MovieChat Forums > Sleepy Hollow (1999) Discussion > Could have done without the anti-Christi...

Could have done without the anti-Christian garbage


Why does Burton always have to inject his disdain for religion into his films?

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Uh, because religion is disdainful?

But frankly there were more than a few corrupt religious types in that time period. As there are now. No one wants to hear about the priests who help kids and change their lives positively, they all want to hear about the pedophiles and say "aha!".

You also have to wonder how witchcraft and satanic worship can be linked nicely to a positive religious view.

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Disdainful?

Anyway, it makes perfect sense that Christianity would be setup as the good opposed to satanism’s evil. Did you word that last bit wrong?

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Because not every movie made needs to conform to your ideas about religion.

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well im a christian and dont really see something antireligious about it , i really enjoy his films, he makes films that are a bit dark but that what makes his movies what they are, thats what he is known for and if you are firm in your beliefs i dont think watching a movie will harm them or change them , i HAVE LOVED EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE SO FAR..

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*nods to the poster before me*


Also, some positive aspects:

- while the priest isn't presented in the best light, the holy power (or whatever you want to call it) of the church in SH is still so strong that is is able to protect all the citizens. I mean, literally. The dramatic music during the beautifully shot church scenes gets even triumphant for a few seconds when it's revealed that the Hessian is unable to enter the churchgrounds.

- Katrina uses "white magic", and it seems it had at least a protecting and healing effect on Ichabod. White magic is supposed to come from heaven, while black magic comes from hell - if I'm wrong here, feel free to correct me. Though I also think to know that this seperation in two kinds of magic with a "good" and a "bad" one is not really accepted by the church.

- Ichabod tells Katrina that he lost his faith with seven years, but later in the movie after more than a few unhappy events he says "I pray to God that..."

- last but not least: Lady van Tassel has a pact with Satan, and she's perhaps the cruelest character in the movie. I feel compassion for her ruined childhood, but imho this still doesn't justify such a killing spree.


If anything, then I can see a "Religion has some dangerous potential" message in the movie, but not a general "Christianity sucks!".

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People like you are why some dislike religions or church, Peter Tancordo. Maybe if people like you shut your mouth & stop judging people unfairly & trashing them, they wouldn't be hateful. Not to mention you're more intolerance towards other. Also, how you know for sure IMDB is liberal central?? There you go: another lame stereotyping & jumping into conclusion without facts.






"Michael Keaton is not Batman anymore. Same for Jack Nicholson as Joker. Period." ;)

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The only thing I noticed that could be considered "anti-Christ" is not really knocking anything.
Icabod said his father killed his mother because of her magical abilities. The father hid behind religion to justify the brutal killing of the mother. Icabod lost his faith because of this.
He didn't blame religion. He blamed the PERSON who used religion for evil basically.

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and just a word of caution: IMDB is liberal central. most ppl here are godless, so to see them say religion is "disdainful" says something about the kind of people you deal with there. its rather pathetic.


You seem to have no problem wallowing around here with all us sinners. Get stuffed, you judgmental hypocrite. I'm proudly "godless." Seeing people say religion is "disdainful" is seeing nothing but people demonstrating good sense.

"My brain rebelled, and insisted on applying logic where it was not welcome."

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...for the church all kinds of magic would be wichcraft and therefor... *BURN THE WITCH, BURN HER!! YAY!*

they even burnt Jeanne d'Arc for it...

so yea, it's not anti-christianity, it's anti-church...

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Why does Burton always have to inject his disdain for religion into his films?


There are and were religious zealots like Ichabod's father. People who hide behind religion as an excuse for cruelty. Think of the West Burrow Baptists. Ignoring that they exist is not pro-Christian. Did you not notice that the characters were protected from being IN a church at one point?

Since the original poster has not returned to defend their very ridiculous view I am incline to suggest they might be a troll.

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i agree that the satanic stuff was definitely uncalled for, this is just a short story adaptation so they didnt need to do anything like that at all.

and my opinion isnt about religion at all, because in another horror, it mightve worked and actually been scary, but its just so out of place in this movie.

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The film was NOT Satanic or Anti-Christian. The witch using the Horseman sold her soul but in the original Irving story The horseman was working for The Devil (if it wasn't Bram).

Katrina was not Satanic, nor was Ichabod or his mother. His father was not supposed to be the typical Christian but someone who had warped Christianity for his own views. Remember, they were protected inside the church.


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