“Holy Water Cannot Help You Now”
In honor of spooky season, I will like to talk about my favorite genre of film, tv and books…. That is Horror! With horror, I have not always been a fan. I realized I grew to appreciate it when I became more spiritually inclined. I didn’t know at the time that the two would correlate, and yet here we are.
Horror and spirituality are two seemingly opposing concepts. Horror is often associated with fear, darkness, and evil, while spirituality is often associated with light, goodness and hope. However, there is a growing body of work that explores the intersection of the two themes. You see, everything is made up of dualities. Humans are dual in nature. We all have light and darkness in us, and I find it fascinating to sit with both sides of ourselves. Doing so can lead to better self-understanding.
One other way to explore the intersection of horror and spirituality is to consider the role of
altruism in horror stories. Here comes that word again, altruism. It is very important in my business, thus very important for me to talk about. Altruism is defined as the act of helping others without expecting anything in return. It is often seen as a moral value, and is often portrayed in horror stories as a way to overcome evil. And I think THAT is why I find horror so interesting, because throughout, I can’t help but to always hope for the best outcome, all the while feeling the jumps and being scared of the things that go bump in the night. I will give you an example of altruism portrayed in horror. Spoiler alert: In the film, “The Shining”, the hotel cook, Jack Torrance, is driven to murder his family by the evil forces in the hotel. However, he is redeemed by his altruism, as he sacrifices himself to save his son.
Another way to explore the intersection of horror and spirituality, is to consider the role of fear in spirituality itself. Fear is often seen as a negative emotion, but it can also be a powerful motivator. In many religions, fear is used to motivate people to follow the teachings of the religion. For example, in Christianity, people are often told to fear hellfire and damnation if they do not follow the teachings of the Bible. This fear can motivate people to do good deeds and to live a moral life. Keep in mind, this is not necessarily a pro-religion stance, but just used as an example.
The intersection of horror and spirituality is a complex and fascinating topic. There is no easy way to answer how they are connected and how they can coexist. However, I find the exploration of this topic can be a rewarding experience. It can further help us understand the human condition and to find meaning in the darkness.
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