MovieChat Forums > Life with Father (1947) Discussion > Ugh, religion

Ugh, religion

posted 8 years ago by eqxander
5 replies | jump to latest

Just finished watching this movie on TCM, and couldn't believe how much I used to enjoy this movie and now find it difficult to watch.

To be sure, it was intended for a different era, but the manner in which it displays among relatively peaceable adults the ability of religion to tear people and families apart, and cause psychological distress, is revolting.

Hopefully at some future time we will overcome our need for imaginary beings in the sky and killing, oppressing, and maiming each other over who can toss more imaginary thunderbolts.

[–] Florestan51 8 years ago

If you have a hang-up about religion please take it somewhere other than a discussion forum about an innocuously humorous movie.

[–] gulag 8 years ago

I've seen these 'Ugh, Religion' comments before. I find it interesting that this film used to be enjoyable, then obviously the new atheism came into your life and spoiled it for you. Basically what happened is that you converted to your definite and indeed quite religious conviction and anything that disagrees with your view is now seen as oppressive and unevolved. This is remarkably similar to the definition of the religions you claim not to believe in. If you are going to find all references to God or religion in intolerable then sadly your comments will be reduced to intellectual level of "Ugh, religion".

[–] JeanBard99 8 years ago

Seems that any family movie with even marginal faith tends to come up with one of these threads on IMDb. Sad, really.

[–] mdonln 7 years ago

eqxander says > Hopefully at some future time we will overcome our need for imaginary beings in the sky and killing, oppressing, and maiming each other over who can toss more imaginary thunderbolts.

You're entitled to your opinions and if you have issues with religion and are turned off by it that's fine. However, did you realize this movie is based on real life characters? It's possible the issue of Clare's baptism actually happened. If not as shown then perhaps it was used to further demonstrate Clare's grudging acceptance of the tenets of his religion.

I say this because according to the Trivia section of this movie, the real Vinnie, Clare's wife, was an on set consultant who had final approval on a lot of what ended up in the movie. I choose to believe what's written in the Trivia section even though I don't know the source or its validity. If I can have faith in something so 'trivial' (no pun intended; well, maybe), I can certainly have Faith in something much more important; something that has a profound affect on how I choose to live my life. I believe in God and follow a specific religion so I welcome depictions of life that include issues to which I can relate.

Even though this movie was made long before I was born, I can relate to it and older movies like it better than I can to the movies being made today. I feel about modern movies the way you probably feel about this one. I don't have a clue about nor do I have a desire to know many of the characters in today's movies.

Many of these people lack morals and values. They use drugs, use profanity, have casual, meaningless sexual encounters with relative unknowns and they have no apparent life compass. In my opinion, you've already gotten your wish. A lot of people have turned away from religion and the movie they make is a reflection of that.

By the way, most of the horrible things done in the name of religion are done by those who really don't get it. They simply use religion to do things that are in no way representative of the religions they claim to follow or the God they supposedly honor.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] liscarkat (16469) 9 months ago

The baptism controversy in "Life with Father" is written and played for humor. The movie is not about a family being torn apart by psychological distress. You'd enjoy life more if you learned to lighten the F up.