Jim Cunningham: Antichrist
Revelation 13:1-6
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the names of blasphemy.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the mouth of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast saying, "who is able to make war with him?
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 1
Scholarly interpretations of Donnie Darko typically classify this film as a redemptive journey with Donnie's character conveying messianic undertones. Although there are many -- and often contradictory -- explanations as to why this film constitutes as an allegory for Christ, there is one argument that is universal: Jim Cunningham portrays the Antichrist. Ideed, Patrick Swayze' s character is undeniably an allegory to the Antichrist of the New Testamet and Book of Revelation.
Characteristics of the Antichrist
1) He Will Blaspheme God
2) He Claims to be God and is Worshiped
3) He Will Display Miraculous Powers
4) The Anti-Christ Comes Back to Life
5) The Antichrist appears holy and Christ-like, but is a deceiver
6) Desecrates God’s Temple
7) Causes Earth’s Armies to Fight Against Christ 2
Jim Cunningham's Love-Fear Infomercial
Jim Cunnigham perpetrates each of these characteristics. Not only does Donnie refer to him as the Antichrist during his presentation at Donnie's school, in which he is showchasing his philosophy of Fear and Love, but his initials are conspicuously "JC". In this retrospect alone, it appears Cunnigham is attempting to covince others that he is God. Moreover, he is worshiped by his group of loyal followers who appear to be brain-washed by his dichotemy of Fear and Love: Cunningham maintains every day situations can make you a victim to fear. He hypocritically tells his "disciples" to avoid their egos, but to look into the mirror at how beatiful they are. Among this group of disciples is Donnie's physical education teacher, Kitty Farmer, who forces Cunnigham's doctrine on her students. Farmer introduces her class to Fear and Love on two polar extremes, and Donnie himself states, "You can't just lump everything into two categories... thigs aren't that simple". 3 Indeed, Thaisha Greiger notes her movie review of Donnie Darko that Cunnigham's teachings, in fact, directly contradict the teachings of Christ. Cunningham preaches that obesity, violence and addiction are products of fear, and that people can absolve themselves of guilt if they avoid fear. Scriptures of Christ, however, maitain that sin is inevitable, and you can be forgiven if you repent for your own actions. Further, Farmer, while ironically wearing a shirt that states "God Is Awesome", begs Donnie's mother to pray for her son because he has succumb to fear. However, it is Farmer who is fooled by the Antichrist's false gospel. 4 The most damning evidence of Cunningham as Antichrist, however, is when Donnie sets Cunningham's home on fire; this action directly results in police uncovering child pornography from his home. Indeed, just as the Antichrist, Jim Cunningham is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
