Guardians of the Galaxy Universal Church of Truth

[pr0xyt0xin]

I wanna talk "Convert or Die" with y'all. I have a strong feeling the Universal Church of Truth will be in the (or at least an eventual) GotG film. Mainly because it would be such a trip to see on screen. A movie that all the mothers take their children to see and its an analogy for the over-zealousness of organized religion. That's something I'd pay to see time and again.

Do you think that the Church is too risque to put on the silver screen?

Spoiler

 

[Mr. Dent]

I'm almost certain that the Church will be in the film, along with Warlock/Magus, and have been saying it for some time. No matter where they pull from the mythos to do the movie, the Church is a big part of both the 2008 Guardians comics and Thanos/Gamora's backstories in the comics. It should be the primary antagonistic organization in the film. It's one of the several reasons why I think this film will be so damn good.

I don't think it's too risque. There are plenty of films with evil religious institutions in them. This will be even more removed because it is a made-up religion with made-up races.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

True. And allowing Warlock to be in the film while keeping the GotG roster on the low side is a great move. I too agree that the Church is the obvious choice. I guess I am just curious if anyone things they will water it down so no religious organizations get upset (which will probably happen either way).

I personally can't read through the first few issues of the 2008 run without seeing the Church as a direct metaphor for Christianity. But that's a personal opinion. That doesn't really need to be discussed.

 

[CastlesInTheAir]

Religious folk complain about everything. I don't see why Marvel should cater to their sheltered existences. The loss of their ticket sales will hardly make a dent in loss of profit.

EDIT: Perhaps I should clarify before theres a huge flamewar, by "religious folk" I mean those organizations dedicated to shoving their beliefs down everyones throats like 1 million moms and watchdog groups. Regular folk don't give 2 *****s.

 

[Mr. Dent]

True. And allowing Warlock to be in the film while keeping the GotG roster on the low side is a great move. I too agree that the Church is the obvious choice. I guess I am just curious if anyone things they will water it down so no religious organizations get upset (which will probably happen either way).

I personally can't read through the first few issues of the 2008 run without seeing the Church as a direct metaphor for Christianity. But that's a personal opinion. That doesn't really need to be discussed.

They could waterdown the exact specifics of the religion as to not step on any toes. It could just be a pure social commentary on how we shouldn't let religious organizations tell us how to live our lives as they have the capacity to become just as corrupt as business institutions. You can do that without having to get into exact specifics. No one will object to that and if any religious institution does (like the Catholic Church or something) then that just makes them look defensive.

And either way, it's not like a little controversy ever hurt a movie.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

They could waterdown the exact specifics of the religion as to not step on any toes. It could just be a pure social commentary on how we shouldn't let religious organizations tell us how to live our lives as they have the capacity to become just as corrupt as business institutions. You can do that without having to get into exact specifics. No one will object to that and if any religious institution does (like the Catholic Church or something) then that just makes them look defensive.

And either way, it's not like a little controversy ever hurt a movie.

aint that the TRUTH.

However, if they water down the name I'll be pissed. Universal Church of Truth. I will accept nothing less.

 

[Mr. Dent]

Yes, it sounds wayyy too badass and sinister to rename.

lol I can just imagine all the memes that could be generated through the Church and Thanos...and Rocket. This movie seriously has the potential to be gold.

 

[lozzy.94]

If the church is in the film then i wouldn't worry about religion being toned down. It is James Gunn directing after all.

 

[Norrin Parker]

But Disney is behind this as well

 

[catintheengine]

OK, I guess I'll weigh in on this and give my perspective as someone who does consider himself a person of faith.

Honestly, it doesn't really bother me if they call it 'Universal Church of Truth.' That's the name of the organization, and it should probably be kept that way.

The only concern I have is, as was implied by someone else (perhaps I'm misreading the tone or context of the statement), the idea that the Universal Church of Truth be used as an analogy for Christianity, or any religion for that matter, as a whole.

I think it's a great idea to let the UCoT serve as an example of religious extremism on a galactic scale. I think that lends itself well to a story of this type and offers up some very interesting options for confrontations. The only reservation I have is that the take-away for this ends up coming off as: "This is how all people of faith act."

Having said that, do I think that there will be certain religious institutions that are going to rally against this film? Yes.

Let them. As someone else pointed out: A little controversy doesn't hurt.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Cool!

In that case I hope they do it justice and also accuracy. Bring on the controversy.