Movies and Spirituality
Mark: Hello and welcome to God’s Gym, the podcast where we consider how we can reach our full potential as human beings, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Jesus said he had come that we might have life in abundance, and we ask, what is abundant life and how can we live it?
I am Mark, and Army Chaplain and with me is Paul, an Army Scripture reader and today we are talking about one of my favourite subjects, Movies and Spirituality.
A really good movie can encourage or inspire us. Who hasn’t been inspired to hit the gym and fight against the odds after watching Rocky? (Just thought I would mention Rocky before Paul did)
Good movies can inform us of new ideas or of events? I watched the documentary Seaspiracy on Netflix last week and I am not sure I will ever eat fish again! And after watching the first every Star Wars Movie, I was ready to join the rebel alliance as soon as they landed on my planet! Great movies have a power to reach into our chest and fire up the adrenaline or even turn on the waterworks, although I will never admit to crying in a movie!
What fascinates me as a religious bloke is the breadth of spiritual themes in movies. And that is what we want to discuss today. Why is it so many movies touch on spiritual themes and is it just coincidence or can spirituality be an inspirational and motivational topic?
Paul, without mentioning Rocky, what do you think about movies?
Paul: My son’s 100 film list
My son has obtained a list of 100 films that you must see before you depart this scene of time. (how morbid is that), and he has persuaded me to join him on this squared eyed journey.
Some of the older films I watched in my younger days and that I haven’t seen for many years and some of the newer ones I’ve never seen before. So it’ll be an interesting challenge, especially viewing some of them now through older, parent eyes!
Mark: I think one of the most primitive and fundamental ways we communicate is through telling stories. Whether we are sat around a campfire on the savannah or on our settee with a bowl of popcorn, stories are a great way to communicate, challenge, inspire or just plain entertain and even bond together.
And I think we like story telling because it is easy to picture ourselves in the story in one of the characters or in the situation. I think it is also a really easy way to remember information and to tap into experiences.
Paul: Films do have an impact in our lives, whether its intended or not, and at times you come across a film that portrays lessons and values that you can’t help but support and would wish to encourage such as acceptance of differences in others and the respect for the feelings of others.
But of course, the other side of the coin is that there are films that make you ‘uneasy’ with its storyline especially around racism and cultural sterotyping.
I suppose the film industry plays a role, whether it be big or small, in the shaping of standards, values and ethics within our society. I suppose it could be argued that certain films are only reinforcing values that are already present within our society.
I did read about one film producer who advised his screenwriters against taking a political position or a moral stance by saying ‘Films are for entertainment…messages should be sent by the post Office’
Mark: I think it is hard to avoid spiritual ideas in things like movies because there is so much that is affected by spirituality in life. I have mentioned the verse in the bible that says “God has place eternity in our hearts.” I really think that some films reflect this.
Paul: Disney films over the years to quote the man himself ‘a source of joy and inspiration to all the world’ Peter Pan presents the theme that ‘faith, trust and pixie dust’ can help you leave your cares behind.Jimmy Cricket showed Pinocchio (and millions of viewers) that ‘when you wish upon a star’ dreams come true.
Mark: You know, it is not just biblical movies that address spiritual issues but movies like Blade Runner with Harrison Ford or any of the movies about AI such as Terminator or Wall-E. what does it mean to be human, to be alive? What is the meaning of life? Films like the Matrix ask what reality really is? Again that sense that there is something more, something behind what we see, that eternity in our hearts aching for an answer. What gets me is that some many times you watch a movie and take it at face value then watch it again and see a whole new side to things. Have you seen Fight Club? It is a brutal movie that touches on all kinds of social issues but essentially is a cry for help, a desire to break free from the shackles of a reality imposed on us by someone else.
Toy Story is more gentle in some ways, although not if you fall into the hands of the angry kid next door. But Woody and Buzz and both in different ways confronted with questions of identity: who are we and what is the meaning of my life and what is truly important in life? When you wrap something like this up in a great story and some great comedy it is a powerful message.
Paul: Mark, I know you are familiar with the Marvel Universe and the many films that have been produced over the years, but I recently finished watching a new TV series called Wanda Vision that takes place three weeks after the events of the film Avengers: Endgame (2019), so the premise of the series is that we have two superheroes called Wanda Maximoff and Vision who are living an idyllic suburban life in the town of Westview, New Jersey, trying to conceal their true natures. As each episode unfolds the ‘in-disguise’ couple suspects that things are not as they seem. I’ll say no more, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but its worth watching.
It was interesting to read some critical reviews about the series and one review by a trauma therapist Erin Qualey, who said that in her opinion Wanda Vision was a ‘positive representation of complex mental health issues’, stating the exploration of Wanda's grief in the series made her "quickly become one of the most relatable characters on television" in the COVID-19 era, in which many were living with similar traumas.
Mark: I think there is a positive aspect to scary movies, and I know as a religious person some will find that a bit challenging. But a good ghost story draws us out of our comfort zone, it shakes us, or disturbs us, and ultimately reminds us we are not always in control.
It is the same with disaster movies and survival movies. When Tom Hanks is lost on a desert Island and effectively loses everything he once had, we all can wonder what we would do in that same situation? When the Meteor is going to wipe all life out on earth, what will you do in your last days or hours?
Paul have you ever wondered what you would do if you were washed up on a desert island?
Mark: Now let’s talk about specifically religious movies for a moemnt
Paul: It was interesting to read an article that said ‘ that until the early 1960’s explicit portrayal of religion was largely of-limits and seldom attempted throughout the film industry, the viewpoint back then was that religion was sacred and films were largely profane’. There were some notable exceptions to this such as the biblical epics ‘The Ten Commandments, The Robe and… The Greatest Story Ever Told released in 1965 It is a retelling of the Biblical account about Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Stars John Wayne (Roman Centurion) & Charlton Heston (John the Baptist), Telly Savalas (Pontius Pilate) and it lasts for 4hrs 20 minutes. We’ll need a lot of popcorn and pepsi to get through that one and a few toilet breaks as well.
Mark: Some movies recently have been made on biblical stories and characters – Noah and Exodus, God and Kings. What really grinds my gears about movies like those is that they take a really dramatic story and try to make it more dramatic or more believable. In Exodus, just as the Israelites are trapped at the red Sea, a meteorite crashes into the distance and causes a tsunami. As the water is sucked away, 2 million Israelites cross the now dry land, then as the Egyptian Army tries to follow the tsunami hits. That is an old idea, but no one seems to realise that that is way more of a miracle and unbelievable than if God simply parted the water! Besides, the sea floor would have been impassable mud if not for God’s miracle. Honestly!
How should we watch these films?
Paul: There have been times that whilst watching a film that neither embraces a religious theme or subject matter it actually uses theological vocabulary, you hear words such as ‘faith, believe, miracle, blessing, sacrifice and divine’ and I know that we don’t have ownership of these words, but watching a film that portrays Christian values outside of a Christian context, is as one person remarked…’the fruits without the roots’
Some films have also used bible verses in their scripts in order to create powerful moments, or to relay a message.
Mark: I think we should really watch any film with a bit of care and maybe with a bible in one hand.
One movie I was really impressed by was the one by Mel Gibson: The Passion of the Christ – he uses the original languages and follows the gospel narratives, brutal events of the last day of Jesus’ life and underlies the terrible nature of crucifixion. It is definitely in the informative and inspirational categories but not entertainment. I challenge anyone to not be moved by the story compared to some of the more gentle and watered down versions of the Easter story we have all been told down through the years.
Mark: However even Mel Gibson adds a few ideas in to interpret what is happening and what is interesting to me is that the bible only tells us somethings and not everything that happened at any one situation, because not everything is important. The write John, who wrote one of the gospels tells us that Jesus did so much stuff that the whole world would not be big enough to hold all the books about his activities. But what is written is enough to inspire us and give us faith to follow him.
So in reality we don’t have all the answers and sometimes the temptation is to fill in the gaps. Even worse is where people claim the bible says something and it doesn’t:
Paul: Sometimes we think a quote is from the bible Thou shalt tell the difference between a real and a fake Bible quote
'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015) -
"I am your redeemer... It is by my hand that you will rise from the ashes of the world."
'Thor: Ragnarok' (2017) -
“A wise king never seeks out war, but he must always be ready for it.”
Mark: Samuel Jackson in Pulp Fiction quotes the prophet Ezekiel and guess what? It is a made up quote!
Paul let’s just briefly talk about movie Heroes. Why are we looking for heroes? And especially ones with superpowers? Is it fear of the unknown? Are we in need of assurance or hope? Do you think we are looking for someone to rescue us?
Paul: I’ve spent many an hour watching with my son the various superheroes whilst they endeavour to make a difference to their world, whether it’s the marvel universe, the DC Universe or wherever they find themselves. We root for the good guys and we ‘oh and ah’ as they tackle the bad guys. Sometimes they win sometimes they lose, but we have this compulsion that good will eventually overcome evil, no matter how long it takes or how difficult it proves, and maybe that thought, that ideal will reflect the desires we have in our world, our universe. That we need hope, we need people who will do the right thing, that good will be rewarded and evil will be punished. Is that a credible expectation?
We look to our film heroes and expect them to ‘make a difference to the world’ in which they inhabit, and when we read the bible we read of Jesus, His actions and message that gives us hope that will make a difference not only to ‘our world’ but also to the world to come.
Mark: Jesus is not an easy hero, is he? Suffering and service. Hope in the world to come not necessarily now? Sometimes it is much more satisfying seeing the bad guys get their just rewards, but doesn’t always happen in this life. Jesus is actually much more believable and ultimately better than all the Justice League and Avengers assembles together!
Paul what are your favourite movies and why?
Paul: Rocky movies
Mark: I love Raiders of Lost Ark – mystery and ancient truths long lost but makes me think there is more to the universe than we know. Also, at the end of the movie, God does his own thing anyway. Indiana Jones was totally unnecessary. That is a challenging message but a great one as well. God doesn’t need us, but we need him!
Paul, what is the worse ending you have known in a movie?
The movie where the murderer is finally killed and blown up and the house falls on him, and then in the final scene as the survivors walk away, a hand reaches out from the wreckage! You know they are only hoping for a sequel!
Worse movies are those without happy endings! But I guess life does not always seem to have happy endings!
Paul: Hollywood is for 120minutes or more, but life is for real and you can’t just switch it off or rewind. But you can pause and consider where you are, who you are and where you are going. Replaying the past failures in your mind will get you nowhere, replace that recording with new goals, new hopes, new passions and better still start afresh with a new script for your life, already written and worked out by the author, creator and producer of this universe, God Himself.
Mark: And that is where all movies stop and the best story in the world picks up – there is always hope in this world and definitely hope in the next. So movies are movies and we mustn’t make them more, even Rocky! The greatest story is the true story of the human race and God’s work among us told in the bible.
There is so much more we could say about this and all the subjects we discuss. If you are listening and want to think let us know what you think then do get in contact via twitter or Instagram or leave a message on the podcast webpage. If there are topics or issues you would like us to address, we are always open to suggestions.
Until next time, thank you for listening and remember that you are capable of so much, God tells us so, so keep striving to reach your full potential as God made you.
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