Jesus Camp
A question I ask myself, frequently, as I embark on a course of studying horror films, and as a longtime fan of the genre's aesthetic and cultural value, is can I believe in God (practice Christianity) with macabre tastes and academic interests?
The clip from the documentary Jesus Camp is pretty ridiculous, especially its connection of Harry Potter enthusiasm to satanism, but it does raise a legitimate question regarding how one's faith can be in strict contradiction to the form of art work s/he enjoys.
Horror films display the most amoral aspects of human activity and consciousness. Would the Christian God view these pictures as works of art? I highly doubt it. Would he understand that certain filmmakers making a living off of the production of sadistic images? I think not. Would this oppressive Christian God look down upon the percentage of the population that flocks to see such films for entertainment purposes? It seems likely from what I know of God.
One could argue that watching, making, studying, marketing, etc. these films isn't hurting anyone, then it is okay with God. However, we can rely on the fundamentalists to claim that such images in movies, or lyrics in Marilyn Manson songs, directly influence people, mainly the youth, to commit heinous crimes, or at the very least defy parental authority. According to the religion that most people in this country practice, graphic films are viewed, whether publicly admitted or not, as sins.
So, are horror film scholars or aficionados going to hell? It is for these reasons that I feel my mindset involving my decision to study violent films is the same as the biology graduate student who dives head first into the philosophical benefits of Darwinism, giving up any lingering religious beliefs s/he held since childhood. It seems one has to give up a belief in God in order to complete grad school without going insane.
I have heard that the more education a person obtains, the less likely they are to believe in a deity. That could be true, but in the case of certain graduate school paths (biology, astronomy, film, among others), it appears to be a foregone conclusion. Not only the educational process, but the knowledge itself, just doesn't jell with Christian beliefs.Perhaps it is time to find a new religion other than Christianity. Maybe it is time to become a full blown, card-carrying atheist. I am tired of being confused, teetering on the pious edge. Maybe that is one thing I can pray for or make Richard Dawkins my [new] god.
Posted by Panic Picture at 5/18/2010 3:11 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Horror Movies Jesus Camp God Harry Potter
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Horror Movies Jesus Camp God Harry Potter
I love that Richard Dawkins book. The new age spiritual-realism books are really interesting to read. They don't preach, they explain.
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