Pop culture references to fundamentalist theology

[bmasters1981]

There are at least two pop culture references that have come to my mind lately regarding fundamentalist theology:

In a season 4 episode of Star Trek: Voyager entitled "Random Thoughts," Torres (Roxann Dawson) is accused of thinking about hitting someone who bumped into her. Nimira (Gwynth Walsh) calls it "aggravated violent thought resulting in grave bodily harm." Later, when Janeway asks how this will be handled, Nimira talks about their "enlightened penal system": "Unlike some, we don't lock people away to punish them. You'll be released...once you've undergone the engramatic purge." The "engramatic purge," IINM, seems somewhat like what fundamentalist churches do when they think their members have Satan or demons in them; in other words, it seems like it might be a Star Trek version of an exorcism.

Another one is from the 2010 film Ramona and Beezus, in that Ramona (Joey King) in one scene goes up into her house's attic; she then falls through the ceiling and gets stuck and has to be rescued. Later, her father rips her a new one for causing that scene and embarrassing him. He says, "You said you were going to be more responsible. It's time to grow up." Ramona says, "Dad, can't you see I'm trying?!" Her father says, "Well, you better try harder." The message: this is apparently what fundamentalist churches do with regard to theology; they think that this is what it's about (doing more for God, tithing more, going on missions), when really you'll do these things for God because you're thankful that He saved you, not so that you'll stay perfect.

[That'sWhatItSays]

What about Apocalypse Now when Robert Duvall's character says he loves the smell of napalm in the morning? A total nutjob in love with the destruction of the war. Guess what? Robert Duvall would later play a fundamentalist, pentecostal preacher in a film he produced called, The Apostle. Coincidence? I think not.

[bmasters1981]

(08-03-2012 01:09 PM)ThatsWhatItSays Wrote:  What about Apocalypse Now when Robert Duvall's character says he loves the smell of napalm in the morning? A total nutjob in love with the destruction of the war. Guess what? Robert Duvall would later play a fundamentalist, pentecostal preacher in a film he produced called, The Apostle. Coincidence? I think not.

Good answer! I looked that up on the IMDB entry for that film under the Quotes section, and it was indeed as you said. There are probably more where that came from.