Having lived for quite a while in the wonderful media city of beautiful Downtown Burbank, I got to play men’s league basketball with “The DaVinci Code” and “Angels & Demons” director Ron Howard and his brother, Clint. Ron was known for being competitive but not overly so. He was known for being a balanced guy who rarely picked fights, took low-blows, or complained to the officials.
But when something got under his skin, we always knew the jig was up. He was a pit bull. He’d never give up. If an opposing player had done something to him, he’d hawk that guy the rest of the night. If he just couldn’t hit the 15-footer from the wing, he’d keep calling for the ball and shooting it until he started making ‘em. And when he decided to get on a referee, he’d never let up.
So I wasn’t at all surprised to see him step out from behind the usual veil and engage in the apparent controversy over “Angels & Demons,” due out May 15. Beliefnet has covered it from both the news perspective and the Catholic perspective.
I’m curious about it from the pop culture perspective, and the spiritual perspective. Is this, really, purely entertainment, or is there a spiritual message behind the film. No, I’m not asking about why Dan Brown wrote the books. I’m asking about why Ron would want to make these pictures. Is it purely financial, since popular and controversial books often make for good box office revenue? Or is it for purely artistic reasons–to have the opportunity to take on a historical theme and create a unique story from it?
Or, perhaps, there is something truly spiritual going on? If so, I hope so.
There is no secret to the fact that controversy begets publicity and Mr. Howard’s participation in it fuels the fire. But so much of the political and gossip intrigue around a movie like this is based on either our media culture’s appetite for controversy or a large church organization’s desire to protect its reputation, or at least the part of it that remains.
The Barna Research Group reports that most American Christians–that is, people who claim to believe in God and the Bible–do not believe in either the Holy Spirit or the existence of Satan. Ah, the irony, then, of a movie called “Angels & Demons” being released amidst a sea of controversy.
While Mr. Howard is claiming that this is pure mystery and intrigue–and while opposing groups are asserting that Mr. Howard and his team have an anti-Catholic agenda–I believe it’s possible that many of us will get more than a wonderful movie experience when we go check this one out. We may, perhaps, be challenged to reflect and ask significant questions about what we really believe about God, spiritual matters, and churches.
And if a movie can accomplish that, then it will be one of the more successful movies of the year, regardless of what the box office reports say. Movies should be about more than just selling tickets, and I suspect “Angels & Demons” will take us deeper than “The DaVinci Code” did. I think there’s more there, and I wouldn’t want step up to argue the point with Mr. Howard!
posted April 23, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS A ANGEL IN HEAVEN AS A GOOD SOUL?
DO ANGELS TURN IN TO DEMONS AND GO TO HELL?
IS A HAPPY SOUL?HOW DO THEY LIVE UP IN HEAVEN?
DO ANGELS FIGHT THE DEMON?
NOW WHEN I DIE FROM THIS EARTH WILL I GO TO HEAVEN?
WILL I SEE MY FAMILY UP IN HEAVEN?
WELL I AM A PERSON WITH LOTS ON MY MIND WITH THE EARTH,
HEAVEN.I AM FOR IN FORMATION ON HELL INFORMATION ALSO.
posted April 26, 2009 at 11:35 am
I would like to address your questions from a biblical and Christian perspective. The Bible teaches that angels are beings who were created by God. They are not to be confused with souls. Souls are the spirits of human beings. After death, our souls (or spirits) survive and spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Christianity teaches that in order to go to heaven one must accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who came to earth to die for the sins of all humanity. It is our choice to either accept this gift or reject it. It teaches that if we do accept Jesus into our hearts and repent of our sins we are guaranteed a place in heaven where we will spend a glorious eternity worshipping God along with the angels. It will be wonderful. If we reject, the “other place” will be where we spend eternity. It is important to know that our salvation is not based on the good works we do, but rather and very simply on our acceptance that Jesus paid for our sins by dying on the cross. Demons are spiritual entities that work for Satan, the devil. Angels and Demons are constantly at war in the spirit world. Angels fight for us; demons are against us. Angels rejoice when they see that people have come to believe in Jesus. They are doing the will of God. Demons only want to see us spending eternity with them in the pits of hell and will do anything to keep us from believing in and loving God. This is the CHRISTIAN perspective. I suggest if you need more information, join a church that preaches strictly from the Bible and you will be taught the way in which you should go. I hope this has helped you. Good luck!
posted May 7, 2009 at 9:57 am
I heard something awesome this week ,saints that are saved from a life of bondage in sin (which separates us from God the Father)is the only ones that can sing amazing grace how sweet the sound ,i once was lost but now i am find,angels can`t sing that…
All i can say is that i have experienced the goodness of God the Father ,and if you have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ you will taste and know that God is good…
posted April 29, 2011 at 7:16 am
I read your comment above that the only way you can get in to heaven is to believe and if you dont you go to hell? That bothers me very much – should it not be on how you conduct your life? Improve oneself and learn by mistakes – what if you are a really good person inside and out but your mind quesitons everything and you just cant accept what the bible says as gospel as its written by man? I do believe in angels and a higher force brought up catholic but have so many doubts – the younger generation are completely turned away from all religions – are they all going to hell even though they are good intelligent people? That all sounds very harsh to me and if ever there was a time to help people believe by giving more proof its got to be now. Lots of young people do believe in a higher being just not religion? I respect the right for all people to believe as they wish and I think you can have really good wholesome people that have no religion and you can have people that go to church but end up judging people which I thought you were not supposed to do anyway! I believe in angels and energies etc and evil – but not sure about the bibles harshness towards those that have every right to question especially these days when there is little ignorance about and people are so much better educated. Should be beleive out of fear??