Agora

[Paul the Human]

Has anyone else seen the movie Agora? (IMDB page)

If not, I highly recommend it. The rest of this post could be consider a 'spoiler'.

It is the story of atheist philosopher/astronomer/mathematician Hypatia of Alexandria (played by Rachel Weisz). She was teaching (the only woman) at the Great Library when the resident 'pagans' decided to cleanse the city of the pesky Christians. Unfortunately, there were far more Christians than they thought and the Christians won. As the new rulers of the city, the first act of the Christians was the storming of the Library and the destruction of all that filthy 'pagan knowledge'.

Much to the chagrin of the Christians, Hypatia continued her research and teaching, if on a smaller scale, and remained a trusted advisor to their Prefect.

A few years pass and the Christians, with all the tolerance we love them for, decided to force the stubborn Jews to accept Jesus and be baptized, be stoned to death, or flee from the city. But without the Jews to push around the Christians began to turn on each other (No True Scotsman is born).

But wait! There is something far worse. Hypatia, the non-believer. The witch!

It was a a great movie that did a very good job of showing how religion and intolerance stifle and condemn the quest for knowledge. I give it 4 Stars.

[Anomalocaris]

The catholic church made the Christian fanatic who skinned Hypatia alive into a saint.

[Paul the Human]

Indeed.

[Minimalist]

The catholic church made the Christian fanatic who skinned Hypatia alive into a saint.

Clearly, that motherfucker was inspired by 'god!'

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The catholic church made the Christian fanatic who skinned Hypatia alive into a saint.

Clearly, that motherfucker was inspired by 'god!'

I just added it to my Netflix queue and bumped it to #1. I don't think it got much of a release over here. Xtians can't stand anything that doesn't reinforce their self-professed image of pious saints.

Rock-throwing murderers would make them look too much like muslims and they can't have that!

[The Skeptic]

I watched it just recently actually. I thought it was a fantastic movie. I think the real Hypatia may have been a pagan, but that's beside the point. The point of the movie was the religious feud between the pagans and Christians lead to the Christians needlessly murdering a brilliant woman who did nothing to aggravate the feud.

For anyone who hasn't seen it, you should.

[Minimalist]

I just finished watching it. Paul. Excellent movie and probably as good a depiction of ignorant, xtian thugs as one is likely to see.

I can see why it didn't get a general release over here. The shitwits would have gone berserk.

[Justtristo]

I bought a copy of Agora, watched it and found it a intriguing film. Because it shows Christians as fanatics akin to the Taliban which is rare in movies and it also shows how blinding faith can be to the point believers are willing to destroy and kill, all in the name of god. Also Hypatia was killed because the Christians were following a verse in 1 Timothy saying that women should not be in positions over men.

[Zen Badger]

I named my bike Hypatia in her honor.

I first learned of her years ago after Carl Sagan made mention of her in "Cosmos"

And Rachael Weis is Hot, hot,hot.