Cited: Kushner, Tony. Angels in America. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1993. Print.
Cited: Kushner, Tony. Angels in America. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1993. Print.
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s documentary “Jesus Camp” is an eye-opening display of the intense power which can be directly associated with the belief of a deity, or some form of higher power. Following Pentecostal children’s pastor Becky Fischer and her unsettling children’s camp “Kids on Fire”, viewers are shown a series of clips demonstrating their deep-seated religious conviction. Among the various dialogue and imagery portrayed throughout Jesus Camp, the direct correlation between such a film and the demonic theory becomes increasingly apparent. Not only is power equated with the church, those who falter in their beliefs are looked down upon. Furthermore, speaking frequently of the temptation of sin, the acceptance of Jesus, and the ultimate…
“If our Lord wasn't testing us, how would you account for the proliferation, these days, of this obscene rock and roll music, with its gospel of easy sexuality and relaxed morality? “…
Specifically, Prior begins to describe his encounter with the Angel after his well-being is brought into question following the funeral of a mutual friend who was a drag-queen. After the funeral, Prior states, “That ludicrous spectacle in there, just a parody of the funeral of someone who really counted. We don’t; faggots; we’re just a bad dream the real world is having” (Kushner 168). This shows his overall distaste with his friend’s “joke” of a funeral and declaring that it’s a mockery of what funerals should be, highlighting the rather popular mentality that homosexuals were “less than” regular heterosexual individuals. In response to this rather brash statement, Belize comments upon Prior’s rather strange mood and appearance, stating, “Lately…
“In the pursuit of wrongdoing, one must step away from god.” (Shanley) These are the words that sum up the very being of our story. John Patrick Shanley wrote Doubt: A Parable (2004) and “Doubt” (2008), though the tone is vastly different throughout the stories. Comparing the play and the movie will show how much can be added within the visual realm of the silver screen as opposed to the mental world of written word or limited location of the stage. In 2002, the Boston Globe erupted with tales of priestly molestation, dominated by accusations of altar boy rapes and gay priests run amuck. (Culingford) One of Shanley’s cousins accused a clergyman of sexual abuse,…
Each and every character in Angels in America faces changes in some degrees but each character reacts differently to the situation. In the beginning of the play, when the characters first face changes, they all are afraid of changes and prefer comfort life by denying what is happening to them. For example, when Louis finds out that Prior has AIDS, he leaves Prior even though he knew it was not the right thing to do. Prior also struggles after the angel visited him and tells him that he is going to be a prophet.…
In 2009, more then 4.5 million evangelical memberships in the United States were recorded and between 2006 and 2013, the number of Evangelical Protestants –also called Born Again- rose by 11.2 percent. The evangelical population is part of a bigger group -the Protestants representing more then 50 percent of the American population- and represents almost 30 percent of this larger group (Frejka 8). By growing and changing people’s way of thinking, this group will cause huge social changes in the U.S. The documentary describes Becky Fisher creating an “army of God” so that these children would be able to turn America toward conservative Christian values and social change. She also says that America needs to focus on training their children just as “the enemy” (the other religions) is doing. Her goal is to create a youth group believing in her cause and train them to become future leaders of big groups, firms, and probably even government parties and one day becoming president. These children will defend their cause in leadership roles. In Jesus Camp, the filmmakers try to chronicle this story with an objective point of view. However, we clearly observe the fact that they are against this idea of using a training ground for soldiers, recruits (here children) born-again to become an active part of America’s political future. This essay will detail three big issues seen in this film. The first one being of course religion and the way it is used. The second point the education the children have and the indoctrination it implies. And finally, the third point is both the qualities and problems socialization could involve in this case.…
Trollope’s background gave her deep respect and reverence for religious practices but not for the dramatic and enthusiastic Evangelicalism which she encountered in America. She constantly compared the chaos and oddities of American religious practices with the more refined state of the Established Church of England. She believed it strange “that “the most intelligent people in the world” should prefer such a religion as this, to a form established by the wisdom and piety of the ablest and best among the erring sons of men.” (99) In the opinion of Trollope, American religious practices were the most objectionable difference between the Americans and the English because their ways and environments didn’t live up to Trollope’s high expectations.…
Robert Penn Warren, in his novel All The King’s Men, examines the modern man’s quest to live a simple existence—a life, void of sin, in which man endeavors to discover truth. Jack Burden, the novel’s protagonist and narrator, is thrust onto the political scene when his managing editor instructs him to travel up to Mason City to “see who the hell that fellow Stark is who thinks he is Jesus Christ” (51). The comparison between Willie Stark, the governor of Louisiana, and Jesus Christ emerges as an important association because, even though Jack knows of Willie’s corruption and sin, he reveres Willie as a father figure; Jack’s search for the truth, the identity of his father, is one of the main crises in the novel. While Robert Penn Warren’s All The King’s Men is certainly a political commentary, religion plays an interesting role in the novel: Warren employs biblical and religious references to emphasize the convictions of certain characters and to explore the value of truth.…
Throughout life, everyone has different roads they have to travel, some easy and some difficult: “For some of us, one mile can be more to walk than thirty” (164). The road of Angel, a young prostitute, is dark and hope is lost until she is rescued by Michael Hosea, a man called by God to marry her. Although Angel is extremely stubborn, she slowly opens her heart and learns to trust, but she still feels unworthy of his love and she continuously runs away. Each time she runs, Michael chases after her, bringing her back to her home and shows her the undying love he and God have for her. As more people are brought into her life, she continues to…
Is homosexuality a genetic trait we’re born with, or do we choose this lifestyle? Is it a lack of father and a more involved mother? Why do people think this is abnormal? There are so many questions that people have about homosexuality, their beliefs on it, and why they think it is wrong or right. I have heard so many people say, “It’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” Why does religion have a profound effect on why people believe that homosexuality is wrong; that homosexuals are automatically doomed to hell? Gay people have lived a daunting life for centuries because people think that being homosexual is out of the “norm” and that God created everyone to procreate. God created everyone equal, and he taught us to love one another. People often wonder, and I have personally been told this,” that people choose this lifestyle. The story,” Foundations of the Earth”, provides the reader with a vivid image on religion and homosexuality. People use religion to answer many of life’s problems, especially when it comes to moral topics such as homosexuality; whether it’s right or wrong, negative or positive.…
In “Angel Levine,” by Bernard Malamud, the character Manischevitz is living a dreadful, gloomy period in his life, that is filtered with a series of unfortunate events. Surprisingly he is visited by an angel, whose name is Alexander Levin and happens to be Jewish and of colored skin. During their first encounter, Manischevitz is skeptical about Levine being an authentic angel.…
Kennedy, Eugene. The Unhealed Wound: The Church and Human Sexuality. New York: St. Martin 's Press, 2002.…
In his article, “What Really Ails America,” author William J. Bennett presents his argument as to why America is now viewed as a country that no longer possesses a virtuous, morally sound society. According to Bennett, this change in society was brought about by an aversion to spiritual and religious things. This lack of spirituality and religion has skewed the perception of what is now considered to be ethical in this country. Bennett not only makes note of the issues, but also goes on to explain why this is happening in society, and what can be done to get back on track. Although he is accurate in noting that America is indeed a “society in decline” in terms of morals, the idea that full blame is to be placed on a lack of spiritual beliefs is deficient.…
Putnam, Robert D., and David E. Campbell. American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010. Print.…
Kristof, Nicholas. (2004, November 1). Just what does the bible say about gays? The Age Company Ltd. Retrieved April 26, 2008, from http://www.theage.com.au/articles…