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Werewolf Religion and Belief Systems

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:32 pm
by Blade-of-the-Moon
We have already began disscusing this topic in the thread Death and Remains if anyone needs to look back. At Figarou's suggestion I deceided that although Death was connected with religion there was enough space between them for a seperate topic, I also decided to add a poll to this one so this subject does still relate to the film. The outcome of the poll should also in no way hamper the discussion of this subject. If anyone does wish to repost their ideas from the other thread that would be fine, then we will not have to keep going back and forth.... :D

In regards to your answer in the poll, please take into consideration all aspects that religion would affect.

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:17 pm
by Bete
I chose "small part with hints in wardrobe or action" because I lean more towards a non-religious werewolf movie mindset, with the religion part only being in the mentioning of the topic of the werewolf "curse" itself.

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:09 pm
by Blade-of-the-Moon
Bete wrote:I chose "small part with hints in wardrobe or action" because I lean more towards a non-religious werewolf movie mindset, with the religion part only being in the mentioning of the topic of the werewolf "curse" itself.
That would work with the curse scenerio since there would probably be no history to be passed down and thus no religion either.

Hints in wardrobe would be crusifixes, crosses, or medicine bags and feathers. I wouldn't mind seeing a werewolf with a nice bone necklace either. Maybe tattoos or belt buckles would work as well ?

I don't think we should go too much into religion but a cremation ceremony or a scene where a pack decends into a large underground cavern with the dead in chambers on the walls where they can bury a comrade would be great.

In nominae espiritu lupinum

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:39 pm
by Scott Gardener
I have to be careful not to be too preachy in my own works, because I know how off-putting discussion of religion can be if you hit a nerve on the wrong side of someone's personal fence.

That said, I do tend to bash fanaticism and Fundamentalist insistance on taking literally the specific symbols and outlooks of any one particular faith.

I'm a Pagan myself, for the record. It just seems to work better with who I am.

Overall, the topic should be best addressed indirectly, through metaphors. If you get too direct, you end up "preaching to the choir," as those who agree will nod firmly while those who disagree, the real target audience, walks away. IF you're subtle, however, you can drop a hint where it's desperately needed and trick them into thinking.

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:01 pm
by Terastas
It would probably variate from one werewolf to the other, but in general, I think werewolves would be spiritual, but not in a collective sense. It would be difficult for them to not have any supernatural beliefs when they themselves could be used as examples of the supernatural, but they probably wouldn't think too kindly of organized religion in general. They wouldn't necessarilly despise any form, but they'd probably share a common belief that organizing religion on such a large scale encourages hatred and persecution, and if you could get two or three of them together, they could probably rattle off examples from B.C. to the 21st century.

I could picture werewolves meditating in hopes of learning to control their lycanthropy, but beyond that and the disliking of organized religion, I don't think there'd be a common trait to lycanthrope faith.

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:21 am
by Figarou
Both Scott Gardener and Terastas has good points. Lets not get deep into religion and just stick to a few werewolf spiritual beliefs instead.


I don't want any "Conservative Christians" making negative comments on this film for any reason. Lets be carefull on the contents of this film.

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:01 am
by Blade-of-the-Moon
All good points, I was originally a bit hesitant to even bring up the subject, but since we have it should def. help out on what we are wanting to see in this film. :wink:

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:54 pm
by hydrocarbon
Well, I'm not sure if religion would be that much of a main point in it. I mean, humans have different religious beliefs (and to varying degrees; laid-back, to fundamentalist). So to lump them into one wouldn't be a good idea. Diversity is nice.

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:36 pm
by Blade-of-the-Moon
Oh, I don't think it should play a main part in the film at all, we just wanted to find out how much it should be portrayed in the film. Some scenes would be great like a burial scene or a pack gathering ceremonial scene would also be cool to do since no one has ever really done that.

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:53 pm
by Kzinistzerg
It should not be a main part, however, it should be visible. There may be no hisory to hand down, but certainly plently of human cultures and plenty of individuals have worshiped the moon of their own accord.

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:20 pm
by WordWolf
Figarou wrote:Both Scott Gardener and Terastas has good points. Lets not get deep into religion and just stick to a few werewolf spiritual beliefs instead.


I don't want any "Conservative Christians" making negative comments on this film for any reason. Lets be carefull on the contents of this film.
Well,
as a "moderate Christian",
I'd prefer not to HAVE to make negative comments on, or apologies
FOR, this film for any reason.

I'm not saying "the werewolves all must be Christians",
(Although there's been some famous legends)
but I'm not saying "the werewolves all must be nature-worshippers"
or any other religion.

I expect they'll have a subculture, and religion will play its part in their
lives. They MIGHT all have one set of beliefs, or-
as happens in real life-
they might all have DIFFERENT beliefs.

If they're all written as nature-worshippers, I'd prefer it not be
something I'm hit over the head with frequently while I'm in
the theater. It would be distracting, and, yes, I'd expect a lot of
perfectly normal people would recommend avoiding it,
saying it offended them, so they won't support it by spending money.

I DO think we all agree-
we don't intend to offend anyone
we want this to make money

right?