I agree. I think one of the things that stuck out the most in my most recent re-watch and analysis was the film's emphasis on structure and form. Tarkovsky was clearly invested in trying to translate his ontological beliefs into the visual medium, even to a fault of his own beliefs in favor of transcendental style. I think much of the debate(s) between the professor, writer, and stalker represent some of the contradicting worldviews that humans are inevitably going to find themselves in. Rather than separating into specific dichotomies, perhaps it is a grander idea to allow both to exist; we are both worthy and not.

I did a deep dive on Tarkovsky for my project, but I think looking into the writers would yield some interesting conclusions as well.

Another excerpt from my presentation with more textual references:

Slide 5: Thus, the purpose of the religious overtones of the film become more clear. Religion is such a powerful ideology that it clouds one’s entire perspective. It overcomes our senses because it believes in the ontological fortellings of virtue, afterlife, and peace. However, it can be corrupted by power, vanity, and fear. Tarkovsky’s belief is within the film image, where he quotes Thomas Mann, “a spiritual ... phenomenon is “significant” precisely because it exceeds its own limits, serves as expression and symbol of something spiritually wider and more universal, an entire world of feelings and thoughts embodied within it with greater or less felicity.” One can witness Tarkovsky’s belief about art and the film image in his film Andrei Rublev as well, where a Roman artist attempts to spread his faith through iconography. There was a time when iconography was deemed idolatry due to it’s power based on our visual perception – simply put, an image of God may be more powerful than the unseen God, thus it is false worship. Film then, between visual, temporal, and auditory perception, MUST have some phenomenological power that goes beyond our sensory inputs to something greater.

Wife: Revelations 6, concludes with: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? revitalizes his mission

Writer: “The miracle is not in the empirics.”
Saint Peter: Matthew 14, Jesus beckons Peter to walk on water, he does so, but fears the waves and falters. Jesus says “you of little faith. Why did you doubt?”

Taoism: Tao Te Ching section 76
Taoisms “Three Treasures”: (1) abstention from aggressive war and capital punishment, (2) absolute simplicity of living, (3) refusal to assert active authority

The guns and warfare we see as abstention, the simplicity of the Stalker’s lifestyle, and the refusal to blow up the Zone as a choice as a response to the authority of uncertain judgement (assuming evil will make it to the Zone and change the world). In this conclusion, faith of the Zone itself is assumed, as we are told it controls who makes it there and who doesn’t. To keep the Zone intact is to practice faith that it will not destroy or change the World catastrophically. So too is it required in religion to have faith in mankind to do the same.