Religion vs Science

I posted this reply to a recent LinkedIn Query on the TED forum. Thought it might be worth posting here as well.

How would you teach a child about Christianity without denying evolution?

Religion and science are different things. Take the bible (or any other religious work) as metaphor. It is storytelling as Myth. It may be based on historical facts, but its purpose is not to teach history - or science - but to illuminate moral questions, and the human condition through mythological storytelling. Science is about facts and its isn't till you get into deep quantum physics  - Big bang etc - that the two start to blur and it becomes a philosophical conundrum

Adam and Eve is a metaphor for the beginning of the human species. Creating the world in seven days is a human-created  'fairytale' metaphor for the eons it actually took. After all, Time and its passing means nothing to God.

Science doesn't contradict faith. It only contradicts Dogma. Faith is about stuff Science cannot and never will be able to explain. Read between the lines of the Bible and don't take it literally, and there is no conflict. Also remember it was written by people living in a very different period and culture. Things chance. Attitudes change. But basic moral values don't, as the ten commandments demonstrate.This is true of all religions.

The story of Adam and Eve and the whole of Genesis has nothing to do actually with the origin of life and the universe - Evolution. It has to do with why humans are the way they are emotionally and morally. The Garden of Eden, the serpent and the 'Fruit of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil' is about the birth of moral discrimination - the thing that makes us HUMAN psychologically, not physically. Deciding if actions are either Good or Bad. It's a human construct because the universe doesn't care - God doesn't care about good or bad. Stuff just IS. 

The Entire Bible and the dogma that has built up around it stems from this - Good vs Evil. Right and wrong. See past the Dogma to the core moral values and all religious writings have value. 

"Religion has its place, but it is the road, not the destination. The best religion is one without dogma. It teaches, but does not indoctrinate. It codifies knowledge, while inspiring you to move beyond any such boundaries."

- The Prophet Tobias

End of rant

Top ten movies I have never seen

After reading a blog by Edgar Wright on the top ten movies he was embarrassed to admit he had never seen, I thought I would submit my own such list. Edgar's list (http://t.co/WmjeAZUL) Included several films I haven't seen, but many seemed rather obscure to me, which speaks to his cinema knowledge.

I actually had trouble thinking of titles for my own list, so I scoured the IMDB top 250 films (http://t.co/WmjeAZUL). In no particular order then,  here are my top ten films I should have seen by now but never have.

1.  The Lives Of Others.

#56 on the IMDB list (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/).

I really don't know much about this film but it sounds a little like the Coppola Film 'The Conversation' (one I watched again very recently). But it seems highly regarded so I will check it out.

2. The Prestige

 ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/)

I must admit this one didn't really intrigue much when it was first released so I just haven't caught up with it. But given it has scored so well on this list maybe its one I should make a point of seeing.

3. Full Metal Jacket

  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093058/)

I'm a big Kubrick fan and have seen ALL his other films and own them all on DVD or Blu-ray; so it is odd that this one has escaped me so far. This is the first in this list I really am embarrassed to say I haven't seen yet. Something I will remedy very soon.

4. OldBoy

  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/)

I started to watch this one night a while back, but just wasn't in the mood I guess. So I need to give this another chance.

5. Downfall

 ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/)

I've seen several of the satires using the 'Hitler raging at his staff scene' with different subtitles. but have not yet seen the entire film. Really want to, but it hasn't crossed my path yet. 

6. Grave of The Fireflies

  ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095327/)

I love Japanese Anime and especially the Ghibli studio films and those of course of Hayao Miyazaki. But I have yet to see this one. Some of these are hard to track down on disc. I am really hoping they do a Blu-ray collection of all these film in the near future.

7. Black Swan

  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/)

Another one I just haven't caught up with yet. Must see it soon.

8. Ikiru

  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044741/)

Am also a big Kurosawa fan, but this and I must admit many more of his earlier film efforts I have yet to see. Another Director I am hoping to see a comprehensive Blu-Ray collection of his work come out soon. (There's an excellent Criterion DVD collection, but I am holding out for Blu-ray) 

9. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

  ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/)

I bought this on DVD over a year ago and I still haven't watched it. I promise myself to do so within the next few weeks.

10. Peeping Tom

  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054167/)

This is not on the IMDB top 250, but is a film that keep coming up lately as one I really must get. 

I am big fan of Michael Powell, and while I haven't seen everything he's directed (there's a lot) I've seen and have on DVD or Blu-ray  all the most notable - except this later film which has become something of a cult in retrospect. One I willl add to my collection very soon.

 

While there are a few other titles on the IMDB top 250 list I haven't seen, I am pleased to say I have seen almost all of them, and of course many more besides that one could argue deserve to be on the list.

  

The passing of a talent and dear friend

Was very sorry to hear this week of the passing of Pushkana Chan, who was Production Designer for my first feature film - Mortal Fools. 

Born in Burma and orphaned during a rebel incursion, Pushkana was taken in by the theatre community and overcame hysterical blindness to become the country’s most acclaimed set designer by the age of 18. Coming to Australia with a tour of Burmese culture and arts, he decided to stay and has been worked in theatre and film for the next ten years on productions ranging from Beckett to Shakespeare, the acclaimed ‘Military Must Die’ and ‘Beefcake Boys Revue’. Winner of the Theatre Arts Young Designer of the Year Award, Mortal Fools was his first and only feature film. 

Pushka, as he was affectionately known, made many friends in the local film and theatre industries and will be sadly missed.

Aussie films stop pulling their punches

Just watched two Australian films in a row - Tomorrow When The War Began, and The Loved Ones. And while I am coming to these films a bit late, both give me renewed hope for the Australian film industry.

"Tomorrow..." Is an action-adventure, and starts a bit slow with some rather cliched stereotype characters. It also has some very on-the-nose dialogue throughout. But despite all this, it has a strong performance from the lead (Caitlin Stasey) and a couple of very well done action set-pieces. But more importantly perhaps it doesn't suffer from the thing that has plagued so many Aussie films in my opinion - pulling it's punches. Too many films in the past simply don't take their story and their lead character as far as they could. They stop short of going all the way, which leaves one with a very unsatisfying result. "Tomorrow..." could have gone a bit further but given it's target audience (teenagers) it still went to places most Aussie teen flics avoid.

"The Loved Ones" was more full-on than I expected. It's a horror film that actually goes all the way. It doesn't pull it's punches. And by the end of it you are quite exhausted, and feel like you've really been on a harrowing journey. The script is taught and well-structured, simple and compelling. The performances are all excellent, and the cinematography and direction terrific. The music is also outstanding. I really didn't think I would like the film as much as I did, since I am not a huge horror fan, but I recognize a well-made film when I see it.

Both these film give me hope for the Aussie film industry. Especially as "Tomorrow..." did so well in the cinemas, and "Loved Ones" was financed by Screen Australia and Film Vic.

Congrats to all involved in both films. Keep it up.

SMPTE 2011 videos

Here is my coverage of the SMPTE show - in two parts.

Part 1-

Part 2 -