Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Satan

2009-04-21T22:29:34Z

SamBailey:

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]
'''Satan''' (from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator" or "adversary") was a member of the [[divine council]] of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]] in [[Job]]. He is referenced 11 times in Job and 4 other times in the Old Testament. The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]]. In the Christian tradition he rebelled against [[God]] and is now the enemy of God and man alike. He is the father of lies and no good is found in him. He leads a host of fallen angels (or [[demon]]s) who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the [[lake of fire]] and they seek to take as many humans as possible with them. Those who worship Satan are called [[satanism | Satanists]].

The three classic defenses against Satan are:

* mockery, which Satan cannot withstand due to his pride
* sunlight or exposure, from which Satan hides
* the [[Holy Spirit]], meaning "The Advocate" (i.e., defense lawyer), or the [[Armor of God]]<ref>Ephesians 6:1-17</ref>.

Note that Satan lacks self-restraint, which often leads him to failure. In addition, Satan delights in [[deceit]], even to the point of causing his downfall.

== History and Goals ==

In [[Christianity]] Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil). In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree. This causes sin to come into the world. Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer. God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely. (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).

[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out. Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to [[exorcise]] this possession through Jesus.

In the [[New Testament]], Satan tries to tempt [[Jesus]] in the desert, and fails. Jesus warns extensively to beware of Satan as does [[Paul]].

Satan, is also called by several different names (the Devil, deceiver, Bealzebub, Beelzebul, Lucifer, Dis, [[Asmodeus]], Abaddon, "Old Scratch," the Crooked One, etc).

The notion of Satan, or an evil force, is noted in many if not all of the major world religions.

== Lucifer ==

'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the [[Bible]] only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

* I will ascend into [[heaven]]
* I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
* I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
* I will be like the most High

Those who take this passage to be a reference to Satan believe that it gives more history of what caused his downfall, that he was created by God as one of His most powerful angels (possibly a Seraphim), but that he fell from grace after he in his pride rebelled against his Creator. Some, however, believe that there is no grounding to interpret the passage as a history of Satan, citing that the passage uses highly figurative and poetic language that was meant as a prophecy against Babylon and nothing more.

[[Image:Paradise Lost 12.jpg|right|thumb|''The fall of Lucifer'' by Gustave Doré.]]

== Jewish Views ==

In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney - one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety. At the direction of God Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job. In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it.

== Notes ==
<references/>
[[category:Abrahamic Religions]]
{{DivineComedy}}

Horror movie

2008-09-20T22:55:22Z

SamBailey:

[[Image:Psycho1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Scene from Alfred Hitchcock's ''Psycho''.]]

'''Horror [[movie]]s''' are films intended to inspire feelings of suspense or fear in viewers. The genre of horror is very wide and can be divided into several sub-categories; perhaps the most important division among horror movies is the motivation behind the film, whether there is a purpose in provoking fear in the audience or whether it is done for its own sake. Often, especially in more modern horror movies, the means through which fear is stimulated (which may include [[violence]]) stirs up controversy.

==History==
Because horror is a popular genre in all mediums of narrative, it is not surprising that the first horror films were made shortly after film was invented. ''The House of the Devil'', or ''Le Manoir du diable'' in [[France|French]], made in 1896, is often credited as the first horror movie ever made.

The early 1900s through the 1940s saw the popularity of horror movies featuring monsters, such as werewolves, vampires, and mummies. Often these films blended horror with adventure or black comedy, and were therefore not meant to be taken as serious drama. Often, B-movies included elements of this genre. Some well-known horror films from this genre include ''[[Frankenstein]]'', ''Dracula'', ''The Phantom of the Opera'', and ''Nosferatu''. Eventually, horror films in general shifted away from Gothic influence and took on more relevant conflicts.

With [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''Psycho'' came a major change in not only horror movies, but cinema in general. Aside from drastically weakening the effect of film censorship, it also had a sweeping impact on conflict in horror movies; ''Psycho'' centers around a [[Psychosis|psychotic]], [[Repression|sexually repressed]] motel owner who, unable to handle his own neurosis, unknowingly murders his guests. After ''Psycho'' came several more films featuring "man vs. man" conflict.

''Psycho'' is often considered to be the roots of a genre that would come to prominence in the 1970s and flourish until the end of the 1980s: slasher films. In slasher movies, the main action features a serial killer who murders several expendable, often two-dimensional, characters throughout the course of the film. Slasher movies often did not take themselves seriously and drew most of their appeal from their portrayals of quick, sudden deaths, which usually portrayed large amounts of blood and gore. Some well-known slashers included ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'', ''Halloween'', ''Friday the 13th'', ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'', and ''Scream''.

Horror films today often rely on heavy violence to portray feelings of terror, such as ''Hostel'' and ''Saw''. Others, however, are more atmospheric in nature, like ''The Sixth Sense''.

==Critical Reaction==
As mentioned above, usually critics distinguish horror films as either art or less sophisticated indulgence by the intentions of the filmmakers. Films such as ''Friday the 13th'', ''Cannibal Holocaust'', and ''I Spit on Your Grave'' are often viewed as cheap exploitation, whereas ''Psycho'' and ''The Silence of the Lambs'' are generally lauded for its psychological study, ''[[The Exorcist]]'' and ''Salo'' are praised for being genuinely frightening, and ''Scream'' is accepted for its satirical parody of the slasher genre.

[[Category:Movies]]

Radiohead

2008-09-20T22:24:51Z

SamBailey:

'''Radiohead''' is a band from the [[United Kingdom]] that is very influential in [[music]], and was especially so during the 1990s. They have had six albums, five EPs and one live album. Singer/guitarist/pianist [[Thom Yorke]] has had one solo album, and guitarist Jonny Greenwood has composed soundtracks for major motion pictures such as ''[[There Will Be Blood]]''.

== Early Years ==

The band was formed in high school by Thom Yorke and bassist Colin Greenwood. Drummer Phil Selway was added shortly after forming as was guitarist Ed O' Brien. Greenwood's younger brother Jonny would tag along to band practices at their mother's request and after begging to become a member numerous times, he was added as a harmonica player. He soon moved to keyboards and eventually lead guitar.

== Digital Sale ==

Radiohead's 2007 album ''In Rainbows'' is notable for being the first major blockbuster release by a major band to be released for free. Upon the album's release, the record label sold it through InRainbows.com, where customers had the option to enter whatever price they wanted to pay (including $0). Similar practices have since been used by other major artists such as [[Nine Inch Nails]] and [[Girl Talk]], and is rapidly becoming standard.

== Releases ==
===Albums===
* ''Pablo Honey'' (1993)
* ''The Bends'' (1995)
* ''OK Computer'' (1997)
* ''Kid A'' (2000)
* ''Amnesiac'' (2001)
* ''Hail to the Thief'' (2003)
* ''In Rainbows'' (2007)

===[[EP]]s and B-Sides===
* ''Drill'' (1992)
* ''My Iron Lung'' (1994)
* ''No Surprises / Running From Demons'' (1997)
* ''Airbag / How Am I Driving?'' (1998)
* ''Com Lag'' (2003)

===Live Albums===
* ''I Might Be Wrong'' (2001)

[[Category:Bands]]

Golden Globe

2008-09-20T22:24:28Z

SamBailey: Linking.

The '''Golden Globe Awards''' are awarded annually to [[American]] [[film]] [[actor]]s by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The first awards were given out in 1944. The award ceremony is held in January. The awards are given in 25 categories of motion pictures and television. <ref>http://www.goldenglobes.org/about/index.html</ref>

2008 winners include actor Daniel Day-Lewis, for ''Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama'' in the film ''[[There Will Be Blood]]'' and ''Atonement'' was named as ''Best Motion Picture - Drama''.

==References==

<references/>

==External Links==

*http://www.goldenglobes.org/

[[Category:Awards]]

There Will Be Blood

2008-09-20T19:34:25Z

SamBailey: References.

'''''There Will Be Blood''''' is a 2007 American [[Movie|film]] directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. Its story was loosely based on the [[Upton Sinclair]] novel ''Oil!'', and is notable for the significant critical reception it received and Day-Lewis's performance, which won him an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]], a [[Golden Globe]], and several other awards.

==Plot==
The story centers around an oil prospector named Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis), who starts a small business in 1898 and finally strikes in 1902. Shortly after oil is discovered, one of his employees is accidentally killed on the job, and Daniel adopts the man's infant son to raise as his own. Daniel uses the boy, H.W. (Dillon Freasier), to garner sympathy to secure land grants.

In 1911, Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) approaches Daniel, tipping him off to the location of oil in exchange for $500. Daniel travels to the Sunday family ranch, where he finds oil seeping to the surface. He offers to buy the land from Paul's father, Abel, for a pittance, but Paul's twin brother, a young charismatic preacher named Eli (also Dano), realizes that Daniel is interested in the oil and raises the price to $5,000.

A few days after Daniel has built a large oil derrick, an explosion erupts on the rig, and H.W. is permanently deafened by the blast, and Eli, who stylizes himself as a faith healer, is unable to restore the boy's healing. When Eli walks up to Daniel and demands the money, Daniel angrily beats him up, shoving his face into an oil puddle.

Daniel is sympathetic toward H.W. but is unable to communicate with him. As the well is reconstructed and begins to harvest oil, Daniel's half-brother, Henry (Kevin J. O'Conner) approaches him. Daniel makes Henry a close business associate and confesses to Henry that he hates people in general, and that his ambition is to make enough money to completely close himself off to the world. That night, H.W. tries to burn Henry alive while he is sleeping. Daniel has H.W. sent away to a boarding school.

After running into a problem drilling, Daniel decides to build a pipeline, which will require the lease of the ranch of a man named William Bandy. Daniel and Henry camp out on the land while they wait for William to return. During their conversations, Daniel suspects that Henry is not who he claims to be. Daniel holds a gun to Henry's head, and he admits that Daniel's real brother died of tuberculosis, and that Henry used the man's diary to impersonate him. Daniel murders Henry and buries him on the ranch, then passes out after drinking heavily.

The next morning, William returns, discovers Henry's body, and finds Daniel badly hungover. William offers to allow Daniel's pipeline on the condition that he repent of his sin and be baptized into Eli's church. Daniel joins the church solely to secure his pipeline, and Eli subjects him to humiliation, forcing him to confess to various sins and then slapping him around. Shortly afterward, H.W. returns to Daniel. The boy is learning sign language and has a romantic interest in Eli's daughter, Mary.

In 1927, Daniel has his wish: He is very wealthy and lives in a mansion, isolated from the community. However, he is miserable, deeply dependent on alcohol, and a misanthrope. H.W. asks to be let out of their business partnership so that he can leave with Mary to start his own business. Daniel does, but cruelly tells H.W., "You're not my son... You're lower than a bastard, and I only took you in because I needed a cute face to buy land. You have none of me in you." H.W. says, "I thank God I have none of me in you." After H.W. leaves, Daniel begins crying.

In the well-known final scene, Eli, who is bad need of money, informs Daniel that William has died and that he now owns the property. He offers to lease the land to Daniel to drill, because there were no oil rigs built on that land. Daniel tells him that he will do the work only if Eli renounces his faith. Eli does, and Daniel laughs and explains that he has already used his pipeline to drain the oil from the Bandy tract. Daniel then violently attacks Eli, throwing bowling pins at him. After he beats Eli to death, Daniel collapses to the floor and says, "I'm finished."

==Themes==
The novel ''Oil!'' is primarily a [[Socialism|socialist]] work, and, though P.T. Anderson radically changed the film's story, this message is left intact. The movie is very critical of both [[capitalism]] and [[Christianity]], and portrays Daniel and Eli as equally deceptive and self-serving.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/board/thread/117537849</ref> The film is also about the corrupting power of greed on an individual, and some have pointed out that H.W. is the "hero" of the movie: He is the only redemptive character.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/board/thread/114275990</ref>

==Critics' reaction==
Reception from film critics was generally positive, with critiques ranging from light praise to some lauding the movie as a "masterpiece." [[Roger Ebert]] gave ''There Will Be Blood'' three-and-a-half stars, praising it but saying it "is not perfect, and in its imperfections we may see its reach exceeding its grasp."<ref>http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/REVIEWS/801030301/1023</ref> Other critics were not so reserved, such as Kevin McCarthey, who wrote, "You will be thrown back in your seat by how amazing it is."<ref>http://www.wjfk.com/pages/1436375.php?</ref> However, Mike Sage called it "overrated"<ref>http://www.mykawartha.com/entertainment/column/25876</ref>, and Armond White referred to it as a "pretend epic."<ref>http://www.nypress.com/21/1/film/ArmondWhite.cfm</ref>

==Christian reaction==
Christopher Walker, writing for ChristianAnswers.net, called the film "a non-relenting assault on the church and religion" and a "mockery." Contributor Jeremy Landes also took exception to the wholly anti-Christian theme and also criticized it for betraying the original story in the novel.<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2008/therewillbeblood2008.html</ref> However, in the magazine ''Plugged In'', Paul Asay was positive, calling it a "thundering, [[Old Testament]]-type story that metes out punishment to sinners."<ref>http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003592.cfm</ref>

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:Drama]]

There Will Be Blood

2008-09-20T19:19:08Z

SamBailey: Fixed link.

There Will Be Blood

2008-09-20T19:18:20Z

SamBailey: Created page.

'''''There Will Be Blood''''' is a 2007 American [[Movie|film]] directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. Its story was loosely based on the [[Upton Sinclair]] novel ''Oil!'', and is notable for the significant critical reception it received and Day-Lewis's performance, which won him an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]], a [[Golden Globe]], and several other awards.

==Plot==
The story centers around an oil prospector named Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis), who starts a small business in 1898 and finally strikes in 1902. Shortly after oil is discovered, one of his employees is accidentally killed on the job, and Daniel adopts the man's infant son to raise as his own. Daniel uses the boy, H.W. (Dillon Freasier), to garner sympathy to secure land grants.

In 1911, Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) approaches Daniel, tipping him off to the location of oil in exchange for $500. Daniel travels to the Sunday family ranch, where he finds oil seeping to the surface. He offers to buy the land from Paul's father, Abel, for a pittance, but Paul's twin brother, a young charismatic preacher named Eli (also Dano), realizes that Daniel is interested in the oil and raises the price to $5,000.

A few days after Daniel has built a large oil derrick, an explosion erupts on the rig, and H.W. is permanently deafened by the blast, and Eli, who stylizes himself as a faith healer, is unable to restore the boy's healing. When Eli walks up to Daniel and demands the money, Daniel angrily beats him up, shoving his face into an oil puddle.

Daniel is sympathetic toward H.W. but is unable to communicate with him. As the well is reconstructed and begins to harvest oil, Daniel's half-brother, Henry (Kevin J. O'Conner) approaches him. Daniel makes Henry a close business associate and confesses to Henry that he hates people in general, and that his ambition is to make enough money to completely close himself off to the world. That night, H.W. tries to burn Henry alive while he is sleeping. Daniel has H.W. sent away to a boarding school.

After running into a problem drilling, Daniel decides to build a pipeline, which will require the lease of the ranch of a man named William Bandy. Daniel and Henry camp out on the land while they wait for William to return. During their conversations, Daniel suspects that Henry is not who he claims to be. Daniel holds a gun to Henry's head, and he admits that Daniel's real brother died of tuberculosis, and that Henry used the man's diary to impersonate him. Daniel murders Henry and buries him on the ranch, then passes out after drinking heavily.

The next morning, William returns, discovers Henry's body, and finds Daniel badly hungover. William offers to allow Daniel's pipeline on the condition that he repent of his sin and be baptized into Eli's church. Daniel joins the church solely to secure his pipeline, and Eli subjects him to humiliation, forcing him to confess to various sins and then slapping him around. Shortly afterward, H.W. returns to Daniel. The boy is learning sign language and has a romantic interest in Eli's daughter, Mary.

In 1927, Daniel has his wish: He is very wealthy and lives in a mansion, isolated from the community. However, he is miserable, deeply dependent on alcohol, and a misanthrope. H.W. asks to be let out of their business partnership so that he can leave with Mary to start his own business. Daniel does, but cruelly tells H.W., "You're not my son... You're lower than a bastard, and I only took you in because I needed a cute face to buy land. You have none of me in you." H.W. says, "I thank God I have none of me in you." After H.W. leaves, Daniel begins crying.

In the well-known final scene, Eli, who is bad need of money, informs Daniel that William has died and that he now owns the property. He offers to lease the land to Daniel to drill, because there were no oil rigs built on that land. Daniel tells him that he will do the work only if Eli renounces his faith. Eli does, and Daniel laughs and explains that he has already used his pipeline to drain the oil from the Bandy tract. Daniel then violently attacks Eli, throwing bowling pins at him. After he beats Eli to death, Daniel collapses to the floor and says, "I'm finished."

==Themes==
The novel ''Oil!'' is primarily a [[Socialism|socialist]] work, and, though P.T. Anderson radically changed the film's story, this message is left intact. The movie is very critical of both [[capitalism]] and [[Christianity]], and portrays Daniel and Eli as equally deceptive and self-serving.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/board/thread/117537849</ref> The film is also about the corrupting power of greed on an individual, and some have pointed out that H.W. is the "hero" of the movie: He is the only redemptive character.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/board/thread/114275990</ref>

==Critics' reaction==
Reception from film critics was generally positive, with critiques ranging from light praise to some lauding the movie as a "masterpiece." [[Roger Ebert]] gave ''There Will Be Blood'' three-and-a-half stars, praising it but saying it "is not perfect, and in its imperfections we may see its reach exceeding its grasp."<ref>http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/REVIEWS/801030301/1023</ref> Other critics were not so reserved, such as Kevin McCarthey, who wrote, "You will be thrown back in your seat by how amazing it is."<ref>http://www.wjfk.com/pages/1436375.php?</ref> However, Mike Sage called it "overrated"<ref>http://www.mykawartha.com/entertainment/column/25876</ref>, and Armond White referred to it as a "pretend epic."<ref>http://www.nypress.com/21/1/film/ArmondWhite.cfm</ref>

==Christian reaction==
Christopher Walker, writing for [www.christiananswers.net ChristianAnswers.net], called the film "a non-relenting assault on the church and religion" and a "mockery." Contributor Jeremy Landes also took exception to the wholly anti-Christian theme and also criticized it for betraying the original story in the novel.<ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2008/therewillbeblood2008.html</ref> However, in the magazine ''Plugged In'', Paul Asay was positive, calling it a "thundering, [[Old Testament]]-type story that metes out punishment to sinners."<ref>http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003592.cfm</ref>

[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:Drama]]