just {{Nothing|IsScarier}}ness, they suffered by being completely removed from God's gaze until Humans made it ''worse'' by believing that they ''deserved to be punished'' for the smallest sins, which then turned Hell into an infernal suffering pit filled with the screams of the damned.
--> '''Azrael''' I'd rather not exist than go back to ''that''.
** Also when Jay [[spoiler:shoots off Bartleby's wings; by destroying them, he had become human, and by crossing the arch as a human, he can be absolved from his sins, thereby bypassing God's judgment. He doesn't get to actually do it, though.]]
* NoMoreForMe: Toyed with. The characters, including Jay and Silent Bob get teleported by an angel from the middle of the woods to a fancy restaurant. Jay looks at the joint he had been smoking and says, "Damn, I think this shit just kicked in!" and continues puffing away.
* NoodleIncident: Whatever deeds the CEO of the corporation did; Bartleby claims "[[TakeOurWordForIt I cannot even mention them aloud]]".
-->'''Loki''': You're his ''father'', you sick fuck!
* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: Azrael's talk of being "a fucking demon" meant nothing when Silent Bob smashed his chest (literally) with a blessed golf club.
* OfficeGolf: The cardinal in New Jersey does this.
* OhCrap: Two of them. Azrael and Bartleby both discover their plans have GoneHorriblyWrong in the worst way.
* OmnicidalManiac: Azrael.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Very much so.
* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Pretty much the opening minute of the film.
* PalsWithJesus
* PantyShot: At one point, Bethany rolls out of bed wearing nothing but a shirt and panties.
** Also you have Stripper!SalmaHayek dressed down to her skivvies.
* PetTheDog: Metatron comforts Bethany when she breaks down at whats being asked on her, that Christ reacted the very same way when Metatron told him of his own destiny and that he'd one day have to die to save the world. Metatron then softly tells her that he's never told anyone, but even ''he'' questioned God's decision, feeling it wasn't fair to deliver this cruel news to a poor, scared child.
* PhysicalGod
* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Bartleby finally loses it close to the end.
-->'''Loki:''' I've heard a rant like this before.\\
'''Bartleby:''' What did you say?\\
'''Loki:''' I've heard a rant like this before.\\
'''Bartleby:''' Don't you fuckin' do that to me.\\
'''Loki:''' You sound like [[{{Satan}} The Morning Star]].\\
'''Bartleby:''' You shut your '''fucking mouth'''!!!\\
'''Loki:''' You do! You sound like [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]], man! You've fuckin' ''lost'' it!... You're not talking about going home, Bartleby, you're talking about fucking '''war''' on '''God'''! ... Well, fuck ''that''! I have seen [[CurbStompBattle what happens to the proud when they take on the Throne]]! ''*Bartleby just stares at him with a quiet glare*'' [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere I'm goin' back to Wisconsin.]]\\
'''Bartleby:''' ''(grabs Loki and pushes him to a wall)'' ''WE'RE GOING HOME, LOKI. And no one, not you, not EVEN THE ALMIGHTY HIMSELF...is going to make that otherwise.!!''
* RaisedCatholic: At the beginning of the film, Bethany doesn't believe in God anymore and works at an abortion clinic, but still goes to Mass on every Sunday.
** In a deleted scene she's the only one who pays attention to the clergy while everyone in Mass are either uninterested, indifferent, or apathetic. This follows Serendipity's discussion of how people treat religion as a burden.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Loki, and possibly Bartleby.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Well, that's a bit of a stretch using the term, but while Loki starts off as Red and Bartleby as Blue, their roles end up being reversed once they realize the implications of their quest.
* RefusalOfTheCall: Bethany, initially, but of course [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive the Call knows where she lives]] and attacks with demonic hockey players. Thankfully [[NameAndName Jay and Silent Bob]] act as the BigDamnHeroes.
* RetroactiveWish: "Beautiful, naked, big titted women don't just fall outta the sky, y'know!"
* ReviveKillsZombie: Air freshener defeats Golgathan fits the pattern quite nicely.
* RollerbladeGood: The Stygian Triplets
* RuleOfSeanConnery: Alan Rickman.
* RuleOfSymbolism: Mooby's mascot is a mix between the Golden Calf and MickeyMouse.
** The hoodies the angels wear under their suit jackets represent their halos.
* ScreamingWarrior: "SNOOTCH TO THE MOTHERFUCKIN' NOOOOOOOTCH!"
** Doubles as ContinuityNod, as Jay complains to Holden in ''ChasingAmy'' that their Bluntman and Chronic alter egos use "baby talk" like "snootchie bootchies!"
* ShoutOut: The common Viewaskewverse shout outs to John Hughes films, here made simple and explicit by just talking about JohnHughes film.
** A fairly obscure one: The Golgothan's first line -- "Not born, ''shit'' into existence." -- is taken verbatim from GrantMorrison's ''ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth''. It pertains to a very disgusting-looking Clayface in that, if you're wondering. The next line -- "No man of woman born" -- is an odd shout out to ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''.
** Silent Bob throws the angels off the train, then points and says "[[Film/TheLastCrusade No ticket!]]".
** Bartleby gives a shout out to the Comicbook/{{Incredible Hulk}} before he kills a police officer.
--> '''Bartleby:''' Mister [=McGee=], don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
** Immediately after Rufus falls to Earth, Jay speaks up standing over the body.
-->'''Jay''': You think someone threw him out of a plane with a message written on him like in ''Film/ConAir''? Did you ever see that flick?
** After God revives Bethany at the end:
--> '''Metatron''': [[TheSixMillionDollarMan She can rebuild you. She has the technology. She can make you better... stronger... faster.]]
* SiblingRivalry: Azrael and Serendipity, technically. Serendipity berates him for refusing to pick a side in the war between God and Lucifer, believes Azrael deserved his banishment to Hell, and hates his "life isn't fair" speech.
* TheSilentBob: Three guesses, no prizes.
** .......[[ComicallyMissingThePoint God?]]
* SmiteMeOMightySmiter: Bethany, when she finds out she's a descendant of Jesus.
** The Metatron mentioned Jesus himself did the same at age 12 when he learns he's the son of God.
* SmugSnake: Azrael and Glick.
* SophisticatedAsHell: Jay, discussing women's rights. "What a woman does with her body is her own fuckin' business!"
* SpitTake: The woman on the elevator has this reaction to the UncomfortableElevatorMoment.
* TheStoner: Jay and Silent Bob.
* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: Azrael's plan.
* TakeThat: Serendipity the Muse is adamant that she had nothing to do with ''HomeAlone''. She claims that the writer for that film made a DealWithTheDevil.
** And who wrote it? JohnHughes.
** A little HarsherInHindsight after Hughes' death. [[invoked]]
* ThisTropeIsBleep: The encounter with the Golgothan (a being created out of...well, shit) is often cut out of television showings altogether. This has the unfortunate side effect of creating a plot hole in regards to where Serendipity disappeared to after Bethany and the gang find her.
* TranslatorBuddy: The Metatron, to God.
* UncomfortableElevatorMoment
-->'''Loki:''' "Our last four days on Earth; if I had a dick, I'd go get laid. But we can do that next best thing." \\
'''Bartleby:''' "What's that?" \\
'''Loki:''' "Kill people." \\
[cue SpitTake from lady in between them] \\
'''Loki:''' "Oh, not ''you''."
* TheVoiceless: Silent Bob (subverted, of course) and God (who speaks through the Metatron because her own voice is fatal to humans).
* WalkOnWater: Metatron.
* WingedHumanoid: The angels have the traditional white, feathered wings...which they have to rip off in order to become human.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Azrael, who would rather not exist (and take the universe down with him) than stay in Hell any longer. Later, [[spoiler:Bartleby]] becomes one as well, because of the [[spoiler: unfairness of God loving humans more than angels.]]
* TheWonka: God
* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn: SalmaHayek as Serendipity. Yes.
* YouNeedToGetLaid: People on both sides tell this to each other. When Bartleby goes really nuts at the end, Loki notes that it's just '''eons''' of repression being purged. "If only they'd let us jerk off..."
* YourHeadASplode: This occurs if a living human hears God's true voice.
-->'''Metatron:''' Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the ''awesome'' power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode inside your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out.
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