Posted on 06/24/2010 11:10:11 AM PDT by Colofornian
Los Angeles • Ever since Bram Stoker’s Dracula began haunting the imagination in 1897, popular culture has identified Christian symbols — crucifixes, holy water, communion wafers — as weapons to ward off a blood-thirsty vampire.
The Twilight novels and film franchise have religious associations, too — most of them from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As the film’s “Twi-hard” fans get ready for the third “Twilight” installment, “Eclipse,” to open in theaters Wednesday, few are likely to recognize the religious references in the film based on the novels by Stephenie Meyer, herself a Mormon.
“People make up all these Mormon references just so they can publish ‘Twilight’ articles in respectable publications like The New York Times,” actor Robert Pattinson (Edward, the film’s central vampire character), told Entertainment Weekly. “Even Stephenie said it doesn’t mean any of that.”
It’s possible that Meyer never set out to weave LDS imagery into the ‘Twilight’ background. Yet intentional or otherwise, it’s hard to ignore:
• The story’s teenage heroine, Bella, avoids coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco — not unlike the Mormons’ “Word of Wisdom” health code. Bella also advises her father to “cut back on steak,” much like the LDS teaching to eat meat and poultry “sparingly.”
• Feminists have questioned Bella’s frequent cooking and cleaning — household chores that reflect a strong Mormon work ethic and traditional roles for women. The official motto for mostly Mormon Utah is “Industry,” and its symbol is the beehive.
• A crucial Mormon belief is that humans can become divine. In the “Twilight” series, the Cullen family of vampires once was human but now lives without death in a resurrected condition. Meyer describes the Cullens, particularly Edward, as “godlike” and “inhumanly beautiful.”
• Mormons believe angels are resurrected beings of flesh and bone. The most familiar is Moroni, who stands high atop LDS temples, trumpet in hand. The Book of Mormon, the faith’s trademark Scripture, says Moroni was a fifth-century prophet who visited church founder Joseph Smith. Smith described Moroni as radiating light and “glorious beyond description.”
Bella describes her vampire boyfriend, Edward, as an angel whom she cannot imagine “any more glorious.” Edward’s skin sparkles in the sunlight, and he visits Bella’s bedroom at night. But Mormon angels don’t have wings; in the “Twilight” film, Edward sits in the science lab, the outstretched wings of a stuffed white owl just over his shoulders.
• A unique LDS teaching is that marriages are “sealed” for eternity; spouses are referred to as eternal companions. Bella describes her relationship with Edward as “forever.”
• Bella and Edward’s marriage, and her quick pregnancy, underscore the Mormon emphasis on the family. But Bella’s half human/vampire fetus nearly destroys her, so her distraught husband suggests an abortion and artificial insemination. Mormons permit abortions if the mother’s life is in danger, and artificial insemination is an option for married couples.
Bella quickly vetoes abortion and artificial insemination, reinforcing the essential Mormon teaching of individual choice, or “agency.” Meyer has said that the apple on the cover of the first Twilight novel represents Eve’s choice in the Garden of Eden. The poster for “Eclipse” includes the line: “It all begins ... with a choice.” The patriarch of the vampire family, Carlisle Cullen, supports Bella when he explains that “it wouldn’t be right to make such a choice for her, to force her.”
Bram Stoker probably never imagined that vampires would represent a religious doctrine. But more than a century later, Twilight shows that these nocturnal creatures can accommodate just about anything.
Angela Aleiss teaches film and religion at the University of California, Los Angeles.
So. Mormons-who-become-gods are compared by this author to vampire creatures. Interesting parallel.
And who might be the "godlike," "inhumanly beautiful" Head Vampire might be?
Why, just go to the Bible, where passages from Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 seem to describe Lucifer as he was making the transition from angel to head devil:
'Godlike': I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:14)
'Inhumanly beautiful':
11 The word of the LORD came to me:
12 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
" 'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold;
on the day you were created they were prepared.
14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings.
(Ezekiel 28:11-17)
/puke
(Yeah, they do twi-hard...very "twi-hard"...as in 'pull-yourself-up-by-your own bootstraps hard: "Man can transform himself, but he has in him the seeds of Godhood that can grow. He can lift himself by his very bootstraps" (Lds 12th "prophet" Spencer W.Kimball, Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 18, 1974))
Now you can see why many FReepers are not very thrilled about a man running for the White House who thinks it's just a "career stop" on his way to assuming the Great White Throne!
Twi-hard Twi-light ... a tale about the dead vampires?
[More like Twi-dark...very dark...you can't get much more "dark" than Lucifer trying to become a "god" (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28:1-17)]
Oh brother. You can find anything and relate it to something in movies if you try hard enough. This is the biggest garbage story I have read lately. If anyone believes this trash....you are clearly stupid!!!!!
Gee, I wonder why, Angela? Maybe it's because vampires are seen as demons, who 'tremble' (according to St. Paul) at the Son of Man. (That's Jesus, Angela, in case you haven't read the Bible.) Yes, Angela, the Devil fears Jesus' power, as represented by these symbols.
I haven’t seen the movie or red the book, but this sounds like an extreme stretch.
The essence of New Age, right there. In fact, the essence of the satanic rebellion against God from the very beginning. This alone highlights that Mormonism is satanic in its doctrine.
I’m not a Mormon. I believe they are in error.
But as far as this article goes, I think it’s a stretch.
The big problem with the Twilight series is that it glorifies an abusive relationship. Bella is continually being hurt by an emotionally unstable man, who loves her, runs out on her, hurts her, runs out on her, etc. He gives her emotional whiplash.
The movies are replete with images of this woman bleeding because the people she adores and is passionately drawn to keep hurting her “and they can’t help it.” The message continally is sent that if you find the love of your life, you will end up physically hurt.
She even throws herself in the ocean so she can “see” him one last time.
I tell my friends who have young girls who are fascinated with this relationship in this movie to talk to them about what an unhealthy relationship consists of.
Dumb article.
Those references could mean anything.
The good news, Colo, is the nature of the article itself is disparaging toward LDS, so you shouldn’t take any heat for doing nothing more than posting this lame article.
The Twilight series is a fantasy movie.
Guess what it will be in ten years???
Another forgotten Hollywood serial as the next generation of teen age girls and grown ups who a still trying to relive their adolescence, are focused on yet another teen fad.
Big deal. A person’s background, beliefs, philosophy, etc., will often make its way into fiction books.
BINGO!
Feminists despise these books because they present abstinence and commitment as the foundation of true love.
That’s a big Captain Obvious article. Of course an author is going to write from the perspective of their experience.
In the same way, you can find Catholic imagery all through Ann Rice’s Vampire novels.
This article is an extreme stretch and very much an application of the writer’s own biases towards the subject.
Each bullet point can be tied to multiple religions, writing techniques, and pop culture.
The story’s teenage heroine, Bella, avoids coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco — not unlike the Mormons’ “Word of Wisdom” health code. Bella also advises her father to “cut back on steak,” much like the LDS teaching to eat meat and poultry “sparingly.”
Are Mormons the only ones who dont drink, smoke or eat red meat? What about Prohibitionist Baptists? What about Hindus? How about non religious vegans.
• Feminists have questioned Bella’s frequent cooking and cleaning — household chores that reflect a strong Mormon work ethic and traditional roles for women. The official motto for mostly Mormon Utah is “Industry,” and its symbol is the beehive.
Because the heroine of the story cooks and cleans, and because Mormon women cook and clean, they are related? If a=b and a=c, it does not mean b=c (apple is red, apple is round, round is not red)
• A crucial Mormon belief is that humans can become divine. In the “Twilight” series, the Cullen family of vampires once was human but now lives without death in a resurrected condition. Meyer describes the Cullens, particularly Edward, as “godlike” and “inhumanly beautiful.”
All vampire mythology has vampires living forever with incredible beauty.
• Mormons believe angels are resurrected beings of flesh and bone. The most familiar is Moroni, who stands high atop LDS temples, trumpet in hand. The Book of Mormon, the faith’s trademark Scripture, says Moroni was a fifth-century prophet who visited church founder Joseph Smith. Smith described Moroni as radiating light and “glorious beyond description.”
Bella describes her vampire boyfriend, Edward, as an angel whom she cannot imagine “any more glorious.” Edward’s skin sparkles in the sunlight, and he visits Bella’s bedroom at night. But Mormon angels don’t have wings; in the “Twilight” film, Edward sits in the science lab, the outstretched wings of a stuffed white owl just over his shoulders.
Another a=b, a=c, b=/=c. Plus, how many teenage girls say their boyfriend is glorious?
• A unique LDS teaching is that marriages are “sealed” for eternity; spouses are referred to as eternal companions. Bella describes her relationship with Edward as “forever.”
How many non-Mormon’s have ever said they will be with their spouse forever. Quite a few. Every one I know that is married has said something similar.
• Bella and Edward’s marriage, and her quick pregnancy, underscore the Mormon emphasis on the family. But Bella’s half human/vampire fetus nearly destroys her, so her distraught husband suggests an abortion and artificial insemination. Mormons permit abortions if the mother’s life is in danger, and artificial insemination is an option for married couples.
Liberals also permit abortions. This is not reserved solely for Mormons.
None of the bullets relate directly to Mormons, or Mormonism or anything of the sort. You have to want it to be true to say that.
Yup. Jesus said people become like angels in eternity – minus marriage partners. Mormonism’s Joseph Smith always trumped Jesus, though.
He and his followers now claim that “families are forever” – including a woman who may marry three men over her lifetime. If she was “sealed” to each man “for eternity” in a Mormon temple marriage, then guess who has three husbands and sleeps with said husbands over the course of “eternity” per Mormonism?
Plus it gets real convoluted in Mormonism’s “eternity.” Not only do Mormons divide up heaven into three degrees, but Temple Mormons who become gods supposedly get to keep all their children with them for eternity.
* But what happens when a son-in-law only lives up to the 2nd degree of heaven – especially since 80% or more of Mormons aren’t even temple Mormons, thereby disqualifying them from the top rung of heaven?
* And which set of in-laws parents do adult married children live with under the “program” of a “degreed” heaven? Where will their daughter live – with them in the highest degree or with the husband? – and if not the husband, so much for “families are forever!” I mean, how can a “middle ground” Mormon live with his “goddess wife” in a Celestial environment?
* Or “worse,” some family members turn “apostate” – what does that do to the faulty bumper-sticker promise?
* And where are the generational cut-offs made? Do adults live with their literal “god-parents” in Celestialville? Or, do they live with their children who didn’t keep up their temple “obligations” but were “Mormon-like” in all the rest of their rituals and legalistic law-and-precept keeping?
What I find interesting about this article is that it seems to imply a negative connotation, yet most of the attributes they bring up are actually positive attributes.
You are right though, this article could have been written with any number of religions replacing Mormonism.
Well, it is a big deal if you have a Mormon worldview inculcating the wider culture. For example:
From the article: Bella describes her vampire boyfriend, Edward, as an angel whom she cannot imagine “any more glorious.” Edward’s skin sparkles in the sunlight, and he visits Bella’s bedroom at night. But Mormon angels don’t have wings; in the “Twilight” film, Edward sits in the science lab, the outstretched wings of a stuffed white owl just over his shoulders.
Mormons are big on angels. It’s not a cross that adorns their temples, but an angel – Moroni – a dead man – a “ghost” who Joseph Smith said appeared to him to show him golden plates.
Imagine that. Resting your entire life and eternity on a 14 yo boy who said a ghost appeared to him.
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