How George Carlin Made Kevin Smith Question His Faith on Set of Dogma

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Kevin Smith is commemorating the 25-year milestone of his film “Dogma,” reflecting on its profound impact on his life. This was his fourth film and marked a significant step up in terms of recognition and financial success, enabling him to collaborate with idols once more. Following a well-received tour across the country where fans gathered to rewatch the movie, “Dogma” is set to grace screens again in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. In an interview with ComicBook ahead of these events, Smith shared how his beliefs were challenged on the film’s set by none other than George Carlin.

You wouldn’t find yourself acting alongside George Carlin on a film about Catholicism without feeling a bit of doubt about your religious beliefs, even for a lapsed Catholic like you,” Smith jokingly remarked. Known for his harsh criticism of religion in general, and particularly of the faith he was raised with, Carlin was a natural choice to play Cardinal Ignatius Glick in the movie. The film tackles Catholicism in a humorous yet critical manner, which is one reason why Smith cast him. However, unlike Carlin, Smith was both parodying and criticizing Catholicism while still practicing it and valuing it during that time.

Smith continued, “I recall discussing the third part of the story with him. In it, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon appear at a church where George is re-consecrating it. Then, they break a police officer’s neck, leading to chaos. Just before filming this scene, George asked, ‘What’s happening in this scene?’ To which I responded, ‘They’re going to perform these actions: the two angels will kill everyone, then cut off their wings to become human. They enter the church and when they exit, their sins are forgiven. Presumably, they’ll be killed by the police and then go directly to heaven.’ George then questioned, ‘Where is this in the Bible?’

In a playful manner, Carlin’s question could be interpreted as a jest, but Smith had a sincere response for him. “When I was 13 years old, my church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, celebrated its centennial. The Holy See declared that anyone passing through the church’s archway on this day would have all their sins forgiven, which is known as the plenary indulgence,” he explained. “As I was discussing this with George, he just looked at me, nodding, with a look on his face like an older person listening to a youngster overanalyze Star Wars. After some time, he asked, ‘You actually believe all this nonsense, don’t you?’ To which I replied, ‘Yes. Didn’t you grow up Catholic – you don’t?’ And he responded, ‘No, I consider myself wiser than that.’

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2025-06-04 01:09