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Do you think that movies influence the belief in the supernatural. Say the stereotpyes that I know a lot of people do believe. I know not all, but I would like your take on the subject.

It is true that many people get influenced from what they see on TV or cinema. Now, when it comes to "beliefs", I wouldn't say that one could be influenced so easily by watching a movie. Yet, it is possible that something you watch might make you think some way and it is a fact that many people take for granted whatever they watch.

i think they do there is a old saying indviduals are smart people in large groups are stupid to say we are not affected by the movies would be a lie

i believe that movies do exactly the opposite...
they influence to not to believe in the supernatural... after all, if it's in a movie than can't be real, right?

and i do believe in the supernatural by my own experience...

something existing in a movie is not nessesserily not existing in reality. What is important is to be able to define the real thing as well as to "filter" everything before we get influenced by anything...

Hollywood has had a tendency to overexaggerate a lot of stuff in movies.

It's always good to keep an open mind and use common sense when it comes to the movies.

of course they do, many many people believe everything that they see on tv or in movies to be real

Yes, movies can influence beliefs. Say someone goes to see a movie that shows people practising Wicca. The person watching may be intrigued enough to read up on it and perhaps become Wiccan..movies and such can give us a little "nudge" sometimes, and set us off to discover things for ourselves.

i think that most movies on the subject are harming the image or the occult way of life

I think it depends on in what age the one who watch the movie is in. A older human i think dont easyly starts to belive things after have seen a movie especially not an horror movie. But younger ones maybe make up minds in a different way when they watch the movie.

there are some things in movies that spark ones imagination...

Remember movies are just make believe...not real ...even when they are based on fact.

I believe that movies can have a very strong influence, to a point. But it is really up to the individual to make up their minds if a floating sheet is a ghost or not lol

I believe that many people are influenced by what they see in movies and on television. There are a few people who believe what they see in supernatural movies are things that real spirits do.

The problem is...the media makes it look as though when a teen kills and uses a movie as the exuse for it...they blow it up more then they actually was....and the person uses the movies as an excuse to kill and try to get away with it.

Movies do have a huge influence. It is because of the fiction that I can't go out into the world as my vampire self. If you "come out of the casket" to someone the first thing they think about is the fiction and usually dismiss the real.

Rev. Ravyn

I actually believe the exact opposite, that our religious beliefs affect movies.

Religion has nothing to do with how you precieve movies.

Yes ppl are easily taken in by movies. We are a very easy race to believe in things we see on TV, read in books and hear on the radio.

The biggest one that comes to mind was when War of the World was played over the radio it cause mass panic.

In one way it is good as now ppl are openning up and starting to believe in the supernatural.

Absolutely they do. Particularly the ignorant ones.....

If the movie is well written and directed, with wonderful onscreen performances, then yes...The adaptations could prove manipulative.

Yes most people are influenced by movies.. it is stupid, but true.

I think this might be true alot of the populus is easily swayed by what they see without giving it much thought, or at least it stirs thier interest to look into it further bringing them to a conclusion one way or the other.

I think movies definitely influence how a person perceives the supernatural, be it a skepticism or an exposure. Certainly it gives people new ways to look at things and ponder about, to figure out how they want to look at something.

I think they certainly make you think a lot more about the paranormal.

Society influances pop culture and pop culture influances society. Its a bit of a circle. I do think that movies, books and so on has had a profound influance on how many view the supernatural. Which is why we must learn to seperate the truth from the entertainment.

The mainstream media always has a tendency to influence society. if that's all you see? Then it tends to lend itself some credibility. And no, I'm not saying that movies are credible, but how many people actually research a topic after they see a movie? I'd venture to say not many. And after said movie, they have a mental image of what is being presented.

Movies always stretch the truth in anything they do. They want to keep the audience they they will add to the story. So my answer is yes they do influence people

movies have a very big influence on people's thinking and beliefs on the supernatural.

in our country, when people hear the word 'vampire', the first thing that comes to mind is the blood sucking, garlic fearing creatures that melts in the rays of sun.

and witches are often stereotyped as women wearing a triangle shaped hat, stirring a cauldron, laughing the HIHIHI thing and pricking voodoo dolls.

aside from these, there were other supernaturals that are often mistaken for other things.. maybe movie producers should be guided and informed on this things because media plays a big part on human beliefs

I believe that movie's are a double edged sword because they spur interest in the supernatural but people believe everything they see as truth without reseaching the topic. Many times they add false truths to movie's to make them attractive to the consummer, without consideration of the impact of their depiction of good or bad.

Absolutely movies do. My daughter, I had to be selective on which movies she watched when she was younger because she believed they were true factual events. Even now at 21 some movies she still believes could be true. Mostly werewolf, vampire and supernatural like ghosts and such.

i agree i have screen what my nephew watches even thought they are teenager and know that monsters arent real

Honestly, yes I do. Seeing as people are easily influenced by anything else thats around them.

T.V. more of an influence than movies. Larger viewing audience. Agree with Nihonin that most people won't research, so they are left with images and half-truths. T.V. shows revolving around the supernatural abundant now and feed into a vacuum of belief that organized religion has been unable to address.

I believe movies do influence people. Take wicca, I've never seen such a rise in people saying they're wiccan or practice wicca since the movie The Craft came out in 1996. It just became popular.

I believe that movies have the greatest impact on this. Some say they don't but even then, they do even if only on a subconscious level.

Yes I believe people do take what they see in movies as gospel. We have become very openned minded when it comes to the supernatural.

interesting comments on this
i tend to believe films DO promote the belief in many topics.
not just the super natural
look at all the discussion that follows films about
the subject the film took on
there were 'could it happen' programs after such films as "Armageddon"

even after The Blair Witch Project there was a lot of delving deeper in to the idea and lore behind it

so yes i think people are very influenced in, or inspired to change, their beliefs by films

Yes, people are image driven. Well guys are certainly, but I think most people are to certain extent. But movies most definitely have a profound effect on culture.

Every form of communication has a certain affect on the general public.

I believe they do to a degree,yes.

I agree with many of the responses here already. Movies do certainly influence supernatural belief but they can also get a active mind thinking along a different track or encourage someone to have a alternative idea on a subject as well.

movies=pop culture
pop culture= popular culture.

so, what's put out into popculture.. get's.. popular, especially those who are less informed..

I am also curious to see how much the culture is evolved by the movies?

You know, just the reverse. The movie comes out with something cool and the "society" it's portraying now is copying the movie.

I believe that both movies and books have a certain level of influance in all aspects of life not just the supernatural.

I believe that movies and books provide the "spark" of interest and leads to worlds of discovery.

I believe that it does influnce people or a person in a certain way because not everyone knows things about the supernatural

Of course people see it on tv. ect it must be true. Only problem is the program is fictional.

Oh sure it influences belief, in many different ways, positive and negative. I mean would any of us honestly have thought of studying vampires without works of fiction such as books, TV shows, or movies? In ways such works of fiction can lead us to discover truths...For the intelligent ones.
However, for those that aren't blessed enough to have a brain that works that way, they actually believe the works of fiction. And that happens to far too many of us =[

movies do influence peoples ideas on lots of things in everyday life it is sometimes a sad part of life we are a product of our environment

people tend to believe what the see in hollywood so i would say yes

yes, i do believe that people are influenced by the movies...

I believe that movies can only influence those of the weak mind. There is nothing that can influence those who have made up their minds already.

no not really unless it is based on real life

Movies influence people that dont understand about the subject. They see it in the movies so they naturally believe it must be true

I think movies are a huge influence especially if someone is exposed during there younger period.

I believe that movies and television and even written works influence society as a whole. It's not just the supernatural world but look at when a heroic film comes out about the military, it usually rises in popularity with everyone saying how great it is but if it's negative toned film then the military is awful.

There is no way to say that we are not influenced by the information we get from whatever source, it's those that take that spark and choose to investigate further that may stay influenced by whatever began their journey, be it good or bad.

The news media have much to answer to for in my opinion. They will hunt out something or someone that doesn't fit their "norm" and then beat it into the viewer and always they have their own take on it. Impartiality no longer exists in the American media at least, I believe.

i know that hollywood does play a major role in beliefs of the supernatural to most people who dont open there eyes to the truth cause there afraid of what they might learn.most people are afraid of what they do not know so they make up shit just to be free of there fear.even in the earliest times this is shown to be true.

Sure people are influenced by movies. They are a package of information, regardless of it's true or not, that is passed on. Everything influences us, movies, music, peers.

Of course they are influential and gather 'fans'. And also, OF COURSE Hollywood flowers things up, that's it's purpose. Who wants to see 'blah' movies? Not me. I want the fantastical.

I'm sure that it does....

"Do you think that movies influence the belief in the supernatural?"

Yes I do believe that movies have an influence on the befiefs in AND of the supernatural...movies reach many people and are successfully used as a promotional tool...in this way the supernatural is made/labelled "acceptable"..."non threatening" to main stream society...these movies are also used by ALOT of members of main stream society as a representation...an actualization if you will...and taken as and used as fact...which I don't personally adjure to...

Yes I do. The mind plays tricks on you. If you see something in a movie, and if you think about it enough, you will see things that remind you of what you saw.

i dont like movies where they steriotype the vampires to be evil.
That is just mean

I think it would all depend on how strong there belifes are . It might make them wonder about what the supernatural really is and skew there belifes a little bit .Or maybe put additions on to there belifes .

I think they do.

hollywood adds to almost everything to make it sell so who knows

I think they do. People are susceptible to different input. Movies have a variety of occult views.

It is a sad fact that movies and TV have more influence on what people believe than does discussion and research. Movies and TV by their nature appeal to the most basic of human emotion while discussion and research require honest thought and effort. Something most people do not have time for. So, the opt for the simple rather than the complex.

yeah i think they probably do, once you watch something it kinda sticks in your head and often poses questions that you ask yourself sometimes.....i mean, we've all watched movies as kids and were scared of something that we saw in those as we thought that there was a possibility that it may have been real and our minds can still work in the same way later in life...

Hollywood has had a tremendous influence on many misconceptions about Vampires (among other things). However, it is not up to Hollywood to fix this, for they merely create imaginary worlds to titillate the masses.

It is up to those who watch what Hollywood creates to know what is real and what is fantasy.

Those who have been put off by the Educational Systems of the world tend not to seek out knowledge as much as those who put up with the BS and seek to learn all they can. So we must ensure that those who are likely not to know, to be educated in an accurate way.

Yes i feel that movies do influence peoples views on those of the supernatural areas.

Honestly I think that movies influence the belief in the supernatural amongst other things..not to many in this life are strong enough to not be influenced. People see things in movies and assume thats how it really is..ashame really stereotypes exsist and even more so movies influence those stereotypes.

I think it has a lot of influence in people, because it puts the thought in peoples head that theres a different way of thinking. So they are led to believe certain things and then follow their own thoughts.

from self experience movies can definatly hit home i love the movie devils rejects however after i watch it i m seriously manic and hostile i like girl interrupted but cant watch it because i become so depressed i dont get out of bed anything wrong with me?no. am just a very sensitive spirit same as if i am around negative people i can feel it the moment we enter each others space and i wanna leave,fast!

Yes i feel that movies do influence peoples views on the supernatural areas.

Unfortunatly we are in a tech junky world. Not everyone, but most people, are influenced by what they watch on television, and in movie theatres, see on the internet, and hear on the radio.

Movies may dramatise the supernatural in such a way that it appeals to the masses like sports heroes may appeal to the crowd. Peoples mind are filled with dreams and possibilities and wonder 'what if that could be me'?I think people sometimes like to attach themselves to what may or may not be possible, for whatever reason, this makes them feel good and gives them a path to follow. Even if this is not the start of a lifestyle overhaul, it starts an exciting mindset which holds your interest and motivates your hunger for more.

Most defently they do. It is a good thing as it has opened ppl's mind up to the supernatural. It wasnt that long ago were the supernatural, aliens etc was a taboo topic and if you believed in any of it you were an idiot. thankfully things have changed.

I also have to agree with everyone. Movies are a major influence on peoples beliefs in the supernatural.

movies and internet have a big part in it i belive

do they have influence.. well think how many times you heard the term lycan before the underworld flicks as opposed to now. Some tend to get caught in one of two ways of seeing a movie.. that is how it MUST be.. or as was said before.. f its a movie it can not be real.

Luckily I believe MOST see them for what they are.. entertainment.

Writers research more these days and they intermix fact with fantasy and that is what makes it hard to sort everything out. The gaming industry is doing the same thing. It is no wonder young impressionable minds are influenced. If they are not well read or have read a little and see something familiar without research how do they no where fact stops and fantasy starts? It is not so easy sometimes especially when up on the screen appears " this was adapted from a real incident".

I think they do... I actually knew someone who based thier entire belief and religion on.... what was it... that show with the 3 witch sisters.... Charmed.

I was really diturbed by the fact that he did that and then he thoguht it would be ok to call himself Wiccan.

Absolutely! I believe movies influence people. Don't they even influence us? Which one of us have read any ancient documents on vampires? Have we all read Bran Stoker Dracula, the book that started the modern idea of vampire? Do all movies show vampires in the same way? No they don't. Movies absolutely influence our beliefs.

I would imagine that they would influence the way people view them and see them.

I don't really know if it influences the belief that people have in the supernatural as much as that maybe it may influence a general type of belief in those who already may choose to believe in such things.

yes i believe tv has alot to do with what people take and make there views ..

Just an addition here. There have been instances of movies influencing real life, ie movies about serial murders that have convinced people that they could pull off the perfect crime and they have proceeded to do so. A reference would be the Green river killer.

Movies hold influance from all over the world, the ledgens and stories of many cultures melding into one. Of course people are going to take into conciteration the ledgens and the stories influances, and wonder if maybe the write had a connection to the supernatural or there is truth to something in the film. I believe it helps to link belief to supernatural...but also fear, because how many times have you actually seen the good guys use supernatural until some reacent films?

i do think movies influence the way people see the super natural but its not just the movies its TV too

yes i think for some people that have no other way of knowing but for though that have a gift then i think they already knew

hollywood adds alot of fiction in everything the produce why

Movies influences so many people its not funny its usually the younger of our society but I remember being young as well and some stuff influenced me in my beliefs.

i think some people believe what movie say because they dont know what to belive and they are the stupid or lazy to find out

ofcorse they do

I think any form of media ( tv shows , movies , radio , internet ) cause an influence in people's lives .

Yes, movies influence beliefs especially in the supernatural. Movies present people with a visual example and or present the unexplainable in a manner that could be explained. They help form ideas in peoples minds on a mass scale.

I think a better question is how has the supernatural infuenced the media. In other posts i keep going back to the movie 'queen of the damned', but how easily could that happen? A vampire fitting in to society so well by saying he is a vampire. I think it happens everyday. Then these vampires, werewolves, etc. influence books and movies and just slap the word 'fiction' on it and call it a day. Like they WANT us to know who they really are.

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