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1. What reasons are given for Brian and Jake becoming religious? How could this be seen as odd in today's society? What is the predominate view in Western society regarding devoting ones life to one's faith?
Brian and Jake's decisions to devote their lives to their religions were ones that were influenced from a young age. For Brian, it was always something he wanted to do. Brian was always called ‘A gift from God' by his mother in referral to the way that after fourteen years of trying for a baby, she and Brian's father were blessed with beautiful, healthy baby Brian. Brian then decided from a young age that he was going to ‘make it up to God'. For Jake, his decision was not quite so obvious. Jake's religion started as a hobby with Jewish swap cards. However, Jake was always a special kid and very popular, so naturally when he made the decision to become a Rabbi it was smiled upon.
Such decisions made by the two young men could easily be deceived as odd by today's western society. It is a very uncommon commitment for someone of their age to make and undoubtedly people would have had their suspicions about why they joined the priesthood etc. Perhaps people would have thought that they ‘couldn't do any better' or that they were a bit ‘simple'.
Devoting one's life to one's religion is deceived as odd these days because of a change of views by society in general. Young people these days have so many more opportunities than young people in the past have. Young people these days have more and more opportunities to start high paying executive jobs straight from school, what with such advances in the field of technology and IT. These are seen to be more appealing to young people than the strictness and discipline life of devotion to God.
. What aspects of the ministry of a Rabbi and of a priest do we gain insight into thanks the film? What aspects are missing? What expectations were placed upon Brian and Jake as religious leaders?
The film makes a very traditional statement regarding how the Jewish and Catholic ministries are deceived. The ministries are shown to be stiff lipped and customary, the Jewish ministry in particular. The Jewish parish is shown to be drab dull and boring (i.e. traditional) before Jake takes over. Jake transforms into a bright, exciting and interesting ceremony of music and good times, much to the agreement of the churchgoers, but not to the ministry or the other Rabbis. The Rabbis and the ministry argue that making such a fuss and a show out of the traditional mass and service is showing disrespect. This situation makes the ministry out to be a boring and old, afraid of change. The Catholic ministry is not shown as much as the Jewish. However there is one key scene were Anna phones Brian at the ministry at a later hour and the phone is answered by one of the older priests (perhaps a bishop) and the part we see is the older priest bringing the phone through to Brian's room. Although only a very quick scene, we quickly and easily establish a clear view of the ministry as one of tradition and strict views when the older priest quickly snaps at Brian for having a call at such an hour, disturbing his sleep, when clearly it was not Brian's fault. The spiritual, caring and kind side of the ministry was missing form the film, however it is presumed that we will carry our existing views of the church and the ministry into the film with us.
There were several expectations placed upon Brian and Jake as religious leaders. They were hard expectations to live by and often Brian and Jake chose not to live by these expectations. People expected them to be ‘the perfect man'; unable to shown any personal emotion, but still able to remain sensitive and thoughtful, as well as an active role model to the whole society, and at that, one that never slips up. These expectations are not very reasonable and it would be impossible for any human being to follow and live by them completely.
. How did Brian and Jake seek to revitalize their congregations? To what extent were they successful? What measures do religious traditions (religions) need to take, in your opinion, in order to survive?
Brian and Jake used many methods to revitalize their congregations. They proved that even the simple things count, and it was things such as their informal dress that helped make their congregations feel more comfortable. They also become personally more active within their church community, organizing interest and help groups. However they didn't just stick with the simple and easy things. They went out of their way to organize singers for their masses (and they always made an emphasis on music and involvement during mass), they constantly related and updated their masses according to current issues, and they even went out of their way during their own time to organize and start their own ‘inter-faith lounge bar' encouraging all sorts of inter-faith friendships and relationships. In my opinion, these were wonderful things to do for the community.
The Catholic Church, if it wants to survive in this new age world, has review its policies regarding issues such as divorce and contraception, just to name two things. In my opinion, people are not going to hang around long if they are condemned to follow and live by unreasonable rules and policies. People are going to become fed up and forget about the church and they will, no doubt, rejoice their freedom. The church and in general religions
4. The phrase ‘an old age God with a new age spin' is used in the film. What does this illustrate about worship and what people seek from religions?
The phrase ‘an old age God with a new age spin' refers to the way Jake and Brian took the mass and made it relevant for people in today's world.
The fact that their masses were so popular illustrates the fact that people appreciated the way that Brian and Jake took the traditional (old) beliefs and stories and modernized the morals and messages (i.e. giving it a ‘new age spin'). Their packed congregations could be seen as proof that today's people are seeking a mass that they can relate to, rather than a mass that people of past (old) times could relate to.
5. What distinction was made between faith and religion in the film? Give examples of how both were depicted in the film.
The distinction between faith and religion is made quite clear in the film. Religion being a set of structured beliefs and a way of life, and Faith being one's own personal beliefs and spiritual side. Jake presents a brilliant homily to his congregation about the importance of one's spiritual nature and personal beliefs about God and life in general.
6. What evidence is there or tension or division in both the religious communities featured in the film? How do these tensions reflect real issues being faced by religions in Western Society today?
In Jake's Jewish congregation, there is an old Jewish lady who doesn't like it when Jake organizes for the black choir singers to sing at the mass and she complains to the head of the Church. She is seen as proof that there are always people out there that aren't going to be happy about the updates that are being made to the church. They remain narrow mindedly set on the idea that if you change the church, and keep changing the church then one day there's going to be none of the same traditional church left and that there will be nothing to base our beliefs upon. This is the same issue being faced by many religions in Western society today. It is these people who refuse to accept the idea that in order to survive, churches and religions need to change slightly and ‘move with the times'
7. Comment upon how the issues of celibacy & religious prejudice were treated in the film.
a. Celibacy-
In the film it is Brian who has to deal with the issue of celibacy. He states at the start of the film that, he's fine with it, it doesn't bother him, and he just got used to it. At the start of the film he's so ‘cool' about it, that we don't even recognize it as a potential issue. However when Brian falls in love with a woman, being the spiritually in tact man he is, that he naturally develops feelings of resent.
8. What sense do we gain from the film regarding-
a. The relationship between religious traditions (religions) and society today?
The film makes light of an other wise (what can be a) heavy subject. It puts the issue of religion and religious beliefs out in the open and invites us as viewers to form opinions and to question our religious place in society. The film opens up what could other wise be a taboo subject and positions us to broaden our spiritual horizons and helps to make it a subject that we feel more comfortable discussing more openly, which is an important step that we can take as a community to help us grow together.
b. The contribution of religious traditions (religions) to society today?
Religion is an essential part of an every day spiritual life, which in turn is an important part one's self-discovery. The film gives us an understanding of the role of religion in society and one's life from a third person perspective and also positions us as a viewer to reflect (personally) upon how religion contributes to our life.
. Evaluate the treatment of religious traditions (religions) in the film. (150 00 words)
The film does an excellent job of presenting what could easily become a very heavy subject, as a light-hearted feel-good family movie. It tackles what could other wise be seen as taboo subjects and turns them into a light subject matter. The film carefully handles both religions seriously without making it into too serious a film. The film treats both religions as equal and there were never any comments or suggestions that one religion is better than the other is. The film was more about highlighting the similarities and ties between the two religions, rather than the differences. The filmmakers did an excellent job of assuring that both religions were treated fairly and that no one was offended or falsely represented.
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