WARNING THIS POSTING CONTAINS SPOILER INFO ABOUT THE NEW MOVIE, THE VILLAGE. IF YOU PLAN ON SEEING THE MOVIE AND DON'T LIKE TO KNOW STUFF IN ADVANCE STOP READING NOW......
Greetings!
I saw M. Night Shyamalan's new movie, The Village, today. (his movies are sometimes good like Signs and Sixth Sense or terrible like Unbreakable).
The central premise of the story is that this community is created by a group of persons who are attempting to escape from modernity and the associated ills (and "heartache") of contemporary life. They thus have created a wildlife sanctuary where they can preserve their way of life, isolated and frozen in an early American period of about the 1820's or so. It is for them a spiritual and physical refuge from the evil persons that live in the "towns." This village is located deep in the woods and separated far from the "towns." In the woods surrounding the village dwell dangerous creatures of horror. There is a very strict boundary line. The villagers do not enter the woods and in turn the creatures do not enter the village and leave the residents unmolested.
This is all a facade of course. The creatures do not really exist. They are a concoction of the Elders that serves to instill fear and keeps the young and uninitiated from wandering away from the Village and by extension away from discovering the truth of the situation.
So readers of this board by now see where I am going by this. As I was watching this movie, which was highly enjoyable by the way, I couldn't help but think of the way the leadership of the Organization create various bogeymen for exactly the same purposes as in the movie. They have good intentions no doubt but we have to wonder about the morality of imposing one's view by not presenting a choice by saying "We have this life here and there is that life out there. Now that you are old enough, it is your choice as to which is best for you."
It reminds me of the concept of Rumspringa among the Amish which I just learned about thanks to Fox's Amish in the City, which as far as the first episode went was kind of interesting and not half bad at all. This is probably not true for all Amish sects but apparently some allow for a time period where those that have grown up as Amish children and teens may be free to experience modern living and even to pursue and engage in activities and things that may even be contrary to acceptable conduct and belief. At some point whether they choose to participate in Rumspringa or not or to whatever extent they engage in modern living or these unacceptable activities, these Amish youth are presented with a choice to take their vows and suscribe fully to the Amish life or not.
Although Jehovah's Witness youth don't live as restricted a life as Amish youth, I think the concept is a right one. We are often very proud to tout that we do not practice infant baptism, etc. but is this enough? Probably not when the reality is that we practially compel our young to accept the JW life and we often encourage them to do it at fairly young ages. In my opinion, no one under the age of 21 should be permitted to enter into the contract of baptism as a Jehovah's Witness. And going further, the concept of actually encouraging a Rumspringa like period of growth and experience should be embraced.
No doubt many would say that is just crazy to say to young persons hey go have fun, get wild, etc. They will say that will just lead to bad consequences and association, etc. (sex, drugs & rock n roll)
But my response is simple. First, young persons predisposed to going off and doing these things are going to do them anyway and there is little that you can do to physically prevent it. Secondly, for those not predisposed and even those that are tempted by these things, if as a parent you have really done your job in instilling in your child positve values, strong self-esteem, a healthy appreciation for moderation in all things, a foundation of trust and communication and above all the discernment that for every choice they make there is a conquence, then as a young adult they should make choices that should at at least not be self-destructive or overly harmful and might even make you proud.
any thoughts anyone?
-Eduardo