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View Full Version : Whats the true(st) religion(s) in the Indiana Jones universe?


chicago103
03-09-2007, 05:34 PM
I thought about this after reading the "leap of faith" thread. In Indiana Jones it is shown that the supernatural is real however it is contradictory as to what religion is true or the most true.

Raider's of the Lost Ark is about the Ark of the Covenant which is a Judeo/Christian artifact and the Holy Grail is a Christian artifact thus from just looking at that it appears that Christianity is the true religion of the Indiana Jones universe.

What throws a wrench in that theory though it the Temple of Doom which shows the Shankara Stones a cleary non Judeo/Christian artifact, Hindu in fact to have supernatural powers, powers that can be used for good.

So how does one reconcile those two conflicting things? I think the most plausable explanation is that the true religion/spiritual reality of the Indiana Jones Universe is a pluralistic one where multiple religions have at least some truth to them. There is a strong orientation towards Christianity but at the same time other spiritual traditions are not completly false nor evil as a Christian fundamentalist would believe. The Holy Grail implies Christ's divinity is true but it could also be that God manifested himself in other ways to other people (Hindus, etc.) via the Shankara Stones, etc so Christianity would not be the only path to God.

What do you think? The theology of Indiana Jones is interesting and has even shaped my own religious beliefs in a pluralistic fashion.

Finn
03-09-2007, 07:21 PM
Unknown supernatural, in the form of an "one and the same" entity. No specified "Christian Supernatural" or "Hindi Supernatural" or "Supernatural whatever". Just supernatural.

Because, in the end, different religions are simply different interpretations to it. Some perhaps hitting closer to the mark than others.

fedoraboy
03-12-2007, 07:22 AM
While the Supernatural does exist in Indy (that's one of the way's it is different from the real world) no SPECIFIC religion need prevail. The grail, the ark, the power of the Shankara stones, all indicate the possible presence of a deity but we needn't be specific, as Finn said, all religions are just different interpretations of god's possible existence.

Having said that, the idea of a god (be it the all powerful vengeful old testement god of Raiders, or the forgiving, healing new testement god of Crusade) in the Indy films seems to stick pretty close to the god of The Bible, and I'm pretty sure Indy was brought up Christian, although he is rejectful, I imagine, of many religious beliefs and ideals. Therefore, symbolically if nothing else, I'd say Christianity is the truest religion within the Indy universe...

Benudo
03-14-2007, 10:34 PM
Remember, chicago, that the Thuggee cult in Doom is also portrayed as "true," if by true you mean it has a functional supernatural component. Whenever I drink blood I don't enter into a nightmare from which I never wake up. Knock on wood...

intergamer
03-14-2007, 11:36 PM
Whenever I drink blood I don't enter into a nightmare...

You probably haven't tried it enough times, it took me dozens of experiences drinking the blood of virgins before I was able to reach this state.

ChickenStu1
03-15-2007, 05:13 PM
You probably haven't tried it enough times, it took me dozens of experiences drinking the blood of virgins before I was able to reach this state.

Dude, I'm sure you are nice guy, but it sounds like you need help. A lot of help.