MovieChat Forums > The Infidel (2010) Discussion > The Whole Premise Of This Movie Is Absur...

The Whole Premise Of This Movie Is Absurd

posted 14 years ago by Brainy-2
45 replies | jump to latest

I have not seen the film, but I have viewed the trailer. This movie appears to revolve around the assumption that Islam and Judaism are ethnicities. They are not. They are both religions and therefore, choices.

Here in the United States, former secretary of state Madeline Albright discovered late in life that her biological parents were Jewish which she found interesting, but it did not stop her from attending church services.

A person's religion is whatever they choose to be. This film would suggest that one has the obligation to choose the religion of one's biological parents, which is ridiculous. The world is full of people who were raised Muslim who later converted to Judaism, and vice-versa, based solely on which faith felt more comfortable to them.

If a man's adoptive parents are Methodists, then later discovers that his biological parents are Episcopalians, I seriously doubt that he would suddenly feel an uncontrolable urge to switch churches (and I also don't think it would make a particularly entertaining movie either).

If this were set in Northern Ireland in the 70s, and was about a Catholic who suddenly discovers he's "supposed to be" a Protestant (or vice-versa), it might make an interesting film, but it wouldn't be a comedy. It would be a serious rumination on the absurdity of how people wind up being who they are, based largely on what the people that raised them tell them they are.

Everyone's faith should be based exclusively on whatever it is they feel most spiritually drawn to. Incidentally, I am an Atheist.

[–] missapril75 14 years ago

What you say about faith is right. What you say about the movie...well maybe you should see it.

Your criticism is not what the plot does.

[–] cinesimon 14 years ago

Way to make an utter fool of yourself.

[–] hooper-xxx 14 years ago

I disagree. On paper, Judaism is merely a religion. In actual practice it is, especially where the Ashkenazim are concerned, a quasi-ethnicity... a very insular quasi-ethnicity. So, the comparisons to Catholics and Episcopalians don't hold water.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jhc202 14 years ago

The whole point of the movie was exactly that - you choose your own religion. But in truth you often don't.. most people adopt their religious views from their parents and an actual choice is rare. It appears to resemble brainwashing in some cases.

If religion was based on choice, say you were brought up non-religiously (but not atheist) with equal and fair knowledge of all major religions, and had to choose what to believe when you were adult, then major religions like Christianity and Islam would crumble. They'd probably collapse altogether since people would actually judge them for what value they could add to life instead of just believing because you were brought up to believe. I'm not sure about Buddhism though.. it seems to have a lot of newcomers that join for philosophical or ethical reasons.

[–] cortez_awwris 14 years ago

I would disagree full-heartedly with that. Firstly their big different in catholic/ western Christianity from Eastern Christianity.

Also the situation you just described happen in Russia and the former Soviet union and the people return to the practice of Orthodox Christianity, Islam Buddhism and other native faiths of Russia. Because people judge them for what they were and their parents were raised under strict atheism rule.

[–] jhc202 14 years ago

"...the people return to the practice of Orthodox Christianity, Islam Buddhism and other native faiths of Russia."

That would not be the same as what I describe. If the people had previously been religious or even just had knowledge that their family was religious, then it's obvious that they would return to the old traditions to maintain what they believe to be a vital part of their heritage. Especially if that heritage was taken from them with force.

But despite.. it actually seems to have worked: "Estimates of believers widely fluctuate among sources, and some reports put the number of non-believers in Russia at 16–48% of the population." (wiki) Thats quite high!

I'm not saying all people are raised to be blind followers, but a lot are! If it was actually an ethical choice made by individuals really considering the values and what they personally believe, then I'd have much more respect for the major religions. In that case you'd a least have a lot of "cross-breeding" with families and countries being much more divided upon the different religions. But thats not the case, because religion is in many cases more like a culture that you must enter into in order to be a part of your family, group, city or even country. Its quite clear that major religions only remain powerful because they're passed on like old outdated recipes from parents to young-lings. It's amazing how some people find the strength to break free from the huge pressure of being like the others.. sometimes facing alienation or even rejection from their families and society. Even in moderate societies you easily get targeted as strange or satanist if you're not a part of the major religion.

I have nothing against religion and definitely nothing against faith, but I do have something against the way the major religions spread themselves like a cancer. It should be a simple, deeply personal choice by a rational, uninfluenced adult, asking: "Do I believe?" and much more important: "What do I really believe?"

[–] randombum2 14 years ago

@jesperc20 major religions like Christianity and Islam would crumble ? i think not because they are major and most popular religions for a reason.

now you could argue that most Christians and Muslims are forced into that faith, say in none western countries (as western people commonly assume), say that is true... but then why would so many people in the west where they are free to be whatever they want without serious repercussions STILL choose to remain Christian or Muslim ?

adopting religious views from parents can be true (or lack of religious views aswell!!!) but i strongly disagree when you say an actual choice is rare because faith is one of those things u cant really test or force someone to believe because it all happens 90% on the inside of a person, between u and god.

if a person doesn't want to believe then they never will want to no matter how much they are forced to follow practices, similarly a religious person will always believe deep down in their hearts no matter what the current trend in religious values is (seems to be that atheism is the in thing in the uk at the moment lol) or no matter how badly they follow that religion (no one is perfect and neither are religious ppl the perfect angels they are assumed to be sumtimes)

in summary free people have chosen to be religious christians or muslims and its not just a few who have but alot :)

[–] mizsuz 14 years ago

There are cultures that are steeped in various religions, and often one's understanding of the religion is co-mingled with the culture. In fact some folks in some religions would argue if you suggested they could separate one from the other.

I'm not going to argue the movie with you because neither of us have seen it. As a comedy I do, however, disagree with your assertion that the premise of the movie is absurd. I think it's hilarious and timely. A real poke in the ribs at mindsets that are often too literal, too dogmatic, too judgmental, and too elitist for contemporary society at large. We're a world society now, and there's no way around that.

I only wish there could have been some way to throw Christianity into the mix so all three of the world's "largest religious superpowers" (*cough* for lack of a better analogy) could have gotten similar treatment.

You close with a statement regarding your opinion of everyone else's faith and suggest it's about spirituality. I think you miss the point. Religion and spirituality don't necessarily have anything to do with each other - and that's why religion is a massive target for comedy. I can't wait to see this flick.

[–] libraryguru 14 years ago

"I have not seen the film, but I have viewed the trailer. This movie appears"

Right out of the box any opinion you have about the movie is useless.
This is like saying, "While I did not actually read Don Quixote, I skimmed on the back of the paperback and I can give an authoritative review. It is a silly book about a man riding around on a donkey wearing funny clothes."

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt

[–] sean-943 14 years ago

What a messed up wanker you are.
Seek help - quickly...