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GeekCodeRed Since: Sep, 2010
#51: Mar 21st 2014 at 7:55:19 AM

If god isn't dead, he is really ashamed of those who preach hate in his name. And especially the people who make these films. tongue

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#52: Mar 21st 2014 at 11:13:13 AM

What really tickles me pink about religious folks, folks from the Abrahamic faiths in particular, is that, like me, they are atheists. They don't believe in the Hindu, Aztec, Maya, Inca, Nordic, Shinto, Greek or Roman gods. I just disbelieve in one more god than they do.

Why can't we all just get along? tongue

I tried watching that trailer and gave up after, what, ten seconds or something.

Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#53: Mar 21st 2014 at 11:19:15 AM

I don't want to continue a debate, but to Christians that's like saying: "You eat a veggie diet and disdain meat. They eat meat and look down on veggies. Each claims their way is more healthy. So I say it's healthier to eat nothing at all."

Okay, doesn't quite hold up because it implies each diet/religion is equal when only one can be right but you get the idea.

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#54: Mar 21st 2014 at 11:54:57 AM

I watched the trailer. Okay, that philosophy professor sucks at his job. If you have a class focused on philosophical debate, you don't shut down possible subjects right off the bat unless they're really stupid. (Like, I don't know, debating about whether or not invisible cheese flies through the sky at night. You probably don't need to debate that).

Also, way to take the shallowest possible meaning from Nietzsche. I'm Christian and I actually agree with a lot of his philosophy. Most of what he said is thought-provoking and it actually makes a lot of sense.

[up][up]An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in any god or gods. A Monotheist is someone who believes in one god. A Polytheist is someone who believes in multiple gods. That's not the same thing as atheism.

edited 21st Mar '14 12:03:58 PM by Zendervai

InverurieJones '80s TV Action Hero from North of the Wall. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
'80s TV Action Hero
#55: Mar 21st 2014 at 12:55:01 PM

[up][up] Indeed. All right thinking people know that a balanced diet of pantheism is best.

Technically, if you follow the old testament, you can worship as many as you like, you just have to have Yahweh as your favourite. He'd probably throw a wobbler, but I'm sure humans can be literally-minded genies to Djinns when they want.

An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in any god or gods. A Monotheist is someone who believes in one god. A Polytheist is someone who believes in multiple gods. That's not the same thing as atheism.

What was that about christians having no sense of humour?

Really, I know Church Militants aren't in vogue these days, but there could be a few more Badass Preachers, Warrior Monks and Religious Bruisers.

I believe we now term those people 'extremists' or 'terrorists' and lock them up for their appalling atrocities.

edited 21st Mar '14 1:05:31 PM by InverurieJones

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'
lancesolous13 from California Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Dancing with Captain Jack Harkness
#56: Mar 21st 2014 at 1:28:39 PM

When does this movie come out again? I want to see it crash and burn to ashes.

I'm a critical person but I'm a nice guy when you get to know me. Now, I should be writing.
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#57: Mar 21st 2014 at 1:31:55 PM

[up][up] Wait, you're saying Religious Bruiser, Badass Preacher, Warrior Monk in general equal extremist terrorists? What?

edited 21st Mar '14 1:32:23 PM by Gaon

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#58: Mar 21st 2014 at 1:51:38 PM

if you follow the old testament, you can worship as many as you like, you just have to have Yahweh as your favourite.

First Commandment is: "You shall have no other gods but me" and Isaiah 44:6 says: "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.", so no, not merely favoritism is sufficient. Not wanting to continue a debate, just trying to clear out misconceptions.

lancesolous13 from California Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Dancing with Captain Jack Harkness
#59: Mar 21st 2014 at 2:07:37 PM

[up][up]No, but that's what they appear as mostly in our modern era. A priest who fights and kills people for religious reasons? That doesn't sound good...

I'm a critical person but I'm a nice guy when you get to know me. Now, I should be writing.
indiana404 Since: May, 2013
#60: Mar 21st 2014 at 2:09:23 PM

[up][up][up]Ditto. That people are willing to kick ass for the faith doesn't mean they'd use the "Kill Em All, let God sort them out" approach. Think guys like friar Tuck, Eli, or father Grigori.

More generally, I feel evangelical efforts should be based around deed first, and word second. A priest running a charity or medical establishment, personally taking care of the earthly needs of the fold, is far more likely to get dedicated listeners than any number of high-strung apologists raining philosophy on the populace at large. Let the good word show through you, not just flow from you.

edited 21st Mar '14 2:10:30 PM by indiana404

CorrTerek The Permanently Confused from The Bland Line Since: Jul, 2009
The Permanently Confused
#61: Mar 21st 2014 at 2:30:56 PM

No, but that's what they appear as mostly in our modern era. A priest who fights and kills people for religious reasons? That doesn't sound good...

You should probably read those trope pages again. The only one that's really close to what you're describing is the Warrior Monk, and technically he fights and kills people with religious reasons, not necessarily because of religious reasons. Though of course the trope does include the latter type of Warrior Monk.

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#62: Mar 21st 2014 at 3:25:00 PM

Precisely. Hell, Badass Preacher is a trope that is often assigned to pacifists that simply follow the Thou Shall Not Kill norm to its most badass extent (i.e refusing to fight back even when death is right before them, yet continue to stand up against what is unjust regardless of personal risk). Religious Bruiser includes violence (as does Warrior Monk) but neither is an evil trope (even because, Religious Bruiser is simply about a warrior who has strong faith in his religion, it has nothing to do with his motivation in its principle).

Onto the subject of saints possibly having movies, an Adaptation Expansion of George and the Dragon would be a pretty damn epic story.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
SKJAM Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#63: Mar 22nd 2014 at 7:01:11 AM

Got a fairly full description of the movie from a "family-oriented" movie review blog, and it's very much a fantasy movie of the "staircase wisdom" variety. That is, all those cool snappy comebacks people who've talked to well-spoken, intelligent atheists wish they'd come up with at the time. And of course, unlike real life, the snappy comebacks leave the Hollywood Atheist types unable to respond due to their overwhelming brilliance.

And yes, it turns out the professor is only an atheist because someone he loved died. Not because he sat down and considered his philosophy and its implications...which is why he turns out to be such a bad philosophy teacher.

majoraoftime (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#64: Mar 22nd 2014 at 3:18:33 PM

And yes, it turns out the professor is only an atheist because someone he loved died. Not because he sat down and considered his philosophy and its implications...

That's such an awesome and realistic and not at all tired trope.

MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#65: Mar 23rd 2014 at 1:10:57 AM

This movie would've been better if Sorbo called Iolus in to smack the shit outta the student.

paperbritt Since: Apr, 2013
#66: Mar 23rd 2014 at 9:50:22 AM

The trailer reminded me of a similar film called the Last Eagle Scout, where a Scout camp shooting range accident turns America into an antitheistic totalitarian state where junk food and fingernail clippers are banned from schools and the boy scouts are replaced with an organization of homoerotic boys trying to earn "The Flaming Torch" badge. [1] [2] [3]

Not much to add to the film proper, just thought it was worth a laugh.

edited 23rd Mar '14 9:52:56 AM by paperbritt

Sisi Since: Oct, 2012
#67: Mar 23rd 2014 at 5:30:06 PM

This why I kind of respect Mormon movies. They seem to be more concerned with actually making movies rather than shoving dogma down your throat. I recently watched one once not realizing it was made by a Mormon production company until I looked it up. I also kinda sorta want to watch the Mormon Pride and Prejudice...

I don't mean to derail the discussion, but someone brought up bad-ass people of faith, I thought I should bring up this nun who brought the house down on The Voice Italy:

THAT is a bad-ass nun XD. Also...I do remember a St. Patrick's day movie/miniseries when I was really little...

St Patrick the Legend of Ireland

Now with Malcolm Mc Dowell and virgin sacrifices!

edited 23rd Mar '14 6:05:10 PM by Sisi

lackofsense Since: Jan, 2013
#68: Mar 23rd 2014 at 6:32:37 PM

What about that era when it was a kind of tradition for the pope to have his predecessor dug up and put on trial for heresy? One of the priests would work the corpse like a puppet and answer for the charges in the old popes voice. Those were the days. Could make an interesting yet bizarre film. I would call it popes through the ages starring Mel Gibson and Johnny Depp. You get Mel for the war popes and Johnny for the eccentric popes. You hire a few no names for the miscellaneous good popes and you got yourself a movie.

AlTheKiller Eh. from The Swamp. Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: I'm Clockwork and she's Quartz
Eh.
#70: Mar 25th 2014 at 12:18:06 PM

How do I go about explaining to pretty relgious girl who I'm friends with that this isn't a very good film?

How do I explain that this film sounds liek it was made from "true stories" that my grandmother would share on her Facebook wall?

4227-1763-3232. My 3DS Friend code.
SKJAM Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#71: Mar 25th 2014 at 8:23:02 PM

You don't, at least not in that way. You can explain that this is a fantasy film, in much the same way as "Revenge of the Nerds" was. No real-life professor at a secular college could get away with making the students sign those pledges. It would be an enormous, nationwide shitstorm (you might want to use milder language) because it would be on the interwebs five minutes later. The professor would be disciplined tout suite, if not fired (presumably he's got tenure.)

Professors at religious schools can get away with similar things in the other direction, because that's what you signed up for.

And naturally, given the type of fantasy film this is, our hero's clever arguments meet with only the feeblest strawman resistance, instead of the strong reasoned responses they'd get in real life.

And when the guest celebrities get asked questions by reporters in the movie, it's always the softball, easy to slam dunk ones, not the ones that would be difficult to answer or where the answers might not please the Christian audience. (Mind you, celebrity interviewers asking softball questions is pretty true to life. It's not like they're being grilled by Mike Wallace or anything.)

So as long as she goes in knowing it's a fantasy film, just like my fanfic where I defeat the big villain, get the girl and am crowned Emperor of the Multiverse, she'll be fine.

kalel94 Rascal King from Dragonstone Since: Feb, 2011
Rascal King
#72: Mar 25th 2014 at 8:48:10 PM

[up][up] If you need to explain that to someone, then that's a bit worrying. Not because they're religious, but because this just looks so bad, on a basic storytelling level, I don't know how someone couldn't see that.

edited 25th Mar '14 8:48:59 PM by kalel94

The last hurrah? Nah, I'd do it again.
lancesolous13 from California Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Dancing with Captain Jack Harkness
#73: Mar 25th 2014 at 8:57:16 PM

[up]Agreed. I'm not about to say that this is the worst thing I've ever seen made into a film, but its one of the worst things since its so flawed by its very nature of what it means to be a film; to entertain.

I'm a critical person but I'm a nice guy when you get to know me. Now, I should be writing.
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#74: Mar 25th 2014 at 9:07:09 PM

Now I'm reminded of that apocrypha story about that college prof who challenge his class's belief in prayer. He challenged them to prevent a pice of chalk from breaking thru prayer. It didn't break. There's all sorts of things wrong with this kind of logic. That doesn't prove anything . And of course the story, according to snopes, is made up.

Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#75: Mar 25th 2014 at 9:12:15 PM

Eh, there are a ton of those. Stories about atheist professors who claim they can prove God exists by showing he hasn't been struck dead this instant, some Marine student punching him and saying he's doing the job for God. Then the overly-elated think "Yeah! He stood up for his faith!" and the less-emotionally swayed think "So this story proves religion is enforced by violence..." and absolutely no one leaves with their mind changed.


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