Let's get a clear answer: is it wrong to watch Angels and Demons?

[Traddy]

Has the Church officially banned us from watching it?

 

[Criostoir]

No, it’s a work of fiction. You exercise prudence in judging whether it’s good or not, but the Church doesn’t have an index of banned films.

www.mccamley.org

 

[DominicVobiscum]

Lots of misguided, uniformed, and those without strong convictions believe Dan Brown’s work is gospel truth. I would not contribute one cent to those who produce and profit from his ****.

 

[Neithan]

No, it’s a work of fiction. You exercise prudence in judging whether it’s good or not, but the Church doesn’t have an index of banned films.

www.mccamley.org

I wonder why not?

 

[Criostoir]

Partly because it’s unworkable. Imagine the scale of the operation involved. The Church would have to have a huge operation to review all films coming out. The worst of them would never be seen so you could have hard core porn with no condemnation by the Church while Harry Potter gets a ban because the official doesn’t like that sort of thing.

We have principles of morality and after that we have to use our judgment and discretion. Will there be people who think Angels and Demons is true? Of course, but I know Catholics who think the atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki by US Protestants who wanted to destroy the Catholic Church in Japan!

www.mccamley.org

 

[manualman]

Of course not.

But that doesn’t make seeing it a good idea.

In my own personal opinion, a catholic seeing a Dan Brown movie involving the Church is like (though to a lesser magnitude) being Jewish and buying a copy of Mein Kampf. Self destructive.

 

[jfmarm81]

I don’t want anyone to take what I say the wrong way, but I have no problem with the movie. I enjoy all sorts of fiction and have read Angels and Demons and do plan on seeing the movie. I know that it’s fiction, and am a big fan of movies in general. With that said, if someone is struggling with the idea of seeing it, they might not want to. There are plenty of people who don’t know it’s fiction, and shouldn’t go see it. If someone has thinks that it might affect their faith in some way, then they shouldn’t see it either.
I equate this in a way to people equating movies or video games with violence. I feel that that is just silly. If a person cannot tell the difference between real or imaginary, they shouldn’t be involved in that activity. However, that shouldn’t mean that those of us who can tell the difference should not be abe to watch a movie or play a game.
Again, in the end, it’s a personal choice. I will see it, it will not affect my faith, because I watched the DaVinci Code and it didn’t affect my faith either. I feel sorry for those who believe the truth in these movies, and those who try to portray them has having some truth to them, and I pray for those people.
Just wanted to add my opinion.

 

[ChadS]

I watched the DaVinci Code and my faith didn’t waver, but beyond that I didn’t think it was even that good of a movie.

However, Dan Brown and Ron Howard both portray the DaVinci Code and now Angels and Demons as merely “fiction” yet they insist the events taking place in the books and movies are based on historically verifiable and accurately represented events. They try to have their cake and eat it too when it comes to defending their works. When they are criticised on the historical or artistic accuracy they say it’s only fiction but in the next breath they turn around and say we can prove this all historically.

When the DaVinci code came out I heard many priests saying that people would approach them after mass and say “Father I didn’t know Jesus was married. Why isn’t this taught in the church?” The obvious answer is that because it’s not true, but it points to a problem that sometimes people have difficulty separating the truth from fiction. It’s also not made any easier when the author and producer start making claims about the movies that try to have it both ways.

So, I’d say go ahead and watch the movie if you like. Be aware that the representations of historic events may either not be historic or may be misrepresented. Alot of those claims could probably be easily debunked with a quick web search and no PhD in history is necessary.

As a sidenote I don’t think it’s necessary to produce a list of banned or forbidden movies. First off with the amount of media that becomes available each month the Vatican would need a literal army of reviewers that did nothing but watch movies, read books and write reviews around the clock. There are also a number of websites, even a few from a Catholic viewpoint, that rate movies based on message and family-friendly content. The average person that is truly interested can make a well-informed decision about what entertainment is appropriate without needing a rubber-stamped list sent out by the Vatican.

ChadS

 

[redrosetea]

Lots of misguided, uniformed, and those without strong convictions believe Dan Brown’s work is gospel truth. I would not contribute one cent to those who produce and profit from his ****.

here here:clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[CSLewisfan]

i thought that the book angels and demons was better than the da vinci code, so here’s hoping that the movie will be better than the code.

Its a work of fiction, its wrong to believe that fiction is fact, but its not wrong to watch a story.

 

[thistle]

Why would any Christian watch movies from Dan Brown’s books? He is anti-Christian and especially hates the Catholic Church. Anyone who buys his books or watches his movies is putting money into his pocket to allow him to continue his hatred and bigotry against us!

 

[wanner47]

If you’re watching it for apologetic purposes (e.g., so you can better respond to the heresies contained therein, like Steve Greydanus does for decentfilms.com), that would be a licit reason to watch it.

Otherwise, I would not recommend it. You can’t unwatch a movie; sometimes images or dialogue can remain in your head for years. Scripture tells us to think of things that are good, pure, and holy; Dan Brown’s heresies wouldn’t qualify.

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Of course not.

But that doesn’t make seeing it a good idea.

In my own personal opinion, a catholic seeing a Dan Brown movie involving the Church is like (though to a lesser magnitude) being Jewish and buying a copy of Mein Kampf. Self destructive.

False analogy, with all due respect.

The study of one’s adversary is a perfectly good reason for said hypothetical Jew or hypothetical Catholic to read the objectionable material. Furthermore, Catholics whose consciences are properly formed (and informed) need not refrain from reading a work such as DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons for moral reasons, because there is nothing inherently evil (or even dangerous) about reading something that one knows to be false.

Peace,
Dante

 

[denwiles]

The Bible says to do all things to edify and to flee from even the apperance of evil. That movie is evil on a whole new level because it attacks Christianity. We have been exposed to so much evil these days that many don’t want to live Holy, but without holiness no man will see the Lord. Besides why give money to that?
Now on the other side of the coin. Since the movie is attacking our faith, if you are extremly strong in the faith, and you are watching it to be able to help the millions of people who are going to be confused by it, then all I can say is let the Holy Spirit lead you. God Bless

 

[redrosetea]

False analogy, with all due respect.

The study of one’s adversary is a perfectly good reason for said hypothetical Jew or hypothetical Catholic to read the objectionable material. Furthermore, Catholics whose consciences are properly formed (and informed) need not refrain from reading a work such as DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons for moral reasons, because there is nothing inherently evil (or even dangerous) about reading something that one knows to be false.

Peace,
Dante

It blaspheme’s God according to people like Fr Groeschel, and by supporting their work you are also supporting blasphemy…that is plenty of reason not to do it

 

[Havard]

It blaspheme’s God according to people like Fr Groeschel, and by supporting their work you are also supporting blasphemy…that is plenty of reason not to do it

Just as Father Groeschel viewed the film to understand it, and similarly Father Jonathan Morris says that he buys all of the books by Dawkins, Hitchens and other Catholic-bashers in order to better understand them. See the link:

youtube.com/watch?v=BIjuEmpnVpw

 

[redrosetea]

Just as Father Groeschel viewed the film to understand it, and similarly Father Jonathan Morris says that he buys all of the books by Dawkins, Hitchens and other Catholic-bashers in order to better understand them. See the link:

youtube.com/watch?v=BIjuEmpnVpw

Fr read the book and it so disgusted him with the lies, he picked the film…that was good enough for me…I won’t put money in the pockets of these type of people

I also think the books you are spekaing about are a differnt sort…they don’t retell the gospels using lies and pretend it to be true

 

[Sir_Alec]

I don’t think it would absolutely be a sin to watch it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Dan Brown says his work is “fiction”, but he also claims that he has done research and his books are based on “historical facts”. There is no doubt that he(and the filmmakers) have an anti-Catholic agenda. I certainly wouldn’t contribute a cent to these people to watch this garbage.

 

[manualman]

False analogy, with all due respect.

The study of one’s adversary is a perfectly good reason for said hypothetical Jew or hypothetical Catholic to read the objectionable material. Furthermore, Catholics whose consciences are properly formed (and informed) need not refrain from reading a work such as DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons for moral reasons, because there is nothing inherently evil (or even dangerous) about reading something that one knows to be false.

Peace,
Dante

Hehe. You start by saying my analogy is false, but then proceed to make an argument as if you agree with my analogy. If it is false, please explain how.

As for your argument about catholics (and jews) buying opposing literature for purposes of research and opposition, I don’t disagree. But going to see a movie or buying a book for research purposes to get organized for an educational effort is NOT what most catholics will be doing. And if you want to do that, grab a copy of the book at the public library. There were plenty of copies of Angels & Daemons at mine last time I was there (getting Larry Bond submarine thriller off the next shelf).

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Hehe. You start by saying my analogy is false, but then proceed to make an argument as if you agree with my analogy. If it is false, please explain how.

Your analogy:

Catholic reading A&D = Jew reading MK = self destructive

My point:

It is not always self destructive for the Catholic or the Jew to read works such as these; therefore your premise is false.

As for your argument about catholics (and jews) buying opposing literature for purposes of research and opposition, I don’t disagree. But going to see a movie or buying a book for research purposes to get organized for an educational effort is NOT what most catholics will be doing. And if you want to do that, grab a copy of the book at the public library. There were plenty of copies of Angels & Daemons at mine last time I was there (getting Larry Bond submarine thriller off the next shelf).

Regardless of whether this is why most Catholics will watch A&D is beside my point. Your original post appeared to suggest that there was no valid reason to read objectionable works; I was addressing that assumption only. If it was not your intention to suggest this, then let this discussion stand merely as a clarification of what you meant.

Peace,
Dante