The Demonization of Religion

THE DEMONIZATION OF RELIGION

A look into the detrimental implications of inaccurate religious portrayals within media

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Exiting a cinema, movie scenes replay in our minds, unconsciously instilling ideas. These ideas can spark inspiration or promote change. Other times these films can support harmful notions. Controversial topics can easily be misrepresented to millions of viewers. In films, especially horror films, aspects of religion are often depicted inaccurately or are used in disconcertingly exaggerated storylines. This improper usage of faiths can have detrimental implications in the long run.

The spiritual horror of today can be tied back to the swell of occult films in the 1970s. Many cultural norms transformed during this time, resulting in people starting to truly examine their beliefs. Dark spirituality, the supernatural and superstition became pervasive in western pop culture. Films often critiqued the inherent dangers of blind religious faith. Movies about corrupt nuns, evil priests and cults provided viewers new perspectives on religion. In real life, cults are truly prevalent and can be life-threatening. However, the oversimplification of this issue and its acceptance in an almost-joking manner diminishes its significance.

Many modern horror films explicitly juxtapose religious components with evil to frighten their viewers. Considering that horror films are fictional, the supernatural and deities are frequently intertwined to thicken the plot. A recurring element includes a terrifying, soul-screeching exorcism. This can be observed in the horror film The Exorcist. Two priests conduct an exorcism to release a twelve-year-old girl possessed by a demon, using many sacred objects – crosses, holy water, and the repetition of the name Christ. While this depiction may be enjoyable in a horror movie, it is far from the average exorcism. According to Fr. Luis Ramírez, coordinator of the annual exorcism conference in Rome, such cases are not actually common. In reality, possession and exorcism are rare and untheatrical, with a heavy focus on prayer. The retelling of exorcism through horror movies is highly inaccurate, promoting false perceptions.

This theme of demonization is prevalent in non-horror media too. For instance, in the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, the villain quotes the Bible. Ultron, gazing upon the vibranium he is planning to steal as a part of his plan for global destruction, quotes Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock, I will build my church.” This biblical quotation depicts Christianity in a negative light as a religion that correlates with the movie’s villain.

And despite the demonization of religion being widely centered around Christianity, the Indiana Jones film Temple of Doom is a prime example of how other cultures are demonized as well. In the movie, the leader of the Thuggee cult, Mola Ram, performs a violent human sacrifice. The entire depiction exemplifies the dogmatism towards Indian culture, cultivating

the most brute imagery to bolster the movie’s narrative. This disregard for cultural accuracy is what makes the film so contentious. The Indian government even verbalized concern over the script; however, Hollywood simply shifted production versial topics can easily be misrepre- from India to Sri Lansented to millions of viewers. In films, ka, a country where especially horror films, aspects of re- people are not Hinligion are often depicted inaccurate- du. Non-Christian religions are not ly or are used in disconcertingly ex- even afforded an accurate repreaggerated storylines. This improper sentation. While movies invoke usage of faiths can have detrimental Christianity as a symbol of faith implications in the long run. and hope, non-Western religions

The spiritual horror of today can are invariably portrayed negabe tied back to the swell of occult tively. The issue with this film in films in the 1970s. Many cultural particular is that it remains a cult norms transformed during this time, classic even today. Many people resulting in people starting to truly ex- still believe the stereotypes proamine their beliefs. Dark spirituality, moted in the film, which can be the supernatural and superstition be- detrimental to human progress in came pervasive in western pop cul- becoming a more inclusive sociture. Films often critiqued the inherent ety. dangers of blind Religion is a sensitive topic religious faith. Movies about IN REALITY, POSSESSION utilized in horror films and other entertainment, and often aspects corrupt nuns, evil priests and cults AND EXORCISM ARE RARE of religion are decontextualized, promoting negative stigmas. For provided viewers AND UNTHEATRICAL, WITH A much of human history, questionHEAVY FOCUS ON PRAYER.”new perspectives on religion. In real life, cults are truly prevalent and can be life-threatening God’s existence immediately resulted in a death sentence. Only recently has this way of thinking been given room to thrive, and horing. However, the oversimplification ror is one of the outlets actively used of this issue and its acceptance in an to do so. This demonization of religion almost-joking manner diminishes its exists in many shapes and forms, insignificance. cluding genres with mass appeal like

Many modern horror films explic- horror. It is essential to acknowledge itly juxtapose religious components these films’ effect on their audience with evil to frighten their viewers. and societal norms. Before stepping Considering that horror films are fic- foot into cinemas, it is imperative that tional, the supernatural and deities we consider the dangerous ideas we are frequently intertwined to thick- are financially endorsing in search of en the plot. A recurring el- a good adrenaline rush ement includes a terrifying, soul-screeching exorcism. This can be observed in the horror film The Exorcist. Two priests conduct an exorcism. According to Fr. Luis Ramírez, coordinator of the annual exorcism conference in Rome, such cases are not actually common. In reality, possession and exorcism are rare and untheatrical, with a heavy focus on prayer. The retelling of exorcism through horror movies is highly inaccurate, promoting false perceptions. This theme of demonization is prevalent in non-horror media too. For instance, in the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, the villain quotes the Bible. Ultron, gaz-

“AND POSSESSION EXORCISM ARE RARE AND UNTHEATRICAL, WITH A HEAVY FOCUS ON PRAYER. ing upon the vibranium he is planning to steal as a part of his plan for global destruction, quotes Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock, I will build my church.” This biblical quotation depicts Christianity in a negative light as a religion that correlates with the movie’s villain. And despite the demonization of religion being widely centered around Christianity, the Indiana Jones film Temple of Doom is a prime example of how other cultures are demonized as well. In the movie, the leader of the Thuggee cult, Mola Ram, performs a violent human sacrifice. The entire depiction exemplifies the dogmatism towards Indian culture, cultivating LIFESTYLES | 19