Month: April 2022

In the film, Seraphima’s Extraordinary Adventures and the novel Crime and Punishment themes of not taking responsibility relate to the bible because Jesus tries to say the world’s suffering is not his fault. Firstly, in Dostoevsky’s novel the character, Nikolai finally ends up admitting to the murder of characters Alyona and Lizaveta. He announces to Porfiry and Raskolnikov, “Aliona Ivanovna and her sister Lizaveta Ivanovna, I . . . killed . . . with an axe. Darkness came over me,” he added suddenly, and fell silent again” (862). Right away, if thinking in the context of the bible one may link the idea of Judas being a traitor and getting Jesus killed to that scene. But what’s strange is Nikolai didn’t actually kill anyone. An interesting connection that could be made is when Jesus is questioned about if he is the true messiah. Frankly, his response seems almost lazy because all he says is “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (St John 18:36). So whenever things don’t go right he decides to say that in a place that doesn’t evidently exist is where all things are right. If people murder, kill, abuse, and hurt others on Earth he can’t do anything about it is seemingly what he said. Just as Nikolai blamed a “darkness” that came over him as the reason he killed two innocent people. He did not accept it was him who needed to take responsibility for the death of Alyona and Lizaveta. Which actually makes sense since he didn’t do it. But Jesus did not accept the pain of others when he is allegedly god manifested in human form. If he is god he is responsible for keeping people safe and happy. If he is not god then he should not be allowed to make the ridiculous claim he is. Hiding behind the deception of heaven is a very manipulative idea to use on people and he takes advantage of them. This links to 6:32 in the film Seraphima’s Extraordinary Adventures where a girl is punished for something she didn’t do. The girl punished has reached across the table yanking a slice of bread to give it back to the person next to her. It was wrong for the other girl to have stolen it but the teacher is unaware of who stole it which leads to her making false assumptions. The girl who stole the bread does not take responsibility for her actions and makes another person suffer for her actions. But she does not care since it does not affect her personally. Jesus should not be so easily compared to little girls who haven’t learned how to take responsibility.

The Gospel of John relates to Crime and Punishment because they both deal with people who face disabilities. Going from reading about Moses freeing the Israelites to read about what Jesus announced there is a very huge difference in ego. It never felt like Moses was boastful as he was a very spiritual and enlightened individual who believed in the power of the Lord to guide him. Then there’s Jesus who flat out says “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). Not very modest. Sure, he has good intentions and he appears to be trying to inspire others but it almost feels fraudulent. He is trying so hard to convince others he is the son of God that he says absurd statements like he, a human, is the single light of the world. He could understand his potential symbolic significance but that seems unlikely. Instead, it seems he is trying to convince others he is the true son of God. Because keep in mind, there were around 23 other people also claiming to be the son of god at the time Jesus was alive. But Jesus needed to provide conviction so he began to work “miracles.” It’s not clear what these story depictions really mean or if they are remotely possible. Jesus found a blind man, cured him then the man “said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:26). Very sketchy and hard to believe when taken literally. But the more important idea to focus on is how a disability faded away when he put his faith in Jesus. Focusing on finding a solution to an issue and putting one’s faith that positive energy will lead to success is an amazing lesson to find. In Crime and Punishment, it’s revealed that Alexdrovna felt the need to ask “‘Do you suppose that my tears, my pleas, my illness, my possible death from grief, our poverty would have made him pause? No, he would calmly have disregarded all obstacles. And yet it isn’t that he doesn’t love us!’” (566). Although it seems horrible for someone so close to not care for a person using Jesus’s teachings, a new lesson can be learned. Finding oneself in a situation where hope for help is met by disregard and disrespect towards a person can hurt. Just as how being born blind could feel like God wronged the person. But if one carries on and continues to yearn for a brighter future and does not let obstacles pull them down they will find happiness has many forms. Even in the darkest of times, positive light can shine through.

In Tobit concepts of the Christian mentality are better explained in The Pilgrim’s Progress because of the interpersonal dialogue used. In Tobit the Christian mentality is greatly exhibited; Christian mentality meaning concepts of repenting, heaven, hell, sins, following god. It is written that Tobit wants god to “Remember me, and look on me, punish me not for my sins and ignor- ances, and the sins of my fathers, who have sinned before thee: For they obeyed not thy commandments” (Tobit 3:3-4). It is a strange concept of wanting to be remembered. It doesn’t matter. Being remembered means nothing to a dead person since they won’t comprehend it. The mention of heaven exists in Christianity but only angels can interact with humans on Earth. There could be more dimensions to life but if there are then being remembered should mean even less than if there is existence past life. But what is even stranger is Tobit goes back to say “deal with me according to my sins and my fathers” (Tobit 3:5). So what is going on? He wants to not be punished for the sins of his ancestors and the sins he creates possibly in a ploy to get to heaven. But then he wants punishment for these sins, some of which he is not even responsible for. It may be a lesson for others to take responsibility for their actions. Not just theirs but also the actions of others, because god will deliver proper judgment and deliver punishment. Punishment that will lead to the correct path of life yet again. But these ideas are hard to dissect and decipher. It would be a lot easier to just follow a conversation which is exactly what The Pilgrims Progress does for a majority of the text. There is narration that reveals itself where it’s stated “Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired his answer to them” (122). But it adds a sense of curiosity that makes the reader question “what would a person say? What would Christian say?” Which then leads to the conversation where Prudence asks “Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence you came?/Christian’s thoughts of his native country/CHR. Yes, but with much shame and detestation: ‘Truly, if I had been mindful of that country from whence I came out, I might have had opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better country, that is, an heavenly’ [Heb. 11:15,16]” (122). Going inside the head of another human and watching ideas formulate lead to heavy engagement and deeper understanding. It creates a sense of relatability and also legitimacy. Two people talking and weighing opinions is more convincing than a person who writes stuff by themselves proclaiming a man in the sky is telling them these things. The mention of “heavenly” brings back the concept of normalizing Christianity in life and making it a way of life. Casually using biblical terms allows humans to understand and appreciate these concepts to a higher extent. A technique that The Pilgrim’s Progress takes advantage of.