Geez, it is getting to the point that you cannot go to any movie without putting your ever-lasting soul in jeopardy. After giving a thumb down to the movie New Moon, the Vatican is now panning Avatar as a threat to the true faith. Joining the Pontiff is a Chicago Alderman who opposes the movie for making Marines look like corporate guns for fire, here. The Marine Corps itself has turned movie critic in panning the film, here. It would strongly suggest “From Here to Eternity” as an alternative.
According to the Vatican newspaper and radio station, the problem with Avatar is its alleged promotion or elevation of nature which is deemed as threatening religion.
L’Osservatore warned the film “gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature” and the Vatican Radio says that the movie promotes “all those pseudo-doctrines that turn ecology into the religion of the millennium” and promotes nature as “a divinity to worship,” the radio said.
The Marines have joined the Holy See in its view of the film, though it is not religion that is under attack according to Marine Col. Byron Salas. He objects that the film “takes sophomoric shots at our military culture and uses the lore of the Marine Corps and over-the-top stereotyping of Marine warriors to set the context for the screenplay. This does a disservice to our Corps of Marines and the publics’ understanding of their Corps.” Well, maybe the objection was about a faith of a different kind.
I am surprised by the criticism. I was hoping the Vatican would have made the link between the ridiculous lines and the work of Satan. I took the three boys this week to see the movie only to find every show sold out until 7 pm. People were waiting in line for over an hour just to get seats together. Am I alone here or is this not the hand of the Biblical Beast? I will remind you of Revelations 13: “And [the Antichrist] causeth all … to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark….”
Of course, if some studio flack were to score me four tickets to the 3D version of the film, my concerns (and blogging campaign) over Satanic influences might end . . .
For the full story, click here.
In stupido, veritas? lol LOL Oh, yeah. I’ve thought that several times today. Only one of them was the Pope.
Wm. Glaser points to a film that offers His Holiness some sound advice that he seems to have taken to heart. He has quite a shoe collection. Some natty headgear too. I’m still waiting for him to bless the cheese makers. I’m am most disappointed in the delay of such a small dispensation of Papal mercy. A small munificence to those tireless men and women who through the ages have done the salty often smelly work of cheese making so we may enjoy that pizza, that burger, that omelet du fromage!
You have time to criticize a film, a work of fiction, yet you ignore those who bring you the sublime joy of brie? The manliness of Munster? The wiles of a lovely Gouda? The pure luxury of double cream Gorgonzola!
For shame, Your Holiness, for shame.
Let’s hear less about what you don’t love and more about what you do? How’s that for an idea, cupcake? Other than the money changers, upon whom Jesus did bestow a mighty thumping (Yea! Verily!), Jesus was all about the love, baby!
And make it something of actual social value Herr Popeliness. To the good of all, not just the benefit of the Roman Catholic Expensive Art and Building Maintenance Society. Sell some of that gaudy crap to the bank thieves and war mongers and use the money to help the poor. Do you really think when Jesus comes back he’s going to be happy that the placeware is 24K gold while children are starving? And people are dying of AIDS when they could be saved? Or malaria? Or dysentery?
My vote is He’s likely to all money changer on you, capice?
You have enough money to do more good than you are doing. Only the blind or brain damaged would think otherwise.
God’s House is Everything.
From the branes and strings to quarks to baryonic matter to humans to galaxies to local clusters to superstructures to parallel universes.
He doesn’t need a nice building.
That’s to make the people in poser, er, power feel powerful and impress those from whom you exact your tithes.
How about using some greater percentage of your substantial wealth to make the world around you healthier and happier today?
Just a suggestion.
And one more thing. Lighten up, Francis. It’s a movie. And a fun one at that.
Well William Glaser, the Pope lives a life without Brains do hows that?
I’m sticking with The Life of Brian for my religious education. If you’ve never read the Bible, you don’t get the jokes. Works every time.
“We are the exploiters, we are pre-emptive attackers.” In stupido, veritas?
You have to take these pronouncements from elements within the Vatican with a grain of salt. It’s like US political primaries – it reflects the voice of the hardcore base more than the full spectrum of members.
That said, there are lots of these Catholic fundies who wish they were hysterical, slappin’-you-upside-the-head-with-bibles Pentecostal missionaries.
With all of the work that the Pope should be doing to clean up his House it amazes me that he has the time to watch a movie
Gyges:
you have cut me to the depths of my soul, my metaphysics is spilling out and I am loosing my powers of rationality.
Byron,
As Ayn Rand proved, they don’t even have to be particularly well done works of fiction. (I just couldn’t resist that one).
30%ER:
“Did anyone explain to the Pope that its a work of fiction?”
What, fictional works cant be influential?
Asked if the film is anti-American and anti military, Balcer said, “Well, they never mentioned America but when you have the eagle, globe and anchor — the Marine Corps emblem — it has to be America.”
“And that’s the Hollywood view of us,” Roeser complained. “We are the exploiters, we are pre-emptive attackers.”
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Avatar.Balcer.negative.2.1412100.html
Why would anyone in his or her right mind even care what an octogenarian, cross-dresser thinks about a movie?
(CNN) — James Cameron’s completely immersive spectacle “Avatar” may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/avatar.movie.blues/index.html
“The Vatican newspaper and radio station” are far from an official representation of Catholic teaching and even farther from the opinion of the Pope. Like any other media source, they are merely the opinion of the writers and editors.
Did anyone explain to the Pope that its a work of fiction?
Being old enough to remember the 50’s and 60’s when the Catholic League would push for the censorship of movies and get away with it, I can only conclude that the RCC would like to return to what for them were halcyon days.
After having seen the movie I was struck by the idea that this movie, if Cameron had included a couple of crosses and a franciscian friars in it pushing eternal salvation/ damnation, you would have 1500’s South and Central America and the Spanish (earthings) verses the native people… That certainly went well for the natives….
Pax Vobiscum
How fragile must the “true faith” be!
Il Papa sounds like the self-avowed libertarian with whom I once had a extended, online “discussion.” As that person thought “sometimes life gets in the way of liberty” similarly the pope thinks there can be religion without nature!!
Did the grand pupaa feel slighted because Cameron decided that he didn’t give a hoot WHAT the vatican thought either way??
Sounds like the hooded one has been spending too much time reading about george wallace or ross barnett or billy graham..
Maybe he got a call from pat robertson??
I’m not going to mass until they upgrade it to 3D.
It is appointed for a man once to watch Avatar, and then the judgement.
What turned papa off?
Was it the scene where they “did the deed” to make more “kitten people” (Na’Vi) with tails (big 10′ tall kittens), you know, the steamy sex scene where they became mates for life?
Or was it the one where the warriors with biga badda boom metal tried to exterminate the native “roaches” with their phallic symbolism?
Or was it just another day for a war dream?
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2010/01/just-another-day-for-war-dream.html
Oh. a wayward soul perishes not before life, but to eternal damnation. A life to live but only in the shadows of purgatory.
BTW, I hear the skiing is divine right now.