Posted by MickCollins. at wkstn4-85.lxr.georgetown.edu on April 03, 2000 at 16:14:22:
In Reply to: Why the absence of Jesus in "Dogma"? posted by Isis on April 03, 2000 at 11:44:28:
: Folks --::
He's also pissed about that Corpus Christi play. Just because a brother is celibate,means he's gay? Some suckers just tickle me pink with their need for attention.
: Obviously tons of fictional & non-fictional, Biblical-era and modern-day characters turn up in "Dogma", including the lovely God/dess herself: why does JC never show up & hang out? ::::::
Problem 1: God was "Father" to Jesus. Jesus had a mother(Mary), God was his father so God is called "Father" by him. Kevin wanted to show,with a female God in the end, that God is beyond human sexuality and its hang-ups. Can't have the JC calling a chick "Father".
Problem 2: Jesus was tough as nails. He would not stand for Bartleby and Loki's shit. Movie would be over in 5 minutes when the JC layeth the Smacketh down.
Problem 3: Jesus said,when he comes back,the Universal smack will be laid down. So when he sets foot on Earth again, Hell's Gates open and Jesus saves the souls who feel sorry for their actions and erases the fuckers like Hitler and Stalin. God's popped up on Earth a bunch of times, its like going to the Quick-Stop for G. When Jesus comes back, the fhit will hit the san.
Problem 4: The Universe really was never in danger. It was all for Bethany. God is omnipotent(that means "limitless power" to all you Australians). Whatever the two joker angels did, G could stop and fix,like G does at the end. It was an Abraham-esque Test. God is more abstract and harder to comprehend then Jesus. That is why G put Jesus down here. Its why he talked to Moses. G needed people to express things in ways people could understand. If G popped up occasionally and said "By the way,no more pork.",some people would write it down, while 99% of the population would be like "HOLY SHIT IT'S A PILLAR OF FIRE! AND IT TALKS!". If Jesus showed up at Bethany's door,it would not be "What is my mission?", it would be "HOLY SHIT,IT'S JESUS!".
::Was there something in the film I missed? If the film is a statement about Christianity wouldn't it make sense for Christ to be there? ::
No. You can view a piece of art and appreciate it without knowing the history of the Artist.
::Would it have been too sacreligious to touch on the Second Coming? Wasn't it difficult not to throw in a few bad puns about the "Second Coming" (heck, I'm finding it very tempting right now)?:::
Jesus is a touchy subject. He's like water, every religion has grasped onto him and poured him into the container of their choice. There was a good article in Newsweek about Jesus interpreted by Buddhists,Hindus,Jews,Muslims,Protestants etc. If you go with the Catholic view, you cut off all the others.
: I find it ironic that among so many of last year's movies with supposedly secular storylines there were Christ figures ("Green Mile", "Magnolia", etc.) while a movie about Catholicism had none.:::
Its because Kevin is smarter than PTA. And I don't think Coffey was a Christ figure, I think he is misinterpreted as a Christ figure. Coffey was more like a little kid. He was innocent. And the world chewed him up and spit him out. Jesus is seen by most American Christians like he's Mister Rogers. Jesus had an edge. Malcolm X is more a Christ figure than Coffey.