1984 vs religion

So I woke up this morning at 2am and laid in bed and decided that I wanted to write something on 1984 (the book) and how I think it relates to religion. However, I was far to lazy to get up and do that then, so I am doing it now.

I recently watched 1984 (the one with John Hurt and Winston Smith) which is one of my top favorite movies (mainly cause its one of my top favorite books). Something occured to me when I was watching it this time around, and it comes from one of the best quotes (and scariest) in the book, which is repeated in the film. At one point (yes this will have spoilers for those that haven't read or seen it, so if you haven't and don't want to be spoiled then skip this blog entry) O'Brien is torturing Winston and he reveals his image of the future: "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever. … And remember that it is for ever. The face will always be there to be stamped upon."

I think that sums up much of the story in that one statement and the idea of totalitarian governments. One could make the argument that 1984 is a very extreme version that is not yet seen in the real world, though Christopher Hitchens very much equates much of the ideas to North Korea as already happening. Another idea thats played throughout 1984 is the idea that you must not simply obey Big Brother, but you must love him.

I think this has some very large correlations with religions, especially Christianity and to a degree Islam. For the sake of this ill use Christianity as an example as its to a certain degree easier to talk about, and im more familiar with it. It seems to me that Christianity demands much of what Big Brother does. Jesus/God fits that quite well.

Lets take my second example. Christianity demands (at least most brands of it), under the threat of torture forever, that you must believe in Christ. Its not a matter of just living a good life, doing as little harm and as much good as you can, or even obeying much of the 10 commandments. You have to embrace Jesus, you must believe and love him for he loves you. He sacrificed everything for you, so if you don't love him and accept him as your savior, you are dirt and will be going straight to the hot place. This seems to fall very much in line with Big Brothers demand that you love him and praise him in all things.

Going to the boot idea, Jesus and Christianity as a whole provides much of that same idea. You will live forever in their dogma, it just depends on where. Some will go to Heaven, to be with God forever though what that looks like is a little vague, and seems to me that you have no choice but to always be under God and love him, forever. Obviously you really couldn't stop one would suspect, otherwise maybe you would go to hell (not sure if theres anything that says that once you get to heaven you could then renounce God or Jesus, though one I guess assumes that if you make it to heaven that God knows thats not going to happen, which is why he let you in.) If you end up in hell, your still screwed living under Gods boot (Satan) and you get to go to the equivalent of Room 101 forever.

Room 101 seems to be a great concept for hell. Take the thing that is the worst thing that you can possibly think of, and thats what awaits you in room 101. That seems to be a pretty effective hell and if you were to ask Winston and Julia if they would have avoided that at all costs had they known what was in there, I would suspect yes. Had it been me in the chair with the rats (though true, that more than likely would not be the worst thing that someone could think of for me as rats don't particularly bother me) I would have said go ahead and let it eat my head. It would suck for a bit, I would be dead and problem solved (as one would suspect you were going to end up dying anyways).

Even the idea of thoughtcrime exists in both. Many interpret the idea of thou shalt not commit adultery as even lusting another women would qualify which is a thought, not an action. Thou shalt not kill gets sometimes interpreted as you aren't even to be angry at someone, as you have "killed them in your heart" (or some other such nonsense), yet again a form of thought crime. There are many other cases of that.

Another idea thats common in both (as I write I'm thinking of more correlations I had not thought of earlier) is the idea of eliminating sex as anything of pleasure, as that does not glorify God/the party. The book puts more emphasis on this idea than the movie, but the idea is to eliminate the orgasm. People just need to make kids and thats all. Christians generally are the same way. Sex is dirty and is only between married and for the purpose of having kids.

Hell even Goldstein can be interpreted as everything secular, against the party/Christianity. And much like in Orwell's world, that idea (us evil atheists and the evil liberals etc) is to be feared and despised and hated. Every day (if I remember correctly) there is the 2 minute hate in the movie.

Another common thing between the two is the distortion of facts. The idea that the world is 6000 years old seems like a good one. And its not a matter that its followers have to just kinda pretend to believe that, they really have to believe that. The idea of changing the goal post in both seems to be pretty common. The chocolate rations get raised to a lower amount because all history of the previous amounts have been erased, and people are brought up to just go with what the party says.

Im sure theres many more correlations that can be made, and I have no doubt that there are other people out there that have done a better deconstructions of the two side by side and put the comparisons better than I have (or could have). However, I just thought that it was interesting.

Most people, when they read 1984 (and assuming they live in the US or some other relatively free land) go "Wow, Im so glad I don't have a goverment that crazy." Yeah there are billions that assuming they believed their religion, do think it will happen on some level. At least in 1984 (and as Hitchens points out, in North Korea) there is an end. When you die, you are no longer concerned with the government or anything. Your dead and they can't get to you. Not so for those that believe in Christianity and the like. It goes on forever.

It does indeed have the idea of a boot on your face, as well as anyone else who believes that there is a Big Brother in the sky. However, I suppose the imagery of a boot may not match exactly right. Maybe its a foot with a sock with clouds drawn on it, stepping on your face forever. Or Satan's hoof, for those that think I and others who don't buy into any of this shit would think that we are going to the hot place.

As Hitchens puts it lets be joyful that the evidence of Big Brother in the sky and Room 101 down below is almost non existent. Sadly in 1984, especially the book, ends on a sour note. Winston gives in and decides that he indeed loves Big Brother. At least in the movie hes portrayed as perhaps still having some hope, writing out 2+2= and not putting in 5. However, it can also be seen that he no longer knows the answer and must get that answer from Big Brother, in which case its not much better than the book.

Anyways, just something I was thinking of at 2am while trying to get back to sleep.