Abortion in Dogma

One major controversial issue that was addressed in the movie Dogma (and is a discussion that every one of us has been exposed to at least once in our lives) is that of abortion. Within the film, it was portrayed heavily with a group of individuals (fundamentalist Christians) who heckled outside of the abortion clinic against those who were “godless”, “sinners”, and “baby killers.” The ironic part of the attacks was that most of those people who the movie showed that were pro-choice (or for abortion) were all part of God’s larger plan to save the world. Bethany, the main character, worked at the abortion clinic yet also regularly attended Church and the prophets were also adamantly for a woman having the right to do whatever she wants with her body (though they weren’t religious they were the ones chosen to help save the world by God).
I think the general theme of the movie on abortion was something that I tend to agree with. I think the higher implication of these ironies was not that abortion is good or bad. The intent of the movie in this case was to show the hypocrisy of those fundamentalist Christians who attack abortion (much in the same way of those who attack homosexuality). The Bible teaches that all individuals are sinners, even Christians. However, often people choose certain sins that they deem to be incompatible with Christianity. An avid church-goer is quick to label a homosexual or a person having an abortion as somebody who is “doomed to hell”, yet not willing to say the same thing to a kid who lies to his parents or somebody who uses the Lord’s name in vain (despite the fact that Christian doctrine sees all sins as equal in the eyes of god). Certain Fundamentalist Christians (who sin themselves) can’t comprehend how even according to their own teachings, abortion doesn’t doom a person to hell. Even if it is a sin, somebody perpetrating this sin could still easily be a person of great faith. The movie takes this idea and applies it to a very grand scale. How would fundamentalists feel if the last remaining relative of Jesus Christ worked at an abortion clinic? They deem it impossible that faith and abortion ever go hand in hand (as evidenced by their statements to Bethany outside of the church) yet the movie demonstrates that the two points aren’t opposed.
In my personal opinion, abortion is immoral. I feel that the only objective way of defining life at any given point is to define it at the point of conception. Otherwise, the moral line becomes skewed to a gray (something that I, being a Kantian deontologist in principle, see as inconsistent with what morality actually is). I feel that the argument is made quite simply in the idea that a woman who has a miscarriage will often feel incapably sad as if she has just lost a child. Even a pro-choice woman who loses a “child” in this sense might kill somebody if they tell her that it wasn’t a child yet, that it was just the “potential to become a child.” I don’t see any way that that internal nature of humanity could coexist with fetuses not being children. They don’t make sense together. However, I am not of the sort that believes that an abortion would then doom somebody to hell or make them unwelcome in Church. As I noted earlier in my agreement with the film, all people sin and it’s completely arbitrary to deem some sins above God’s forgiveness yet almost all others not.
A problem associated with this debate is an over-salience within public discourse and the media. So many people have been exposed to this argument since a young age that very few people are willing to listen to both sides (even those that claim to be moderates on the issue are often not). Regardless of the correctness of either side, it becomes a set of talking points in today’s society. Nobody ever thinks with their emotions on the issue and tries to sympathize with those who take the opposite stance. One side truly believes that it is right because of life (something that is a good principle) and the other side truly believes that it is right because of rights (something that is a good principle). People tend to forget that when we see it as just a partisan political issue. Abortion shouldn’t be a political issue within discussion- it’s something that is far above that.

Religion in the Media

In the movie Dogma, directed by Kevin Smith, there are many controversial topics that have to do with culture and religion. One of the controversial aspects I noticed in the movie is how religion is portrayed in the media. I think religion is very important to those who believe in it, and it has evolved so much over time. However religion is not always put in the best light when it appears in the media. As the world is changing so are the people in society. People of different generations have different views on what religion is and how it should be practiced. Since the world has evolved there is a lot more technology which affects how religion is spread to people. For example there is religion on television. I honestly think it is amazing that church is on tv. I understand that if there are old people who cant make it to an actual church they may watch it on tv, but I don’t think it counts as real church. When I flip through the channels on television I have seen multiple channels with church, and I have stopped to see what it is like, but I just usually flip right past it.

The media has had a large affect on the way religion is seen for kids and families now. I think there is so much going against religious beliefs that are present in magazines, movies, and television. Some of the bad influences in the media include views on premarital sex, clothing, and certain activities. In society today you can go into a store and find multiple magazines that talk about sex. It doesn’t even always mention marriage as a factor of sex, it just tells people they need to practice safe sex. In the Catholic Church it is believed that people need to be married before they should have sex and have children. And if a couple is not married they should practice abstinence. Unfortunatley today many teens and couples that are not married do not practice abstinence. I think one of the large factors is what I stated earlier where the media is influencing how people practice their religion. A lot of what people do today reflects what the see or hear from celebrities and icons. In the movie there is also a part of worshiping fals idols. If you think about it I think today people do a lot of that. We don’t always respect religion and God like we should.

In the movie there is one very important part where they are changing the image of Christ. Cardinal Glick comes up with the idea to change how people will view Christ. He talks about getting rid of the symbol of the cross. I looked this scene of the movie online to find a better description of exactly what Cardinal Glick was saying.

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the driving force behind Catholicism WOW, Cardinal Glick.

Cardinal Glick: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now we all know how the majority and the media in this country view the Catholic church. They think of us as a passe, archaic institution. People find the Bible obtuse... even hokey. Now in an effort to disprove all that the church has appointed this year as a time of renewal... both of faith and of style. For example, the crucifix. While it has been a time honored symbol of our faith, Holy Mother Church has decided to retire this highly recognizable, yet wholly depressing image of our Lord crucified. Christ didn't come to Earth to give us the willies... He came to help us out. He was a booster. And it is with that take on our Lord in mind that we've come up with a new, more inspiring sigil. So it is with great pleasure that I present you with the first of many revamps the "Catholicism WOW. " campaign will unveil over the next year. I give you... The Buddy Christ. Now that's not the sanctioned term we're using for the symbol, just something we've been kicking around the office, but look at it. Doesn't it... pop? Buddy Christ...

From this quote in the movie it is evident that religion is trying to be changed and the media is not having a positive affect on it. Cardinal Glick changed the image of Christ from being crucified to standing with his hand in a thumbs up while winking at everyone. When I saw this I honestly thought to myself what the heck! It doesn’t have to be a bad thing that religion evolves over time, but it can be done in a different way. For example I attended a Christian camp for about 6 summers. I choose to go to this camp it wasn’t even my parents idea. At camp we would be there for an entire week sleeping over night with hundreds of other kids who share out faith. Every morning we would have chapel, which consisted of songs praising God and teachings from the pastor about the theme for the week of camp. And then every night there would be another chapel session. I really enjoyed this camp because it was a time to grow your faith with God and also to experience religion in a different way with so many other kids. This camp had such an impact on my life, I even am considering going there to be a camp counselor for the entire summer.

I feel offended sometimes when I see things that go against my religion. I know it is not up to me what gets put out into the media, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things we can do to stop it. I think there needs to be a more put out there about certain aspects of religion. In the movie when Cardinal Glick wants to create “Buddy Christ” yes kids today should understand Christ died for us and is our “buddy” but in a different sense. We should see Christ as a person we can trust and look to for advice, not a “buddy” who we let down or forget about. The symbol of Christ on the cross is very important to how people respect him. Even if young kids don’t fully understand why Jesus is nailed to a cross, that doesn’t mean the symbol and religious history and maturity should be changed to fit what kids understand. Jesus dying for us can be explained in simpler terms for children and people of different religions to understand, but it needs to stay true to what the Catholic Church says. I think it is good that we watched the movie Dogma, so we can get a sense of what may be out there about religion. Even though religion can be altered by the media, all we can do is trust in our religion and make sure we answer other peoples questions so there are no misconceptions about our religion.

Religious Faith Problems

The movie “Dogma” addresses religious faith as something very temperamental and full of uncertainty. Characters were presented as having problems with their faith, like the angels Bartelby and Loki having a hard time reconciling with the fact that humans are God’s most loved creations even though they are such sinners. Another example is Bethany Sloane saying she has lost her faith in God because He (or She) never answered any of her prayers. She is not completely sure what to have faith in anymore. But the purpose of faith is to believe in something even if you have never personally experienced it to be true (note: this is not to be confused with gullibility). Even the definition of dogma is “a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof” meaning you need to have faith for your religion. But Bethany’s uncertainty of her Catholic religion reflects the doubts that many have of their own faith. I think what the movie is trying to say is that this “seeing is believing” attitude that people apply to their religion is easier to come to terms with instead of faith, and people are not quite sure what to believe anymore. So many different religious organizations are saying that their religion is the right one to follow, yet there is no real way of telling. We can see this competition between religions today with people such as Brother Jed in Speaker’s Circle or Jehovah’s Witnesses soliciting houses on weekends. According to the movie, no one has the completely correct story of God. As the character Serendipity says, “It’s not about who's right or wrong. No denomination’s nailed it yet, and they never will because they’re all too self-righteous to realize that it does not matter what you have faith in, just that you have faith.” Someone should be able to decide on their own what they want to believe, and people should just be accepting of whatever religion that person decides to believe in, if they even decide to believe in a religion at all.
Another problem is the abuse of someone’s religious faith, such as Cardinal Glick trying to convert people to Catholicism through the “Catholicism Wow” campaign simply to get more money to the Catholic Church. Not only does he try to appeal to the public with ‘Buddy Christ,’ but he even goes as far to bless his golf club, which is a terrible misuse of his position. Changing aspects of his faith just for publicity seems shallow and by using the money people donated to their faith just to use it for such a purpose is horribly taking advantage of people’s beliefs. People put trust in their religion, but if that trust is abused there can be uncertainty as to the matter of whether or not their beliefs are right. As a real-life example, when some Catholic priests were found to have sexually harassed a few of their parishioners, there was doubt about the honesty and beliefs in the Catholic Church. So between competition of various religions over which group has the right beliefs, and the abuse of someone’s trust in their faith, it’s no wonder there is a lot of uncertainty over one’s religious faith.
This movie was meant to be offensive to all beliefs, but I think it was also partly meant to show how we should be accepting of other’s views, whether or not you agree with them, since even your own faith can be offensive to someone else’s. For instance, Catholics portray the cross with Jesus on it, but to some other Christian religions this can seem disrespectful. While I was offended by parts of this movie such as ‘Buddy Christ’ and the selfish liberties Cardinal Glick took with his position in the Catholic Church (like blessing his golf club), I think they served the purpose of allowing us to see that we should have faith in what we want to believe and not what others try to get us to believe in. I was deterred by the new version of Catholicism that the “Catholicism Wow” organization presented in the movie, and it made me strongly prefer my own, non-Buddy Christ Catholic beliefs. Although there are instances where I have been skeptical about some views of the Catholic Church, I was certain that I did not want to be a part of the fictional version of it represented in the movie. So maybe, in a weird, twisted sort of way, this movie allowed us to better identify with what we have faith in, and remove some of the uncertainty we have in our beliefs.

Dogma

Dogma presents many controversial topics throughout the film. The existence of angles, prophets, and God, abortion, and being a woman. This movie pushed boundaries by doing everything against the grain of how we’ve been told or how the media portrays what we think about topics like this.

Bethany, the woman who is chosen to go to New Jersey, is harassed in every scene that has Jay and Silent Bob in it. Jay and Silent Bob (technically Jay majority of the time) are always saying inappropriate and sexual things to Bethany about what they want to do to her or what they want from her. I found this funny at times, but mostly annoying because it went on forever. They would always try to make sexual deals with her. The only way she got them to take her to New Jersey was because she agreed to have sex with them if it came down to a life or death moment. And had it not been for Jay and Silent Bob looking for women to hit on at night, Bethany wouldn’t have even been saved by them in the first place. I found most of Bethany’s relationship with Jay and Silent Bob funny. However, it was also pretty offensive because of the way they would talk to her.

The movie presents some pretty strange ideas, like angles walking here on earth with humans. I thought it was very odd that there were angles on earth in this movie because it has always been my understanding that angles can only exist in heaven. I understand why the angel came to earth, because he had to give Bethany the news of the journey she had to go on. He chose very strange ways to prove to her that he was a real angel. Strange and also very inappropriate. I was a little freaked out when the angel proved to Bethany that he was truly was an angel by pulling his pants down and showing her what he “didn’t” have.

The prophets were very strange as well. Jay and Silent Bob were the prophets in the movie. They are not what I would normally consider a prophet to be like. They were inappropriate, crude, and pretty dumb. I thought it was funny but also sad that Jay and Silent Bob were the prophets. When I think of a prophet I think of someone who’s incredibly nice, willing to do anything for anyone else, and who’s naturally good at many things. ..Jay and Silent Bob.. not exactly like that. Even though they weren’t the average prophets, they still did cooperate with Bethany for the most part. They helped her in the beginning when she couldn’t open her car. They helped her on her way to New Jersey and they never actually did anything bad to her. Although they weren’t terrible people, I still found them pretty offensive as people who were supposed to be prophets.

I thought the way dogma portrayed God was interesting. God was played by a woman. Another way that Dogma pushes limits. Most people see or think of God as a man. I thought this was a good way to put a spin on things.

Abortion is a small topic in this movie. Bethany works at an abortion clinic. The reason why this was seen as controversial was because Bethany is catholic.

The movie Dogma has a lot of characters and scenes that push the limits. There are two prophets who are poorly dressed and perverted, there’s a thirteenth apostle who is African American, there’s an angel with no downstairs, and God is a woman. Dogma was very offensive, but that’s why it was a good movie. It portrayed it’s characters in the opposite ways of how the media would have. We’ve always been under the influence that angels are good spirits who made their way to heaven.. not scary old British guys who dress dark and attempt to drink tequila. The apostles have always been viewed as twelve men.. not thirteen including an African American man. Prophets are seen as important people who were put on earth for very specific reasons, and Jay and Silent Bob are definitely not what you would expect for that position. And God is someone we view as the father of Jesus Christ, someone who’s a man, not pop sensation Alanis Morrisette. I liked the movie Dogma because of these boundaries and limits that it pushed. It made me think about what life would be like if angels and prophets really were like how they were in the movie and not how they are portrayed by our religious teachings or the media.

Abortion in Dogma

One of the many controversial topics that are brought up in the move Dogma, is the issue of abortion. Abortion is portrayed in Dogma because Bethany works in a Planned Parenthood clinic. As she is walking into work one day, a group of protestors tell her that she will burn in hell for working there. Her working there is especially controversial because she is Catholic. The Catholic Church is against abortion, so by working there she is going against her religion. She doesn’t really care though because although she still goes to church every Sunday, she has lost faith in God.
Abortion has been a very controversial topic for a long time. The two basic sides of the argument are those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice. Pro-life arguments say that human life begins at conception and because abortion ends that life, it is murder. Therefore, People who are pro-life believe that abortion is the same thing as killing a person. It is illegal to kill someone, so abortion should be illegal too. Pro-choice arguments say that human life begins at birth, so abortion is not murder. A woman should have the right to choose whether or not she wants to have a baby or not. If a woman does not have the means to raise a child, if she is raped, or if she has a medical condition that makes it unsafe for her to be pregnant, she should be able to choose not to carry out her pregnancy.
Coverage of abortion in the media is generally biased towards pro-choice supporters. For example, studies have shown that pro-choice activists are quoted in media twice as often as pro-life activists. Almost 400,000 people participated in the 2010 March for Life (an annual pro-life march in Washington DC that promotes pro-life) but there was little to no media coverage on the event. Pro-life advocates are often stereotyped as closed minded, unrealistic and cold hearted, while pro-choice advocates are portrayed as open-minded, realistic, and caring.
Personally, I believe that abortion is wrong and that laws should be changed so that abortion is illegal. I believe so because I believe that human life begins at conception. I believe this because there is scientific evidence that a fetus is alive, religious reasons, and what I believe to be overwhelming arguments that abortion is murder. It is scientifically proven that a fetus is alive because at conception, a sperm and egg join to form what is called a zygote. It is scientific consensus that a zygote is defiantly alive because it meets all four criteria of biological life (metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction). A zygote has human DNA and is a human life. This means that a zygote, or fetus is a human person.
Scientifically, this proves that a fetus is alive, but where does religion come into play? As a Roman Catholic, I choose to believe what is written in the Bible and accept it as the word of God. There are many scripture readings that prove to me that a person is a person before they are even born. The one that means the most to me is Jeremiah 5:1 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”. To me, this means that God personally creates each and every person before we are even conceived. It means that He is behind every conception and that children are a gift from God. He has a plan for each of us and it is out of His love that we are made. Since everyone is a person made by God, killing someone, even before they are born, is a sin. My religion may be a major part of why I believe the way I do, but it is defiantly not the only reason. It amazes me how people can say that fetuses are not human. A babies heart begins to beat at only 18 days old. At 42 days old it has brainwaves, and a full skeleton. At 7 weeks old it can suck it’s thumb, and at 9 weeks can squint, swallow and make a fist. 11 weeks it can breath, has fingernails, and all body systems work. It can cry at 18 weeks, and at 20 weeks has hair on it’s head. How can someone look at a picture of a baby in a womb and say that it’s not human? Seriously, google a picture of a baby’s feet at 10 weeks old or a fetus sucking it’s thumb at just 8 weeks old and tell me that’s not a person. One also just has to look at a picture of an aborted baby to be convinced that it’s murder. It’s appalling to see pictures of babies who’s bodies are mangled and bloody, but these images are hidden from the public by people who don’t want the public to know how bloody and violent abortion actually is. Bottom line: I believe abortion is wrong because of my religious beliefs and the tons of evidence that a fetus is a person and killing a person is murder. I could go on for pages and pages about why I believe abortion is wrong, but frankly I have other homework to do and I have more than enough words ☺.

Cooky Catholics

The Catholic church has done a lot of wrong, and I mean a hell of a lot of wrong, but I am Catholic. Now this can lead two possible assumptions. One, I am actively choosing to be a part of an inherently evil institution because of my personal desire to be a part of what os very possibly the most corrupt organization in all of human history. Two, I am choosing to acknowledge the imperfections of any human run community but there is positive aspects in the participation in a global community with goals that are aimed at a greater good even though their means have gone very far astray in the past.

Dogma shows the Catholic Church for many of the evils it has previously and actively committed in the name of god, jesus, eternal damnation, and an assortment of other mind boggling concepts that in truth no human can ever truly understand. Many of the claims that Dogma makes against the Catholic church are true. The bishop is a great example of the Catholic church distancing itself from what religion should be used for. The bishop blessing his clubs to better his golf game, which eventually helps to defeat Asreel, is an great example of the Church acting with selfish desires and no concern for greater good or faith of the people. I would not doubt that Bishops have blessed golf clubs, but the truth is that most Bishops allocate more of their blessings to the sick, to chuches, to children, to school, and to volunteer projects- sadly this didn't quite make the cut for Dogma- not a revolutionary and probably wouldn't have sold as many tickets.

People look at the portrayal of the Catholic church in Dogma and say, “Ya that's so right.” Zeitgeist portrays the Catholic church as a means of controlling people through a story that is basically a combination of several other religions and had no factual basis. The Catholic Church was a political body exempt of taxation which corrupts people through fear of a damning God. So, people watch Zeitgeist and say, “Oh my lord, this Catholic church is totally out of hand.” Then people read a newspaper and watch coverage of the recent sexual abuse scandal. They see priests committing crimes and all of a sudden every priest is abusing children. People say “Catholics have lost it.”

The church isn't perfect. Catholics aren't perfect. Priests aren't perfect. The problem is not what happens within the church or whats done by the priest or is done by Catholics. The problem is that people want to be able to expect more from the Catholic church, from the priests, and from the people. People want to hold people who have taken religious commitments to a higher standard but the fact is that they are still just as fallible as the rest of us. They are trying to be better but just like everyone else who tries to do something some people will fail.

The church is kind of like an English teacher. It is trying to help and to do some good but to do that there needs to be rules and regulations. No one likes to be told your wrong or your doing this wrong or I know better than you. It breaks down your self esteem and overall makes you pretty Now imagine your teacher slips on the ice. You point. You laugh. You are having a good old time now. The person who was telling you what to do just screwed up- who is she? She is trying to help but it is hard to see that now because oh my god she just slipped there is snow on her butt and she can't find her glasses. Karma? This is over simplified but I think the analogy has a lot of value when it is closely analyzed. Your teacher wants you to be a good writer. The church wants you to be a good person. Your teacher doesn't know what a perfect writer is but she thinks she knows better than you do. The church wants you to be a better person. It doesn't know what a perfect person is but it thinks it knows a better than you do. So the teacher sets up some basic guidelines. At the end of a sentence, you should put a period but curve ball can't you put a comma at the end of the sentence. Does the teacher really know what she is talking about? The church says you can not kill, but curve ball what if the person your killing is trying to kill you? What now church? Nothing is perfect but motives need to be recognized.

The truth is the Catholic church isn't evil. It can be. The Catholic church isn't perfect. It can't be.

Oh That Final

The personal journey to find faith is personal. So, I shall blog about something else. As we are suppose to know, the movie Dogma touches on almost every touchy subject that is related to beliefs within all religions. Within in each subject I predict that almost everybody has something to say about them – some people have too much to say, though. It can get annoying. Anyways, I will do my best to give my insight on the subjects listed within the assignment instructions; however, I do not know much about the listed subjects – what’s new.
To start things off, I’ll chat about the existence angels and/or demons. Do angels and demons exist? Heck if I know, but why not? I have an open mind; so, anything is possible. On one hand, angels and demons are said to exist to propose sides of good and evil. On the other hand, Angels – representing good – are thought to legitimately exist, along with demons, are chosen by God to relay God’s messages to the people. These messages are interpreted as a path for people to follow to be in good relationship with God in order to make a reservation for a “golden” afterlife. Demons are from Hell and are to hinder humans from having a relationship towards God. Personally, I think angels do exist. Why? I haven’t decided why but I’ll think about it.
The next subject is about the power within the Catholic Church. I don’t know near enough to talk about Catholicism, but I don’t think the church should have more power than any other church. Religion is a free choice and shouldn’t be overrun by “one piece of the pie,” if you understand what I’m getting at.
As we all know, religion in the media is a huge controversy in today’s world with arguments both for and against keeping religion within the media. I think religion should be able to placed in media because a lot of people of religion affiliation and will make decisions based on their beliefs. I don’t think religion get’s in the way of media or important issues because almost everyone, when making a decision on something with little or no importance, will resort to their religion for guidance. Religion is still important whether or not everyone thinks so and should not be kicked out of the media regardless of any issue. There are people that propose a religion in their ads and people who don’t. The people who don’t include religion in media are not hammered on for not including it. So, why should the religious people be dealt anything less? Nonetheless, media, today, is probably the most important attribute within the United States. Media is the “way of the land” these days – the source of information to many, but religion should not be taken out of it. Religion will always be a part of this country no matter how important the media will continue to get.
Abortion – the spontaneous or induced termination of pregnancy…. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the gist of the definition of abortion from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. On this very touchy subject to many, I am both for and against pregnancy. I am against it in the way that if young adults are having unprotected sex and baby is made then that is too damn bad and they should have thought of that as a first priority. However, I still think that abortion is a personal decision, but I think that people should be influenced, upon their bad decisions of unprotected sex, to go through with the pregnancy and put the baby up for adoption because there are plenty of people out there that wish for a baby of their own but cannot have their own. I am for abortion in the way of rape cases. If a person was raped and is then found pregnant I think that person should have the decision to keep the pregnancy or not. Although I have two sides, I think that abortion should be allowed in whatever case up to a certain amount of time. If the fetus has already grown to a certain extend then the abortion should not be allowed.
Another issue was on the true image of God. I don’t think that anyone could possibly create an accurate image of God because who in their right mind has a clue of what God, he or she, looks like? No one! Yes, people try to create an image of God but I don’t think any of them are accurate. None of us will know what God looks like until that day, if we believe, that we are considered for a heavenly afterlife with God.
One final issue was the second coming of Jesus. I need to know more about the first coming of Jesus before I put in my “two cents” about this subject.

Portrayals of God

When looking at the film Dogma as a whole, the cultural and religious implications are obvious. So, perhaps the hardest part about an assignment based around this piece is not describing a certain controversial issue, but picking one particular controversy to write about. Knowing this, thinking about the film as a whole is probably the best choice overall. What then is the main issue of Dogma? In my opinion, I would say that the portrayal of God in the movie is probably the most all encompassing theme of the entire film. Based upon the writers’ interpretations of God, their intent on all of the religious issues developed over the piece can be contained. Thus, to understand Dogma, we must understand how the movie portrays God, and why.

Throughout the film, we find characters continuously portraying God in their own opinion as powerful and all controlling. For example, the angels seem to view God with a dictator-like point of view. They appeared to be very much against God because they felt that the Almighty’s judgment on them was wrongful, and thus they worked throughout the film to try and circumvent his punishment on them. Contrary to this view, we found that Gabriel and the 13^th apostle seemed to view God as not only powerful, but benevolent. No matter how strict the Lord’s judgment appeared to be, these two characters seemed to view God’s decisions as correct. In most circumstances, they even seemed friendly toward God, unlike the angels. From these separate sets of characters, the film portrays views on God which are fairly common in our world. In fact, if you include the view of the main character, Bethany, we find the portrayal of the apathetic God. Though Bethany associated herself with the Catholic Church, she herself admits that she’s not really positive about her faith. Thus, from these three sets of views presented in the movie, we find the three main views of individuals in our world today. There are extremely religious people who not only believe in God’s power, but in God’s mercy. Then there are the individuals who view God as an unruly dictator whose intent is to torture us throughout our lives. And finally, we find those people who are apathetic toward the idea of God. Sometimes these apathetic individuals simply do not believe in God, and some believe in an Almighty, but are very unsure about their faith or of religion in general. In this way, we find that the movie (at least before it actually introduces God’s character) portrays many of the ways that humanity views God.

Knowing that the film very much reflects the views of average day people, the next logical step is to question how the media portrays God. Most commonly, the modern media portrays God as the wise old man that common culture has accepted for the Lord. Instead of portraying God as a new age figure, the media shows God as the bearded old man. In some cases, the media shows the Lord as a very arbitrary figure whose rules are as arbitrary as he is. They do this by constantly showing promiscuity and characters that continuously break the fundamental laws of religion. By this, the media sends a message that humanity really doesn’t have to follow the Lord’s laws, and therefore seems to be stating that God is really irrelevant in the overall scheme of things. In contrast to the movie, I would say that the common media portrayal of God is much more negative.

To bring this full circle, I feel like noting the film’s final portrayal of God is necessary. At the end of the film, God is revealed to be a kind, mysterious woman. As curious as this view on God is, it actually fits along the lines of what the movie seemed to be going for. Throughout, the film seemed to go against the accepted views of God by presenting them, then shooting them down shortly after. In the end, Dogma portrayed the Lord as a being just that, somewhat contrary to the accepted views of God.

To conclude, I must admit that I feel your personal view on God is far more important than how everyone else tries to make you view God. No matter how the media portrays God, no matter how Dogma portrayed God, I believe that your own view on Him is far more accurate. In my mind, this seems accurate because God is supposed to be all-knowing, thus if he truly understands us as well as we are led to believe, then if and when he were to appear to us, He would be exactly how we would need him to be. Thus, to truly understand God and know how exactly he would be portrayed, the best answer, in my opinion, is found within ourselves.

Religion in the media

Religion is a controversial topic that comes up in the media. But I think the society and the culture we live in today has an effect on our lives today as well. Media looks for different issues or problems that are common and happening in the world around us. Today, there are many types of media such as television shows that pertain to religion like worship shows, the news, documentaries, Christian music radio stations, Bible study, magazines and etc. I think many times religion in the media is shown to be something completely different then what it really is. I found in a magazine a couple living together before they were married. Today, society has made things like living together, not having abstinence and having kids before your married be part of the norm. I think this is wrong toward many religions and my belief. I think living together takes away from the idea of abstinences. I know that the Catholic religion sees theses as something that should not be done until you are married. In magazines you find many couples getting a divorce but not only one but more than one. I think that thing is another idea that is becoming a norm. I think that it is fine to get a divorce if you are really not that happy together, but it is being portrayed as okay in today’s society. I know the Catholic Church looks down on getting a divorce and so does my belief. I think that you should find someone and marry them with the mind set of them being with you the rest of your life. These views have been altered from the changes of one generation to the next generation.
In the movie, Dogma, religion is the main topic that is focused on in the media. At Cardinal Glick’s campaign “Catholicism Wow”, the media is gathered around and waiting for what new issue is being brought to the community. The Cardinal says, “Catholicism seems to be viewed by the majority and the media as a passé or archaic institution, so the Catholic Church is making an effort to disprove all of what the media is saying by making it a time of renewal of both faith and of style.” Religion is viewed in the media as old fashion almost out of date for the time, so Cardinal Glick wants to use his campaign to change the way people and media view of the Catholic religion. He uses the crucifix of Christ and says “that this church has decided to retire, this highly recognizable but holy depressing image of our Lord crucified.” Cardinal Glick comes up with, in his words “a new and more inspiring Buddy Christ.” Cardinal Glick comes up with a newer symbol of our Lord because he wanted it to more modern and something that “pops”. I think this it to draw attention to the media. I think this image of the new Buddy Christ is wrong. It portrays him as a simple childish God and not someone that did something great for us. I think that the Cardinal change the way Christ looked because not enough people were going to church anymore and many people are straying from the faith. I think the Cardinal should have never changed the symbol of Christ because it doesn’t help explain their religion, Catholicism. By changing the image of Christ it now does not resemble the really meaning behind it. The crucifix told us a story and we use it as a remembrance of what Christ did for us. I think he used this new image to get the media, not only, to pay attention but help direct more people in coming to the Catholic Church.
In the movie, the Cardinal also draws attention to the fact that people will be able to get their sins forgiven by walking through the arch way which will draw more people into the church. I think this is the wrong approach to getting people to come into the church or even know of the faith because if people think all you have to do is go through the arch way, they are going to do it just like the two angels in the movie. It makes religion simple and makes it seem like you can do more harsh sins and you’ll be forgiven just by walking through the arch way. I think he should have used a different means of getting people to come to church and being involved in the faith. Even though the media often portrays how the churches are, people who are actually believers of the faith know the truth of their religion.

Sex, abortion, and media.

In today’s media, the previous mentality that sex holds a level of importance in a relationship has dramatically melted away as all forms of media have portrayed it as something that can be a casual encounter, a “one night stand”. However, the casualty of such a personal thing has also left abortion to be a casual matter as well.

            Abortion is not something that should be taken lightly, especially considering how much attention has been on the argument between pro-life and pro-choice views. Every woman deserves the right to make a decision as to whether they want to go through with their pregnancy, but making that decision is a very serious matter, but continues to be taken lightly.

            In the film Dogma, the main character works at an abortion clinic and deals with protesting church members on a daily basis; everyone is so caught up in pushing his or her ideals upon one another. For the last three years, I lived in a rather small town, in which generations of families have lived, making it a very conservative place. I constantly dealt with friends trying to coax me into going to pro-life functions when I had expressed that it did not interest me. This constant nagging from society to do what they feel is right in each situation is very frustrating, and when it comes to abortion, if someone is going into a clinic to get an abortion, they clearly have made the decision they think is correct. I do not advocate abortions in any way, but each person deserves the right to do what they want with their body. It is incredibly frustrating when pro-life advocators press their opinions upon you, saying that abortions should be outlawed and how they feel that pro-choice is religiously unacceptable. Pro-choice in no way is advocating abortion, it is simply giving people the choice to decide what they want to do with their pregnancy. Outlawing the right to have an abortion would be the same as forcing people to have an abortion – both completely unjust.

            In another part of Dogma, the main character exits the abortion clinic at which she works at to find two men hanging around outside in hopes of finding a “loose woman”. Although it is clear that this film is rather controversial, this part was particularly offensive. It classifies all women who exit an abortion clinic to be women who are whores, and are only exiting such an institution because they got pregnant due to having a lot of sex. Even if that were the case of a woman walking out of the clinic, it in no way would be the vast majority, and it is completely overlooking rape victims or other circumstances. It also makes out men to be in search of one thing: sex. And again, the importance of sex is diminished to be an only physical activity free of emotional connections. 

            The two men awaiting loose women further instill the idea that sex can be a casual “in the moment” experience, as opposed to the religious idea that sex is something that should only occur between a husband and wife. Although I am not a religious person, I do hold a certain level of seriousness with what sex is meant to be. So many factors have transformed such a personal and emotional experience with a meaningful connection between the two into a meaningless and solely physical act. In multitudes of media, sex has been stripped of the description “a big deal” or a prominent step in a relationship, and is now just expected to happen between a man and a woman, regardless of whether there is a deeper meaning behind these physical actions. Sex has become a glamorized action, as it occurs all around us; it’s especially prevalent in media. Television shows like Gossip Girl or 90210 (both which are incredibly entertaining at times) deal with all controversial things that teenagers/young adults may have to deal with – sex, drugs, alcohol, illnesses, and plenty of drama. Although as consumers, we love hearing about dramatic incidents like drugs, shows like these fascinate us with all the controversy and make serious problems seem more common, which ultimately does make them more common. As we continue to portray sex the way it is in media – television, music, films, etc. – people continue to take on this perception and ultimately, what started out as a plot becomes a factual statistic.

            As humanity, we are losing the morals we previously held as more and more media is becoming secularized. It does not even have to necessarily deal with religion, it is simply a matter of lowering the standards for what is acceptable in society. Although this may be a positive change, in that there would be less controversy amongst different groups or religious beliefs, when dealing with things as serious as sex and the possibility of dealing with a pregnancy and deciding whether to have an abortion or not, it may be better to stress the seriousness of such an act.

            

Final Blog Post

In the movie Dogma, much controversy is raised in regards to various religions. Almost every religion can find this movie offensive in some way. The movie follows Bethany, an abortion clinic worker, who is asked to travel to a church in New Jersey, to save the human race from two fallen angels who are trying to reenter heaven. Throughout the movie prophets help her on her journey. Although this movie presents many controversies that may disturb many viewers, the issue of abortion is a prominent subject. The main character works for an abortion clinic that is constantly being protested against. When she is called upon to make this journey to help save humanity she is quite hesitant because she doesn’t think she is the right person for the job. The concept of abortion has been a controversial topic in the Christian faith. The controversy is centered on whether someone is pro-life or pro-choice. Those who choose to be pro-life are against abortion and most other topics related to it. Those who are pro-choice think that it is a woman’s right to choose what happens with her body in regards to pregnancy and abortion. This issue has become an important topic of conversation in the political world because of the recent development of stem-cell research. This issue has had many arguments made against it from the Christian faith, which says that this practice can be seen as immoral and against the Bible. In 1973, the Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, legalized the right for women to choose to have a safe abortion. In this case, it was ruled that during the first trimester the state couldn’t restrict a woman’s right to an abortion. During her second trimester, the state can regulate a woman’s ability to have an abortion if the procedure is hazardous to her health. In the third trimester, the state has permission to restrict a woman’s right to have an abortion to ensure the woman’s safety. People who oppose this case claim that life begins at conception and this life should be protected by the Constitution. Even after this case passed the Supreme Court, there was still a lot of controversy that surrounded this issue. After this case the Roe Effect became well known as a thesis that stated the long-term effects of abortion on the political balance of the United States. This thesis states that the practice of abortion will eventually lead to the ultimate restriction of abortion. It has been shown that political candidates who oppose abortion will have more supporters in the long run than those candidates who support abortion. In the case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, this case wished to overturn the ruling of Roe v. Wade. In this case, the Pennsylvania legislature changed its control law. They added necessities such as requiring informed consent and a 24-hour waiting period before the procedure. The media doesn’t always portray abortion in a positive way. For instance, shows like Teen Mom don’t provide examples of abortion being a suitable option for an unplanned pregnancy. Although this could be because they don’t want to raise too much controversy, I think this option should be included in the show because many teens that become pregnant choose abortion instead of becoming a mother. Many people still oppose abortion in general because they see it as being against the teachings of the Bible. I am very pro-life. I think that life begins at conception and that abortion is against the Bible. I think there are alternatives to having an abortion including adoption. There are always couples looking to adopt a baby because of their inability to conceive a child of their own, and an unplanned pregnancy could provide them with a child. Although I am pro-life there are instances where abortion can be justified. In the case of rape, in my opinion, no woman should be forced to raise her rapist’s child, although there are always alternatives to abortion. I also think that if the pregnancy is harmful or life threatening to the mother, abortion could be justified in this case. Abortion can lead to various health problems that are both physical and psychological. Women who have abortions feel more guilt for the loss of their child than women who have miscarriages because it was a choice that they made. Abortions cause many health complications. These health complications include death, breast, ovarian and liver cancer. These chances of these complications increase drastically after an abortion. The risk of breast cancer doubles after one abortion. Having an abortion increases the risk of having a handicapped child in a later pregnancy. Because of these great risks, not only is abortion against the teachings of the Bible, it is harmful and possibly fatal. Having an abortion can also result in psychological risks such as extreme guilt and depression after the choice has been made. Many women who choose abortion question this decision because they may believe that they ended their child’s life out of selfish desires.

The age old controversy of abortion

One of the controversial topics in Dogma was the issue of abortion. As Bethany is walking up to her job at Planned Parenthood, there are protestors outside telling her she will burn in hell for working there. Part of the controversy of Bethany working there is she is Catholic. The beginning of the film shows her at a mass. Catholics are known for being pro-life, so she’s going against her religion. But she doesn’t really care because she is questioning her faith. Another way abortion is talked about in the film is after Jay and Silent Bob save Bethany from the demons. She asks about what they are doing there, and they reply they are at the abortion clinic because they figure it will be a good way to meet loose women. It’s controversial because they say that all women who get an abortion are loose, sometimes it’s just a mistake or an accident you had no intention of happening.

Abortion has been a very controversial topic throughout history, possibly the most controversial topics. People have fought the subject; some say it’s murdering a person. Some say people are taking things for granted when others are trying and trying and can’t have children. Some are for it. Then in 1973, the Supreme Court decided abortion was legal under the doctrine of the right to privacy. Under the decision of the court, they decided abortion is completely legal during the first trimester; it can be regulated in the second trimester due to maternal health, and states can decide for themselves about the third trimester.

Media outlets can go either way on the topic of abortion. If it is a religious media source they will tell you how bad abortion is and try to change your opinion. Other media sources try not to talk too much about their opinions on that matter because they don’t want people to think they have an opinion and stop watching them. They will report on protests and events surrounding abortion, but try to stay off the topic of what they think. Only television they often show commercials for birth control and plan B, which is also restricting having children, just like abortion, but is never really controversial. In all my years as a TV watcher, I have never, and am confident I will never hear about abortion. In movies and TV shows it is usually only featured as a controversial subject where there are other controversial topics also. Like in Dogma there are many controversial topics like trying to find your faith. Another example, the movie Juno featured the option of abortion. She went to the clinic but Juno decided she wanted to have her baby. The other controversy in that movie was teen pregnancy. Abortion is a subject that is under the radar and not talked about in the public unless it is a special event for pro-life or pro-choice groups. Occasionally on the radio there will be a commercial for planned parenthood, but there are more than just abortion clinics there, plus they are on stations that younger people listen to, not overly conservative stations.

There are those who are pro-life. It is a moral matter: if someone kills a man out on the street he goes to jail and is possibly even put to death. So why should they be able to kill a unborn child, they are people too. The Catholic Church is very pro-life, which is why it is so ironic that Bethany works at an abortion clinic. They put lots of money and campaigns against abortion. They preach that life begins at conception so having an abortion is killing a person.

Then there are those who are pro-choice. They believe that a woman has a right to do what she wants with her body. She should have the right to do what she wants with her body. I believe women should have the right to choose. If I were in that situation I would want to have options. Some say people should be careful and not have sex unless they are ready to have a baby. Even if you use protection it’s never 100% effective. The pill is only 99% effective if used correctly and taken the same time everyday and male condoms are only 97% effective if used correctly every time. So you can be careful but sometimes things just go wrong. In my opinion, you should have that choice to not have the child. Even married women have abortions. Sometimes you get pregnant at the wrong time and a child wouldn’t be a good thing at the time. That’s another reason I’m pro-choice: If you have a child when you don’t want to have it or you aren’t mentally/physically prepared, then you can’t provide that child with the life they should have.

Bob, George, and leave it to God

The thing that I don’t get is if God, this almighty being, who created heaven and hell and all that lies in between, gave us, mortal, sinful creatures the will to make our own choices and to form our own opinions, then why do some of us think that we have a right to make those decisions for others that are capable of making them for themselves. I’m not talking about a parent deciding things for their child or someone who has a mental disability. I’m talking about someone who is at the same level as everyone else trying to force their own ideas on others. Let’s face it, we are all on the same level when it comes to opinions on what is true and false for religious matters. Can anyone say that they have died and come back and now know all the answers to life’s greatest mysteries? No one truly knows why we are on this earth, what happens when the last breath of air leaves our lungs, or if there is a God. We have our choices and our beliefs and we can share them to help enlighten others, but we cannot decide for others what is right for them. We each are given a life that is ours to live; we can’t go and try to shove ourselves in other people’s paths. To me, that is what the movie Dogma was all about. It’s about the frustration of not being allowed to think what you want to think. Like a teenager that is told to not do something, they then go and do everything that they can in retaliation. It is the biggest controversial issue of people not being satisfied with just them thinking a certain way, no; you have to think this way too.
Dogma answers the major questions many people have. It is a very blunt movie that is more or less saying to the world “Look, I’ll think what-ever I want to think, so screw you.” It shows the ideas of abortion, If Jesus Christ was black or had siblings, If God had the look of a woman, etc. In the media there are countless people trying to convince others that “this product is amazing! And you should get it!” or that “this democrat is better than this other one” and etc. Then there are religions that say things not necessarily like this but close to “This is what you have to do and believe in, or you will go to Hell.” There is a difference; one is trying to convince you (meaning that you can decide for yourself), the other is commanding you (you have one choice or hell). One religious group that I think shows this well and is often on the news is the “God hates Fags” group. They demand that everyone think just like them and if anyone doesn’t they are going to Hell. In the movie, it has a group of pro-life advocates outside a women’s clinic with signs saying things like “what did your unborn child ever do to you?” This is one of the best examples of people trying to shove their ideas down someone’s throat. If not even God makes decisions for us, what gives man the right?
I love listening to people’s ideas and passions and getting enlightened by what they think. But do not tell me that you are right and that I am wrong, and that I need to be more like this or that, unless you are God. I honestly enjoyed Dogma for the fact that it brings up the controversial issue that people don’t like it when others disagree with their beliefs. That everyone should be colorless and robotic and see through the same eyes. In a way this movie brings up a conversation like this: Bob-“I think this.” George- “well I think the exact opposite”. Bob-“Well I disagree with you entirely”. George- “well, let’s fight about it and hate each other forever more because we are different.” If it was possible for everyone to Stop judging (and leave that to God) and to just except that everyone has opinions and that they may or may not coincide with your own, the world would be so much better. I never said that I personally agree with anything that Dogma shows but as a quote by the Voltaire puts it “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

The Fantasy of Religion

Religion: “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe…usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs” (Google definitions). To me, religion is more spiritual than anything. I believe it is important for a person to always know their personal morals, and I believe religion can enhance those morals to their greatest existence. Morality would be more prevalent in today’s society if it weren’t for the optional plan B, which is highly emphasized in the media. The plan B option can be interpreted as a form of birth control, but it can also be seen as a form of religious imprisonment. Media portrays religion as a strict set of guidelines in which its believers must follow in order to live eternally. Fantasy and abortion are two of the major faces of religion that are commonly seen in the media. “Dogma,” written and directed by Kevin Smith is one movie that falls victim to both of these portrayals.

First, media creates this fantastical essence of religion that makes it hard for people to realistically follow. For example, in “Dogma,” two angels fall from heaven in order to convert the cosmologic non-believers into full-bred Christ followers. Magically, one of the angels mystically appears in Bethany’s room, a woman who is questioning God since her prayers have not been answered. The angel informs her that she has the option of being the voice of reason for the unfaithful. Along her expedition of refreshing the faithless beings, she comes across numerous unearthly characters, such as apostles, demons, prophets, and other heavenly creatures. This is just one instance in which the media makes religion seem as if it is a practice of magic. People in today’s society already have a hard enough time placing themselves in God’s hands because of all the evil and turmoil in the world. Therefore, the fairy-tale portrayal of religion doesn’t give them any more of an incentive to believe that religion and its components are a solution to their despair. People need to see the aspects of religion that are prevalent in a person’s day-to-day activities. This is where the importance of morality and purity come into play. The main reason I am so faithful is because of the morals that are implanted within religion, for from those beliefs flourishes a pure and refreshing feeling of self-security. But yet again the media ruins this hope of revelation for people by representing morals and beliefs as too conventional and a thing of the past.

Being pro-life is one of the moral beliefs that is existent within the Catholic Church. Dogma shows the commonality of abortion, for the movie shows the main-character working in the abortion clinic. Outside the abortion clinic, stand two men, waiting for “loose women.” First, it is degrading to instill in the audience’s mind that abortion is the answer, rather than their own personal belief. Those people who have the moral mindset of choosing life might be disturbed that media is constantly trying to sway their personal mentality. Second, it is degrading to women and to the purity of sex that men are standing and waiting for easy women to have sex with. This is one example of how the media takes the soul out of the woman and leaves the body for other’s enjoyment. The media makes women feel as if they are worthy for sex and if a mistaken child comes of it, then abortion is the answer.

Pro-life against pro-choice is arguably one of the most controversial topics in today’s world, so it is inevitable that the media is going to advertise it. I just wish it would go about doing so in a better way. If the media didn’t validate the acceptance of casual sex and abortion, then more people would be more religious or spiritual because they would have morals to live by. I think a person would only need to take on one strong moral belief in order for them to feel the greatness of believing in such a strong thing. Then, they would naturally be drawn to the greater choice when it came to the battle of evil verse innocence.

In conclusion, religion is commonly displayed as some kind of fantasy, in which its components and structure are impossible to realistically maintain. If one is religiously or spiritually indulgent, then the media will do what it can in order to turn their moral beliefs into what it considers the social normality. “Dogma” is a movie that reinforces the fanatical religion and unmoral lifestyle.

Buddy Christ

Jesus Christ, the lord and savior in the Christian faith(as well as other faiths) is holy figure in which people reside to in times of helplessness, pain, confusion, etc. He’s the closest connection to God and a man who lived, suffered, and died for our sins. Sent by God and with the utmost care he traveled in his time, revealing the teachings of God to society. He healed and loved not only those close to him, but strangers he came across during him journey. Sending Jesus Christ down to earth, allowing him to be painfully crucified for all of society’s sins was a symbol of God’s love for the people he created. Many Christians hold him to be the only way through to God. To worship and please Jesus Christ is to worship and please the almighty God.

After this brief over view on Jesus’ historical reputation, I wouldn’t be surprised if people were offended by the Buddy Christ introduced in the movie. Just the name Buddy Christ is insulting, as Jesus Christ does not hold up the reputation of a friend or buddy, but as a savior, Son of God, messiah, etc. By revealing this version of Jesus, winking with a “thumbs up” completely contradicts the way Jesus was meant to be remembered. His posture is far from his last image seen on earth, crucified on the cross. To promote a Jesus smiling, winking, and putting a thumbs up is fallible and can be hurtful to many people who see Christ as a sacred image, not an image up for alteration. It mocks everything they believe Jesus Christ to be. The initial thought to create such an image of Jesus Christ shows how weak and empty their church is and how they will go to desperate measures during desperate times. They are promoting false ideas to those who may not know anything at all. Saying that Jesus is a friendly figure leaves out what Jesus had done for the good of human society and converts the truth about why Jesus should be honored. It conveys the message that the church needs to persuade people to conform to the religion by drastically altering its most sacred figures.

In the movie, his original crucified image was retired for the new, modern, and “up lifting” image of Jesus. This was done so by the Cardinal in the movie as a part of a new movement called “Catholicism wow”. The cardinal saw Jesus’ original image as too depressing, so depressing that people wouldn’t want to conform. With such an act done by a cardinal it puts shame to way of thinking and shows he is not worthy of his position. The fact that he had to power to destroy such a divine character in religion provides the assumption that he as the power to do so. To be able to change that part of history requires a lot of power, more than which a Cardinal upholds.

I am offended by the Buddy Christ, as is does contradict everything I believe Jesus to representative of, but it is just a movie and I wouldn’t go to extremes to get my point across. I’m sure many people, especially those of the Christian faith, feel the same way I do. Since the movie, the directors have received hate mail and recently after the movie was released bobble head Buddy Christ’s and costumes were sold in the market.

Fiddler on the Roof

Within Fiddler on the Roof, one tradition that the story focused on was that of arranged marriages. The concept of having marriages arranged for young adults rose out of the social custom that a parent is expected to care for (and make decisions for) a child until that child has left the parent's care (not necessarily just physically, but symbolically via marriage). Another common justification in religious sects (such as that in the play) is that by objectifying relationships and not allowing children to do anything that they please, there is higher conformity to norms of sexual abstinence. I would say that the key problem with this concept is simply that it doesn't fit with today's notion of individual freedom for all- today, we feel that people should be able to make decisions for themselves. I think that that freedom is one of the pillars of a just society so this tradition (while I do not disrespect those who choose to willingly participate in it) is not something that I would wish to have for myself.

Mariage Wasn't Love, Mariage Isn't Love

In Fiddler On a Roof, they cover the change between marriage as a business transaction to an expression of love. Today most people would say that marriage is an expression of love. To that I would question the many aspects of marriage as a business tradition that have survived the test of time. These aspects include the switching of the girls last name, the combining of assets, the financial obligation to support a divorced spouse, the practice of being a housewife, and others. I think that marriage is still business. Even the ceremony of marriage reflects a business transaction. People want marriages to be publicly celebrated with family and friends not an intimate affair reflecting love. A marriage isn't really about the couple it's about the people who feel they had some say in the relationship. If it was love how could mom, dad, aunt Becky or your college roommate have had any say in that relationship? A mariage has little to nothing to do with loving someone. A marriage means you are so positive you will stay together forever that you will put a wager on it. You wager half of everything you have in the hopes of staying together forever. Is that love?

Jewish Tradition

One Jewish tradition that is practiced in Fiddler On The Roof is arranged marriages. In Fiddler On The Roof, Tevye tries his best to find husbands for his five daughters. He has help from the matchmaker, Yente, who’s job is to find matches between the young people in the community. Yente matches Tevye’s oldest daughter, Tzeitel, with the butcher. However Tzeitel is in love with Motel, the tailor. Motel and Tzeitel ignore tradition and get married anyway. Two of Tevye’s other daughters, Hodel and Chava, also ignore this tradition as they get married to men who are not from their village. Tevye’s daughters are representative of the times because that tradition has slowly faded away over time. Today, it is only practiced in strict, orthodox Jewish communities. I think that it is a good thing that it’s no longer practiced. I believe that young people should have a say in who they marry. I know that I wouldn’t want to marry someone I don’t even know, so why should anyone else have to? Arranged marriages might have worked out in the past but they don’t have a place in today’s society.

Jewish Traditions

In the play, Fiddler on the Roof, there were many Jewish traditions that stuck out to me. One out of many traditions in the play was the Jewish wedding and how Jewish tradition is to marry into the same religion. Some of the traditions in a Jewish wedding are: the white canopy that the couple is married under, the two glasses of wine that are shared amongst the couple, the veil that is in front of and over her face and the breaking of a wine glass at the end of the wedding. The first object is the white canopy which is to resemble a home where the new couple is to build their relationship and grow together. The second object is the two glasses of wine that are shared between the couple to show joy. Third, the veil remaining that is in front of and over her face is to show the modesty of women. Final the breaking of the wine glass is to show their commitment to each other and being together forever. This same tradition is still relevant with us today in Jewish weddings.

Bulgarian Traditions.

Although I am born and raised in American, I celebrate a lot of classic Bulgarian traditions since my family is from there. 
-"Baba Marta" is a tradition in which it is customary that friends and family gift one another little red and white pins, often made of string, on March 1st and you are supposed to wear them on your clothes for at least that day. Baba Marta is a celebration of the end of a long, cold winter, and the start of a beautiful spring season; wearing the pins is also a sign of luck for the coming season. 
-On March 8th it's the celebration of "Women's Day" and it's simply the day to appreciate women. In my family, my mom and I are usually just given flowers and have a nice dinner with the family. A lot of traditions in Bulgaria are meant to honor someone, such as Women's Day, Father's Day, Name Days, etc. 
-All throughout the year, there are certain days dedicated to more common names in Bulgaria, like Evan or Petar. On name days, the person is often thrown a party and given gifts or money simply in honor of their name. 

-During the Christmas season, there are plenty of traditions. Depending on religious affiliations, some people fast for 40 days before Christmas, but my family does not do that. However, all Bulgarians have a vegan Christmas Eve dinner in which there has to be 9 separate meals presented on the table. On Christmas day everyone can eat meat again, so we usually have pork chops or home-made sausages. (A quick side note, my family has 1-2 "sausage making days" a year in which we buy a lot of meat, and make a lot of home-made sausages in our kitchen.)

-Compared to American meals, Bulgarian meals last a long time. When we get together with other family members or good friends, meals often last hours and there are multiple courses and plenty of conversation. Also, drinking is a more appreciated thing in Bulgaria; if a shot is poured, it's not taken at once like we do here, it's common to savor the alcohol and take one's time drinking it. 
-On New Years there is a tradition called Sourovakvane. In this, kids take sticks and decorate them with just about anything in order to make them appear more festive. Then, at the New Year's party, the adults line up and the children go from adult to adult and tap them on the back with their stick while saying a short rhyme ("Sourova, sourova, vesala godeena, da ce jeef, da ce zdraf, da jevefsh do ameena") which is meant to grant the adults luck in their new year, and in return, the adults give the children money. 


These traditions all seem strange compared to things celebrated in America, but I've grown up with all of these common practices. 

Tradition

I think tradition mentioned in Fiddler on the Roof was a very good theme for the play. One tradition in particular I found interesting was the duty of each family member. The Papa was the head of the household and worked to provide for his family. The Mama had to take care of the house and the children so that the Papa could reflect on his holy books. Then the sons attended school, learned a trade, and had a wife picked for them. Meanwhile, the daughters did not go to school, but were instead taught household duties by their mothers and then expected to marry whomever the Papa wanted them to. There was a designated position in the household for each different type of family member, and if a family member stepped outside of that position, such as a daughter marrying who she chose, it was considered breaking tradition. Tevye’s daughters step outside of their tradition by marrying who they want, and while this was frowned upon by their society, I think they had the right to love who they wanted.

Traditions

Traditions are really important to our history. I think that without traditions our world would be totally different than it is today. One tradition that I love is St. Nicholas Day. This tradition was started to remind children that Santa Claus is in fact St. Nicholas. St Nicholas was a bishop in the city Myra which is now Turkey. St. Nicholas was a kind generous man who always was willing to help those who were in need. He is the patron saint of children because of all the love he showed to kids. A St. Nicholas celebration is when presents are put in children’s shoes. Children can leave their shoe outside their door or by the fireplace just like a stocking. It is said that if the child was good he or she will receive candy and coins, but if the child was bad the only gift will be coal or dirt. The day when this occurs is December 6^th. Many families of Christian religion celebrate this tradition. Now a days many German families celebrate this tradition. Parents think this gives children something special before Christmas actually comes. It gives them something to look forward to every year when they technically get an early Christmas gift.

Personally I love this tradition. Every since I can remember my family and I have participated in St. Nicholas Day. I never kept track of the date December 6^th, but I do remember my mom always saying don’t forget to put a shoe outside your door before you go to sleep. My siblings and I always put a shoe outside our bedroom door. Sometimes we would even put out two shoes to try to get more from St. Nicholas, but St. Nicholas(my parents) caught on. Once we put the shoe outside the door I would sit in my bed and wait till I heard St. Nicholas. It never worked because I always fell asleep before St. Nicholas came to put candy in my shoe. I really like this tradition because I have grown up with it and not doing it would be weird. So even though I am 18 I still put a shoe outside my room and my mom fills it with candy or small presents & I honestly cant wait to go home for Christmas so I can put my shoe outside my bedroom door. When I have a family of my own I want to start this tradition and have my children keep it going. It is very important to keep traditions going so that people have little bit of history. Even though St. Nicholas doesn’t really put candy and presents in our shoes our parents do, it is still cool to think that it has been happening for so many years.

Fiddler on the Roof Tradition

Throughout Fiddler on the Roof, the tradition of arranged marriage is extremely prevalent. This idea is not simply rooted in Jewish history, as it is in the play, but has roots far earlier. For the most part, records show that arranged marriages seem to have begun somewhere in Asia. The reasoning behind this stands that parents should make important decisions, such as that of marriage, for their children. In most societies where this occurs, arranged marriages seem to last longer (which is obvious in most areas, due to the fact that if a society is using arranged marriages, divorce would probably end up with both members of the ended marriage being kicked out of said society) and in most cases, these marriages seem to provide happiness. Now most people in our culture would argue against this, saying that love is the only way to happiness, yet in arranged marriages, people wouldn't have a choice, so in the end, most probably choose to be happy. Once more, we see a tradition that is rooted in religious and societal cultures that root back far beyond the play we saw.

Homecoming: More Than Just a Tradition Set in Stone

With the spirit of the previous week here at Mizzou, I feel it is necessary to write my blog post on a very unique tradition. A tradition that brought over 71,000 people, along with their hoodies, raincoats, blankets, face paint, probably a couple of coolers, yada yada yada, to one phenomenal place. Yes, ladies and gentlemen I am talking about our own University of Missouri’s Homecoming that happens every year at Faurot Field. It is said, and I do believe, that the University of Missouri was the creator of the event called “homecoming” – 99 years ago! Now I’d say that’s quite a tradition. Whenever that time of the year rolls around you can just feel the intensity and joyfulness of this very important tradition. People start gathering and planning ideas of decoration, entertainment, and ways for students to get involved. Why is it important? It is not only important to the students that enjoy the game, or for the athletes that prepare themselves everyday for their finest performance, or for the media throughout the United States; it is important to the majority of the University of Missouri alumni and their families; reinforcing their compassion in Mizzou, letting them know that there is still spirit within the university and that it’s supported by thousands upon thousands of fans – Mizzou’s still got it.
Along with the game come many more, what I like to call, “sub-traditions”. One is the presentation of the student body’s choice for Homecoming Royalty. Many candidates are chosen, male and female. From those choices two, one from each sex, are chosen as King and Queen. The Homecoming Royalty from the previous season is also there to present the crowns to the new royalty. Another sub-tradition within homecoming is simply the gathering of friends and family to watch one of the most anticipated football games of the season, first starting out with some tailgating before the game. Once in the game your true colors are shown. By the end of the night you’ll have six simple letters carved into your brain cells: M-I-Z - Z-O-U! And of course I can’t forget the awesome food and after parties but I think you all know where that’s headed. After the win, hypothetically speaking, the Gold Post (field goal) is taken down and divided up so people can get a souvenir of that gracious night.
As a student this tradition is very important to me because of the enlightening feeling that brings to campus. Seeing the fans storm through the gates into the stands made me feel like I was a part of something huge. It gives everyone something to look forward to, besides the trash-man. I feel that it is also a tradition that reminds the football team that they are still an important aspect of this university; seeing their fans sporting their true colors of black and gold shows them that we’re here to see them “do work.”

Fiddler on the roof- tradition of the match-maker

One Tradition that was interesting to me was the fact that the Jewish people were against marrying outside of their religion and if someone did find happiness with someone outside their faith they were considered dead to all their relatives. I can understand that for most people marrying someone with the same spiritual beliefs is essential, but I don’t understand why you can shun someone for loving someone different then themselves. Plus by putting someone in that situation where they are shunned by their family and friends causes them to not be able to bring their children up in a Jewish environment. I thought it was fascinating how they had a match-maker that went around and decided who should be married and the fact that it was a female when it was the “Papa” that made all the decisions. Today Jewish people still have match-makers, but it’s not something one has to do, one can find their own spouse instead of spending money on a match-maker.

Homecoming

Homecoming: one of the greatest occurrences, much less traditions, to ever take place. There are an uncountable amount of reasons why homecoming is my favorite tradition, but the top three reasons are the school spirit, the cohesiveness, and the pride. First, the school spirit during homecoming is unfathomable. The only two colors familiar to sight are yellow and black, banners and decorations cover the campus, and "MIZ-ZOU" is spelt more in one day than any word is spelt in a year. What happens if Mizzou decides to beat the number 1 ranked team in the nation? The Mizzou fans join together to rush the field in mass chaos. Along with showing school spirit, this compromise to turn the field yellow shows a bond between 70,005 red in the face Mizzou fans. Within that group of fans are alums, students, parents, faculty, and many other groups eligible of being human, or a tiger. The feeling of knowing that former Mizzou students and present Mizzou students can share an experience like beating the number one team, rushing the field, and then going on to carry the goal posts downtown is the ultimate definition of tradition. Having a tradition like homecoming gifts these versatile groups with having something in common. Each group equally enjoys the traditions of the 2 hour parade, the decorated Greek Town, the service opportunities, the tailgating, and the multiple Mizzou cheers. From personal experience, homecoming can take a lot of hard work and time commitment. Being in a sorority helped me priorly realize how big of a tradition homecoming really is. If it weren't such a big tradition then sororities wouldn't require spending money on pounds of tissue paper to pomp huge boards. Also, the res halls and campus organizations wouldn't go through the hard work of creating floats and painting the district to show their school spirit and unity. The thought of going through all of this previous labor instills a great sense of pride in the students, which is deadly contagious for any visitor. Another homecoming component that greatly contributes to the Mizzou pride is if the game ends in a victory. The streets after the game were infested with fans screaming and cheering as well as cars honking. Any Oklahoma trespasser should have kept their distance, for the pride was easily attainable. In conclusion, Mizzou's homecoming is one big tradition with many little traditions within it. Warning: it may cause chills, over-excitement, and a lack of sleep.