Hindus criticize Angels & Demons
By Alexandra Heilbron on May 4, 2009 | 21 Comments
Hindus are criticizing the makers of the upcoming film Angels & Demons. Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said in a statement that faith is sacred and attempts at belittling it hurt devotees. He believes that filmmakers should be more sensitive and careful when handling faith related subjects, saying cinema is a very powerful medium. Zed stressed that films should entertain but should not come at the expense of ridiculing others’ faith and spreading disinformation. Replying to the question of why Hindus are concerned when the movie takes on the Roman Catholic Church, Zed said that despite different traditions, both religions are seekers of the Ultimate Reality and are on the same path. Zed further said that makers of Angels & Demons should insert a disclaimer in bold letters in the beginning and towards the end of the movie explaining that it was purely the work of fiction.
Hindus should not watch this movie.
Is there more ‘fiction’ in this movie than in actual religious texts? Who’s ‘spreading disinformation’?
Religious texts should have that \disclaimer in bold letters in the beginning and towards the end of the movie explaining that it was purely the work of fiction\ more than most movies. i think by now most people know the majority of movies are fiction based. the ones that aren’t typically advertise that fact.
i completely agree with this article. if they are going to portray any type of religion in a movie, they should at least get the facts straight and follow what the religion really does/says. for people that have no idea about other religions (such as myself) they may really believe that this is factual information regardless of whether or not the movie its self is fiction. i do think that at the beginning of movies with religion they should have some type of disclaimer if they have not followed the religions facts completely. i dont think he meant to state that the movie is “purely the work of fiction” but perhaps the religious views demonstrated within the film.
Movies are made for entertainment value, no one forces you to go see them. If u have a problem with it, don’t go see it……
I agree, mousie, also if they put in a disclaimer for this, then they’d end up having to have disclaimers for pretty much every movie, because there’s always someone who will complain about the content. I understand the sensitivity issues, but I think it’s been taken way too far.
I loved the book, can’t wait for the movie, I don’t care what anyone says…it brings science and religion together, and even though I have my own personal beliefs, it does make you think hard about them. I hope the movie is better than the Divinci Code though, but that book was awsome too.
I’m so sick and tired of hearing about a person/organization complaining that a movie/book has somehow offended them or their beliefs. Whatever happened to freedom of expression? Angels and Demons was a brilliant work of art. Absolutely genius. I don’t think the book (or the movie) ridicules any religion, but merely presents questions/scenarios that no one has before. Is that so wrong? Why are we condemning Dan Brown and his work for presenting us with fascinating and different views and opinions on the sanctity of religion? Why is it that we can’t question or doubt religion without facing backlash? Not everyone wholly believes in religion and the sanctity of God, and it’s just as much our right to express those opinions and beliefs as it is the right of religious leaders to express their beliefs in God.
I really hope the request for a disclaimer is a joke. I completely agree with you tributegirl. If a precedent is set, when and where will it ever end?
If people are foolish enough to believe everything they see on a movie screen, then they are equally deserving of any and all embarrassment and confusion which results from their own assumptions.
BTW, doesnt Rajad’s points ignore the views of agnostics and atheists? That doesnt seem very “sensitive”, now does it? Last count I heard there was only about a billion of them in the world….so much for not ridiculing others’ beliefs…..
im not saying every movie should have a disclaimer about everything. but if youre going to do a movie about religion USE FACTUAL INFORMATION to do it. dont use things that are not actually within that religion and then expect no one to complain.
Mandee, wouldn’t it just be easier if people just stopped believing everything they saw in movies or in books? We don’t need disclaimers, just the common sense to know that most movies and books are stories that are exaggerated and embellished.
these organizations are such pieces of crap and so full of shit . This book had nothing to do with hindus why is a hindu organization so worried . they just make these statements to get some attention and a few hits on their websites. 90% of the movies are fiction and you cant write that in the beginning of every movies.. you are supposed to ” suspend your disbelief” and watch it like its real. and the ones that are Real do say ” a true story”
so its a piece of art/fiction
Enjoy it!
You mean….all this time….those little alien space ships in the movie Independence Day….weren’t real?
😀
Sorry, Nancy, but no, they weren’t real! 😉 And notice no one complained about that!
This book/movie is a work of fiction, and should be taken as such. And really, if someone goes into a movie theatre and totally believes everything they see on the screen, does anyone think that person is really smart enough to read/understand a disclaimer anyway?
I’m also wondering why this Hindu is speaking on behalf of Roman Cathlics. I’m pretty sure if the Catholics were upset by this movie, they would be able to speak out on their own!
Mandee, it is fiction, therefore disclaimers are not needed and neither are facts. If you read the book, you’d know they were creating something worse than the A-Bomb or Osoma Bin Laden (which is worse). It is fiction, but, I agree with R0ckst4r that it does make you question what and why you believe, and can actually make what you believe stronger. But, just enjoy it. The book was absolutely amazing.
Disclaimers….didn’t Disney go through something like that years ago…they were scared kids might try some of that foolishness, like jump off a cliff like wylie coyote…the world has gone mad!
you all catch idol tonight? i think they were all awesome, but alison and adam (on their own, then as a duet) were breath-takingly amazing. what did you guys think?
Yeah, mandee, I saw it, and I cannot believe Alison is gone! She showed such strength for such a young person, belting out her song while the tears flowed. I think she has a very bright future ahead of her anyway. They all do.
i completely agree, and it broke my heart that she had to leave!! her and adam are the most promising ones on there, i cant wait for them to come out with their own music.
I was hoping she’d come in second, Adam first. But I hope she & Adam take the judges advise & do a song together, because their performance together was nothing short of amazing!!! Now I can’t wait for this weeks shows!!! I have to work Tues evening, so I will miss some, but I’m off Wed evening, phew! I had never gotten into Idol before, except for the auditions, which I think are hilarious, but I’m really into this season.
yeah i dont like the middle ground of idol. i like the auditions and the top 7. i really hope they make a duet too!!! i expected her to be second, ive been wanting adam to win since i first saw him, do you remember? lol. i didnt know his name then because i didnt ever watch it. if you miss it, you can watch their performances on i think its americanidol.com or you could just type in american idol in yahoo and it will bring you there. it will also tell you underneath what the judges said about the performances. i work usually every tuesday. i think my work is closing soon, hes stopped ordering everything so we are almost out of bagels and cups and everything, and the order should have been there thursday. plus he didnt tell me yet if i work monday or not (he doesnt tell me my whole schedule til like tuesday :@ but, i dont even know if i work MONDAY !)
Well, that’s very “nice” of him to keep his employees, who rely on their jobs to make money to SURVIVE, informed as to whether they will have a job the next day! He sounds very selfish.
i sure think he is. he doesnt have any idea how to run a business.