No Joy Without Jesus

My readers have probably noticed that I've been taking it easy online.  I haven't made a Gather article, blog post, or YouTube video for a while now.  Don't worry, I'm just taking a "summer break" of sorts -- spending time with friends and family, traveling, visiting amusement parks, and catching up on movies.

One movie we watched last night was The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.  It was an okay movie in my opinion; the ending made me laugh out loud.  But there's a part toward the second act that kinda erked me, and I thought I'd "share" (since it seems that's the new thing to do here).

For those who don't know, the movie is about a blue-collar mechanic named Carter Chambers (Freeman) who learns he's dying of cancer.  His roomate is none other than the hospital's owner, billionair Edward Cole (Nicholson), who's also diagnosed with cancer.  The two "opposites" eventually become friends as time goes on, and Carter makes a list of things he wants to do before he "kicks the bucket" in six-to-twelve months.  Edward adds to the list, and the two set about accomplishing the items using Edward's fortune.

All that's relevent is the fact that they are very different (yet in some ways the same -- you know, movie stuff).  So during a plane ride, when Carter looks out over the Arctic at night and mentions something about "God's creation", Edward fires back with something like, "So you think all of this is the work of some being?"

I sat up.  I'm always happy to see a non-believer in a film, but it seems that mostly they're portrayed as having some (if not all) of the following qualities:

• They don't believe in anything.  Atheism isn't nihilism.  Just because an atheist doesn't accept your god doesn't mean he doesn't have "beilefs".  I'm willing to bet that I have a lot of beliefs similar to the religious people reading this -- just not the the whole "God/gods" part.
  
  
• They view life as pointless or meaningless.  In a way, life is meaningless.  But it doesn't have to stay that way.  We can make our own meanings for living that are just as good (if not better) than getting them out of some ancient book or mystical spirit being.
  
  
• They're bitter, angry, hateful, and/or lonely.  I've been called this here on Gather numerous times.  I suppose if you accept the above two premises, then you'd be angry and lonely too.  But I don't.  Just because I don't have the "Joy of Jesus" doesn't mean I'm not (or can't be) a happy person.  I have a loving wife, I enjoy my home, my family, and my friends.  I know joy, folks, and I know how to keep myself happy.  Is being happy really some magical mystery to you religious people?
  
  
• They never seem to defend their position very well.  This may just be a personal thing, but I feel that you should at least be able to explain your reasons for your beliefs or lack there-of.  Is it too much to ask that you understand an argument before trying to express it, especially to millions of people?
  

Atheism isn't a dogma or religion, and we're all as different as people can be, so I'm not suggesting that "all athiests" are like this -- some few actually are.  But nearly every atheist I see in film or TV is portrayed with these disengionuous characteristics like it's the norm.  Why?  Maybe because a majority of filmmakers and writers don't understand atheism?  Arn't there any good non-believing writers out there (besides maybe Seth MacFarlane and Joss Whedon)?  Even awesome shows like House -- who's main character is an atheist played by an atheist -- seem to suggest that all nonbelievers are angry and hate their pointless lifes.  When are we going to see an athiest who doesn't fall into the world's standard mold, and who actually stands up with the valid, reasoned arguments that a lot of us use?  I'm sure any group would get upset when their image is tarnished.  I'm getting really sick of it...just thought I'd "share".

So you can probably guess how Edward Cole is depicted: his life is pointless.  He chased money and worldly riches, not happiness.  His life hasn't brought joy to others.  He cries alone in his room as Carter's Christian family prays and laughs together.  On the plane, Carter's defense of his religion comes down to the most basic of Christian responses.  First off, it's "by faith", and we know all about that sorry excuse for belief.  Next comes the argument from popularity -- 95% of the world can't be wrong!  Then he waxes Pascel-esque and asks "What if you're wrong?" -- Carter's the "smart" one, by the way.  Some other references are vague enough that they could be inpereted in different ways (like how Edward died with "his eyes closed and his heart open" could suggest either that he was praying the Sinner's Prayer or that he had finally found the joy he was looking for in life and died a happy man).  Sadly, this is probably the first time most people will have witnessed a conversation between a believer and nonbeliever, and they'll be re-enforced on the notion that belief is the best way to go, because like Edward said, "We've all had hundreds of these discussions, and every one of them always hits the same wall. Is there a sugarplum fairy or not? And nobody has ever gotten over that wall."

Aside from this steryotypical characterization of a non-Christian, the movie's alright.  No matter who you are or what you believe, you should live this life to its fullest.  Find things and people that make you happy.  Follow your dreams and you'll know true joy.


-STA