I posted about going to see the @NoahMovie last weekend. Soon after seeing it we had some clear evidence that there was a very clever bait and switch going on. Apparently even in the advance screenings we didn’t get a clear read on what was happening, but Dr Brian Mattson has written a blog post clearly showing that most of the symbols used throughout the film really relate to the Jewish Kaballah and Gnosticism, two heretical streams of teaching from the second century. We learn that the film wasn’t attempting to deal with the God of the Bible and the story as told in Genesis. Instead, it was dealing with a completely non-biblical version of the story and a god who isn’t good enough. You can read his blog post here.
While I wrote about some of the enjoyable parts of the film, now that more background of the story is revealed, it is very disconcerting that the director apparently wanted to use the biblical appeal of the Noah story to draw in the many Christians interested in such a film to see a story based on a different religious view entirely.
Dr. Mattson critiqued Christian leaders saying that those who saw the pre-screening for not identifying these themes and preparing their people with better expectations of what the film is about. At the same time, he indicates his view that the director, Darren Aronofsky, was intentionally presenting a subversive view of a familiar story. Subversive meaning intentionally hiding a non-usual conclusion in a variation from the Genesis story.
While this doesn’t mean that Christians should not see the film or should not engage with others about the film, it does mean that we need to recognize the bait and switch. Aronofsky is hoping we will feel that we are watching the Genesis story, when in reality he is showing a Noah who seeks the blessing of the Serpent, who is dealing with a god who doesn’t communicate his will to man, who is not about rescuing humanity from sin.
While there are parts of the film that are amazing and recognizable from Genesis – the full scale replica of the ark, the survival of 8 people in Noah’s family, most of the story line after the ark comes to rest – there are many parts that come from these non-Christian religious streams. There’s also lots of Hollywood – violent conflict and confrontation, struggle with emotions and motives, incredible computer graphics effects.
For the average person seeing the film who doesn’t know the difference between the Bible, heresy, and Hollywood, this film could lead them to a false view of God. As we talk about the film we need to accentuate the differences to help people engage with God’s real purposes for mankind, whom He made in His image.
We are left to wonder about Darren Aronofsky’s motives so far, but perhaps he will speak about his intentions before long. It is not clear if the director let his actors in on his sources either, and perhaps their comments will affect the discussion too. The video in this review may be a sample.
I also recommend some of Dr. Mattson’s followup video and social comments as well.