NationStates Jolt Archive

The Reaping (2007)
Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically killed, and has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat dark forces threatening the community.

Genre:
Horror / Thriller more

The Reaping @ imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0444682/)

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(I say the far more pertinent question is why Hilary Swank keeps making crap movies like this inbetween winning her Oscars.

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(

You've just ended your own thread, other than in comedies, I don't see how a character's atheism could act as a plot device.

Actually, movies is where I like my religion. Great entertainment. Locusts, floggings, crucifixions, entire worlds made and destroyed, giant space turtles. Wonderful. It is when religion creeps into my real life that I get annoyed.

Yugh. This is even worse then usual in that they make the character regain her faith. Stupid, lame, retarded. Probably veggietales for adults.

Actually, movies is where I like my religion. Great entertainment. Locusts, floggings, crucifixions, entire worlds made and destroyed, giant space turtles. Wonderful. It is when religion creeps into my real life that I get annoyed.
Ah, and here I was thinking it was when you triple post. :p

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(
Unrealistic situations are quite common in films.

Though with this instance I see quite a strong reason why Hollywood would not like to highlight the materialism that has led to widespread atheism in the Western world.

I've seen a couple of different variants on this trailer, but I find it kind of funny that all the things that God does to Egypt in the bible, is what this evil character does in this movie. It's bad if an evil person does it, perfectly swell when the good guys do it.

And it just looks kinda bland. I'm getting jaded I guess. *shrugs*

I'lll watch it, when it comes out on TV. And if there's nothing better on that night. And if Hilary Swank is hot.

Nope, Hilary Swank can be far too convincing a transvestite.

Actually, movies is where I like my religion. Great entertainment. Locusts, floggings, crucifixions, entire worlds made and destroyed, giant space turtles. Wonderful. It is when religion creeps into my real life that I get annoyed.

lol, I actually agree with you. The Ten Commandments, The Omen, The Exorcist etc. None of them ever seemed to preachy and anti-atheism to me though. This might not be, but if it is then :(.

Actually, movies is where I like my religion. Great entertainment. Locusts, floggings, crucifixions, entire worlds made and destroyed, giant space turtles. Wonderful. It is when religion creeps into my real life that I get annoyed.

Yeah, I know.

Actually, movies is where I like my religion. Great entertainment. Locusts, floggings, crucifixions, entire worlds made and destroyed, giant space turtles. Wonderful. It is when religion creeps into my real life that I get annoyed.

You just don't stop do you?

Ah, and here I was thinking it was when you triple post. :p

It was his holy trinity.

My mom was a fallen away Catholic before dad's best friend died of a particularly nasty form of... blood cancer? Some kind of cancer that has a low survival rate, anyway. She decided that she didn't want to believe in a god that would take a person as all around cool and great like Bob in such a painful way. And since her best friend just died of leukemia after a long and very painful struggle (she was allergic to the only kind of chemo drug that worked for her kind of cancer. it was like she burning up from the outside.), I fully expect Mom to begin her 'anyone who believes in any god is an idiot' speech soon.

My mom was a fallen away Catholic before dad's best friend died of a particularly nasty form of... blood cancer? Some kind of cancer that has a low survival rate, anyway. She decided that she didn't want to believe in a god that would take a person as all around cool and great like Bob in such a painful way. And since her best friend just died of leukemia after a long and very painful struggle (she was allergic to the only kind of chemo drug that worked for her kind of cancer. it was like she burning up from the outside.), I fully expect Mom to begin her 'anyone who believes in any god is an idiot' speech soon.

Interesting. Is her main reasoning for the non-existence of God is that if he existed he wouldn't kill cool people or is it the obviously fallacies of most major religions and science?

lol, I actually agree with you. The Ten Commandments, The Omen, The Exorcist etc. None of them ever seemed to preachy and anti-atheism to me though. This might not be, but if it is then :(.



Yeah, I know.



You just don't stop do you?

Can't.

Is there nudity?

The Reaping (2007)
Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically killed, and has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat dark forces threatening the community.

Genre:
Horror / Thriller more

The Reaping @ imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0444682/)

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(

Ah, Christian propaganda movies...aren't they great as all-get-out? :rolleyes:

The Reaping (2007)
Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically killed, and has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat dark forces threatening the community.

Genre:
Horror / Thriller more

The Reaping @ imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0444682/)

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(

Sounds stupid.

Interesting. Is her main reasoning for the non-existence of God is that if he existed he wouldn't kill cool people or is it the obviously fallacies of most major religions and science?

Erm. Yes? Her reasoning wasn't so much about Bob dying as his manner of death. Not a nice way to die, from what she's told me. But she'd disagreed with the Catholic church a great deal over the years, thus her having fallen away. So I think Bob's death was her personal tipping point, pushing her over to the side of militant atheism.

Is there nudity?

"The only thing uncovered in The Reaping is the sins of heathen Atheists!"

:P

The Reaping (2007)
Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically killed, and has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat dark forces threatening the community.

Genre:
Horror / Thriller more

The Reaping @ imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0444682/)

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(


I was going through trailers on a site the other night when I watched that one, and thought it was hilarious. Everybody should watch it and add their own "WWARS" (what would a redneck say) commentary.

Ah, Christian propaganda movies...aren't they great as all-get-out? :rolleyes:
I doubt this has any potential to aid any sort of Christian agenda, since it implies that faith requires proof.

Is there nudity?

I'd imagine there is, after which those who get nud-itty, get their come-uppance 'COS GAWd IS A-WATCHIN Y'ALL AND YER SINNIN'

Ah, Christian propaganda movies...aren't they great as all-get-out? :rolleyes:

Spread the word of Christ by showing what a prick god can be.

I love how Hollywood thinks that one cannot become an atheist without having something horrible happen....:rolleyes:

I'd imagine there is, after which those who get nud-itty, get their come-uppance 'COS GAWd IS A-WATCHIN Y'ALL AND YER SINNIN'
I like this approach. It leads to sex and smiting. God should smite people more.
I love how Hollywood thinks that one cannot become an atheist without having something horrible happen....:rolleyes:

Hollywood thinks a lot of pretty ridiculous things.

I like this approach. It leads to sex and smiting. God should smite people more. You're also probably hoping for more "immaculate conceptions" too, arentcha? ;)



Hollywood thinks a lot of pretty ridiculous things. Yes, like that all girls only care about guys and clothes, that drinking is alright, and that sex has no consequences.

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(

The plot asks for it. Simple, if unfortunate, as that.

The plot asks for it. Simple, if unfortunate, as that.

But why must she lose her family? As far as I can tell, the family doen't relate to the plot, but the atheism does. Can't she just be an atheist?

The Reaping (2007)
Hilary Swank plays a former Christian missionary who lost her faith after her family was tragically killed, and has since become a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening and she must regain her faith to combat dark forces threatening the community.

Genre:
Horror / Thriller more

The Reaping @ imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0444682/)

Sigh. Why do atheists in movies always lose their faith from some tragedy instead of realising religion is silly or never being religious in the first place? Dramatic reasons, obviously, but still... :(

Well, it's a USAmerican movie reflecting USAmerican sentiments. And unfortunately the US has been sucked in by Christian brain snails...

Yes, like that all girls only care about guys and clothes, that drinking is alright, and that sex has no consequences.

And your position is none of that is true?

You're also probably hoping for more "immaculate conceptions" too, arentcha? ;)
Count yourself among the many who don't really know what the immaculate conception refers to. :)



Yes, like that all girls only care about guys and clothes, that drinking is alright, and that sex has no consequences.

But the middle one is right :confused:

Count yourself among the many who don't really know what the immaculate conception refers to. :)
:confused:

But the middle one is right :confused: I meant that drinking has no consequences. *nod*

But why must she lose her family? As far as I can tell, the family doen't relate to the plot, but the atheism does. Can't she just be an atheist?

Most people are believers. A good character is one people identify with through liking or disliking. She needed to be liked. No "normal" person, goes the unconscious thought, would be an atheist, so she "must" have gone through some kind of trauma, which is what would make "me" (the person watching) an atheist. See?

:confused:
Immaculate conception actually refers to Mary, she was born without sin. Most people believe that it refers to her getting preggers without doing the nasty with Joseph.

I meant that drinking has no consequences. *nod*

Ah, I see.

Erm. Yes? Her reasoning wasn't so much about Bob dying as his manner of death. Not a nice way to die, from what she's told me. But she'd disagreed with the Catholic church a great deal over the years, thus her having fallen away. So I think Bob's death was her personal tipping point, pushing her over to the side of militant atheism.

ah, the problem of evil. an oldie, but a goodie.

Well, it's a USAmerican movie reflecting USAmerican sentiments. And unfortunately the US has been sucked in by Christian brain snails...

Most of the US. It's an important distinction. I'm as American as you can get, but I'm a proud atheist. You have fallen for the common 'some, not all' fallacy.

Most people are believers. A good character is one people identify with through liking or disliking. She needed to be liked. No "normal" person, goes the unconscious thought, would be an atheist, so she "must" have gone through some kind of trauma, which is what would make "me" (the person watching) an atheist. See?

Jeez, intolerance is a bitch. I'm an atheist, but I was raised perfectly normal, and I went through no trauma.

Immaculate conception actually refers to Mary, she was born without sin. Most people believe that it refers to her getting preggers without doing the nasty with Joseph.

Where in the Bible does it say that Mary was born without sin? Jesus may have been, but I don't recall Mary being sinless... :confused:

Where in the Bible does it say that Mary was born without sin? Jesus may have been, but I don't recall Mary being sinless... :confused:

what are you, some sort of protestant? who are you to question pope pius IX?

Where in the Bible does it say that Mary was born without sin? Jesus may have been, but I don't recall Mary being sinless... :confused:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_conception
The Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic dogma that asserts that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved by God from the stain of original sin at the time of her own conception.

Well, a lot of horror movies have a religious content to them, but only so they can include Satan and evil stuff since the Bible has lots of tremendous potential of evil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_conception

Holy cow. :eek:

I have never heard of that in my life. And I am Catholic (if only nominally) and had Catholic religious education for I think 11 years in school.

It's used wrongly all the time, then, even in the media!

*stunned*

Holy cow. :eek:

I have never heard of that in my life. And I am Catholic (if only nominally) and had Catholic religious education for I think 11 years in school.

It's used wrongly all the time, then, even in the media!

*stunned*

I KNOW! I needed CPR when I first found out.





Well not really.

what are you, some sort of protestant? who are you to question pope pius IX?

No actually, I somehow changed from Darknovae to Io Amaya. I have no lcue how that happened.

But I'd aways thought that it had referred to Jesus. Bah. :headbang:

Holy cow. :eek:

I have never heard of that in my life. And I am Catholic (if only nominally) and had Catholic religious education for I think 11 years in school.

It's used wrongly all the time, then, even in the media!

*stunned*You believe in holy cows? :p

You believe in holy cows? :p

Only this (http://www.fnord.org/images/mas_dict1.jpg) kind.

You believe in holy cows? :p

She ish teh Hindju. :p

You believe in holy cows? :pWhy, yes. :confused:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/whereyouthinkyougoing/holycow.jpg

See? *nods*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_conception

Wow... Spent the first thirteen years of my life in the Catholic Church, and religious ed classes, and got up to first communion before I opted out for a life as a bootless pagan, and I'd always thought that the immaculate conception referred to Jesus, rather than Mary's. Either I didn't pay enough attention, or my teachers weren't up on dogma. I'd bet on the latter...

I'd imagine there is, after which those who get nud-itty, get their come-uppance 'COS GAWd IS A-WATCHIN Y'ALL AND YER SINNIN'

Ah, Christian propaganda movies...aren't they great as all-get-out? :rolleyes:

Actually The Reaping is a horror movie about all the terrible plagues God sent to the Egyptians, it shows many people being gruesomely killed by god.


*watches as atheists proclaim it to be best movie of this year*


I hate it when movies become political....

Actually The Reaping is a horror movie about all the terrible plagues God sent to the Egyptians, it shows many people being gruesomely killed by god.


*watches as atheists proclaim it to be best movie of this year*


I hate it when movies become political....

I, too, hate political movies. I especially hate it when their political motivations become obvious, such as those Bush-bashing movies that might be pro-Bush propoganda since the anti-Bushness is both militant and decietful.

The bible is usually a "good book" to make movies off of. I mean, global flooding. Plague after plague. Crusifictions. Giant monsters from the bowels of hell. A big guy who could cease your existance just by looking in your direction. Just one epic after another. I don't understand why Bible movies have to be so family friendly. The Bible is one of the most violent books ever written. I wanna see some blood, people. Blood, sickies, and people drowning.

Actually The Reaping is a horror movie about all the terrible plagues God sent to the Egyptians, it shows many people being gruesomely killed by god.


*watches as atheists proclaim it to be best movie of this year*


I hate it when movies become political....

Its the whole 'fancy Scientist with her "facts" who thinks she knows better than tha good book' thing. I just find it funny.

Yugh. This is even worse then usual in that they make the character regain her faith. Stupid, lame, retarded. Probably veggietales for adults.
Indeed! *grmpf* Even in the latest Andreas Eschbach book a character suffers for being an atheist! (Well, okay, Westermann could not resist making a funny comment, but still...)

Its the whole 'fancy Scientist with her "facts" who thinks she knows better than tha good book' thing. I just find it funny.

You know, your 'a few fishermen 2k years ago knew better than everybody else'-attitude is annoying me.

Religion is a load of rubbish anyway, and Hollywood is even worse - come on Pinewood studios - yay!

I take it none of you've watched Jesus Christ: Vampire Killer (or whatever it's called)? Fucking hillarious movie that.

Ah, Christian propaganda movies...aren't they great as all-get-out? :rolleyes:


No, no, no American Christian propaganda movies. You wouldn't get stuff like this anywhere else in the world.

No, no, no American Christian propaganda movies. You wouldn't get stuff like this anywhere else in the world.Too right. The Vatican's far too busy buying stock in condom factories to make bad action movies.

You know, your 'a few fishermen 2k years ago knew better than everybody else'-attitude is annoying me.

Trying reading the thread. And its "goat-herders", btw.

Jeez, intolerance is a bitch. I'm an atheist, but I was raised perfectly normal, and I went through no trauma.

I agree. And I believe most atheists are perfectly sane people, if a tad unwilling to study the deeper mysteries of the Universe. But then again, I say that about the major religions as well.

Why, yes. :confused:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/whereyouthinkyougoing/holycow.jpg

See? *nods*

Holy cow!

Holy cow!
:eek: I'm totally spreading the gospel! :p

No, no, no American Christian propaganda movies. You wouldn't get stuff like this anywhere else in the world.

you mean no one in other countries makes movies that feature religious themes?

I say the far more pertinent question is why Hilary Swank keeps making crap movies like this inbetween winning her Oscars.

*cough*The Core*cough*

I agree. And I believe most atheists are perfectly sane people, if a tad unwilling to study the deeper mysteries of the Universe. But then again, I say that about the major religions as well.

Yeah. I have to agree.

I love how Hollywood thinks that one cannot become an atheist without having something horrible happen....:rolleyes:
Well, that's the only point where it becomes narratively relevant. An atheist by reason doesn't have a crisis of faith and without a crisis of faith belief usually has nothing to do with the story. If you think about it, how many movies have had characters that are atheist that you didn't know about, since not every character brings up their faith. We just assume that unless otherwise noted, the person has some sort of belief. But the screen could be riddled with atheists with no reason to bring it up.

Atheists by logic appear in films, though they are often that way to outline a lack of passion.
Well, a lot of horror movies have a religious content to them, but only so they can include Satan and evil stuff since the Bible has lots of tremendous potential of evil.
What's really weird is when there are movies like The Prophecy where the Native Americans bail out the Catholics. Huh?

you mean no one in other countries makes movies that feature religious themes?
Spain's A Very Old Man with Very Large Wings (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096077/usercomments) seems a little more genteel. I gotta be honest, I was trying to craft this into a point but failed. That's the movie I thought of when you asked that question, other than that I don't know what bringing it up says.

There is a 'test of faith' movie with an atheist who didn't have a traumatic event trigger atheism AND he remains an atheist. What's better, it's true-Touching the Void (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/).

I agree. And I believe most atheists are perfectly sane people, if a tad unwilling to study the deeper mysteries of the Universe.
I don't think that last part is true at all, they (we) often are very interested in that. This is going to sound nastier than it should, but the difference is we're not willing to just make up the answers.

Spain's A Very Old Man with Very Large Wings (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096077/usercomments) seems a little more genteel. I gotta be honest, I was trying to craft this into a point but failed. That's the movie I thought of when you asked that question, other than that I don't know what bringing it up says.

There is a 'test of faith' movie with an atheist who didn't have a traumatic event trigger atheism AND he remains an atheist. What's better, it's true-Touching the Void (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/).

i love "touching the void'".

i read a followup book by him where he said that he is quite embarrassed to be famous for being the guy who screwed up a climb.

What's really weird is when there are movies like The Prophecy where the Native Americans bail out the Catholics. Huh?


For years I've been saying we should give the papists a rest and get a satan bashing ex-mossad/IDF Rabbi. Bit of scripture, bit of Uzi 9 millimetre.

For years I've been saying we should give the papists a rest and get a satan bashing ex-mossad/IDF Rabbi. Bit of scripture, bit of Uzi 9 millimetre.

I'd totally go to see a movie with a Rabbi blasting the crap out of Satan.

For years I've been saying we should give the papists a rest and get a satan bashing ex-mossad/IDF Rabbi. Bit of scripture, bit of Uzi 9 millimetre.

The closest you can get is somewhere between The Golem (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004026/) and The Hebrew Hammer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317640/)

The closest you can get is somewhere between The Golem (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004026/) and The Hebrew Hammer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317640/)

i love The Hebrew Hammer!!