You know the story. What's represented through the characters, their motivations, story plot, etc., regarding religion.
Does it represent Catholisism, Buddhism, any 'ism? What about these does it say?
2006-08-12 15:00:21 · 17 answers · asked by Teaim 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To address "Maybe I'm Rig..."s comment about citing the source for this question, I am the source of this question. Toto, for me, played a big part in my personal reason for thinking about the topic of this question...religion..
2006-08-12 15:16:40 · update #1
It only emphasises respect, the golden rule. Evil exists, and is in your way, you can get past it if you try.
2006-08-12 15:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 8⤊ 1⤋
I believe it can be related to religion in general. The idea that there is something "greater" that can fix anything. That idea is sort of the same with "God" being the creator and the all-knowing spirit. Also, the harsh journey along Dorothy's way, with all the troubles she faces, with the witch and such, can be sort of related to life in general. We, as humans, go through many challenges to meet our maker, i.e. God, and the rode is not always such a cheery yellow brick one. It can be paved with horror and dread.
So, your thoughts that the story of The Wizard of Oz is similar to the "story" of religion is a very good thought. If you thought this thought on your own, then nice thinking. If you didn't, well then, you should think about citing the source of this thought immediately. :-)
2006-08-12 22:07:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It actually is supposed to be an allegory for bi-metalism. Bi-metalism is the idea of using silver along side gold as currency. Because have the tight monetary policy that is set when a currency is pegged to gold leads to deflation (lowering of prices) which leads to a more vicious boom and bust cycle. And deflation also hurst debtors--they are repaying money worth more than what they borrows--which means that farmers who are perputually in debt have serious hard time.
Oz is the abbrevation for onouce the unit of measurement for gold.
The Yellow Brick road is paved of gold.
The Scarecrow represents farmers, hurt by these economic problems.
The Wicked Witch of East represents big businesses which were headquartered in the east.
The Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan a political who famously said "America is being crucified on a cross of gold." He didn't accomplish much, never being successfully elected. He shows up later in history as the guest prosecutor of Scopes during the Scopes Monkey Trial.
The Ruby slippers were orginially silver in the book (they were changed because red looks better on the movie screen). Silver was the hope for better economic future.
The Emerald City refers to the idea of having Greenbacks, a currency backed up by nothing but a promise--which is what we have now.
2006-08-12 22:17:50 · answer #3 · answered by MikeD 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there was a hidden religious message. Dorothy, at the beginning of the movie, was very upset with how things were going at home and decided to running away. The events that occured in her knocked out state were lessons which took her along a path to realize that despite all the wonderful things we find along the path of life "there is no place like home" and that no matter where you go family is always there beside you in thought.
Someone could make it into a religous lesson...but I think that would be a streatch.
2006-08-12 22:12:24 · answer #4 · answered by laetusatheos 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great Question! I read a book that has a great take on the whole OZ story. It is called "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West". It tells the story from the witches point of view. He childhood from birth to demise. I think you should read it and it will really open your eyes It is a great read, and I finished it in 3 days. It is over 500 pages long.
It actually teaches intolerance to that which is different.
2006-08-12 22:12:41 · answer #5 · answered by ldyrhiannon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Wizard of Oz was actually not a religious analogy at all. Rather, it was written as an allegory about the gold or silver standard, and which one should be embraced by the country. Baum was not writing religious prose, but political.
Peace.
2006-08-20 13:15:07 · answer #6 · answered by funigyrl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's message is to not rely on something mysterious to put everything that's wrong with the world and your life right for you. To believe in yourself as a living force who can change things, adapt to things, save things, help things and ultimately make your world a better place. To seek those things within yourself that you would thrust onto a god.
2006-08-18 23:20:54 · answer #7 · answered by Calamity Jane 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would think that is Googleable.
Swedenborg states "a perception of the sphere of falsity from evil that flows forth from hell has often been granted me. It was like a perpetual effort to destroy all that is good and true, combined with anger and a kind of fury at not being able to do so, especially an effort to annihilate and destroy the Divine of the Lord, and this because all good and truth are from Him. But out of heaven a sphere of truth and good was perceived, whereby the fury of the effort ascending from hell was restrained. The result of this was an equilibrium. This sphere from heaven was perceived to come from the Lord alone, although it appeared to come from the angels in heaven. It is from the Lord alone, and not from the angels, because every angel in heaven acknowledges that nothing of good and truth is from himself, but all is from the Lord" (Heaven and Hell n. 538).
2006-08-12 22:10:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The central message behind the Wonderful Wizard of Ox (the title of the book) is that religion uses smoke, mirrors and fraud to distract the masses from what is really going on behind the curtain.
More people need to realize this.
2006-08-12 22:15:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Thats a Excellent question. I never gave it a thought. I just don't know to be honest..
2006-08-12 22:03:16 · answer #10 · answered by Windwispers 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋