DOGMA

Synopsis of Dogma

The premise of Dogma is that after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, two Angels--Loki (the Angel of Death) and Bartleby--had a few drinks to celebrate the event, and soon became intoxicated. While feeling the effects of alcohol, Bartleby explained how he was upset with Loki's blithe carrying out of God's vengeance. He then convinced Loki to have compassion for those in Hell. As a result, Loki confronted God, resigned his position as the Angel of Death, and then gave God the finger before he left. God answered by forbidding Angels from drinking alcohol, and Loki and Bartleby were eternally exiled to Wisconsin. After spending a few thousand years in the Midwest, the two angels were anonymously informed of a loophole in Catholic Dogma that would allow them to "subvert God's decree and return to Heaven." The problem with this plan is that the universe is formed on the belief that God is infallible, so if Loki and Bartleby were to successfully return to Heaven, then the world would fall apart. A group of humans and various others from Heaven form to stop Loki and Bartleby from taking down the universe.
The following are some of the unique aspects of Dogma that relate to religion:

Chris Rock plays Rufus, the unknown 13th Apostle.

Cardinal Glick (George Carlin) runs a campaign for the church called “Catholicism Wow!” which appears to be a take off of the campaign that the Catholic Church ran during the Jubilee Year.

During the “Catholicism Wow!” campaign, Glick proposes that the crucifix be replaced by “Buddy Christ,” which portrays Jesus giving the thumbs up and winking.

Jay and Silent Bob, both fixtures in all Kevin Smith movies, are prophets who are to lead Bethany (played by Linda Fiorentino) to New Jersey to stop Loki and Bartleby from entering Heaven.

There is a scene that takes place during mass that shows every one in attendance talking to each other, sleeping, and doing all things except listening to the sermon. This seems to portray the dying faith of many Catholics, who claim to hold a strong commitment to God, but just go through the motions at mass.

Movie critic Tanya Marsh writes in her review of the movie that "Dogma is an indictment of America’s misguided worship on the alter of materialism." Marsh offers the following interpretations on a couple parts of the movie:

* Cardinal Glick's "Catholicism Wow!" campaign "is a comment on America's spiritual decadence."

*The Cardinals proposal to replace the crucifix with a "Buddy Christ, reflects a country that has replaced religion with commerce, faith with self-help books."


Unlike the three other movies we chose to view for this project, the Biblical influence in Dogma is far more obvious to the viewer. Kevin Smith (writer/director) took a different and highly controversial approach in examining Catholicism, and the movies foul language and sexual references offended many Catholics. There were others though, who felt that Dogma was funny and thought provoking, and thus took no offense to the unusual portrayal of the Catholic faith.