Faith & Doubt | Renegade Cut

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING:

[dobb]

I always find your thoughts on religious themes very interesting. Thank you for sharing them.

[aaronbourque]

Yes. Faith hinges on doubt. Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the choice to suspend it under the assumption that you don't have all knowledge. All knowledge would remove doubt.

[alexfurnas]

This is a good one. As a Youtube video essayist you're uniquely well spoken on the topics of religion and faith

[mildgrooveon]

This channel is so underrated. Amazing.

[AnnaGirardini]

It's also nice that in the end, when Sister Aloysius has doubts, the one who comes to console her is Sister James, the one who represents the concept of faith.

[deloreanized]

Agnosticism is all about embracing doubt instead of blind, unfunded certainty, but leaving the door open to reconsider your... belief.

[JohnnyFilmsy-Boi]

I love this movie so much. MasterClass filmmaking, brilliant performances, and a gripping and nuanced story. Great dissection!

[eleven]

I was confused about the sister's doubt at the end. I wasn't sure if she had doubt about Flynn, or rather doubt about her faith, or her dedication to the Catholic church that she fears protects the wrong people. I've only watched it once, but definitely deserves and needs a second watch

[rubykr]

Dude you’ve been knocking it out of the park lately. Really enjoying these videos.

[lauram.]

...I wish I had your video series when I went through a crisis of faith after getting a theological degree. Thank you for embracing the struggle to understand.

[Lilianamarie]

I was destroyed by Donald's mother's reaction.

[DavidCDrake]

Interesting. I must've viewed the film with a different mindset, because I saw the priest as almost certainly guilty and interpreted that closing line, "I have such doubts, " as referring to doubts about God and/or Catholicism! Perhaps my own biases were taking over a bit too much. :) Anyway, I'm glad as always to hear your thoughtful analyses.

[Antonio_Ortiz]

The intro to this video inspired me to watch Doubt before I continued. Good movie, strong performances, layered themes.

[leviadragon]

The incorrect view that equates faith and certainty is very popular though, it seems to be one of the ways in which a certain type of religious people reconciles how complicated and demanding faith can be with... well, an easy answer that allows them to not have to think about it. I would posit that such a false equivalency is one of the major reasons religious ideology can and has turned toxic in a number of people, certainty leads neatly into absolutism after all...

[sablecyan]

So glad this got a turn on the show. I remember really enjoying it. Its a great performance from both Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Nice to see you taking a look at it.

[AGirlWithoutAName]

Your explanation of this movie was so deep 😭🙏🏻 Thank you so much ❤️

[kathleenengel]

Shanley's play is perfect. Every word is meanongful

[RXVBK]

Very fascinating (as usual). Excellent film btw with great performances.

[visitorv]

Interesting perspective. Having not a single religious or spiritual bond in my body, I understand the movie from Sister Aloysius' perspective. She is one of my most favorite movie characters ever. Everything in the words of Flynn suggests he is guilty - using authority, trying to aggressively preach against gossip, being afraid of the nun's feedback from his last position. And her certainty comes from a moral place - certain things shouldn't be allowed no matter the rank! Considering how guilty the Catholic Church is of pedophilia, she is right to kick him out even at the slightest of suspicion. She has duty regardless of the doubt and conflicts she experiences throughout the whole movie, not only at the end. She is truly the representation of the doubt Flynn talks about but it doesn't mean that the movie ends with her being wrong or it is too late.... The idea is that she is still a human and not god. Crow is a symbol of god's provision, it is not a symbol of threat or imprisonment. It is a symbol of truth which Aloysius sees and won't let go. The sister is a presentation of what is like to be alone against everybody, to trust your own judgement, to decide and take responsibility. Flynn sounds and acts as a person who is not taking responsibility for his own actions, too afraid of the consequences. This change that he talks about is not in favor of people... Redemption is the only right way.

[sunny]

Her doubt was in the church and her calling due to father Flynn’s promotion, the church’s male hierarchy and protection of abusers. She never doubted her instincts and she was right - because she knows people. A skill learnt through exposure and experience. The boys mother knows but her own life experiences tell her that abuse is for some sadly a fact of life and she is focused on keeping her son alive and getting him into a good school because education will be his ticket, his freedom. She sees her son.