MovieChat Forums > I Am Wrath (2016) Discussion > The chaplain

The chaplain

posted 8 years ago by werecow2003
5 replies | jump to latest

OK, pet peeve / slightly triggered.

I think the chaplain at the start of the movie was being unintentionally quite rude when offering the bible and rosary beads to Travolta's character. This kind of thing actually happens a lot in real life, and I can sort of see why some people might not think of it that way, since this attitude is so commonplace, but if so, consider the following scenario:

Someone you loved has died, and has a nonreligious ceremony. You, being a religious person, say your goodbyes. The person presiding over the ceremony notices you're wearing a religious symbol around your neck. He then proceeds to hand you a copy of God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. You say "No thank you, I'm not an atheist.". His response is "I know, that's why I'm giving it to you.".

Now, I think people might rightfully see that kind of thing as highly inappropriate and rather disrespectful. Why is it that the reverse situation is almost universally tolerated, and is even seen as a kind gesture?

[–] Status_Quo_Vadis 8 years ago

Because religious people, particularly Christians, are in the vast majority and the opinions and customs of the vast majority, be they right or wrong, have the greatest influence and acceptance by society.

[–] CromeRose 8 years ago

You say "No thank you, I'm not an atheist.". His response is "I know, that's why I'm giving it to you.".

Because saying "I only came to church for my wife" - which is what Travolta's character actually says in the movie - is different than what you're saying above. In the case of this movie, the chaplain's meaning is that he's giving it to Travolta's character because the wife would want him to have it. So, not really rude when taken in the correct context and without putting your "I want to bitch about religious nuts" spin on it.

[–] werecow2003 8 years ago

So what you're saying is, he can offer you God Is Not Great if he knows the loved one you just lost was a staunch atheist (who would want you to have it), and then it wouldn't be rude? I respectfully disagree.

[–] CromeRose 8 years ago

Nope, I'm saying that in the reality of the movie story, in the scene in question, from which we can infer that the chaplain knew the couple, knew the wife was a devout believer, probably already knew that the husband went to church just to keep her happy, and in that case said what he said meaning "yep, sure buddy, I knew you and your wife, I knew she was a church-goer and that you only came to please her and that's why I'm offering you this because I know she'd want you to have it." In the reality of the movie story, the loved one was not a "staunch atheist" and so the chaplain did not offer "God Is Not Great" - but hey, since we're making things up that didn't happen in the reality of the movie story, then I make up that no, the chaplain probably would not have offered anything if the loved one had been a staunch atheist - he probably would have respectfully kept his mouth shut out of consideration for his parishioner's feelings.

[–] werecow2003 8 years ago

Nope, I'm saying that in the reality of the movie story, in the scene in question, from which we can infer that the chaplain knew the couple, knew the wife was a devout believer, probably already knew that the husband went to church just to keep her happy, and in that case said what he said meaning "yep, sure buddy, I knew you and your wife, I knew she was a church-goer and that you only came to please her and that's why I'm offering you this because I know she'd want you to have it."

Oh, OK, so if I knew you and your loved one, and I knew you were a believer and the loved one was a staunch atheist, and you only went to skeptics in the pub meetings to please her, then it would not be rude of me to offer you some atheist manifesto. Sorry, but I still disagree.

In the reality of the movie story, the loved one was not a "staunch atheist" and so the chaplain did not offer "God Is Not Great"

In the reality of the movie, the loved one was a devout believer, and so he offered a bible. I fail to see the difference with the analogy I gave.

but hey, since we're making things up that didn't happen in the reality of the movie story, then I make up that no, the chaplain probably would not have offered anything if the loved one had been a staunch atheist - he probably would have respectfully kept his mouth shut out of consideration for his parishioner's feelings.

In other words, pushing your beliefs on someone in a moment of crisis is disrespectful and inconsiderate of that someone's feelings, which was the point I was making with the analogy in the first place. Thanks!