I don't have very many religious experiences anymore. I never had that many in the first place, but even two intense experiences at age 19 makes you think you've had a lot.
A few months ago, however, I was in the basement of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, seeing a production of CORPUS CHRISTI by Terrance McNally. Year's ago, when the play premiered, a Catholic-identified group threatened to bomb the theatre and McNally was issued a fatwa—if he ever ventures into an Islamic country, he can be executed in the street. You see, fundamentalist Christians and Muslims united in hating the play and its author because he draws parallels between our willingness to kill the Christ and our willingness to kill gays. This parallel has led some people (who can't read critically, apparently) to think McNally thinks Jesus was gay.
I hadn't been in a church in years, except to hear music. And there I was in a basement. And I felt love and valour and compassion. And that's how I knew god was there. God and a lot of gay men.
Although I'm cynical, I often watch movies that challenge me to feel something, to believe. The newer mainstream stuff won't do it. I can't watch things like THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST because passion plays (unless they're by McNally) turn me off. Guilt trips don't work for me; they just make me defensive. And I still find the idea of a god who requires a blood sacrifice a bit . . . old testament.
I recently watched EVAN ALMIGHTY. As much as Morgan Freeman would make a great god, it just didn't move me. I think this is because I've actually read The Bible and I can never get over believers who make textual mistakes. (And my "faith" is challenged by The Bible's own textual errors). Thus, though God initially says Noah's ark will hold two of everything (GEN 6:19-20), he changes it to seven of 
My prism's rounder |
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all the "clean" animals and birds (GEN 7:2-3) later. I've never seen a representation of the ark that had seven of anything, however.
I also had a problem with the song they played when our new Noah was building the ark—"Waiting On the World to Change." The song itself is great, but the lyrics piss me off. I'm technically generation X, but I don't believe in waiting for anything to change. Martin Luther King Jr. said, when told to just be patient—that time would end segregation eventually—that "time is neutral." And it is. Change, though slow, only happens because a few people try to make things move really fast. Those people change things. The ones who are waiting just suck. (1)
Despite everything, there are a few movies that make me want to believe.
POLLYANNA. When I was younger, I had a thing for Haley Mills's movies. This was my favorite, after THE PARENT TRAP. Pollyanna is the story of an annoyingly cheerful orphan who changes a whole town. (2) Pollyanna's cheerfulness comes from her understanding of The Bible. Her parents stressed the verses that encouraged finding joy in the world. Although I am nothing like Pollyanna, I try to keep at least one prism in my office, per her instructions.
OH GOD! I have to admit, if I were going to picture god, it might as well be George Burns, if only because I saw the whole trilogy. I rewatched the first film this week and realized how much I like this version—he's not exactly Christian (3); he doesn't get involved in every detail of our lives and does not often listen to prayer (this is the kind of god most American revolutionaries believed in—they were Deists). He would like us to be nicer and would like us to stop polluting the world and ourselves. John Denver's character can give up his job and be his messenger because, when he finally gets to meet 
It had to be Grant |
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God, he's really wonderful to talk to. (Someone is doing a remake; they really shouldn't.)
THE BISHOP'S WIFE. Originally, Cary Grant was playing a bishop who'd lost his way (his marriage and his plans for a cathedral were failing). David Niven played the angel who was sent to give guidance. Luckily, this mistake in casting was caught before it was too late. I watch this movie every Christmas and think about how nice it would be if every one were like Grant's angel, Dudley. It's not just that he's handsome and charming (which is why Denzel was able to be him in the remake), but because he listens when people talk. He doesn't suffer rankism—that tendency in us to see only the "important" people and to ignore the servants, the poor, the assistants. Dudley, like Pollyanna and Burns's God, wants us to take more joy in things.
One of the more interesting details of the film is how Dudley gets an atheist to start going to church. (I usually resist conversion narratives. In the interest of treating others as you would be treated, people should avoid trying to sell anyone on their philosophy.) This atheist is an academic. How does Dudley get him in a chapel? With good conversation, a never-ending bottle of wine, and inspiration to finish that elusive book. It might work on me, too.
Though it might seem strange, I want to nominate a few more films for this category: MEN IN BLACK, CHANCES ARE, BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND, LADY JANE, and THE PRINCESS BRIDE, because I want to believe in aliens, reincarnation/second chances, undiscovered creatures, reason, and "true love."
(1) Plus, the song was incongruous for the moment.
(2) The story is where we get the term "pollyanna."
(3) George Burns's god, like Morgan Freeman's is the abrahamic God, but doesn't seem part of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit group.
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Dr. Karma is a silly, nerdy know-it-all, but in a good way. She brings all her overeducation to discuss that which truly matters: comedy. As some famous guy once said: “And if I laugh at any mortal thing, ‘tis that I may not weep.” Or something like that.
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