Dogma and Mackie: Evil vs Omnipotent

The belief of religion according to Mackie was exemplified and explained in the 1999 comedy Dogma. Mackie believes that with good, evil must exist. Therefore, there must be a heaven and a hell. In Dogma, evil and good combat each other by destined prophecies.

  The scene in Dogma is set by three children skateboarders that appear to be possessed. The Catholic church also reinvents the way sins are forgiven and comes up with a arch that banishes all sins. Two fallen angels, Bartleby and Loki, see this as an opportunity to be forgiven of their sins so they can commit suicide, become angels again and be welcomed back to Heaven. Azrael is a demon determined to allow the fallen angels to return to Heaven so that the world will end. We also meet another character, Bethany Sloane, who is destined (because she is related to Jesus) to change the path of the universe and stop the two angels from re entering heaven. 

With the power of the omnipotent God, many events fall into place, according to Mackie. God, although he is all knowing has created these events to force an interaction between good and evil. Humans are also given free will but is forced to do what is meant due to God's power According to Dogma and Mackie. Another element that God allows is evil, because according the Mackie, God knows evil must exist for good to exist. But he also debates that if God is omnipotent then he should be able to create good with out the presence of evil. He believes that human’s free will create’s evil. Therefore God should also take away free will. 

Dogma plays into these theories when the prophesied events begin taking place. The characters begin their journey's to the arch with determination. Bethany's original interaction with God was unwanted and she had free will but God set certain events to force her to do as prophesied. Although, she would rather stay behind, her free will is somewhat taken from her due to these events. This puts Mackie’s theories into question due to Bethany and the other characters in the movie actions. If Bethany and her crew really had free will they could go against the events that were laid down but due to their inherent good they also must exist so that evil can be defeated and all balance is back in the world again. Did God put these actions into place or were they decided by the inherent nature of free will in good and evil individuals?

Dr Strangelove ~ make up post

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a 1964 political satire in which Air Force General Jack Ripper becomes paranoid and issues a nuclear attack on Russia, though he has no authority to do so on his own. When a captain tries to stop him, Ripper talks about the reasons behind his actions. One reason he mentions is that he believes the Russians are trying to “pollute” America through their drinking water. After they realize Ripper is insane, they try to stop the attack because they feel it is not justified at this time. 


In War and Massacre, Thomas Nagel talks about some of the issues brought up in Dr. Strangelove, such as the justification of war. According to Nagel, utilitarianism is a viewpoint in which one sees himself as benevolent and in control. In utilitarianism, treatment does not have to be justified or appropriate, as it would in absolutism. In Dr. Strangelove we see an example what Nagel was referring to. A delusional General Ripper and the rest of the military believed themselves and their nation to be above the Russians and therefore did not need proper justification in their decisions.