In this comic book creation, Constantine has the ability to see the supernatural world and tries to atone for his earlier suicide attempt by being a bounty hunter of demons escaping who have escaped hell.
Raechel Wiesz plays the part of a psychically gifted officer who searches for answers to her twin sister’s supposed suicide. She clambors to the the Catholic church in hopes of burying her sister in holy ground and is slowly directed to Constantine through a supernatural contact through her sister’s departed spirit. At once rejecting of the philosophy that some people can see the spiritual realm, Wiesz changes her view and even chooses to open herself up to that sight in hopes of discovering why her sister died.
Overall, the film is well made, theologically sound, and great fun to watch. I highly recommed it. The film deals with fallen angels, humans who can see and deal with the spiritual realm, spirits, demons, nephilim, and wars in the spiritual realm.
The film, The Prophecy, as a whole seems to be a theological question on how humans should view angels and fallen angels – a dialogue free from superstitions and fictional accounts colored by medieval tales created to strike fear in the heart of man. A new question presented is whether or not angels have souls. It is widely known and accepted that angels are spirits and at times can take on a physical form while on earth. As humans are created like God by a trichotomy of body, soul, spirit; what is it that the angel lacks? One would assume a soul.
Uncommon to many previous films, in this film all fallen angels seem very respectful to God and do not allow others to be disrespectful to God or even to profane God’s name around them. It appears that although some angels have taken a stand against what they perceive as God’s unfair treatment of them or favoritism towards men, they greatly love and revere their creator. It is reminiscent of slighted children misbehaving to get their parent’s attention.
Another theological debate comes from Lucifer’s character, played by Viggo Mortenson, in his explanation that humans know much more about warfare/misery and are much more sadistic than angels. Lucifer explains that angels, due to their exposure of God’s goodness, quickly accomplish their mission and move on. The film also attacks the modern theory that angels are here to serve humans along with the cherub looking guarding angels myth: the film continuously discusses Biblical passages that tell of angels being sent to earth to kill humans. Concurrently, the question is raised if someone would really want to meet an angel knowing that they are warriors first, messengers second, and always doers of the will of God – not compassionate in nature but obeyers and watchers.
The protagonist, a human who resembles the doubting Thomas disciple, speaks of how he always heard the voice of a loving God calling to him, but when he saw visions of the angelic war, he cried out to God in terror, God did not answer. AKA Doubting Thomas being called by Jesus, surrounded by Jesus, but when Jesus was crucified, Thomas was left vulnerable, scared, and without Christ who had always been there for him before. The protagonist, also named Thomas, is angry with Lucifer because he wants tangible proof of God. The protagonist continues to struggle with this reason being the culprit for his loss of faith – a similar comment made by many Christians that sometimes God is silent from them during difficult times when He has spoken to them before.
Lucifer, having read Thomas’ dissertation on angels, points him to remember that the similarities that tie angels and humans together is that they both require faith in the goodness and fairness of a loving God or they lose their purpose for existence. The film ends with Thomas mocking Lucifer that he has a soul and his faith back, so what could Lucifer do to him when Lucifer is left with neither, a mere angel with no faith.
Overall, the film presents many theological debates on angels and debunks all myths that fallen angels are laughable horned red devils. It is one of the primary films that left the Faustian tales of humans selling their souls and re-opened a door to intelligent theological debate. New dramas began popping up dealing more intelligently with angelic lore (Devil’s Advocate, Constantine, etc) leaving behind the medieval name and theory of only one “Devil” and has ascribed to the intelligent educated theological debates of the great theologians who tried to decipher the various psychologies, stratagems, and spiritual attributes of entities of Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial, Satan, and other fallen angels. The trend continues and has expanded to include nephelim lore with two new television series airing currently. The questions remaining from the film: Were angels jealous of humans, or did they lose their faith in God’s will/plan? Also: If Lucifer fell and Satan fell, what is stopping other angels from falling since the time of the Bible? An interesting question in light of angelic visitations resulting in new religions being formed which cancel out the salvation of the soul through grace and return to salvation through good works (similar to that of the angels). Hmm. A bit of tit for tat, perhaps?
Chill Factor: 0
Sublime Insight: 0 Well, I just finished reading Angel’s Blood. And, yes, of course, the title got me to buy the book right then and there. For theologians, this is not the book for you unless you are able to throw out all your knowledge to jump into the story. I literally had to shake my head trying to jerk my mind from slamming out the freedoms taken by the writer. There is a comment in the novel that not many people know much about angels, and I would have to strongly disagree with that statement. Granted, some people falsely think that pudgy cherubs are angels and the author didn’t, but still the author really didn’t do her homework.
The fictional world created would be if the fallen angels (principalities) that ruled the world were out in plain day. In this author’s world, angels created vampires to worship them and be there slaves. To angels, mortals were beneath their existence. Oh, and there is no God. Yes, all legends say that angels are warriors and messengers of God yet in this author’s universe there is no God, but the author does use the Judeo-Christian levels of angels, archangels, etc. Odd. It’s too weird till you blank out knowledge to jump into the story which takes a very long time to accomplish. The author’s angels have wings, can be born, can create zombies, think of themselves as gods, and rule the earth in front of all media.
One outside interesting note, the author’s angels were often the gods of ancient times – similar to my novel but my angels were fallen angels. Her fallen angels are good till they go insane and turn vampire themselves.
So, I found the story entertaining but overly combative emotionally….how to explain….Hmm. Often I would physically jerk because a character’s reaction/comment was so over the top and overly dramatic. Sometimes I even verbalized my thoughts, “What the heck?” before I realized I was doing so.
If you would not like to read of a fallen angel sexually obsessing over a mortal hunter who he eventually falls in love with, don’t read this book. If you won’t be able to get past the vast Biblical inaccuracies of angels in order to enjoy the story, then don’t read this book.
Will I read the sequel? No. The mentality of the archangel is intriguing, but the heroine is so annoying.
While in Indianapolis visiting bookstores to sign stock copies of Sons of God, I began talking to one of the managers who began asking me lots of questions on the Nephelim – the main characters in my series which are documented in the Old Testament as the children of angels and mortals. We discussed some of the research in the back of the novel of similar entities in religions – ancient and modern – from all around the world.
She had just read of the Raven Mockers discussed in the House of Night Series, book 4 which I did not have in my research, so I wanted to mention them here in the blog. The manager described the legendary creature of Cherokee lore to be the same as the Nephelim, and I was very unhappy I had missed a bit of research; however, from what little I’ve looked into things thus far, a Raven Mocker consumes a dying person’s soul in order to stay immortal – hence the name raven mocker since ravens are scavenger birds that eat corpses.
I haven’t seen anything yet of their parentage in actual Cherokee lore, but I’m sure I will come across it soon. In the meantime, I have bought the first book in the House of Night Series and will continue through to book 4 to see all the author has to say about it. I’m slightly obsessive compulsive on finishing task lists so I cannot read book 4 without reading everything preceding it.
The evil Nephelim in the Sons of God novel series are known historically to drink blood and historically were known as vampires “blood drinker.” I could see a philosophical connection between drinking blood and ending a life to consuming a soul since both result in death via their life source – the nonphysical soul or the physical blood (from the ancient quotes that “life is in the blood”).
The manager said that the Raven Mockers in the House of Night series were descendants of a fallen angel named Kalona who raped several Cherokee women. In a quick perusal I haven’t found anything on this; however, I have found that the Cherokee Medicine Men cast spells to protect the dying from invisible evil spirits – one being Kalona who screeches like a raven – who try to hasten death so that they may use some of the “unsaved life” for their own immortality, but I’m not understanding that because……. Well, I’m not going to say anything till I read all the books thus far and do some research……more than just a quick looksie online. But so far it appears that the author took some creative license on the Cherokee lore.
Well, I must say that I waited to finish this post until I had read some more of the books. I did not finish this series and do not plan on doing so. I am a believer in God and do not like reading Bible thumping Christian fiction. So I really did not like this series which is Wiccan thumping – I don’t like any religion being hit over my head in entertainment fiction. It is very anti-Christian, and I found it quite offensive. The characterization of all “people of the faith (AKA Christian)” is one dimensional and flat. All hateful. All stupid. All controlled by a few close minded people. Etc, Etc. Seriously, if Christians were so well controlled by a few, there wouldn’t be so many denominations or church splits from differing theologies/interpretations of scriptures.
In all honesty, there are some mean Christians out there. I don’t happen to be one. And unfortunately there was a time when greedy Papists kept the masses in the dark which led to the atrocious Crusades which is the opposite of what Christ commands us to do – love others more than ourselves. But Wicca? Anyone who does their research will learn that pagan rituals have included thousands of human and child sacrifices to gods/goddesses/spirits/demons/fallen angels/etc to bribe a diety into giving them something they want. How is that so beautiful as this series proclaims it?
“Hmmm. I want a child of my own. You, I will kill your child so that I may have one.”
I must say that I greatly enjoyed this film. I always love a film that combines horror and intelligence, and they come few and far between. The story surrounds a woman who lost her faith on the mission field when her husband and daughter were sacrificed by the natives to end a drought that had begun when they arrived. The protagonist, Hillary Swank, alters her career and moves about the world scientifically disproving supernatural miracles by scientific reasons.
The main story begins when a Louisiana, small town man asks her for help because his entire town is blaming a little girl for hexing the town with the ten plagues of the Bible. Catherine’s (Hillary Swank) past comes back to haunt her when she realizes that human sacrificing seems to be at the root of the problem….
I can’t say anymore or I will give away some of the movie; however, it is true that human sacrificing still occurs in the world today. Although western media does not pick up and run with these stories, that does not mean that they do not occur. It seems sad that America’s media is quick to find any fault with Christianity, but it does not condemn tribes or the practice of child sacrifice.
Even in Africa, a Ju Ju priest has mentioned that the human sacrificing rituals may be one of the reasons why the AIDS epidemic is spreading so quickly in Nigeria. Hmmm. Yeah. Maybe. Perhaps, I should re-read that article to see why he thinks the rituals would be spreading AIDS. Below are links to some articles on items I’ve discussed before.
After a rash of similar killings in the area — according to an unofficial tally in the English language-language Hindustan Times, there have been 25 human sacrifices in western Uttar Pradesh in the last six months alone — police have cracked down against tantriks, jailing four and forcing scores of others to close their businesses and pull their ads from newspapers and television stations. The killings and the stern official response have focused renewed attention on tantrism, an amalgam of mysticism practices that grew out of Hinduism.In India, case links mysticism, murder – John Lancaster, Washington Post, 11/29/2003)
Police in Khurja say dozens of sacrifices have been made over the past six months. Last month, in a village near Barha, a woman hacked her neighbour’s three-year-old to death after a tantrik promised unlimited riches. In another case, a couple desperate for a son had a six-year-old kidnapped and then, as the tantrik chanted mantras, mutilated the child. The woman completed the ritual by washing in the child’s blood. “It’s because of blind superstitions and rampant illiteracy that this woman sacrificed this boy,” said Khurja police officer Ak Singh. “It’s happened before and will happen again but there is little we can do to stop it. In most situations it’s an open and shut case. It isn’t difficult to elicit confessions — normally the villagers or the families of the victims do that for us” …. According to an unofficial tally by the local newspaper, there have been 28 human sacrifices in western Uttar Pradesh in the last four months. Four tantrik priests have been jailed and scores of others forced to flee. “Indian cult kills children for goddess: Holy men blamed for inciting dozens of deaths”, The Observer , Dan McDougall in Khurja, India, Sunday March 5, 2006
Murmu had sacrificed Chirku Besra before Goddess Kali on December 11, 1996 and dumped the head in a pond. Advocate Anil Kumar Mittal, counsel for Murmu, had contended that though superstition was not expected and encouraged in a modern society, yet an illiterate tribal brought up in an atmosphere surcharged with superstition should not be awarded death penalty. (Read the whole article at http://www.religionnewsblog.com/5453)
Milton Blahyi, a former feared rebel commander in Liberia’s brutal civil war, has admitted to taking part in human sacrifices as part of traditional ceremonies intended to ensure victory in battle.
Milton Blahyi fought Charles Taylor’s forces in the war
He said the sacrifices “included the killing of an innocent child and plucking out the heart, which was divided into pieces for us to eat.”
Read more at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7200101.stm
The prison warden told us of over 200 cases of childsacrifice in these parts over the last seven years. He told us incidents of childsacrifice are often covered up. (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4903390.stm)
The childsacrifice allegations have alienated them even further because they have all been tarred with the same brush.” (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5002054.stm)
Members of the workshop said for spells to be powerful it required a sacrifice of a male child unblemished by circumcision,” the report said. (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4098172.stm)
The murder was reportedly inspired by a Hindu goddess that the women worshipped who had told them to sacrifice the child. (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3740830.stm)
Killing for ‘Mother’ Kali
By Alex Perry atapurMonday, Jul. 22, 2002 (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501020729-322673,00.html)
By Rahul Karmakar in Guwahati, north-eastern India
Indian temple revives ‘human sacrifice’
Human sacrifice was thought to have died out
Followers of a Hindu cult in India’s north-eastern state of Assam have revived the ancient practice of human sacrifice.(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1908706.stm)
Isaiah Oke, a former Ju Ju priest from Nigeria, documented one such human sacrifice he attended, and blames Africa’s current AIDS cirisis on Ju Ju’s use of …
usminc.org/humansacrifice.html – 87k -
The film, The Prophecy, as a whole seems to be a theological question on how humans should view angels and fallen angels – a dialogue free from superstitions and fictional accounts colored by medieval tales created to strike fear in the heart of man. A new question presented is whether or not angels have souls. It is widely known and accepted that angels are spirits and at times can take on a physical form while on earth. As humans are created like God by a trichotomy of body, soul, spirit; what is it that the angel lacks? One would assume a soul.
Well, I just finished reading Angel’s Blood. And, yes, of course, the title got me to buy the book right then and there. For theologians, this is not the book for you unless you are able to throw out all your knowledge to jump into the story. I literally had to shake my head trying to jerk my mind from slamming out the freedoms taken by the writer. There is a comment in the novel that not many people know much about angels, and I would have to strongly disagree with that statement. Granted, some people falsely think that pudgy cherubs are angels and the author didn’t, but still the author really didn’t do her homework.
