D
DakiniArtist
Guest
So, Handsome Hubby and I watch a lot of genre television. “Supernatural” always seems pretty respectful of religious folks. “Constantine” was, to me, pro-religion.
I get it’s fantasy TV, but I’m a little tired/aggravated at the themes evolving. Even “Grimm” had an episode in which the pastor of a church was a bad Wesen (monster).
Currently on “Game of Thrones” and “Penny Dreadful,” our very favorite current genre shows, I’m seeing a disturbing pattern.
SPOILERS FOR BOTH AHEAD!!!
“Game of Thrones” is a show were were excited about, both having read the books before we met one another. They have the subplot now of the Sparrows, a subgroup of the Faith of the Seven. The Sparrows are religious fanatics who torture and kill folks who are fornicating or otherwise sinning.
“Penny Dreadful” is my show, that I adore. It scratches that horror TV itch, and does that well. The show alludes to Gothic literature and is a lovely monster rally. They have even referenced Matthew Gregory Lewis’ The Monk (1796), an infamous Gothic novel. Now there is a character named “Angelique.” Perhaps a “Dark Shadows” reference?
However, Vanessa is moving toward losing her religion. Her prayers are being invaded by the always-amazing Helen McCrory’s coven leader. She is being stalked by the “nightcomers,” bad witches. Vanessa mentioned to “John Clare,” Adam, that she doesn’t know what her relationship with God is now. This was after a kinda negative mention of the nuns serving the cholera victimes. The cut-wife (Patti Lupone!) gave her a book to open, but only when (obvious foreshadowing) Vanessa is completely done with God and faith. One assumes she will now leave her prayers and crucifix to wayside and take up witchcraft in earnest. The cut-wife herself is a “good witch” now, as Wiccan/Pagan teaching speak of. The crone. The woman with herbs who abort babies, who as she says, “cares for the girls,” when the mean, bad Christians won’t. Of course, there was an allusion to the “Burning Times,” when 50,000 (?) people were executed, overwhelmingly women, convicted of witchcraft. The cutwife, Joan, is of course burnt alive.
So, yes. Hubby, a “recovering Catholic,” at these shows says things like, “And this is why I don’t go to church” and “See? This is why people hate the Catholic Church. This is the stuff they did. No wonder.” When I say, “Well, every group has its skeletons; we don’t do this now,” he says things like, “Because you couldn’t.”
I’m disappointed at the apparent lack of balance in my shows. Yes, it is a television show. Yes, vile things go on. Yes, hubby should not get his life philosophy from a show. Please indulge me a quiet Wednesday morning of worrying about something “light,” rather than abortion, poverty, or family drama.
However, to me this topic is not as superficial as it appears. This is a pernicious, sinister symptom. Pop culture perpetuates the Culture of Death and the paradigm that religious folk are not only misguided, but superstitious and religion is a dangerous cancer that invades society and strikes down people’s happiness. As hubby says, “Religion was invented by those who wanted to keep down and enslave commoners.” Everywhere we turn this idea he got from a professor pervades our culture.
The irony that my interest as a child in Catholicism has its seeds in horror media. (No one calls a Baptist minister for an exorcism!) How moving the end scene is in The Exorcist: Regan runs over and hugs the priest, seemingly not consciously knowing why, but she is joyfully compelled to do so. Our Christs-on-earth, and her spirit senses this. Were Mr. Blatty’s book re-adapted today, that scene would be left out. I can’t seem to go a day without hearing/reading a snide comment about priests and children.
I’m angry that Vanessa Ives is losing her faith on “Penny Dreadful.” I’ve seen a shift in horror media that churches are no longer a sanctuary in which the characters may take refuge. This may seem ridiculous to you all, but, as a horror fan and as someone who loves the Church, this is a huge blow and a source of sadness for me. This is a clear sign we are losing footing. How do we maintain our strength? How much stronger should our evangelism be, in light of this?
Thanks, my friends, for indulging me some Deep Thoughts this morning. This has been troubling me for some time and certainly came to a head with recent events on these shows. I had noticed a shift as well in films. (I haven’t kept up as much with horror literature in recent years.)
Blessings.
I get it’s fantasy TV, but I’m a little tired/aggravated at the themes evolving. Even “Grimm” had an episode in which the pastor of a church was a bad Wesen (monster).
Currently on “Game of Thrones” and “Penny Dreadful,” our very favorite current genre shows, I’m seeing a disturbing pattern.
SPOILERS FOR BOTH AHEAD!!!
“Game of Thrones” is a show were were excited about, both having read the books before we met one another. They have the subplot now of the Sparrows, a subgroup of the Faith of the Seven. The Sparrows are religious fanatics who torture and kill folks who are fornicating or otherwise sinning.
“Penny Dreadful” is my show, that I adore. It scratches that horror TV itch, and does that well. The show alludes to Gothic literature and is a lovely monster rally. They have even referenced Matthew Gregory Lewis’ The Monk (1796), an infamous Gothic novel. Now there is a character named “Angelique.” Perhaps a “Dark Shadows” reference?
However, Vanessa is moving toward losing her religion. Her prayers are being invaded by the always-amazing Helen McCrory’s coven leader. She is being stalked by the “nightcomers,” bad witches. Vanessa mentioned to “John Clare,” Adam, that she doesn’t know what her relationship with God is now. This was after a kinda negative mention of the nuns serving the cholera victimes. The cut-wife (Patti Lupone!) gave her a book to open, but only when (obvious foreshadowing) Vanessa is completely done with God and faith. One assumes she will now leave her prayers and crucifix to wayside and take up witchcraft in earnest. The cut-wife herself is a “good witch” now, as Wiccan/Pagan teaching speak of. The crone. The woman with herbs who abort babies, who as she says, “cares for the girls,” when the mean, bad Christians won’t. Of course, there was an allusion to the “Burning Times,” when 50,000 (?) people were executed, overwhelmingly women, convicted of witchcraft. The cutwife, Joan, is of course burnt alive.
So, yes. Hubby, a “recovering Catholic,” at these shows says things like, “And this is why I don’t go to church” and “See? This is why people hate the Catholic Church. This is the stuff they did. No wonder.” When I say, “Well, every group has its skeletons; we don’t do this now,” he says things like, “Because you couldn’t.”
I’m disappointed at the apparent lack of balance in my shows. Yes, it is a television show. Yes, vile things go on. Yes, hubby should not get his life philosophy from a show. Please indulge me a quiet Wednesday morning of worrying about something “light,” rather than abortion, poverty, or family drama.
However, to me this topic is not as superficial as it appears. This is a pernicious, sinister symptom. Pop culture perpetuates the Culture of Death and the paradigm that religious folk are not only misguided, but superstitious and religion is a dangerous cancer that invades society and strikes down people’s happiness. As hubby says, “Religion was invented by those who wanted to keep down and enslave commoners.” Everywhere we turn this idea he got from a professor pervades our culture.
The irony that my interest as a child in Catholicism has its seeds in horror media. (No one calls a Baptist minister for an exorcism!) How moving the end scene is in The Exorcist: Regan runs over and hugs the priest, seemingly not consciously knowing why, but she is joyfully compelled to do so. Our Christs-on-earth, and her spirit senses this. Were Mr. Blatty’s book re-adapted today, that scene would be left out. I can’t seem to go a day without hearing/reading a snide comment about priests and children.
I’m angry that Vanessa Ives is losing her faith on “Penny Dreadful.” I’ve seen a shift in horror media that churches are no longer a sanctuary in which the characters may take refuge. This may seem ridiculous to you all, but, as a horror fan and as someone who loves the Church, this is a huge blow and a source of sadness for me. This is a clear sign we are losing footing. How do we maintain our strength? How much stronger should our evangelism be, in light of this?
Thanks, my friends, for indulging me some Deep Thoughts this morning. This has been troubling me for some time and certainly came to a head with recent events on these shows. I had noticed a shift as well in films. (I haven’t kept up as much with horror literature in recent years.)
Blessings.
