Task:

Throughout the term, you have been introduced to a variety of concepts encased in religion that shape culture and understanding. Based upon the information you have obtained through your studies in our course from weeks one through five, you are to:

Identify a film that, through a plot line, a scene, a section of dialogue, effectively illustrates a key religious ideal of your choice of topic. For example, your film might illustrate the details of religious symbolism, religious ritual, or sacred texts in a specific religion that has been discussed in the course. Also, a film that illustrates the details of a sect, cult, new religious movement, or a cosmogony. The topics to choose from are the topics we have covered weeks 1 – 5 only.

Religious Symbols
Religious Rituals and Scriptures
Sects, Cults, and New Religious Movements
Cosmogonies
Once you have identified your film you should

Give a synopsis of the movie (no longer than two full paragraphs).
Indicate clearly the notion you are exploring and how the film supports that idea/belief of your topic choice. Be sure the reader can see how the film supports some aspect of the chosen religious ideal, even if he or she has not seen the movie.
Details

The paper is to be 3 – 4 pages, not exceeding 5 pages of text. This is in addition to a title page, if used and the resource page.

You should support your discussion by engaging reliable scholarly sources. Use a minimum of three reliable resources in addition to the film you have selected. You will find reliable resources in our library, Google, articles, magazines, and the like.

Your paper is to be completed using proper formatting. Your paper will be double spaced, 12 font, indented paragraphs, an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You must include in-text citations and a resource page that are documented properly in your formatting style of choice.

To get you started, here are a few movies to consider:

“Ben-Hur” – has all kinds of symbolisms, Scriptures, and the like related to Christ.
“Prince of Egypt” – is about the Old Testament Exodus story. You can have so much fun with this one picking out similarities that link to the Scriptures.
“Jesus Christ Superstar” – another with symbolism of Christ. Also, a big factor with this movie is the music linked to your topic choice. The music alone can serve as the paper.
“The Princess Bride” – can be looked upon as rebirth and resurrection. There is a ton of symbolism here to write about.
“Divine Horsemen: the living Gods of Haiti” – symbolism/religious rituals of dance and possession in relation to Voodoo. This can be considered under the idea of religious rituals and/or symbolism to build upon.
“Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom” – the temple is a place of worship, for example. This can be considered under the ideas of religious rituals and Scriptures or Sects, Cults, and New Religious Movements.
“Walk” to Remember – symbolism
“Harry Potter” and the Deathly Hallows – symbolism and/or cosmogeny
“King David” – symbolism, rituals, scriptures, sects, cults, and new religious movements
“Man of Steel” – symbolism, emphasizing Christian and Jewish imagery
“Charlie Says” – positive/negative aspects of a cult
“Spirited Away” – Shinto Symbolism
“Tomb Raider” – symbolism
“The DaVinci Code” – symbolism, rituals, sacred texts, and sect
Here is a link to Religion in Film
Here is a link to The 19 Best Movies about Faith and Religion

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

 

Exploring Religious Symbolism in “The DaVinci Code”

Introduction

“The DaVinci Code,” directed by Ron Howard, is a film adaptation of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel. The movie delves into religious symbolism, rituals, sacred texts, and sects, presenting a controversial narrative that challenges traditional beliefs about Christianity. This paper aims to explore how “The DaVinci Code” effectively illustrates religious symbolism and sects, as discussed in the course material.

Movie Synopsis

In “The DaVinci Code,” symbologist Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) and cryptologist Sophie Neveu (played by Audrey Tautou) unravel a series of cryptic clues across Europe to solve the murder of a curator at the Louvre Museum. The clues lead them to uncover a secret society protecting the Holy Grail, challenging the established narrative of the Catholic Church and the lineage of Jesus Christ. The film weaves together elements of art, history, and religious symbolism to uncover hidden truths and challenge conventional interpretations of Christianity.

Exploring Religious Symbolism and Sects

“The DaVinci Code” explores religious symbolism through its depiction of hidden messages in art, architecture, and historical artifacts. The film introduces audiences to the concept of sacred geometry, hidden symbols in famous artworks like Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” and the significance of Mary Magdalene in Christian history. These symbols challenge traditional religious narratives and invite viewers to question established beliefs about the divinity of Jesus Christ and the role of women in Christianity.

Additionally, the movie delves into the portrayal of sects within Christianity, particularly focusing on the secretive organization known as the Priory of Sion. This sect is depicted as a guardian of ancient secrets, including the true identity of the Holy Grail and the alleged descendants of Jesus Christ. By highlighting the existence of such sects and their alternative interpretations of religious history, “The DaVinci Code” prompts viewers to consider the diversity of beliefs and practices within Christianity beyond mainstream denominations.

Supporting Evidence

To support the exploration of religious symbolism and sects in “The DaVinci Code,” scholarly sources can provide additional insights into the historical background and controversies surrounding the themes presented in the film. For example, academic articles on religious iconography, interpretations of sacred texts, and the history of Christian sects can offer valuable context for analyzing the representations in the movie. By engaging with reliable sources, this paper aims to deepen the understanding of how “The DaVinci Code” contributes to discussions about religious symbolism and sects in popular culture.

In conclusion, “The DaVinci Code” serves as a thought-provoking exploration of religious symbolism and sects within Christianity, challenging viewers to reconsider established beliefs and engage with alternative interpretations of sacred texts and historical events. By examining the film through the lens of course material on religious symbols and sects, this paper aims to shed light on how popular media can influence perceptions of religion and spark conversations about faith, history, and tradition.

 

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