Kevin Smith’s ‘Dogma’ and the Question of Irreverence

Kenneth Turan got it wrong when he wrote in his review of Kevin Smith’s movie “Dogma” that anyone expecting a modern version of “The Song of Bernadette” would find themselves “dazed and confused” (“Leaps of Faith,” Nov. 12).

Furthermore, in writing that “with intense doses of theology and religious doctrine, alternating with juvenile sex jokes and a monster that emerges from a toilet,” this “irreverent” movie is in no way “conventional,” he couldn’t be more off the mark. It is precisely the inclusion of profanity, bathroom humor, sex jokes, etc., that has made much of today’s current movie fare incredibly conventional, and today’s relentless attempts at irreverence anything but the unexpected.

It is exactly a classic film, with the poetic lyricism of “Song of Bernadette,” that would render a contemporary audience dazed and confused. If, as Turan wrote, the film offers “bad jokes about bodily functions and sexual availability” “between unexpectedly thoughtful moments,” he has, in what I presume to be a rave review, convinced at least one filmgoer not to see it.

ELIZABETH MOLO

Glendale

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The front-page story on the Catholic League’s a priori condemnation of “Dogma” (“Chasing Catholicism,” by Teresa Watanabe, Nov. 10) should raise two vital questions for anyone who fears that a motion picture could undermine his faith, his religion or even his notions of God:

Is this (or any) film really so powerful? Is your faith/religion/God really so weak?

NEIL CLARK

Long Beach

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Bravo Kevin Smith! Christ is an internal event, not an external intellectual property. Bravo indeed, for trusting not in dogma but in spirit!

FRANK ARMSTRONG

Los Angeles

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My faith is strong in Catholicism, but my mind is not weak. “Dogma” is a great film, and for a Catholic to see it is extra nice because you get the jokes better. It brings kids into the idea of God, which is more productive than most movies geared toward young people. It’s about time Catholics open their minds and hearts to the fact that young people need to be reached any way that works. We’re all a mix of religions, and hating each other for opening our minds to diversity is anti-God. Amen!

MARY JACOBS

Los Angeles

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Question church dogma, yes. Blaspheme against the religion, I think not.

How many more of these characters must we endure?

JEANNE TAYLOR

Los Angeles