What should be the Christian response to modern entertainment? I want to begin this post by highlighting a disturbing trend in adult movies; an indoctrination to the idea that there are no absolutes—not just moral absolutes—but absolutes of any kind whatsoever. It is the philosophy of postmodernism, which is the belief that there is no underlying objective reality or meaning to existence. Certainly, there are harmless movies not based in reality (e.g., the Spiderman franchise) in which we suspend our disbelief and allow ourselves to be entertained.
However, the films infected with postmodernism seek to have us suspend our beliefs, thereby giving in to lessons embedded within the motion picture's story that tell us how to behave, think, and even perceive reality. How many movie viewers find themselves hoping that a man commits adultery with the wife of his next door neighbor, that an embezzler will not get caught, and that a murderer will escape, because the plot of the movie makes circumstances such as to seemingly "turn bad deeds into good ones" based on the situation? Bye-bye objective morality. The people who cheer for the wrongdoing still (most likely) realize the action is always wrong, but how often can someone subject himself to such experiences with no effect on Faith and morals?
According to theologian Butler, whose exposition of Catholic principles regarding plays applies equally to movies, writes :
Postmodernism concludes that because movies cannot be about reality (since it teaches there is no underlying reality), it must be about itself. There are action/animation hybrids such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988), Cool World (1992), and Monkeybone (2001), in which the protagonists knowingly and willingly interact with cartoon fantasy worlds which they understand are cartoon fantasy worlds. Hook (1991) is live action fantasy, wherein a lawyer "forgot" he was really Peter Pan, and Neverland is real; once more blurring the lines between what actually exists and what is imaginary.
The most popular example of fusing reality and fantasy is the movie that reignited interest in the horror genre—Scream (1996) and its sequels. Scream is a horror movie within a horror movie, a so-called meta-narrative. Writer Kevin Williamson has the characters talking about classic horror films such as Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Friday the 13th throughout the movie while similar things happen to them. They even speak of their world as a horror movie.
Scream's protagonist, Sidney Prescott, is called by the killer on the phone and he asks her why she doesn't watch horror movies. Sidney responds that they are all the same with a deranged killer going after some pretty girl who can't act and just screams a lot; when confronted by the killer, the girl in the horror flick doesn't run out the door, but runs up the stairs instead. Later, the killer comes after Sidney and the front door is locked so she can't go out, and she goes running up the stairs while screaming; just like a stereotypical horror movie. Later, Sidney tells her boyfriend, "But this is life. This isn't a movie." He answers, "Sure it is, Sid. It's all a movie. Life's one great big movie. Only you can't pick your genre." The film even recites "the rules of horror movies" that get played out in Scream.
The idea of a "story within a story" is hardly new. Shakespeare used it in his plays. The difference is in the postmodern view, the focus is on the story only as a story. There is no tangible metaphor that relates to the real world; meaning is only a construct of the human mind.
How can we know what is real? In postmodernism, we can't ever be certain. This is seen in movies such as The Sixth Sense (1999). The main character is a child psychologist named Malcolm (played by Bruce Willis). There is one problem: Malcolm is dead but thinks he is alive. (Now that's confusion!). He tries to help a young "psychic" child named Cole who claims, "I see dead people." After Malcolm helps Cole accept himself and his "gift," only then does he realize he's dead and only Cole could see and interact with him. I have met several members of the Vatican II sect who believe if someone dies quickly (like in an automobile crash/explosion), the person doesn't "realize he/she is dead" until they complete some task.
When I inquire as to how a disembodied soul could not go to Judgment or realize he's dead (let alone figure out the "task" they must allegedly perform), I was always met with a blank stare and a pregnant pause. The usual reply was they heard it from a "friend of a friend" kind of story. I spoke to these individuals after 1999 and the huge success that was The Sixth Sense. I don't think it's coincidental.
The movie that truly makes reality confusing is The Matrix (1999), and its sequels. It is based on the old philosophical "mind in a vat" epistemic problem in philosophy, i.e., how do you know that what you're perceiving is real and that you are not just a brain in a vat with a mad scientist manipulating you to have your sense impressions? Some people have actually interpreted The Matrix as some Christian allegory, which it is most certainly not. It incorporates many false ideologies about the nature of reality. The result should be obvious; we can never know about God (if He exists) or which religion, if any, is true.
The movie depicts a dystopian future in which humanity is unknowingly trapped inside a simulated reality, the Matrix, which intelligent machines have created to distract humans while using their bodies as an energy source. When computer programmer, Thomas Anderson, under the hacker alias "Neo" (an anagram for the "ONE"), uncovers the truth, he is drawn into a rebellion against the machines along with other people who have been freed from the Matrix. (See https://prezi.com/ybxwvr21r9lz/the-matrix-and-postmodernism/). At one point, Anderson/Neo is given a choice to take a blue pill which will make him think the Matrix is reality, while the red pill will enable him to see reality as it is. He chooses the red pill, and a new term for realizing the truth, i.e., "red pilled" was born into American parlance.
Some claim The Matrix suggested a parallel between Neo and Christ as Neo is referred to throughout The Matrix trilogy as the One, that is, the chosen one, which also describes Christ—a messiah, sent to deliver salvation. The idea of a mere human being as The Christ is blasphemous, but that is not the message of the movie; it is actually based on Gnosticism and Buddhism. According to The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, Gnosticism is:
In The Matrix, the people need liberation from their illusions, not necessarily salvation. Neo is a liberator, not a savior. Gnostics believe that by learning about one’s self, one’s world, and one’s spiritual essence, one may reveal "divine sparks" of original spirit (God). At the end of The Matrix, Neo actually seems to glow, because knowledge of the self is the key to liberation and power. The most obvious and Buddhist theme can be found in the basic principle that, in the world of The Matrix, what most people think of as "reality" is a computer-generated simulation. This appears to align closely with the Buddhist doctrine that the world as we know it is maya, illusion, of which we must break out in order to achieve "enlightenment." Indeed, according to Buddhism, the biggest problem that faces humanity is our inability to see through this illusion. By presenting a patchwork of religious themes, The Matrix makes clear that reality is not objective, and all religions are equally useless.
What constitutes unfit entertainment? The answer of the Church on what makes a movie fit, or unfit, for watching was beautifully elucidated by His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, in his Address to the International Union of Theater Owners and Film Distributors, given October 28, 1955:
When trying to determine what you (and your family) will and will not watch, theologian Butler gives some considerations in addition to the sage guidance of Pope Pius XII:
That being said, remember “In Medio Stat Veritas” — loosely translated as "the truth lies in the middle." Every single movie is not evil, and Christians do themselves no favor when they condemn every film except the explicitly religious, such as the wonderful The Passion of The Christ. People will perceive our faith as "simplistic and overly rigid.” Here are some tips for having a healthy view of movies, in my opinion:
However, the films infected with postmodernism seek to have us suspend our beliefs, thereby giving in to lessons embedded within the motion picture's story that tell us how to behave, think, and even perceive reality. How many movie viewers find themselves hoping that a man commits adultery with the wife of his next door neighbor, that an embezzler will not get caught, and that a murderer will escape, because the plot of the movie makes circumstances such as to seemingly "turn bad deeds into good ones" based on the situation? Bye-bye objective morality. The people who cheer for the wrongdoing still (most likely) realize the action is always wrong, but how often can someone subject himself to such experiences with no effect on Faith and morals?
According to theologian Butler, whose exposition of Catholic principles regarding plays applies equally to movies, writes :
Postmodernism concludes that because movies cannot be about reality (since it teaches there is no underlying reality), it must be about itself. There are action/animation hybrids such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988), Cool World (1992), and Monkeybone (2001), in which the protagonists knowingly and willingly interact with cartoon fantasy worlds which they understand are cartoon fantasy worlds. Hook (1991) is live action fantasy, wherein a lawyer "forgot" he was really Peter Pan, and Neverland is real; once more blurring the lines between what actually exists and what is imaginary.
The most popular example of fusing reality and fantasy is the movie that reignited interest in the horror genre—Scream (1996) and its sequels. Scream is a horror movie within a horror movie, a so-called meta-narrative. Writer Kevin Williamson has the characters talking about classic horror films such as Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Friday the 13th throughout the movie while similar things happen to them. They even speak of their world as a horror movie.
Scream's protagonist, Sidney Prescott, is called by the killer on the phone and he asks her why she doesn't watch horror movies. Sidney responds that they are all the same with a deranged killer going after some pretty girl who can't act and just screams a lot; when confronted by the killer, the girl in the horror flick doesn't run out the door, but runs up the stairs instead. Later, the killer comes after Sidney and the front door is locked so she can't go out, and she goes running up the stairs while screaming; just like a stereotypical horror movie. Later, Sidney tells her boyfriend, "But this is life. This isn't a movie." He answers, "Sure it is, Sid. It's all a movie. Life's one great big movie. Only you can't pick your genre." The film even recites "the rules of horror movies" that get played out in Scream.
The idea of a "story within a story" is hardly new. Shakespeare used it in his plays. The difference is in the postmodern view, the focus is on the story only as a story. There is no tangible metaphor that relates to the real world; meaning is only a construct of the human mind.
How can we know what is real? In postmodernism, we can't ever be certain. This is seen in movies such as The Sixth Sense (1999). The main character is a child psychologist named Malcolm (played by Bruce Willis). There is one problem: Malcolm is dead but thinks he is alive. (Now that's confusion!). He tries to help a young "psychic" child named Cole who claims, "I see dead people." After Malcolm helps Cole accept himself and his "gift," only then does he realize he's dead and only Cole could see and interact with him. I have met several members of the Vatican II sect who believe if someone dies quickly (like in an automobile crash/explosion), the person doesn't "realize he/she is dead" until they complete some task.
When I inquire as to how a disembodied soul could not go to Judgment or realize he's dead (let alone figure out the "task" they must allegedly perform), I was always met with a blank stare and a pregnant pause. The usual reply was they heard it from a "friend of a friend" kind of story. I spoke to these individuals after 1999 and the huge success that was The Sixth Sense. I don't think it's coincidental.
The movie that truly makes reality confusing is The Matrix (1999), and its sequels. It is based on the old philosophical "mind in a vat" epistemic problem in philosophy, i.e., how do you know that what you're perceiving is real and that you are not just a brain in a vat with a mad scientist manipulating you to have your sense impressions? Some people have actually interpreted The Matrix as some Christian allegory, which it is most certainly not. It incorporates many false ideologies about the nature of reality. The result should be obvious; we can never know about God (if He exists) or which religion, if any, is true.
The movie depicts a dystopian future in which humanity is unknowingly trapped inside a simulated reality, the Matrix, which intelligent machines have created to distract humans while using their bodies as an energy source. When computer programmer, Thomas Anderson, under the hacker alias "Neo" (an anagram for the "ONE"), uncovers the truth, he is drawn into a rebellion against the machines along with other people who have been freed from the Matrix. (See https://prezi.com/ybxwvr21r9lz/the-matrix-and-postmodernism/). At one point, Anderson/Neo is given a choice to take a blue pill which will make him think the Matrix is reality, while the red pill will enable him to see reality as it is. He chooses the red pill, and a new term for realizing the truth, i.e., "red pilled" was born into American parlance.
Some claim The Matrix suggested a parallel between Neo and Christ as Neo is referred to throughout The Matrix trilogy as the One, that is, the chosen one, which also describes Christ—a messiah, sent to deliver salvation. The idea of a mere human being as The Christ is blasphemous, but that is not the message of the movie; it is actually based on Gnosticism and Buddhism. According to The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, Gnosticism is:
(See https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06592a.htm).
In The Matrix, the people need liberation from their illusions, not necessarily salvation. Neo is a liberator, not a savior. Gnostics believe that by learning about one’s self, one’s world, and one’s spiritual essence, one may reveal "divine sparks" of original spirit (God). At the end of The Matrix, Neo actually seems to glow, because knowledge of the self is the key to liberation and power. The most obvious and Buddhist theme can be found in the basic principle that, in the world of The Matrix, what most people think of as "reality" is a computer-generated simulation. This appears to align closely with the Buddhist doctrine that the world as we know it is maya, illusion, of which we must break out in order to achieve "enlightenment." Indeed, according to Buddhism, the biggest problem that faces humanity is our inability to see through this illusion. By presenting a patchwork of religious themes, The Matrix makes clear that reality is not objective, and all religions are equally useless.
What constitutes unfit entertainment? The answer of the Church on what makes a movie fit, or unfit, for watching was beautifully elucidated by His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, in his Address to the International Union of Theater Owners and Film Distributors, given October 28, 1955:
When trying to determine what you (and your family) will and will not watch, theologian Butler gives some considerations in addition to the sage guidance of Pope Pius XII:
Having read my post thus far, it should be obvious why the postmodern movies are off-limits. I have also presented the correct principles and guidelines of the Church to apply in your life. What may be a proximate occasion of sin to one person, may not be such to another. What is morally acceptable for an adult will not necessarily be the same for a minor. Men and women will have different sensibilities. There is no way I can produce an exhaustive enumeration of movies. That used to be the job of many people in the Legion of Decency, long since disbanded by the Vatican II sect. You must learn to discern using said guidelines/principles of Holy Mother Church.
That being said, remember “In Medio Stat Veritas” — loosely translated as "the truth lies in the middle." Every single movie is not evil, and Christians do themselves no favor when they condemn every film except the explicitly religious, such as the wonderful The Passion of The Christ. People will perceive our faith as "simplistic and overly rigid.” Here are some tips for having a healthy view of movies, in my opinion:
- Do not generalize every non-religious movie as worldly, and every depiction of sin as wrong without regard to context
- Do not claim all entertainment is a "waste of time." Entertainment is not intrinsically evil, and can be mentally/spiritually healthy
- Do not watch any film indiscriminately, without considering the subject matter and getting a synopsis. You will avoid having to leave or turn it off in most cases
- You should spend more time in prayer and spiritual reading than in watching secular movies
- Always ask yourself, "Is this movie against my faith and morals in any discernable way?"
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