Posted by Justin Q Ramond at dialup-209.245.67.244.losangeles1.level3.net on December 22, 1999 at 05:07:57:
In Reply to: Dogma posted by fainelli on December 22, 1999 at 02:59:42:
-Michael-
Although your rhetoric is functional if not a touch flashy and superfluous for your argument, you forget that the key factor in a debate is your POINT. Surface issues aside, you seem to have little real meat to your position. You willingly admit that most of what Kevin pointed out in his film IS accurate (lack of enthusiasm for religion, low morality these days, the imperfection of the church), and yet you simultaneously fault him for tackling the subjects.
Your confusion stems mostly from your assumptions, both minor and major. In the minor category, you assume that the movie was a jab at Catholicism. This is, quite frankly, nothing but hype. here, you must understand the difference between the moral of a story and its characters. Yes, the majority of the protagonists in DOGMA are blashphemous in their words, but you must look beyond that supericial assessment to attain a the true meaning behind the film which seems to have eluded you. It is, overall, a story of renewing one's faith in God. The preaching may be unorthodox in its use of vulgar language and bizzare characters and situations, but you'd be surprised how many more people will trust the opinion of the honest man instead of the one who is so chained to church doctrine that they cannot truly explore their faith without feeling shame. Smith has that freedom, and even if you don't consciously admit it, you might be a bit envious of it.
On a more major level, you have been so trained for obedience in your life that you feel unable to objectively question that which you believe. Like it was said in the film, a belief can be a dangerous thing. Evolution thrives on change. If your mind stagnates, so does your life. You cannot and will not admit that you are being held in check as no system has the ability to discern its own workings, but the truth is there.
As you mature, you might find yourself wondering about the beliefs you now hold as given, and when this happens, I urge you not to ignore those feelings, but to explore them, as Kevin did, and then you might understand what it is exactly that Dogma is all about.
But it won't happen until you're ready.
- jQr -