Tom Hanks on Angels, Demons, and Christianity
Although generating much less controversy (and interest in general) than Dan Brown’s previous book-to-movie adaptation, The Da Vinci Code, has nevertheless again raised the often socially taboo topics of religion and faith for public discussion.
The latest story Angels & Demons, starring Tom Hanks as the protagonist Robert Langdon, focuses on the Catholic Church and a plot against it by a legendary (literally) organization, the Illuminati. Hanks’ interview with Philippine news site The Philippine Star (conducted in Tokyo) ranges between many diverse topics about God, the Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, including the following clips, among others:
Does he believe in God? “I think you’ll be foolish not to believe in God.”
Always late? Take our time management Life Lesson
Are you struggling in your work life?: Talk to a mentorIs he a Christian? “You know, when you’re talking about things that may or may not have happened 2,000 years ago, I think everybody gets some idea about it depending on what their inclination is. Fascinating to study, great to talk about, but what really matters is what we do day in and day out right now. There’s no use having an argument about what happened or what didn’t happen 2,000 years ago.”
What he would say if he met God? “What would I tell Him? Oh, not a thing. I’d just ask Him a question — ‘How do you do? Are you doing okay?’ That’s all I would tell God.” (The Philippine Star)
It seems to me that Hanks’ views mirror those of a lot of people today. While claiming it’s “foolish” to not believe in God, it doesn’t sound like he takes the subject very seriously, or has given it much serious thought. He’d really ask “Are you doing okay?” if he met God? This is either a patronizing answer or wildly unappreciative of the situation!
What do you think about Hanks’ statements? What would you say if you met God?
Related reading:
Doris Bebee’s story ‘A Mother’s Love’: “In 1993, I met God.”
Christianity: True or False?: “Doubters welcome.”
one night i dream to i think he demond but he have face like house. but i believe in Buddha. i don’t understant why i dream like that
Marc and Darren – Good points which I would add too but perhaps Marc is correct and that closing this thread and moving on is the appropriate thing to do. I have learned something good from the both of you!
Thank you,
Scott
Hi guys. Again, I appreciate your impassioned replies, and the time you’ve taken to comment here. Since we seem to disagree, we may have to agree to disagree and charitably move on.
Scott, you asked what I disagree with Tom Hanks about. I never claimed to have any intimate knowledge of his thoughts (?!) so I can only respond to what he has said, just as you’ve responded to what I’ve said without having intimate knowledge of my thoughts. First, what I agree with him about. I do agree that God exists. And he seems to have some interest in God and spiritual matters, which again I do appreciate.
Where I disagree is where he says that it doesn’t matter whether Jesus rose or even lived or not; I’d say it’s critically important and makes all the difference in the world. I wouldn’t say I have an “elevated viewpoint”; Tom and I seem to have a difference of opinion. If Hanks thinks it’s not important, then I think he’s wrong. That doesn’t mean I am judging him, hate him, don’t care about him, or am intolerant of him or his opinions. In fact, he is (and should be) free to hold whatever beliefs he wants. In order to be tolerant of someone else, I must by definition disagree with them (you can’t tolerate another person’s views if you already agree, can you?).
I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m putting myself on a high horse. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith like anyone else and no better or more worthy than Mr Hanks. That’s exactly why, when it seems to me (my humble opinion!) that his views about God are less than fully formed (based on the available evidence) I have hope that, with further contemplation, that he will continue in his spiritual walk and grow in God’s truth, out of love for him and wanting him to grow closer to God. I hope that’s not offensive, I meant no offense even if it may have come off that way.
Please feel free to post a final reply if you’d like, you can have the last word. I do appreciate you taking the time to reply, from the sounds of it you guys are much more experienced in the Christian walk than I am (myself becoming a Christian only about six years ago) so trust me when I say that I do take your opinions under consideration and probably have a lot to learn myself.
Fellow Judges..
I have to agree with Scott. How can any of us elevate ourselves period. We keep forgetting salvation is a “free” gift. In all of our depravity–God chose us to spend enternity with Him. Not the other way around? “He who knew no sin-became sin”–in order we achieve the same righteousness? Jeremiah talks about our hearts and motives being in question–even on our best day. Once receiving this “free”gift. Hadn’t we ought remain humble to the point, we have but one wish; to see all men/woman have the same opportunity? I attribute these subtle heart “attitudes” to the fact that Christianity in the past three decades has been on a collision course with God himself. Take a hard look around you people. We have some tough conditions to answer for. Read Revalation Chapter Three–which clearly defines the present condition of the Churches of Laodicea. In case you didn’t know it–that’s all of us! After serving over 20 years in ministry, I have been on a hiatus for nearly a decade now. Sometimes I do not even want the word Christian attached to my person. The first place God will clean house, is at the very steps of our precious alters. What do we expect Mr. Hanks to do for us, in all of our glory? The guy acknowledged God, and perhaps at some future point in time–we could all be about the business of praying him into the kingdom. Remeber, these actors have need of nothing. In the world, they have it all. Much like the rich young ruler. They need continual prayer–not critisism. Being a beleiver in no way gives us the upper hand. In fact he laid out His, and took a nail in each one–so that you and I could get home safely. Hardly sounds like we had anything to do with this–save to nod our heads, humble ourselves and thanks God for His grace. Close out these threads and move on. Lesson learned. Read the LOVE Chapter several times, and see how many of these you are missing on. That’s a wake up call? Sorry Tom–I think we have decided NOT to stone you after all!
Marc
Darren – What exactly do you disagree with Hanks on? (per your last post). Which deeper issues is he supposed to dwell on as you say?
I am just curious how you seem to be so intimate to his thoughts on these matters and how you can claim the higher ground.
Please be reminded that within the very interview you reference, Hanks seems to be very forthcoming in his religious, or perhaps a more appropriate term is “spiritual” orientation and I wonder out loud how you come to the conclusion that it would be “profitable” for him to spend more time thinking about these “deeper” issues.
Sorry to say this but your discourse certainly seems to continue along the course of your original post, that you indeed have an elevated viewpoint to that of Hanks, and again I wonder how you, I, or anyone else for that matter, can make that claim.
Hey all, thanks for adding more thoughts to the conversation! I by the way was the one who wrote the original blog post. I reread it just now, and don’t think that I was “judgmental” in my post. It’s sometimes difficult to explain things fully in a short blog post. Out of the necessity of brevity I chose the quotes from the interview that I thought were most interesting and could lead to more discussions. (Which certainly has occurred though not how I would’ve hoped!)
I certainly would commend Tom for being willing to talk about God and his faith, and mean no disrespect when I say that I disagree with him and (in my humble opinion) suggest that it might be profitable for him to spend some time thinking about deeper issues. Believing God exists is good, wonderful even. But the vast majority of the human population already believes that to be true.
I nowhere judge him, nor do I want to or intend to. I actually do agree with nearly everything that you’ve said.
Greetings
If I can jump in here again. I posted back a ways. I have to agree with you Shane in terms of never giving up on anyone who needs the “good” news! Let’s face it! Religion has been the stumbling block all along. Seeing or experiencing God through the prism of programs, denominations, doctrine, liturgy– and the like. May not be the way Mr. Hanks will one day make his peace with his Creator. At least he had enough respect to honor God with perhaps a mustard seed–size of faith? Perhaps, in His infinite wisdom, God has Tom in this role for a reason. I finally learned to let go of the “judgemental” spirit, in exchange for simply being a witness. We are not called to judge anyone. In fact, this is reserved soley for God at the set appointed time. Our job is simply to “herald” the good news. God can handle the rest. If we wwould/could all lay down our “sacred” cows long enough. There might be a lot more fruit out there in Hollywood. Not to risk sounding trite or redundant. But, the greatest command Jesus left behind; “Was to love our neighbor as oneself”. On this hangs the whole law! We were saved because of a free gift that somehow came our way at some point in our lives. Let’s give Tom and many other’s like him/her, the same chance? Usually when we see something wrong in someone else’s life–it is because the same speck is still in our own eye’s?
Marc
Darren,
first I want to say sorry for my rude remark “piss off”. I was very annoyed by this article and how it was worded. Tom made a very interesting statement for someone who does not claim to be a christain, “I think you’ll be foolish not to believe in God.” And then someone goes and make a statement such as, “it doesn’t sound like he takes the subject very seriously, or has given it much serious thought.” Who are we to say that… here is a man that has taken the step to acknowlege that fact that we would be foolish not to think there is a God. Most importantly, maybe this is just the start for this man who has a seed planted in his heart to want to seek out more in understanding and learning more about this wonderful creator we call God. Maybe, he learning the gosble and trying to learn more. We don’t know. All I know that he acknowleges that there is a God and thats a start.
Darren – I did not write this article so I can not know what the author ultimately intended to accomplish, but it seems obvious to me that he takes the two qoutes from the Hanks interview and wraps it up with a decisive conclusion that Hanks knows very little about faith in any form and uses the tags “patronizing” and “wildly unappreciative of the situation” to support the inference.
From the responses that follow it appears that at least some people have adopted this conclusion with the authors help.
If you read the entire interview however, it seems to me that Mr. Hanks does indeed have a more than fleeting grasp of his faith and respect for God, at least more so than the author suggests.
I am sorry if to you this seems to be judgemental on my part, but the fact is I am only interested in people being truthful when speaking about others, and not cherry picking the quotes, vices or virtues of others to accomplish their own agendas, regardless of their intent.
I saw the movie with my husband. We found it entertaining. Made me wonder about the Vatican archives – Fascinating. Tom Hanks comments are pretty neutral about God, but as we all know, faith is a gift, and not everyone receives this gift. I would say we are best to continue to pray for all of those who have not yet been blessed with the gift of faith that someday they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to seek a relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. If I met God, I would thank Him for blessing an unworthy soul like me with this gift, even though I struggle to fully accept it, appreciate it or make the most of it, I am grateful for this wondrous gift.
Scott & Shane, thanks for your comments!
It seems ironic though that you are judging others for judging? Saying that we are wrong for calling others wrong? It’s possible for us to have differences of opinion and not be “judgmental”, isn’t it?
Shane, would you care to share Tom’s interesting point for us to discuss? It might be more conducive to conversation that telling people to “piss off”.
Incidentally, just a quick note regarding the “Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary” quote. Though a thought-provoking quote, and one that a lot of Christians should pay more attention to, it was never actually said by St Francis:
http://talk.thinkingmatters.org.nz/2009/where-did-st-francis-say-that/
Good point Shane – I notice that many of the articles on this site though not overt, take on a quite and confident form of judgement – Isn’t that exactly what we are not supposed to do? Come on! It is the only expressed action called for in the Lord’s prayer for God’
s sake….Ugh! Dogma! Lets get it together folks; Judge not, forgive all, and practice benevolence to the down trodden, that is what it is all about!!!! If you don’t believe this than read the Bible again!
Tom does raise an interesting point that most of you are too blind to see…. and it’s funny how you just post this article and judge him. The man has his own views so piss off!
Don’t know if I will see this movie or not, did finally see the Da Vinci Code and found it interesting though I think the story really would have been better if it moved in the direction of the Church suppression of the Gnostic teachings which Mary, James and Phillip professed. You know, God can be found within, (Jesus Own words) rather than the Catholic church claim that God could only be reached through an intermediary, (an exulted appointee of the Church itself, I.E. a male priest). What a bunch of baloney. I think the real story post crucifixion is man’s own efforts to pervert the very word of God to meet his own means.
They have a lot more to ask God than Tom Hanks does IMHO.
Hello Reader’s and Fellow Film Buff’s
In reading Tom Hanks initial replies. I would see things in this way. Most actors usually study the roles they are about to portray. The business requires careful forethought in terms of how or why the film either promotes their profession, or detracts from it. Although today’s audience is much less judgemental or even too concerned, for that matter. Tom probably knows what he is doing in answering redundant questions. He will most likely refrain from speaking things he knows will make print the following day. Not to mention this guy is definataly an intellectual and successful. His comment about acting out one’s faith on a day to day basis, is a carefully thought out answer some Christians should take to heart. History is a barometer of sorts. But in the end-we have the ability to either change it for the better or worse. The movie by it’s own storyline, obviously belives in some sort of good and evil force(s). By it’s own admission– between the lines, it speaks of God. To answer the question what would I say to God, if I would happen upon Him. What could you say, save your own track record up until that point would best speak for itself? We are best known in God’s economy, not by our words, but by our actions. To quote a Catholic monk from some several genrations back. St. Francis said: “go out today and preach the gospel, and if you must use words.
Marc Wildman
The film is based on the treachery and the fetile imagination of an anti-christian writer, so the real substance is missing. Although i will still recommend all christians to check it out so that they can see the war christians will be facing in the not too far a future
If i were able to meet God, I would tell Him thank You for sending Your Beautiful Son to show us Your reflection…I would thank Him for saving my life and thank Him for showing me what love is..There aren’t enough words or time in the world to tell Him how much i love Him..He took my useless life and gave it purpose….and one last thing..(if possible) I would give Him the biggest hug ever :-)
If I met God, I would say thank You for your love & for allowing me to be here with you! I longed for this meeting and now I’m here! You are more than I could ever imagine. Thank you for Jesus and the Holy Spirit . I love you my God!