Instead of a list of Secular movies that have inspired you, as a Protestant, I am going to give you Secular/Catholic/Christian movies that have inspired me: 1. The Passion of the Christ – This is the best movie I can think of overall. People I know who are not Christian, and liked Horror movies, had manifestations within themselves that really shocked them from this movie. This movie moved me more than any other movie I have ever seen. 2. The Mission – A very good movie. This shows a tension of Politics vs. Real Catholic/Christians. 3. A Man for all Seasons – Again, Politics vs. Real Catholic/Christians, even if Sir Thomas More debated William Tyndale about theology, in the end, they became two of the 70,000 people King Henry VII was responsible for executing. King Henry VIII has the honorable distinction, in my opinion, of executing more Protestants when he was a Fake Catholic, and more Catholics when he was a Fake Protestant than anyone else in history. 4. The Way, 2010 – My wife an I really like this movie. It has to do with the interaction of the Actors with each other. It also has to do with the two main actors, Emilio Estevez, (the son), and Martin Sheen, (the father), are dealing with the inward dynamic of their Faith, not just in the movie, rather the movie is what is happening is a strengthening of the relationship between father and son in real life. I have the movie, it just jumps out to me from the movies listed. I have heard it is against Catholic tradition to take the ashes and scatter them on "El Camino de Santiago," yet the pilgrimage is inspiring.
Great stories have layers of meaning that keep you thinking long after they're over, and make space for different people to see different things in them and find resonance with their own lives. You picked some fantastic examples of this.
Peppered throughout the film is the typical Catholic imagery one sees used as seasoning to add some sense of the spiritual in the way that I described so derisively before. Taking from the deep well of Catholic aesthetics to sprinkle water onto what otherwise would be a dead and dry character and setting. You get the typical rosaries, crucifixes, references to Holy Water and the bones of saints being used to ward off evil, all along with more interesting tidbits like the Holy Lance that pierced the side of Christ having been possessed by the Nazis and accounted for their seemingly invincible rise to power, and it’s repossession by the Allies as being a reason for their defeat. Another is the Vatican having apparently imprisoned demons in statues, one of which had somehow made it’s way to a Manhattan museum. I’m sure it amused any prelates who watched the film, at least I sincerely hope their initial thought was humor and "not we’ve been found out."
But, beneath the banal decorations, two themes permeate the whole of the story, both of which are deeply Catholic ones. First, is the primacy of free will, the second is that Gods hand works in ways we cannot know. To choose the good and to have faith in His eventual victory over evil are essential elements of the Catholic faith, each of these are surprisingly found in Hellboy in a more direct way than is usual. While both themes have become ingrained in Western story telling over the past centuries, they are often found in modern stories in a sanitized way so that they are not being obviously connected to their foundational starting point. You’ll frequently see the idea of choosing your destiny or that good triumphs in the end in many many modern tales, but all shorn of the Christian connection and imagery. Here they are far more on display for those with the inclination to see, which is a refreshing change for this general genre of movie compared to what is on offer for today’s audience.
Thank you for putting Harry Potter on this list and giving it a good word!! The series is truly amazing and has so many beautiful hidden ties to our faith waiting for you to discover.
I guess I have a different point of view. On the one hand I agree. I like movies which feature self-sacrifice, heroism, forgiveness and redemption. These are quintessential Christian values and are at the core of our humanity. They are timeless.
Yet, at the same time it raises for me a question about the relationship between belief in God and human goodness. These movies, while exemplifying virtues leave God out of the picture (literally). God has no relationship to the characters. This is quite evident in the Harry Potter series. If this is the case, what is the foundation for the virtues? Why be heroic? Why be self-sacrificing? If the movies are secular, is the meaning of the virtue lost?
Is it possible to be virtuous without God? Or are humans, by nature, virtuous? St. John Paul II stated that God implants His image of goodness on the human heart. And humans are created in the image and likeness of God and, therefore, are creatures of love. If so, is it the case that every time we perform an act of love (virtue) it is God who is acting, whether we believe or not?
I very much enjoyed this series talk on movies, I'm not sure if you haven't watched or red the Lord of the Rings books, but I would be interested in your thought process on it.
Has anyone seen “What Dreams May Come” with Robin Williams? It had me in tears, but it’s such an interesting look at the afterlife (with heaven and angels but, somehow, no God…or at least, He is never a direct character). Beautiful movie!
Sean McDowell, another evangelical YouTuber, claims that modern films and TV using "heroes" and "battles of good vs evil", etc. are all "inspired by Christianity". Totally ignoring Greco-Roman mythology and hero stories that pre-dated Christianity by centuries. Same way they ignore how certain Greco-Roman myths…seem to have influenced the Gospels. Like Bacchus, god of wine, turning water into wine. Or Cupid, god of love, being born of the virgin goddess Aphrodite?
For me, the secular movie that deeply inspires me is the Star Wars original trilogy, specifically, The Return of the Jedi. Here Luke experiences great and understandable temptation to turn to the dark side like his father did. Instead he regects evil and chooses to goodness, love, and forgiveness instead. He is willing to sacrifice himself for man who doesn't deserve it and in this sacrificial love, he saves his father who then turns to the light right before his end.
I wish the Tolkien estate would allow movies to be made of the Similarion and the other 9 books. There’s so much world building in there.
Amazon tried with Rings of Power but they lack information and they need people who have a better grasp of the story and some educated Catholics Priests as well to help communicate the theology he built into those stories
One really good story for these days with solidly Christian tones on behavior is "Star Trek Nemesis", as far as films to be considered into this category. Though distinctly science-fiction; it has some very good stances in terms of conduct and self-mastery verses mastery over others, and the suicidal nature thereof. One of the parts that confirms it is how the monster, a fellow they call "Shinzon" at one point fully throws himself into basically leftist ideology, or almost does, about man's control over his own fate… if we are not autonomous agents with no ability to be influenced or directed from outside, then we cannot hope, even with God's aid, to get to Heaven, but if we are the only ones who determine out end-run destinies as individuals, each and every single one of us, then there is hope for us; for only through self-mastery can a man have hope of attaining moral perfection. Granted, to do so is to follow Christ, for His approach to things is the only mechanism that really will work, but if we cut out ourselves in the control seat of our own individual lives, then we really are completely unable to attain Heaven, no matter what. Only if we as individuals are the ones who dictate everything that happens in our lives do we have a chance to attain Paradise. Shinzon, as the story indicates, was something of a legend to the Romulan military- something of a war-hero of the Dominion War, but he shows really rapidly a delight in genocidal approaches that undoes his nature, and his behavior shows aplenty the hazards of biases and personal tastes, especially to those who attain any office, as well as the thoroughly corruptive nature of power- to the point that wisdom is to throw out power of any and all forms as soon as one comes into possession of it; yes, to destroy it, even in the end Heaven's strength, rather than to become one's own petty "god"; for he rapidly begins to act up in tremendous degrees, even to the degree of nearly coveting another man's wife- typical of the rulers of Imperial Rome, and other rulers in history! In reality, the only good ruler, or even acceptable one, is one who's existence has been ended by his subjects- anything else is too much to risk allowing them to exist: power corrupts and absolute power inevitably corrupts absolutely. One other film to consider, especially these days, is "Bitter Harvest", a tale of the Holodomor in world history.
Father stu I s a great movie
Instead of a list of Secular movies that have inspired you, as a Protestant, I am going to give you Secular/Catholic/Christian movies that have inspired me:
1. The Passion of the Christ – This is the best movie I can think of overall. People I know who are not Christian, and liked Horror movies, had manifestations within themselves that really shocked them from this movie. This movie moved me more than any other movie I have ever seen.
2. The Mission – A very good movie. This shows a tension of Politics vs. Real Catholic/Christians.
3. A Man for all Seasons – Again, Politics vs. Real Catholic/Christians, even if Sir Thomas More debated William Tyndale about theology, in the end, they became two of the 70,000 people King Henry VII was responsible for executing. King Henry VIII has the honorable distinction, in my opinion, of executing more Protestants when he was a Fake Catholic, and more Catholics when he was a Fake Protestant than anyone else in history.
4. The Way, 2010 – My wife an I really like this movie. It has to do with the interaction of the Actors with each other. It also has to do with the two main actors, Emilio Estevez, (the son), and Martin Sheen, (the father), are dealing with the inward dynamic of their Faith, not just in the movie, rather the movie is what is happening is a strengthening of the relationship between father and son in real life. I have the movie, it just jumps out to me from the movies listed. I have heard it is against Catholic tradition to take the ashes and scatter them on "El Camino de Santiago," yet the pilgrimage is inspiring.
Great stories have layers of meaning that keep you thinking long after they're over, and make space for different people to see different things in them and find resonance with their own lives. You picked some fantastic examples of this.
''The Green Mile'' …need I say more.
For me it's the 2004 film Hellboy
Peppered throughout the film is the typical Catholic imagery one sees used as seasoning to add some sense of the spiritual in the way that I described so derisively before. Taking from the deep well of Catholic aesthetics to sprinkle water onto what otherwise would be a dead and dry character and setting. You get the typical rosaries, crucifixes, references to Holy Water and the bones of saints being used to ward off evil, all along with more interesting tidbits like the Holy Lance that pierced the side of Christ having been possessed by the Nazis and accounted for their seemingly invincible rise to power, and it’s repossession by the Allies as being a reason for their defeat. Another is the Vatican having apparently imprisoned demons in statues, one of which had somehow made it’s way to a Manhattan museum. I’m sure it amused any prelates who watched the film, at least I sincerely hope their initial thought was humor and "not we’ve been found out."
But, beneath the banal decorations, two themes permeate the whole of the story, both of which are deeply Catholic ones. First, is the primacy of free will, the second is that Gods hand works in ways we cannot know. To choose the good and to have faith in His eventual victory over evil are essential elements of the Catholic faith, each of these are surprisingly found in Hellboy in a more direct way than is usual. While both themes have become ingrained in Western story telling over the past centuries, they are often found in modern stories in a sanitized way so that they are not being obviously connected to their foundational starting point. You’ll frequently see the idea of choosing your destiny or that good triumphs in the end in many many modern tales, but all shorn of the Christian connection and imagery. Here they are far more on display for those with the inclination to see, which is a refreshing change for this general genre of movie compared to what is on offer for today’s audience.
The Last Templar (2009, TV mini series with Mira Sorvino and Scott Foley)
I love wonder woman.
Thank you for putting Harry Potter on this list and giving it a good word!! The series is truly amazing and has so many beautiful hidden ties to our faith waiting for you to discover.
I guess I have a different point of view. On the one hand I agree. I like movies which feature self-sacrifice, heroism, forgiveness and redemption. These are quintessential Christian values and are at the core of our humanity. They are timeless.
Yet, at the same time it raises for me a question about the relationship between belief in God and human goodness. These movies, while exemplifying virtues leave God out of the picture (literally). God has no relationship to the characters. This is quite evident in the Harry Potter series. If this is the case, what is the foundation for the virtues? Why be heroic? Why be self-sacrificing? If the movies are secular, is the meaning of the virtue lost?
Is it possible to be virtuous without God? Or are humans, by nature, virtuous? St. John Paul II stated that God implants His image of goodness on the human heart. And humans are created in the image and likeness of God and, therefore, are creatures of love. If so, is it the case that every time we perform an act of love (virtue) it is God who is acting, whether we believe or not?
Courageous, War Room, Fireproof are all very well done Christian movies done by Christians. We need more like them.
I very much enjoyed this series talk on movies, I'm not sure if you haven't watched or red the Lord of the Rings books, but I would be interested in your thought process on it.
Fr Luke Bell OSB, a Benedictine monk, wrote a book called "Baptizing Harry Potter" in which he explores the Christian themes of Harry Potter.
Wonder Woman was patterned after the Pagan Goddess Diana sister of Apollo. How is that Christian?
I love Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
Has anyone seen “What Dreams May Come” with Robin Williams? It had me in tears, but it’s such an interesting look at the afterlife (with heaven and angels but, somehow, no God…or at least, He is never a direct character). Beautiful movie!
Sean McDowell, another evangelical YouTuber, claims that modern films and TV using "heroes" and "battles of good vs evil", etc. are all "inspired by Christianity". Totally ignoring Greco-Roman mythology and hero stories that pre-dated Christianity by centuries. Same way they ignore how certain Greco-Roman myths…seem to have influenced the Gospels. Like Bacchus, god of wine, turning water into wine. Or Cupid, god of love, being born of the virgin goddess Aphrodite?
E.T.
What about Life of Pi….
FINALLY someone from the clergy who speaks well of Harry Potter!
For me, the secular movie that deeply inspires me is the Star Wars original trilogy, specifically, The Return of the Jedi. Here Luke experiences great and understandable temptation to turn to the dark side like his father did. Instead he regects evil and chooses to goodness, love, and forgiveness instead. He is willing to sacrifice himself for man who doesn't deserve it and in this sacrificial love, he saves his father who then turns to the light right before his end.
How about the most obvious one? LOTR.
I wish the Tolkien estate would allow movies to be made of the Similarion and the other 9 books. There’s so much world building in there.
Amazon tried with Rings of Power but they lack information and they need people who have a better grasp of the story and some educated Catholics Priests as well to help communicate the theology he built into those stories
Harry Potter. He sacrifices himself at a place called “Kings Cross” for his friends and love. Tell me that’s not Christian.
One really good story for these days with solidly Christian tones on behavior is "Star Trek Nemesis", as far as films to be considered into this category. Though distinctly science-fiction; it has some very good stances in terms of conduct and self-mastery verses mastery over others, and the suicidal nature thereof.
One of the parts that confirms it is how the monster, a fellow they call "Shinzon" at one point fully throws himself into basically leftist ideology, or almost does, about man's control over his own fate… if we are not autonomous agents with no ability to be influenced or directed from outside, then we cannot hope, even with God's aid, to get to Heaven, but if we are the only ones who determine out end-run destinies as individuals, each and every single one of us, then there is hope for us; for only through self-mastery can a man have hope of attaining moral perfection. Granted, to do so is to follow Christ, for His approach to things is the only mechanism that really will work, but if we cut out ourselves in the control seat of our own individual lives, then we really are completely unable to attain Heaven, no matter what. Only if we as individuals are the ones who dictate everything that happens in our lives do we have a chance to attain Paradise.
Shinzon, as the story indicates, was something of a legend to the Romulan military- something of a war-hero of the Dominion War, but he shows really rapidly a delight in genocidal approaches that undoes his nature, and his behavior shows aplenty the hazards of biases and personal tastes, especially to those who attain any office, as well as the thoroughly corruptive nature of power- to the point that wisdom is to throw out power of any and all forms as soon as one comes into possession of it; yes, to destroy it, even in the end Heaven's strength, rather than to become one's own petty "god"; for he rapidly begins to act up in tremendous degrees, even to the degree of nearly coveting another man's wife- typical of the rulers of Imperial Rome, and other rulers in history!
In reality, the only good ruler, or even acceptable one, is one who's existence has been ended by his subjects- anything else is too much to risk allowing them to exist: power corrupts and absolute power inevitably corrupts absolutely.
One other film to consider, especially these days, is "Bitter Harvest", a tale of the Holodomor in world history.