Artistic representations of loss of religion

johnny_ultimate

It isn't the most common theme in the world - I'd say reflections on the power of faith are much more common - but are there any particular artistic works that really speak to you about abandoning religion?

I'd say my two favourite atheist spokespeople were Ingmar Bergman and Douglas Adams. The former probably wouldn't have classified himself as atheist, but his Silence of God trilogy is by some distance the most intelligent and thought-provoking films I've ever seen on issues of faith. Interestingly, the films tend to get darker as the thematic trilogy progresses, to the point where the third film, The Silence, doesn't even mention the subject of God, a predominant theme in the earlier films (Through a Glass Darkly and Winter Light). Very grim films - as is typical of Mr. Bergman - but also full of extremely powerful themes and images, from the social reasons for persisting with religious ritual to the loss of faith altogether.

On an entirely different tone, Douglas Adams various writings were always down to earth takes on one man struggling with big concerns, and of course creating brilliant comedy in the process. Always enjoy his gentle prodding of religious taboos, and who can't help but love God's final message to his creations -

sorry for the inconvenience

.

It's a subject I've been interested lately, so any other examples spring to mind? Some of the world's best art has concerned religious matters. Surely there must be plenty that reflects the opposite too.

Daftendirekt

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

Kind of like an anti-religious Narnia and a great read.

johnny_ultimate

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

Kind of like an anti-religious Narnia and a great read.

Indeed, an obvious one that often slips my mind. I flew through the three books in about a week a year or two ago, such a rich imaginative landscape and huge ideas for what should definitely not be dismissed as mere children's fantasy! I was honestly amazed some of the more anti-religious themes had slipped through and allowed it to become such a big hit. I have Pullman's new book 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' (seriously, what a title) but haven't got around to reading it yet

The Golden Compass on the other hand... :pac:

Sandvich

There's more than you think. That was a big factor of what Stargate was about, after all.

I've even seen it crop up in a few anime; famously the Elric brothers from Fullmetal Alchemist, there was a story that revolved around that.

The Type/Moon verse too(Tsukihime, Fate Stay Night) has those kinds of subtexts; with the essential "Final Boss" being a corrupt priest, and the Catholic church being a looming enemy through most of it. Kotomine was quite an interesting character actually.

Maybe it's a bit more taboo in western english-speaking culture. If you look at it in a more metaphorical way, or people joining cults etc. and dealing with life outside of them, it's a bit more common.

I read both His Dark Materials and Narnia as a kid... I guess I turned out okay.

strobe

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's, Good Omens, despite being completely based on the premise that the rise of the anti-christ and Revelations comes true, is consistantly threaded with the authors and characters realisation that the religion that they have been raised to believe in isn't all it seems. Even the anti christ himself, and angels, and demons, struggle with the question of "maybe it's all bullsh1t, maybe it's all people with thier own agendas perpetuating this thing for their own gain".


There is a lot of post dark age/post black plague art that reflects the theme you talk about aswell. A friend of mine made a film about the subject for college, "misinterpreted art", judged to be about gods wrath, that was really about man's realisation that god was a non factor in the affairs of man. I doubt the film still exists but next time I'm talking to him I'll ask him for the list of paintings he used.

mikhail

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

...Ingmar Bergman ... Silence of God trilogy

I haven't seen those, but the theme appears in The Seventh Seal too.

Jöns: Why all this daubing?
Painter: To remind people of death.
Jöns: That won't make them any happier.
Painter: Why make them happy? Why not scare them?
Jöns: Then they won't look at your picture.
Painter: Yes, they will. A skull is more interesting than a naked woman.
Jöns: If you scare them—
Painter: They think—
Jöns: Then they think.
Painter: And are still more scared.
Jöns: And fall into the arms of the priests.


Block: Is it so hard to conceive God with one's senses? Why must He hide in a midst of vague promises and invisible miracles? How are we to believe the believers when we don't believe ourselves? What will become of us who want to believe but cannot? And what of those who neither will nor can believe? Why can I not kill God within me? Why does He go on living in a painful, humiliating way? I want to tear Him out of my heart, but He remains a mocking reality which I cannot get rid of. Do you hear me?
Priest/Death: I hear you.
[Block turns to kneel before the priest behind the confessional screen.]
Block: I want knowledge. Not belief. Not surmise. But knowledge. I want God to put out His hand, show His face, speak to me.
Priest/Death: But He is silent.
Block: I cry to Him in the dark, but there seems to be no one there.
Priest/Death: Perhaps there is no one there.
Block: Then life is a senseless terror. No man can live with Death and know that everything is nothing.
Priest/Death: Most people think neither of Death nor nothingness.
Block: Until they stand on the edge of life and see the Darkness.
Priest/Death: Ah, that day.
Block: [laughs bitterly] I see. We must make an idol of our fear, and call it God.

johnny_ultimate

mikhail wrote: »

I haven't seen those, but the theme appears in The Seventh Seal too.

Yeah, it's definitely a central theme of mid-career Bergman films. If you like the Seventh Seal, you should definitely check out the 'trilogy', some of his best films. He examines the themes again in later films to some degree (including my favourite Persona, which is sort of a sequel to the Silence of God films) but those three are the best examples of Bergman struggling with faith, and his difficulties trying to portray those troubles on camera.

Galvasean

I kid you not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSovNJAC7AI

Dubhghaillix

Galvasean wrote: »

I kid you not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSovNJAC7AI

That is unreal!!! Another Cartoon is Invader Zim. There was one episode, "The most horrible X-mas Ever", which was a bit more atheistic, although less explicit. Watch it, and replace the word "Santa" with "Jesus". http://invaderzimepisodes.com/259/the-most-horrible-x-mas-ever/

ColmDawson

What am I afraid of?
Whom did I betray?
In what medieval kingdom does justice work that way?
If you knew what would happen
And you made us just the same
Then you my Lord can take the blame.

David Bazan (ex-Pedro the Lion) made an album last year called Curse Your Branches, about losing his religion. There are a lot of break-up albums, but few of them are about breaking up with god.:pac: It's a pretty good album and it's nice to see someone challenging their own (former) beliefs.

rovert

This lad:


Yes I know the song title is a Southern expression.

Undergod

Faith is dealt with quite interestingly in Iain Bank's "The Crow Road".

Fairly large spoiler, don't read if you intend on reading the book:

A large part of the happy ending of the book is the narrator abandoning his faith.

Funglegunk

Any classical paintings on this subject? Have been looking but can't find any, would love to see some.

strobe

Galvasean wrote: »

I kid you not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSovNJAC7AI

Blast! How did it end???

kiffer

strobe wrote: »

Blast! How did it end???

Part 2

What I don't get is why at he end of this part the people don't fire the crystal tipped arrows at the Decepticons... wait these things hurt the gods that have been forcing us to work in the mines? Fire volley after volley!

Part 3

Electric LAVA! oh yeah!

Puns that I never noticed when I was a kid jumped out at me through out that whole episode...

Blackhorse Slim

Jane's Addiction, Had a Dad.

I've always found Perry's lyrics clever and thought-provoking, and this is no exception.

"Had A Dad"

Had a dad
Big and strong
Turned around
Found my daddy gone
He was the one
Made me what I am today
It's up to me now
My daddy has gone away...

Well I spoke to the mountain
I listened to the sea
Both told me that the fountain
Was the best that you could be
My daddy's hand it growed
Show to the lickin
Sonny boy
Grow to whip him!

If you see my dad
Tell him my brothers
All gone mad
They're beating on each other
I walked around
Even tried to call
Got that funny feeling

He's not there
At all...


If you see my dad
Tell him my brothers
All gone mad
They're beating on each other
I walked around
Even tried to call
Got that funny feeling...

God is...dead.
He's not there
At all...