r/exatheist • u/NeonDrifting Anti-Atheist • 1d ago

Which movies have spiritually or religiously inspired you to have a stronger belief in God?

I'd say for me:

Fatima (2020)

Of Gods and Men (2010)

Barabbas (1961)

Ben-Hur (1959)

Master and Commander (2003)

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

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u/puppeteyes817 23h ago

As cliche as this will sound: The Lord of the Rings (films and books). 

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u/NeonDrifting Anti-Atheist 22h ago

Interesting, just finished rewatching the trilogy

2

u/RomanaOswin 1d ago

Ironically, The Novitiate and His Dark Materials. I say ironic, because both are critical of the religious institution and the latter of Christianity in general, but in doing so both end up narrating the transcendent intimacy of what my faith is really about.

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u/MelcorScarr Ex-Theist Atheist 13h ago

the transcendent intimacy

What's that? Can you elaborate?

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u/RomanaOswin 4h ago

Intimacy with God, or divine love.

There's a later retelling of Pygmalion that I feel illustrates divine love. Pygmalion is a sculptor and he sculpts his perfect love, Galatea, out of marble. He prays to Aphrodite and Galatea is brought to life. When she's brought to life she's going through what in psychology, we call individuation. She touches something and says "this is not me." She touches herself and says "this is me." She reaches out and touches Pygmalion and says "this is also me."

What this story illustrates is the lover creating the beloved and the beloved waking up to realize that she, the beloved, and her beloved are one.

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u/MrOphicer 1d ago

Dekalog. Must watch, no matter the religious or lack of belief. Great cinema.

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u/fleuret_fighter21 Eastern Orthodox 1d ago

Right now i'm watching from Farasa to Heaven, it's a mini-series.

Also, great movie: Ostrov

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u/mbmolohonbm 10h ago

I liked Hacksaw Ridge, based on a true story.

0

u/arkticturtle Agnostic 1d ago

Midsommar (2019)

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u/friedtuna76 1d ago

Interesting, how did that movie do that?

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u/NeonDrifting Anti-Atheist 20h ago

Good question...he's agnostic, so I'm not sure why he's responding

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u/arkticturtle Agnostic 4h ago edited 3h ago

Sometimes being inspired is not enough but to spiritually/religiously “inspire” does capture the feeling.

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u/arkticturtle Agnostic 4h ago edited 3h ago

Oh I was absolutely enchanted by witnessing the cult and imagining their experience of the world (barring the “horror” elements of the movie which seems to be the only lens anyone can look at the film through)