posted by Infiltrator2:
This film is a social commentary on these so-called "Christian" missionaries who go into foreign countries and brainwash the fools living in these countries into joining their destructive cults controlling their behavior, thoughts and emotions and all in the name of God; instead of letting them think for themselves like the adults that they are.
My goodness, you're sorely missing the point, aren't you? The film did indeed depict the sort of "brainwashing" that unfortunately sometimes occurs when trying to convert/persuade peoples' beliefs,... but this was FAR more exemplified in the behavior of Allie Fox, rather than the "fire & brimstone" Christian missionary who was at fault to a lesser degree. And whether you agree with Christianity or not, calling it a "destructive cult" is a horribly misinformed statement. Missionary work is extremely noble, and something that you ought to respect, regardless of opinion. The general function of missionaries is in fact to promote education, health, and general well-being amongst the poor. It's all apart of the Doctrine of Love. Informing people about Christ is done in the
hope that people will
consider inviting Jesus into their hearts. Its certainly not demanded in any normal situation. How can you object to that? This movie depicted the radical extremes in both cases. The dangers of too much knowledge (scientific in one case; religious knowledge in the other), and the combined lack of wisdom. Balance is necessary. Both sides in the movie lacked enough wisdom. Allie Fox was untrue to his family, and Reverend Spellgood was untrue to his Lord. Charlie, the kid, said himself in the beginning:
"It was not going to be an ordinary war" he[Allie] said, "but rather a war in which no side was entirely innocent."
And so the final irony was of course that Allie, unbeknownst to himself at the time, predicted his own fate. He was so sure of himself, but in his prideful, arrogant, foolhardy persistence he ended up starting a miniature war (not the nuclear war he imagined, but a war nonetheless) that did indeed pit two noble, but ultimately flawed sides with eachother.....
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mark6785
19 years ago
well said!
I thought of missionaries kind of like the guy you were responding to until now.
and the 'final irony' bit really sums the film up.
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saxman418
14 years ago
*possible spoiler* Are you serious??? The main reason for Christian missionaries to interfere with the cultures of indigenous peoples has, historically, been to prepare them for subjugation and exploitation. This is done in a subtle manner, using 'education' (indoctrination), health (the introduction of pharmaceuticals) and 'well-being amongst the poor' (exploitation and eventual subsummation into the 'superior' culture). This is plainly depicted in the movie by the scene in the tidy and 'civilised' mission where the natives are being brainwashed by the preacher's movie, whilst he sits in comfort eating a meal with his family. This provokes Allie into the final destructive act which results in his downfall.
Both Allie and the preacher are in error in their actions and motives, hence the 'war in which no side is entirely innocent'.
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