Choosing between Faith and Reason
From Eric Rohmer’s “My Night at Maud’s”
To a person devoted in religion, when faced with moral conflict. Are your choices influenced by religious faith or reason?
Growing up in the teachings of Catholicism, the most fundamental part of religious faith is the existence of God. We are conditioned to worship and abide in the ways of faith for the sanctity of human life. All acts are influenced before God’s eyes. On the contrary, this inflicts a radical shift on human reasoning since nobody can prove that God exists. Nevertheless, we believe that he/she/it does.
As a theologian living in the tradition of communal faith, Joseph Ratzinger also known as Pope Benedict XVI defined the primacy of belief through meaning. Faith involves in the act of intellect and will, constantly striving to believe and wanting to believe.
“A way of taking up a stand in the totality of reality, a way that cannot be reduced to knowledge and is incommensurable by knowledge; it is the bestowal of meaning which the totality of man would remain homeless”
On the other hand, teachings of education and knowledge provide a fundamental exercise of human reasoning. This belief is supported by facts, logic, and physical sciences.
In one of Eric Rohmer’s six moral tales “My night at Maud’s”, the main character Jean-Louis, a devout catholic and mathematician is faced with a conflict of desire and religion. An internal conflict he goes through when he meets a woman named Maud.
Jean-Louis moved to Clermont-Ferrand (central of France) after living in Canada for a few years. He attended a mass and found a desirable blonde woman (later known as Francoise). He immediately had an epiphanic moment that defied reason, “On that Monday, December the 21st, I suddenly knew, without a doubt that Francoise would be my wife”. An action of faith.
He rans into an old school friend, Vidal and invited him to visit a female friend for dinner, Maud, a recently divorced doctor and a mother.
The three had dinner and a series of conversation ensued about sex and religion. Maud and Vidal are both atheist and living a secular life, challenged Jean-Louis against his Catholic beliefs. They talked about sexual affairs and Jean-Louis justifies them in Catholic practice. While he had affairs in the past, he convinces himself that it was due to love not from temptation. One can only argue that he convinces himself against the wrong doings of Catholic faith.
Further on, he made a decision that he’s no longer succumb to temptation and wants to marry a blonde — Catholic woman. His ideal woman based upon seeing Franciose. It seems that his life is guided by mathematical formulae, calculating all his choices in life. Love for him is an equation. At this moment, Maud is fascinated by him and asks him to stay the night.
The key moment when his desire started to arise is when Maud puts on a sensual night skirt showcasing her legs. In an attempt to avoid temptation, he asked if there was a spare bedroom, but to no avail. She invited him to sleep with her. Maud took off her night skirt, naked and laid under the covers. The two continued to talk about their life and morality.
This radical moment of the film tested the will and conviction of Jean-Louis in his Catholic beliefs. Maud is presented as an antagonising force against Catholic beliefs and tempts him to commit sin. She is symbolised as the serpent in the story of Adam and Eve, which depicts attachment to the human world. As an act of will, he resists Maud, perhaps not only from desire and temptation, but also Maud is brunette and atheist.
From a logical standpoint, both are single and have no commitments, so the logical thing to do is for him to submit to his desire. While he didn’t have sex with her, the two shared the same bed.
In the languorous moment of waking, the two shared a transient passionate embrace. Jean-Louis submitted to his desire. Conflicted, he immediately held back. Unsure of the moral choice he needs to act upon, he ensued in his desire again, but she dismisses him.
“I like people who know what they want”
It is clear at this point that Jean-Louis likes Maud. As an audience, although the two shares different moral beliefs, both are great together. Both are compatible and fills each other’s gap. She allows him to be expressive in his instincts and feelings rather than closing them due to moral doctrines. To live in the present.
“We’ve been together in less than 24 hours, but I feel like I’ve known you for eternity”
After leaving Maud’s place, Jean-Louis came across with Francoise by chance. He confronts her and wants to see her again. The two only shared a brief moment together talking about little things, he then confesses his love to her. Another act of faith. It is clear at this point that apart from Catholic beliefs, the two don’t go along together.
Fast forward in the film, Jean-Louis chose Francoise over Maud. He chose faith over reason, abiding to strict moral codes. The two got married and had a child together. Maud on the other hand moved to a different town and the two never saw each other again, until 5 years later. The film ends with a picturesque seascape. Jean-Louis and his family ran happily together towards the calm sea. A symbolism of acceptance and serenity.
The beauty of Rohmer’s films is the sublimity of free will. We get the chance to explore the complexity of the characters and how they battle inner conflicts. The film never diverges away from the characters and is solely focused on them. Expressing feelings in the deepest part of consciousness. My takeaway in this film is about living a life that is not perfect, but good enough. Our lives are built on moral foundation, whether it’s faith or reason. Whatever we choose gives meaning to our lives. The crisis of existence. The only question is, what type of life do you want to live? Would you live a life imprisoned by strict moral doctrines or live a life in freedom?
