Omnipotence and Evil in Dogma

Dogma (1999) is a Kevin Smith film about faith and religion. The overall plot of the movie centers around a woman’s pilgrimage to save the universe from being unmade. Two angels, Bartleby and Loki, were cast out of Heaven for defying God’s will. They find out that there is a loophole being promoted by the Catholic Church. On the centennial, a certain archway is being raised in New Jersey that would provide forgiveness for anyone’s sins who chooses to walk beneath it. If the angels walk beneath they can be forgiven, and if they become mortal and die afterwards then they can theoretically go back to heaven. As we find out, this process would prove the infallibility of God, and thus unmake existence. Due to this, Bethany is called upon by the angel Metatron to stop these two fallen angels because she is the last descendant of Christ. Along the way, she meets two prophets, an apostle, and a muse to help her way, while a demon (ex-muse) attempts to stop them.

            Bethany begins the film with many doubts about her faith. She feels apathetic and actively misses having the blind faith of a child. Throughout the film we discover Bethany’s crisis of faith ultimately stems from the question that J.L. Mackie delves into in his essay Evil and Omnipotence. Why is there evil in the world if God is ultimately Good, as well as omnipotent? Having these three things be true is a paradox, because if God is Omnipotent and Good, he would destroy all Evil. If God is Good and there is Evil in the world, then he must not be omnipotent. If God is Omnipotent and there is Evil in the world, then he cannot be Good. While this is a very convincing logical argument that basically discredits Christianity in the way in which we’ve interpreted it, it is also a question asked by common people all the time. It is this question that has driven Bethany to her crises of faith. This question is not really answered in the film. Bethany receives proof of God, heaven, and hell directly, and so no philosophy was necessary to discount this essential logical problem.

            However, throughout the film there is little that appears to be truly evil. The viewer is made to pity the fallen angels and their plight. They are truly pitiful in their emptiness and rage. Their actions seem like the tantrums of children, just seeking attention from a beloved parent figure. Even the demon Azrael becomes pitiful. His existence is so horrible that he would unmake all of existence just to be free of it. While these characters ultimately act in horrible ways, they are extremely relatable. This gives reason and understanding to their actions, and no longer lets the reader just assume that they are just Evil. Through this story the lines of Good and Evil are blurred, and so the question of how can God exist with this much Evil in the world is no longer relevant, because what really is Evil? While I don’t think J.L. Mackie would agree with this response, I think this is an idea that appeals to many people. Can Evil really exist when everyone is acting through basic human emotions? Can you really blame someone for wanting to go home anyway possible? I think it’s an interesting line of debate.

            I also found it interesting that while the movie makes a clear point to claim that it’s the ideas that matter and not the religion, it focuses very specifically on Catholicism. I realize that the reason behind this was likely because of a connection between Catholicism and Kevin Smith (the writer and director), but it’s interesting because the Catholic religion specifically results in the fallacy of Evil and an Omnipotent and Good God. In the Hebrew Bible God is not portrayed as perfectly Good, in fact He is portrayed as vengeful and unforgiving. In many polytheistic religions, gods are not shown to be necessarily Good either. While this film looks at the topic from a Catholic point of view, it is also brings into question whether God is perfectly Good. Was it right that She condoned the mass genocide of people through Loki? Was it right to cast down Azrael for remaining neutral in the war? Is it right to allow any of the injustices that go on in the world? Is the divide between angels and man just? Most of the questions are asked by Bartleby, who becomes unreliable after he finds out Bethany may be trying to kill him and Loki for wanting to return home. While he seems the most philosophical of all the characters, questioning the morality of God’s decisions, he then turns into a megalomaniacal character bent on returning home, and thus, as Loki puts it, declaring war on God. So while the movie brings up the question of God’s innate Goodness, the character that does so the most becomes insane and perhaps the most Evil of all of the characters. So while this may be a valid question, we are dissuaded from asking it by the end of the film. 

Dogma and Russell

Dogma is defined as, “a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.” Synonyms to dogma include tenet concerning faith and doctrine.  As you can probably guess, the movie I choose to watch this week was Dogma (1999). This movie has a loaded cast with (Matt Demon, Ben Affleck, Chris Rock, Selma Hayek, my personal favorite Alan Rickman, and many more). The plot of this film presents a different view on the Catholic Church as written and directed by Kevin Smith. To sum of the jist of the movie, an abortion clinic worker with a “special” lineage is basically called on to save the human race. The one who calls on her is the “voice of God” or God’s personal Assistant, Metetron (Alan Rickman). On the way for her to save the human race, two prophets assist her. Why you ask does she have to save the human race?? Well, she has to stop two angels who were cast out of heaven from erasing God’s doings by having their souls restored by entering a church celebration.

            You see, Cardinal Glick (George Carlin, who I will talk about more later) gives a presentation at church telling the congregation and the world that they are going to try and change the Catholic fading image. With these changes he proposes a Papal sanction, so anyone who enters the church on the day of the “rededication ceremony” will have all their sins forgiven and will be “good” in God’s eyes. The two fallen angels, Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck) think that this is the perfect time to restore their angel status and get them out of serving eternity in a place “worst than hell,” Wisconsin.

            Overall, the plot has a lot of twists and turns and represents the changes the Catholic Church is making and how they are comical in a way. In the reading for class on Tuesday, the one I want to focus on is “Why I am not Christian” by Bertrand Russell.

            Bertrand Russell’s discussion on why he is not a Christian contains several different reasons, but he concludes with the idea of “what we must do” regarding Christianity. He explains that our conception of God is unworthy of free men. He explains that the church should not call people sinners and the act of doing so is not worthy of self-respecting human beings. Finally, he concludes that we should stand up and make the best of the world, which needs, “knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.” Russell urges us to not look back and not look forward, but trust that our intelligence will lead us to a successful future.  

            Using Russell’s approach to Christianity could be shown in the film Dogma because the film uses satire to make fun of the Catholic Church and it’s dogmatic teachings. The first few lines in the film are of Cardinal Glick claiming that the church is attempting to revamp its image so that people will change their opinion about the church.  

Here is part of  quote from that scene:

“Now we all know how the majority and the media in this country view the Catholic church. They think of us as a passe, archaic institution. People find the Bible obtuse... even hokey. Now in an effort to disprove all that the church has appointed this year as a time of renewal... both of faith and of style. For example, the crucifix. While it has been a time honored symbol of our faith, Holy Mother Church has decided to retire this highly recognizable, yet wholly depressing image of our Lord crucified. Christ didn't come to Earth to give us the willies... He came to help us out. He was a booster. And it is with that take on our Lord in mind that we've come up with a new, more inspiring sigil. So it is with great pleasure that I present you with the first of many revamps the "Catholicism WOW. " campaign will unveil over the next year. I give you... The Buddy Christ. Now that's not the sanctioned term we're using for the symbol, just something we've been kicking around the office, but look at it. Doesn't it... pop? Buddy Christ..”

            This quote shows an example of what Bertrand Russell urges us to do. He urges us to move forward and although it is comical, the Catholic Church in Dogma is trying to do that. Though Russell would rather us quite Christianity as a whole, the film shows what would happen if we were to change Catholicism.