Post by Lord MIW on Aug 24, 2004 11:08:41 GMT -5
This is a copy/paste fron AN, I thought it was relevant in our new... religious climate.
I watched this on DVD last night. The plot simply is about Stephen Baxter, a seemingly ordinary man who one day realises that he is the Son of God. After making a column of daylight appear at Manchester City's football pitch (aye, he's a Manc is God's son ) he tells the world that they have 5 days to produce a Third Testament, otherwise the world will face Judgement Day, where the planet will cease to exist.
Cue superb acting from everyone involved in a well written performance that lasts 2 and a half hours, and keeps you hooked throughout as people come to terms with what is happening and Stephen unlocks the power that he has.
The judgement day is what I want to focus on, because it teaches a good lesson. In the end, Judith (one of Stephens mates) realises that she must kill him to stop him from being consumed by his anger and joining the demons. The message is simple.
The Son of God dies, taking with him Heaven and Hell. Religion therefore ceases to exist. Because humans do not have the luxury of expecting to go to Heaven and have an eternal afterlife, they treasure life more and are responsible for their own actions.
Now you see, that is my kind of thinking. People are kind and help others, because they expect something in return, they expect a place in Heaven. Now me, I don't believe in Heaven or Hell. I'm not expecting eternal life as a reward for being kind and helping others, I do it because it is right. Now tell me, what gives you more right than me to say you are right, and I am not?
I follow a thing called 'Life.' There's hard parts, tough bits, but you make it through. Once it's over, it's over, so you need to treasure every single bit of it that you have. That's all I expect, that's all I need. When we're gone, we're gone. Simple as that. And without the need for murdering people because they have a slightly different view. Without the need for being part of an organisation that is as corrupt as Henry VIII had wives.
Expecting an afterlife for doing right in the world, now isn't that gluttony? One of the sins I believe. Expecting to be rewarded for being good. How do you know you're not wrong? How do you know that God DOES want you to worship him? For all you know, the people who don't expect reward for the good they do, who are decent human beings without the need for guidance, may be the ones that are in the end rewarded. You may well bow down to him, but the act of selfishness, wanting to be given something for being good, is that not a sin? We may not believe, no, but it doesn't mean to say that we're not doing what God wants us to do.
Why do you believe in God? What is he there for? What do you want him for? Why do you want an afterlife? Why are you people who believe in God any more likely to go to Heaven than those who don't? What makes your way better than mine?
Good DVD, buy it if you can. It's set in Manchester too, always a bonus for me. Part of it is set in Salford University, going along some routes that I've walked myself.
I watched this on DVD last night. The plot simply is about Stephen Baxter, a seemingly ordinary man who one day realises that he is the Son of God. After making a column of daylight appear at Manchester City's football pitch (aye, he's a Manc is God's son ) he tells the world that they have 5 days to produce a Third Testament, otherwise the world will face Judgement Day, where the planet will cease to exist.
Cue superb acting from everyone involved in a well written performance that lasts 2 and a half hours, and keeps you hooked throughout as people come to terms with what is happening and Stephen unlocks the power that he has.
The judgement day is what I want to focus on, because it teaches a good lesson. In the end, Judith (one of Stephens mates) realises that she must kill him to stop him from being consumed by his anger and joining the demons. The message is simple.
The Son of God dies, taking with him Heaven and Hell. Religion therefore ceases to exist. Because humans do not have the luxury of expecting to go to Heaven and have an eternal afterlife, they treasure life more and are responsible for their own actions.
Now you see, that is my kind of thinking. People are kind and help others, because they expect something in return, they expect a place in Heaven. Now me, I don't believe in Heaven or Hell. I'm not expecting eternal life as a reward for being kind and helping others, I do it because it is right. Now tell me, what gives you more right than me to say you are right, and I am not?
I follow a thing called 'Life.' There's hard parts, tough bits, but you make it through. Once it's over, it's over, so you need to treasure every single bit of it that you have. That's all I expect, that's all I need. When we're gone, we're gone. Simple as that. And without the need for murdering people because they have a slightly different view. Without the need for being part of an organisation that is as corrupt as Henry VIII had wives.
Expecting an afterlife for doing right in the world, now isn't that gluttony? One of the sins I believe. Expecting to be rewarded for being good. How do you know you're not wrong? How do you know that God DOES want you to worship him? For all you know, the people who don't expect reward for the good they do, who are decent human beings without the need for guidance, may be the ones that are in the end rewarded. You may well bow down to him, but the act of selfishness, wanting to be given something for being good, is that not a sin? We may not believe, no, but it doesn't mean to say that we're not doing what God wants us to do.
Why do you believe in God? What is he there for? What do you want him for? Why do you want an afterlife? Why are you people who believe in God any more likely to go to Heaven than those who don't? What makes your way better than mine?
Good DVD, buy it if you can. It's set in Manchester too, always a bonus for me. Part of it is set in Salford University, going along some routes that I've walked myself.