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The Gospel according to Neo: 'The Matrix' as a phenomenon shaping public opinion about religion
The Christian Science Monitor ^ | May 09, 2003 | Josh Burek

Posted on 05/08/2003 10:04:46 PM PDT by Destro

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Duuuuuuuuuuuuude!!
1 posted on 05/08/2003 10:04:46 PM PDT by Destro
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To: Destro
The Christ-figure presentation of Neo is really almost window dressing. Far more relevant, if you ask me, are the philosophical and theological implications of the variation-on-a-Vingean-Singularity event that is the foundation of the whole story.
2 posted on 05/08/2003 10:11:49 PM PDT by Luke Skyfreeper
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To: Destro
Hollywood claiming a live-action cartoon has religious significance?

The only true religious movie in production is Mel Gibson's "Passion," the last 12 hours of Christ shot exclusively in the dead languages of Aramaic and Latin, with no subtitles. THAT is hardcore!

3 posted on 05/08/2003 10:16:03 PM PDT by friendly
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To: Destro
Well, here's something I noticed the first time I saw 'The Matrix.' The hero is 'Neo,' another way to say 'the one' and 'the new one' at the same time.

But look at Neo's real name: Thomas Anderson. Ander or Andrew mean 'Man,' so that Anderson means 'son of man.' Thomas means 'twin.' So that Neo, the one who will save the Matrix generation is actually 'the twin of the Son of man,' or, 'just like the Savior.'

There're a whole lot of religious aspirations packed into that first film.
4 posted on 05/08/2003 10:19:22 PM PDT by Petronski (I'm not always cranky.)
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To: Luke Skyfreeper
The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended.
5 posted on 05/08/2003 10:19:33 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: friendly
Aramaic I can see--but Latin? Mel made a historical and biased error on his part. Latin was almost never used by the Romans in the eastern provinces and most Romans spoke Greek better than they did Latin. When Pilot talked to Jesus he talked to him in Greek (or to his Aramaic translator in Greek).
6 posted on 05/08/2003 10:22:05 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: Luke Skyfreeper
Oh yeah, I thought the Matrix was really cool!
7 posted on 05/08/2003 10:24:49 PM PDT by highpockets
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To: Destro
The film's creators, brothers Larry and Andy Wachowski, have been remarkably tight-lipped about their vision for the trilogy.

Good. A valuable skill most artistic people don't have these days is the dicipline to keep their mouths shut and let the audience interpret the art for themselves.

I am proud to be the first FReeper to call The Matrix a conservative movie. I favor the Gnostic explanation for a lot of it, but it also works really well as a battle between communism and freedom. I wouldn't call it profound, though, because if I try to look at it too closely it just becomes a silly movie. I really hope they don't ruin it with the sequels.

8 posted on 05/08/2003 10:28:17 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: Destro
Exactly. But Vinge's version is only the beginning of the possible ways such a development might proceed (as illustrated by The Matrix). A quick search of the internet will turn up other ideas of the possible courses of future history.

Now tie all this in with theology. There are a bunch of ways to do that. For example, how likely would the likelihood of a Vingean singularity (of some kind) make the existence of a God?

For an extra spicy recipe, throw in the finely-tuned nature of the universe and a pinch of the Everett interpretation of quantum mechanics.

9 posted on 05/08/2003 10:28:55 PM PDT by Luke Skyfreeper
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To: Destro
As I recall the only Latin in the film is spoken by the Romans under Pontius Pilate. Independent sources identify him as a Roman who spoke and wrote in Latin. Gibson is on an mission to be as absolutely accurate as possible.
10 posted on 05/08/2003 10:32:39 PM PDT by friendly
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To: Destro
theologically-curious bump
11 posted on 05/08/2003 10:34:22 PM PDT by LiteKeeper
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To: Luke Skyfreeper
Take this into thought - Chirst is called the "Son of Man"

Could the anti-Christ be the anti-man? Does 666 translate into binary? Am I making this up as I go along? You bet!

12 posted on 05/08/2003 10:34:59 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: Destro
I know kung fu.
13 posted on 05/08/2003 10:35:25 PM PDT by lurky
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To: Destro
Interesting article.

Fervently hoping Matrix 2 blows my socks off.
14 posted on 05/08/2003 10:37:29 PM PDT by k2blader (Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right. - John Donne)
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To: Destro
Maybe the super intelligent machines will realize that life is meaningless without a soul and power off.
15 posted on 05/08/2003 10:37:45 PM PDT by ffusco (Maecilius Fuscus, Governor of Longovicium , Manchester, England. 238-244 AD)
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To: ffusco
Maybe the super intelligent machines will realize that life is meaningless without a soul and power off.

Or they may start advertising for Powerade.
16 posted on 05/08/2003 10:39:08 PM PDT by nospinzone (I like moderates. If I could, I'd give them half a vote.)
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To: nospinzone
I hate those "Is it in you" ads!
17 posted on 05/08/2003 10:40:23 PM PDT by ffusco (Maecilius Fuscus, Governor of Longovicium , Manchester, England. 238-244 AD)
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To: lurky
Show me.
18 posted on 05/08/2003 10:41:34 PM PDT by Teacher317
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To: friendly
That would also be wrong. Romans of that time tended to write and speak to each other Greek and resorted to Latin in only extreme official cases.

Greek was spoken among the Roman elite the way French was the language of the European aristocrats from England to Moscow a few centuries ago.

In the Western part of the Roman Empire at this time Latin was spoken more because the local populations were never part of the Hellenistic world and being poorer than the Greek east-the least educated lower Roman classes were sent who were not as well educated in Greek (their famalies could not afford to own or hire Greek educators).

19 posted on 05/08/2003 10:42:10 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: ffusco
Maybe the super intelligent machines will realize that life is meaningless without a soul and power off.

Hey!! That's from at least 2 Star Trek episodes!!!

20 posted on 05/08/2003 10:43:24 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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