Comments for A Dark Knight of the Soul at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 9 out of 9 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sat, 18 May 2013 23:27:43 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-83 Re Lisa's point: The Commandment is "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Such false witness is a sin against justice. Here someone allows himself to be unjustly accused of a crime out of love for others, which but involves exposing only oneself to injustice, a self-sacrificing act. There is an intent to mislead, but one might ask whether it is primarily what the Commandment was directed against. - Richard Doerflinger Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:48:01 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-70 To Lisa, I don't remember the scene well, but I don't recall that Batman lied about anything to the public. He did not tell everyone the truth, but that is not the same thing. Pilate and the high priests accused Christ of many things in their trial of him, but Christ only said, "It is you who are saying this," or else he remained silent, letting them maintain their own illusion, so that his call to die for us would be realized. This seems to be what Batman did. Correct my memory as needed. :) - Scotty the Menace Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:01:53 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-67 Here's my summation of the movie and what we can draw from it. We are all born for greatness. With this knowledge we must transcend the mediocrity of relativism. Greatness lies within Christ, Relativism lieing within Satan. By the way, had it not been for Morning Air, I would not know of this website! - Theresa Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:55:57 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-65 I do not agree with the assessment here. We have an ending where the apparent hero LIES to everyone - creates a deception. A lie is never the answer, the way, or correct under any circumstance. If a society cannot understand or accept the truth, there are bigger problems than who is to blame for a tragedy. Sorry - the ending is a grave disappointment. - Lisa Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:23:52 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-64 Thanks for these comments. I recommend Nick's blog as well for those interested. On Rufus's 4th comment: I do think it is more than maintaining appearances: The people of Gotham have been brutalized by the Joker's crimes, but also forced to see how capable they are of evil if tempted. To realize that even the city's "white knight" became a murderer would plunge the city into hopelessness, "losing its soul." Batman's sacrifice is about maintaining hope. Hope isn't everything, but... - Richard Doerflinger Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:06:14 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-63 Mr Doerflinger, I think you are on to something. I caught a whiff of this after viewing the film and threw together some thoughts which I posted on my own blog. If you\'re interested, you can view them: http://upyetnotnorth.blogspot.com/2008/07/dark-knight-runs-because-we-have-to.html I haven't come across any other figures that seem to approach the film as you have, so it's a little gratifying to come across a kindred spirit... - Nick Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:53:00 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-56 1) Wonderful beginning of what should be an extensive discussion about the nature of evil as it is treated in this movie 2) The movie did evil very well, but good less so 3) As evidence, Batman would have been perfectly justified in killing the Joker when he had the chance. I understand the importance of these plot moves but... 4) Yes, the resolution of the next movie is key, but moreso in the sense that we must see that preserving the appearance of good (Dent's image) is not enough. - rufus Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:40:25 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-54 Iosephus's comment is well taken. I think I had more of an explanation about two kinds of heroism in my original -- maybe I'll blame this one on the editors' cuts! I meant a distinction between physical courage (like that shown by police officers or by soldiers in wartime) and what is often called moral courage (shown by those who speak against injustice or corruption despite consequences to themselves). Both are valuable, and both are possible outside a distinctively Christian worldview. - Richard Doerflinger Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:06:14 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2008/a-dark-knight-of-the-soul.html#comment-53 I am lost on your distinction between the "heroism of action" and "moral agency" - is the hero in the "heroism of action" not a moral agent also? And if the hero in the "heroism of action" is not a positively moral agent, why should we, unless we're also utilitarians, like the Joker, admire him? - Iosephus Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:01:32 +0100