A religion/atheist look at The Majestic

To be fair, people take this approach when attempting to support any claim that they have a vested interest in believing; that includes all controvercial viewpoints, including the argument over the ozone layer/environmental issues, abortion, economic issues, and evolution. I do believe in God, and the bible, and I don't believe in evolution (so you know where I stand), but I dont think I could take those beliefs nearly as seriously as I do, be willing to make the sacrafices I have made for them, if they were not based on a healthy bit of skepticism and objective investigation of my own. I think that there are a great number of peole who claim to believe in the bible's teachings without ever having critically examined it, or in some cases, without having even read it for themselves. I also thnk there are a great number of people who dismiss the bible as myth or propaganda without critically examining it or in many cases ever cracking it open on their own. It is possible to have faith based on a critical examination of the bible and any opposing viewpoints; in fact, based on the bible's own definition of faith, I think that is the only real kind of faith that exists. Conversely, I think anyone who leans the other way defintely ought to take the same approach and thoroughly investigate the bible with an open mind (and not pre-concieved beliefs that they are seeking to support) before coming to any conclusion. Otherwise, they're in no position to criticize anyone else for taking an unbalanced approach. Just my opinion. :-)

As far as the symbolism in the movie, I did not notice that (I was too busy being mesmerized by a Jim Carey acting like a normal human being instead of an orangutan), but now that you mention it, I can see it. I think there are underlying existential or spirutual plot lines in most movies, if you dig deep enough. After all, aren't they the questions that most humans ask at some point, and often repeatedly, in their lives? Why am I here? Where did I come from? What's it all about? Who really knows the answers? Ironically, this is one of the reasons (not a big one, but one of them) why I don't believe in evolution, because animals don't seem to be capable of considering their existential reality.

Although you bring up an interesting point, I didn't see the movie this way. I felt that the townspeople accepted Jim Carey's character as Luke simply because 1) He looked exactly like Luke, & since Luke's body was never found, there certainly could have been the possibility of his returning in their minds and 2) This is a town that lost so many of their young men, so many families suffered such great loss and in a sense, the town was "depressed" because of it. When the comment was made about the memorial statue being in the basement of the town hall because no one had the heart to bring it out, tells me they did not want yet another reminder of how much they lost as a town.

When Jim Carey shows up looking exactly like one of the lost sons of this town I can certainly understand the townspeople immediately accepting him as Luke. This has brought some joy and faith back into their lives which it appears this town desperately needed. Like "Luke's" return was giving the town it's life back.

Throughout the movie, before it is revealed that Jim Carey is not Luke, there are townspeople who do start questionning the validity of Luke's return. where has he been and what happened to him and just how could this really happen after all these years?

I really enjoyed this movie. I have never liked Jim Carey in the over the top comedies he has been in but have really enjoyed him in his dramatic roles. To me, this is just a nice movie. Oh sure it isn't completely realistic but I don't really care, if I wanted the 100% truth about small town America (actually, I am living in small town America) or about the McCarthy era, I will either read about it or watch a documentary, which I have. I just enjoyed this movie for what it was and to me it made me feel good when it was done.

Interesting. Perhaps you could delve deeper into this by researching the 'allegory of the cave". There is a similar scenario there, however, it is more reliant upon one's perspective than one's desire to be led into doing objective research.


rabidgoldfish65

"Skepticism is the language of the mind; what does your heart tell you?"

Fanboy : a person who does not think while watching.