The Meaning of Faith as portrayed in M. Night Shyamalan's Films

My own Opinion | 08/04/04 | Brad Derouen

[AM2000]

How do we know you're not white and trying to pass yourself off as black man?

[AM2000]

a correction to my previous post -

as a black man...

[semaj]

"How do we know you're not white and trying to pass yourself off as black man?"

Actually I have the best of both worlds. Paternal Grandfather was from Blackpool, Maternal Grandfather descended from African slaves brought to the US. I've been told I can pass for an Egyptian, sorry I don't have a pic posted.

[monkey]

The "faith thing" in the movie concerned whether God can be found in coincidences, accidents and signs. It certainly didn't strike me as "deep faith".

[JulieRNR21]

I will see the movie because I love Mel Gibson. BTW thanks for this thread which gives me an excuse to post my favorite Mel Gibson Photo:

[AM2000]

Heterosexual men like me need a visual antidote after seeing a picture like that. Here goes... Admin Moderator, don't ban me for this, I won't do it again ;-)

Aria Giovanni

[jlogajan]

Your comments concerning God are offensive to me.

I would suggest then that you remove yourself from a discussion of same with all due haste.

[Paul Atreides]

There were several scenes. I wish I could remember them. I was so glued to the screen, so as not to miss anything, that I was trying to tune them out. However, I sat there wondering why the parents would bring two such dimbulbs to an adult movie. I think that is the second time that I have ever seen that happen at the movies. The other time was while watching Arachnophobia, during another scene that was not funny.

[jlogajan]

on Private Property, the Owner does not have to answer to the disparate usage claims of any other Party

What are you talking about? "Property claims" have no meaning when ability to defend same is unequal.

What I am interested in is a God being who creates sentient beings upon whom he routinely lays misfortune and torture -- apparently for his own viewing pleasure.

We generally refer to these types as sadists -- even if some people wish to build religions around them.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

What are you talking about? "Property claims" have no meaning when ability to defend same is unequal. What I am interested in is a God being who creates sentient beings upon whom he routinely lays misfortune and torture -- apparently for his own viewing pleasure. We generally refer to these types as sadists -- even if some people wish to build religions around them.

Sentience and self-awareness is a matter of degree; and on the Great Scale of Being, God is considerably above us -- moreso than we are above, say, Bambi. Should the Human hunting of Animals, for enjoyment, be outlawed -- even on Private Property?

[semaj]

I'll ask again. Why do you continue to denigrate and blaspheme against God? Your refusal to answer that part of my post would indicate that you take perverse pleasure in disrespecting the object of a person's faith. Tell me I'm wrong about you.

[Timesink]

I went to college with Manoj (the M. in M. Night - Certainly nobody ever called him anything but Manoj back then) at NYU. I wasn't in the film school, but most of my friends were, so I ended up helping them a lot either in front of or behind the camera, and spent a buttload of time in the film school building. Anyway, I don't know what his politics are, but in terms of his personal life he's one conservative dude. Kind of uptight (by college standards, at least), refuses to move out of suburban Pennsylvania, got married and settled down very quickly, etc. I'd be quite surprised if he turned out to be a hardcore Democrat.

I remember that the dean of the film school told them all during an orientation, "If one person out of every two graduating classes ends up with a successful career in film, then we have succeeded as teachers." Guess he's it.

[bradactor]

Thanks, Timesink, for your information on the author. As I said previously, I had heard that he was a conservative by Michael Medved on Laura Ingraham's radio show the other day. In light of this recent film, it would not surprise me. I do feel he is one of the brightest filmmakers currently on the scene.
Brad

[Timesink]

There was an unruly group of negroes behind me that thought the scene was hilarious. BTW I can refer to them as unruly negroes because I have a ghetto pass (American of African descent).

This reminds me: Anyone who wants a Real New York Experience when they come to NYC absolutely must attend the opening night of some big blockbuster movie in a Manhattan theater, somewhere above 34th Street, preferably around Times Square. A good 60-75% of the audience will likely be comprised of "unruly negroes," and they know how to have a good time. Don't expect anything even slightly close to quietness, and don't expect to hear every word of the movie. But do expect, and enjoy, the spectacle. Heck, join in. It's just like "Showtime at the Apollo." Laugh, boo stupid scenes, yell back at the screen! You'll never think of your hometown theaters the same way again.

[JediGirl]

Faith? Always had it. Why? Parents and church taught it to me. I began questioning my faith at about 16.

I renounced my faith last year, before I became engaged and before I moved to England.

[Future Snake Eater]

No, but if there is, I believe the Christians, Islam, et al. have it all wrong - religion as we know it now is man-made for man's comfort. I can't say there is no god, just like I can't say we're not some space creature's experimental universe -- I leave all possibilities open for legitimate and hopefully eventually verifiable information.

What if you're wrong?

[JediGirl]

What if you're wrong?

I could sit around all day long and wonder which god i should be worshipping, but what does that accomplish?

[jlogajan]

would indicate that you take perverse pleasure

That has to be the most ironic thing I've seen posted in a long time -- considering the amount of suffering this alleged God of yours has caused.

I've never arranged for a child to be scaled by hot oil, or burned over 95% of their bodies in a house fire, or caused people to cough up their bloody lungs just for my amusement -- or for any other purpose, high or low.

I would not do such a thing. I would not build a religion around a sadist who would do such a thing.

If you want to worship a sadist idol, don't get all huffy when someone points out your mythical creature's horrible flaws.

[jlogajan]

What if you're wrong?

Considering the number of religions (new ones forming every minute), I would think every religionist would be consumed by worry that they got on the wrong horse!

[jlogajan]

Sentience and self-awareness is a matter of degree

That is an assumption not in evidence. Are you saying an person of IQ 180 has some greater moral authority than a person of IQ 120?

If no, then your linear scale is disproven and you have to seriously reconsider your belief system that God can torture whomsoever he pleases because of "property rights."