The Gospel according to Neo: 'The Matrix' as a phenomenon shaping public opinion about religion

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | May 09, 2003 | Josh Burek

[friendly]

see post #140, and see you with the other 5 people attanding the opening of the Passion.

[demosthenes the elder]

if it is in a theater anywhere within 100 miles I will see it, just to hear spoken Latin if for no other reason.

[xkaydet65]

Two years ago our parish ran a retreat for the candidates for Confirmation. As I was a religious ed teacher and my daughter a candidate we participated inthe planning. The fellow hired to run the retreat was a locally well known and well connected Catholic layman. His brother is principal of the most prestigious boys Catholic HS on Long Island. He gave a great introductory pre retreat presentation and told the kids he would build the actual retreat around The Matrix. He briefly synopsied the plot and characters a, of course they all knew, but he then began to highlight the Gospel references he said were contained in the film. He was persuasive, though I wonder if a Christ character would persuade with 9mm Glocks and if the Holy Spirit were really an instructor in combat and survival techniques. Still if you want to look you can find evidence that Christ and his message of salvation lies beneath the surface of the film. At least one well respected Catholic evangelist to youth believes it does.

[photogirl]

bump for later

[nmh]

"There's two ways to look at this from a Christian perspective," says Glenn Yeffeth, editor of the book "Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in The Matrix." "One is that it's retelling the story of Christ," he says. "The other way to look at it is a very violent film filled with garden-variety blasphemy that exploits people's resonance with the Christian narrative to fool people into a story that is fundamentally atheistic."

No there is only ONE way to look at this from a Christian perspective. The Matrix is not the retelling of Jesus Christ. It is nothing more than blasphemy with an exciting twist financed by atheists.

"Both sides see a movie phenomenon that, for better or worse, is shaping public thought about religion."

I'm not surprised the public is embracing this. The majority of people, including clergy know nothing about the Bible. Instead they rewrite His words to suit their agendas and desires.

""The Matrix" is compelling people to examine the plurality of religions versus the unity of truth, says cultural critic Read Mercer Schuchardt. "

There is NO plurality of "truth". Something is either true or false. Plurality alludes to versions of "truth" being equal that are not identical. This is illogical and false. Opposing, twisted and incomplete doctrine are not representative of "truth".

If people are looking for shallow sci-fi entertainment, this is the movie to see. If they are looking for truth and developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then the Bible is the ONLY source to look to.

For those looking to this as a spiritual "Christian" adventure, deed this:

2Tim.4:3

[3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Flame away!

[js1138]

Vogon poetry -- and analysis -- poetry from Hitcher's Guide to the Universe. Analysis from God knows where.

[demosthenes the elder]

oh, so no wonder my intestine tried to leap up through my esophagus to throttle me... I shoulda known. thanks.

[Petronski]

i can see how the creators came up with the thomas name, but do you think anderson was intentional? I mean do you think they really understood its meaning? if so that is truly amazing.

Yes, and I am convinced of that by the incredible depth of detail shown in all other cultural references in the film. BTW, while I wouldn't much like the comparison to Christ in reality, I think this is an example of truly brilliant writing. As an aspiring writer, I am most impressed.

[aruanan]

Trinity: Her kiss restores Neo from death. The doctrine of the three modes of God is central to Christian orthodoxy, yet the word "trinity" never actually appears in the Bible. Neo deepens the mystery of who Trinity is when he says to her, "I just thought, um...you were a guy."

Three modes. Central to Christian orthodoxy. Ha ha ha. The writer needs to go back to school. The idea that the three persons of the trinity are "modes" is heterodoxy, not orthodoxy.

[Petronski]

Every person in the Matrix world is kept alive by the Matrix's technically-sophisticated life support system. Instead of using a honey trap to snare those who ask too many questions or sending data-intensive AI Agents to kill off troublemakers, why wouldn't the Matrix just cut off the offending party's life support?

No, not true. Neo and Morpheus and the others are NOT attached to the battery pods. They 'sail' a ship that swims between these 'pods' in the real world, not in the Matrix.

And the heroes appear in the world of the Matrix by climbing into that chair and using a 'hack' of the Matrix to introduce their consciousness to the Matrix.

I respect your opinions in the general case, and I think in this case you might try seeing the film again.

[Destro]

Before the Greeks the Latins were backwards barbarians. If the Greeks ruined the Romans how is it that they outlasted the Latins by 1,000 years of full force empire and their language is still alive while Latin is as dead as the Pope's sex life?

[Destro]

Certainly nort historians since if there is no Greek.

[qwertyz]

You'll note Spiderman, DareDevil, and X2 are using (exploiting) elements of the Catholic faith. It's no accident--awash in hedonism and gnosticism, Hollywood knows that the blockbuster formula requires tapping into the greatest themes of redemption and sacrifice. Mel Gibson said something like the greater the blood, the greater the sense of redemption in the story. After several incredibly bloody films, now he's tackling the bloodiest of all.

[metesky]

If Because the Greeks ruined the Romans how is it that they outlasted the Latins by 1,000 years of full force empire and their language is still alive while Latin is as dead as the Pope's sex life?

[discostu]

Latin's not dead. Italian is closer to Latin than American English is to British English. Then there's Spanish, Protugeus and French which all derive directly from Latin, plus around 60% of English. Speaking of England you should do some checking into the lineage of their royal family, they draw directly to the Roman prefect in charge of northern Germany, quite a few American presidents (including the Bushes) also draw from that line, so it might be just a little early to declare their empire over just yet.

[friendly]

(Mel Gibson's The Passion) If it is in a theater anywhere within 100 miles I will see it, just to hear spoken Latin if for no other reason.

You and me both. What amazing cujones for Mel Gibson to do this.

Actually this movie derives from a deep religious inspiration.

[Destro]

Actually all royal houses of Europe, including the Ottomans can trace their lines to the Eastern Roman Basiliades. THE FALL OF ORTHODOX ENGLAND

[Prodigal Son]

Bump.

I guess I've got too much time on my hands. ;-)

Can't wait to see the next one. Opens in my part of the world on the 21st of this month.

[Antoninus]

Postmodernism and passive nihilism are active in media, entertainment and higher education throughout the land.

Oh, it's dead, alright. The people you mention are just too jaded and drugged out to recognize the smell of the corpse rotting. Once the 60s generation passes, Po-Mo will achieve the position of ridicule it richly deserves.

[jocon307]

"Post-modernism is dead, dude."

Killed by Sept. 11th. Dude, I hope you are right!