Vampire Logic

[Michie]

Fr. Thomas Euteneuer

With the issuing of the third movie in the Twilight series I have to speak out about our culture’s twisted fascination with vampires. I don’t hesitate to tell people that I am totally disgusted with the new fad sweeping over our youth culture these days. It is not just kids that are taken up with the wiles of the dark world either: many moms of teens are swooning for them too. I think that these seductive creatures are simply the spawn of the Harry Potter culture that has for over a decade now been indoctrinating kids to think that the occult world is normal and that all this evil messaging is harmless when dressed up as entertainment. That’s vampire logic – and just what the devil wants us to think.

Gone are the days of Bella Lugosi’s Dracula (1931) where good was good and evil was evil. A crucifix would drive Dracula away and then he had to go into his infernal coffin when the first streaks of dawn appeared. He was in every way presented as a creature of evil, dark of heart and dread to encounter. He drank human blood too, a feature that was supposed to strike terror in every person who valued his life’s essence. The image of a blood-sucking creature who lives in slime and darkness and will pounce on you to drain out your very essence should terrorize every decent person.

This is because vampires used to be images of demons. That’s what demons are all about: the vanquishing of all human decency and life. They represent the spiritual vortexes of the demon world that drag down to the depths of hell all who fall prey to their wiles.

But, my, how vampires have come up in the world these days.

Nowadays vampires are divided into good and bad – no longer intrinsically evil. The good ones rescue vulnerable women instead of biting them and, allegedly, drink only animal blood (well, we haven’t seen the last Twilight movie yet…). And crucifixes? Don’t think you’ll see any of those driving away bad guys in these movies. The heroes are the “good” vampires, not the Church or religious faith in Christ.

These super-star vampires also walk around in sunlight and, as a matter of fact, their skin just happens to glisten like diamonds when exposed to direct sunlight. Isn’t that wonderful? The glam vamps are gentlemen, chaste and well-intentioned, yet they are always hovering around the edge of “falling” and in seductive situations which cause young people to think that they are capable, like their hero vampire, Edward Cullen, of going just so far and pulling back, out of self-control. That’s teaching them to play with fire, not a real chastity message for kids.

Continued- http://catholicexchange.com/2010/07/26/132602/

 

[Rhamiel]

even in the days of Bella Lugosi vampires were sex symbols, or back in the 1970's and 1980's we had the Ann Rice books
it is nothing new

 

[pgp_protector]

even in the days of Bella Lugosi vampires were sex symbols, or back in the 1970's and 1980's we had the Ann Rice books
it is nothing new

Yep, as far as I remember Vampires were some form of sex symbol, nothing new.

 

[Romans 13:3]

The naughty and the taboo are always the 'thing.' But I think there is some difference between the strangely appealing villain and the overtly heroic villain.

 

[Michie]

The naughty and the taboo are always the 'thing.' But I think there is some difference between the strangely appealing villain and the overtly heroic villain.

Good point.

Heroic villians seem to be in favor lately.

Simple good heroism is seen as boring.

 

[Romans 13:3]

I think Fr. Euteneuer might be an example a quite hero. I listened to podcast of his from EWTN at the office today. I think he sends a great example of reminding us of the reality of spiritual warfare.

 

[Michie]

I think Fr. Euteneuer might be an example a quite hero. I listened to podcast of his from EWTN at the office today. I think he sends a great example of reminding us of the reality of spiritual warfare.

Yes. But some Catholics consider him fundy or silly.

While they proclaim the dissenters the heroes of the faith.

We've seen it time & time again in this very forum.

So I guess he sets a good example as compared to good heroism versus the heroic villain.

The very first vampire film was a silent era film. Vampires stunk of rotting corpses, etc. The were vile creatures.

As time went on they kept sexualizing them more & more.

It's not just being a heroic villain but a sexy romantic one. All other morals go by the wayside. Next thing you know you got pin-ups to hang in the kiddies bedrooms.

Reminds me of the same syndrome some people have with prisoners that kill, rape & steal. They fall in love with them because they think they are different. Therefore regardless of how savage they are or were... they have the feeling that they are somehow different from their lover's victims. It makes the relationship & them special.

 

[Romans 13:3]

Reminds me of the same syndrome some people have with prisoners that kill, rape & steal. They fall in love with them because they think they are different. Therefore regardless of how savage they are or were... they have the feeling that they are somehow different from theie lover's victims.

Yeah, I have seen that. That is a little different though. From what I have seen, the women sucked into this are low self esteem and believe they can change him and make him better. Remember too that most sexual predators are manipulators and can sense weakness. The first well intentioned mission visit, they are hooked.

 

[Michie]

I've known & seen some on TV that seek these types out. They usually become hooked during the trial from what I've seen.

 

[Romans 13:3]

I was thinking about a case from 16-17 years ago, just before I started. The chick went on a prison ministry trip and before you know it they were pen pals, then more visits, then engagement and marriage. Then he killed her family

 

[Michie]

I was thinking about a case from 16-17 years ago, just before I started. The chick went on a prison ministry trip and before you know it they were pen pals, then more visits, then engagement and marriage. Then he killed her family

Horrible.

People get such twisted views of right, wrong, love...

 

[Rhamiel]

the worst thing about twilight, is that it teaches kids that poorly written fiction is ok
it is not ok
you can not write Mary Sues
you can not write the main character as a self-insertion
in 4 books that are suposed to be filled with "action" she did not kill any of the main characters
the characters are flat and you only see them in how they relate to the main character, you do not really see any of their hopes or fears aside from how they relate to Bella

 

[Michie]

Well we all know bad fiction that is poorly written has to be more serious than a warped view & values.

Left Behind was poorly written too.

Seems like poorly written bad fiction sells.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Yes. But some Catholics consider him fundy or silly.

That's because he is a Catholic version of a fundamentalist. This is fiction people--not a secret vampire plot to infiltrate our minds and turn us all into sparkly blood drinkers. The only reason he focuses on Twilight is because it's the current popular thing that has a hint of fictional occultism in it.

It's not just being a heroic villain but a sexy romantic one. All other morals go by the wayside. Next thing you know you got pin-ups to hang in the kiddies bedrooms.

This is a slippery slope fallacy and is no better than saying video games cause violence (just look where that got Jack Thompson) or that guns are responsible for killing. 10 year olds are not going to start hanging up porn in their bedrooms because they saw Twilight. That's just an inane comparison.

Reminds me of the same syndrome some people have with prisoners that kill, rape & steal. They fall in love with them because they think they are different. Therefore regardless of how savage they are or were... they have the feeling that they are somehow different from their lover's victims. It makes the relationship & them special.

And this... well, I don't know what this is. I do know it's completely unrelated to the issue at hand though.

And yes, in this case, bad fiction is worse than warped views and morals, because Twilight is not a source of Evil that you should be worrying about. If you want something to worry about morally, check out the news and read about the various depraved acts that go on all around the world. There's plenty of moral lessons to be learned and reinforced there, and we don't have to stoop to criticizing fictional movies that don't actually harm people.

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

Yep, as far as I remember Vampires were some form of sex symbol, nothing new.

Oh yes, total hottie:

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

Actually, you know who is hot:

Haji from Blood+

He's quiet, confident, protective, artistic, stylish (Victorian) and beautiful.

The attractiveness of vampires has everything to do with them being aristocratic and little or nothing to do with them drinking blood or stuff like that.

 

[Michie]

That's because he is a Catholic version of a fundamentalist. This is fiction people--not a secret vampire plot to infiltrate our minds and turn us all into sparkly blood drinkers. The only reason he focuses on Twilight is because it's the current popular thing that has a hint of fictional occultism in it.

Regardless of fiction popular culture & media have an influence on society whether people want to admit it or not. It is not about turning people into blood drinkers but getting them fascinated with the occult & whatever road that leads them down. It depends on the person. What makes Fr. a Catholic fundy anyway?

This is a slippery slope fallacy and is no better than saying video games cause violence (just look where that got Jack Thompson) or that guns are responsible for killing. 10 year olds are not going to start hanging up porn in their bedrooms because they saw Twilight. That's just an inane comparison.

Inane? LOL! I don't think so. It happens like it or not. CNN has reported desensitation studies concerning violent video games. etc. If you soak up junk you are going to retain some junk. Just the way it works.

And this... well, I don't know what this is. I do know it's completely unrelated to the issue at hand though.

So??? How often to the cronies here in OBOB derail threads with whatever comes to their minds. It reminded me of the twisted view of some that seem to idolize these characters. Some do it in real life.

And yes, in this case, bad fiction is worse than warped views and morals, because Twilight is not a source of Evil that you should be worrying about. If you want something to worry about morally, check out the news and read about the various depraved acts that go on all around the world. There's plenty of moral lessons to be learned and reinforced there, and we don't have to stoop to criticizing fictional movies that don't actually harm people.

LOL! For such a trivial & harmless subject you are getting up in arms over it. As far as the news, no worries there. But I don't need you lecturing me on a messageboard about criticizing glamourized bad fiction topped of with with a unhealthy dose of warped values & morals.

Seems somewhat inane to have to defend bad fiction & get so upset over those that criticize the subject matter & the effects it has on on some's outlooks.

 

[Memento Mori]

the worst thing about twilight, is that it teaches kids that poorly written fiction is ok
it is not ok
you can not write Mary Sues
you can not write the main character as a self-insertion
in 4 books that are suposed to be filled with "action" she did not kill any of the main characters
the characters are flat and you only see them in how they relate to the main character, you do not really see any of their hopes or fears aside from how they relate to Bella

I don't think the Twilight books are that bad. The prose, at least, is a lot better than other popular YA series, like Eragon (someone hide that guy's thesaurus ). And the characters are not as flat as others, like in Vampire Academy and House of Night, etc.

Twilight gets all the criticism because it's at the forefront, but YA fiction in general is just very very bad.

 

[Michie]

I don't think the Twilight books are that bad. The prose, at least, is a lot better than other popular YA series, like Eragon (someone hide that guy's thesaurus ). And the characters are not as flat as others, like in Vampire Academy and House of Night, etc.

Twilight gets all the criticism because it's at the forefront, but YA fiction in general is just very very bad.

It is.

But it is popular. More YA fiction is being bought up for movie rights than anything else right now.

 

[VeronicaP]

Something happened to my long post?????