Spiritual Films

Winter evenings, being so long and dark, are good times for families to play games, watch television, read books, or have long discussions. I love a fire in the fireplace, lots of candles, but also find this a time to watch films that expand my thinking. The best ones make me think of spiritual questions, answer them, or simply provide inspiration for living a spirit-filled life.

I cannot remember a time I have not enjoyed such movies. The first time I saw Ben-Hur was at a drive-in with my mother and brother. I loved the intensely spiritual nature of the plot and characters so much that I went back to see it a week later.

I did skip seeing one of the most popular recent such films-- The Passion of the Christ. Not because I have anything against movies about Jesus, but I knew Mel Gibson has a masochistic fascination with sadism and didn't intend to watch. I simply won't watch violent movies unless I feel I absolutely must for some greater reason-- and those reasons are rare. I value my dreams and mostly choose activities to enrich them, not bring me nightmares-- which naturally come along once in awhile no matter what I do.

There are several types of films I put under spiritual headings. The first is where the spirituality is woven within the story to greater or lesser degrees. There can be just a touch of mysticism like The Shipping News to the story of What Dreams May Come where the spiritual exploration is integral.

When films really speak to me, I buy them to watch again. None of my collection of these type of movies preach any one message, and they vary for how important an element spirituality is to the story: The Mission; The Simian Line; Bulletproof Monk; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Somewhere in Time; Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Secret of Roan Inish; Weeping Camel; The Last Samurai; Practical Magic; Timeline; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; Cold Mountain; Shipping News;Sirens; Groundhog Day; The Mothman Prophecies; Dragonfly; Seven Days in Tibet; Practical Magic; The Lakehouse; Frequency; Missing; Miracle at Sage Creek; Field of Dreams; The Illusionist; House of the Flying Daggers; the Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings series.

No, that list is not complete, and I probably skipped one of your favorites which I would love if you would mention in comments. The main thing is, for me, a spiritual film in this category has a good story, real characters and explores spiritual dimensions. It questions what spiritual power is and looks at the spiritual side of life-- real or imaginary. Sometimes they are like an adult fairy tale but one that provokes you into thinking or teaches a life lesson from simple to deep. Last week-end, I watched one of those and will write about it next blog.

For me, there is another type of spiritual film. These are where the story is incidental, if it even exists, and the sole purpose for the film is to illustrate and teach specific spiritual concepts. I have three of those-- What the Bleep do we Know? The Secret, and The Celestine Prophecy. I have already discussed The Secret in this blog and at some time plan to write about the other two.

On a winter's night, when a person has time to think and imagine, movies can entertain but also inspire. Then, if you are fortunate enough to have someone with you, you can sit by a fireplace afterward and debate their meanings-- in a crunch, a cat or dog will do. Writing about it in a blog is good also.

(The new moon is now. It's a good time for new projects, new starts, goal setting and doing deep thinking on what you want in your life. Taking time to be still and access your own heart is especially good with a new moon. This is a planting time. What do you want in your life? And how do you plan to manifest it?)