AVATAR! a mockery of Christ?

[Ed the Ned]

I put the question mark at the end of the subject line as I have not seen the movie. Yet I understand that James Cameron has attempted in the past in a documentary called "The Lost Tomb of Christ" to show his dislike to the Christian faith.
He called his movie AVATAR which in all sense means and I'll put a few quotes:

often translated into English as incarnation, literally means descent (avatarati) and usually implies a deliberate descent from higher spiritual realms to lower realms of existence for special purposes

the manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal form; "the Buddha is considered an avatar of the god Vishnu"

My understanding that it means God born as man

I got the following off a Hindu web site, I'll copy and paste the blog.

Avatar The Movie – Similarities with Hindu Teachings and symbols and concepts in Hinduism

In the Hollywood movie Avatar, it is not just the term ‘Avatar’ that is associated with Hinduism. The core concept of Hinduism is that all animate and inanimate are the result of a single energy source, which is Brahman or God. All the plants, animals, human beings rise and fall in this single energy source. This formless and indefinable is given form by humans and worshipped as God. One of the important themes of Avatar is based on this core concept of Hinduism which was taught first time more than 5000 years ago. In the movie, the Na'vis are able to physically connect to animals and plants. And they believe that they are just a part of the whole which includes all animate and inanimate present on their planet Pandora. This concept is explained beautifully and there is a magical scene in which the Tree is connected to the human body and this body is connected to all the Na’vis through holding their hands each other.


Another striking aspect is the use of the color blue. Hindu Gods are depicted blue in color. Blue is the color of the infinite. All Hindu gods are an attempt by the human mind to give form to the formless Brahman (God). The color blues symbolizes immeasurable and all pervading reality – formless Brahman.


Another concept found in Hindu Puranas is Parakaya Pravesham – leaving one’s body temporarily and entering the body of another person. Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have done this to enter a king’s body so that he can learn about material world. Something quite similar happens in the movies as Humans are able to temporarily enter the body of a Na’vi.


A more visible symbol in the movie is that of the characters in Avatar riding on a flying dragon like being. This is more like Lord Vishnu riding on Garuda.


It is said that great minds think alike in all ages. The great saints of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) thought about this 5000 years ago and they tried to explain it to us through symbols and stories. Today we have technology explain the universal truths. But are we listening? We are slowly wiping out the green cover and destroying the Mother Earth thinking that we humans are superior and above all.


But what Avatar missed is foreseen by Hindu seers the total annihilation of human race when there is rise of Adharma (today it is unimaginable greed and lack of concern for mother earth). We are fast heading towards such a situation and this divine action will be carried out by Kalki. Then there is a fresh beginning. The cycle continues and this present age is not the first cycle and it is not the last.

Isn't it strange how a Hindu dedicated site http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/12/avatar-movie-similarities-with-hindu.html portrays this movie in this new age manner.

 

[Aero_Hudson]

I think folks are looking a bit too deep into this one. The movie is very entertaining and quite good. It has no hidden meaning. Cameron is pretty direct regarding some of the political / environmental messages he has in the film.

 

[Ed the Ned]

I will state again I have not seen the movie although it was just recently released in South Africa. If you have seen it could someone please explain to me what an Avatar was in the movie? I feel a lot of people seem to think an avatar is the picture on the side of your name on a forum or gaming site. Something that resembles you on the net etc.
Are we not being tenderised to a new type of religion. I might be dabbing at nothing.... or maybe there is something to this..........................again open to discussion. I am just throwing straws here.

 

[watchman F]

I will state again I have not seen the movie although it was just recently released in South Africa. If you have seen it could someone please explain to me what an Avatar was in the movie? I feel a lot of people seem to think an avatar is the picture on the side of your name on a forum or gaming site. Something that resembles you on the net etc.
Are we not being tenderised to a new type of religion. I might be dabbing at nothing.... or maybe there is something to this..........................again open to discussion. I am just throwing straws here.

I did see the movie and it was very religious. It made me feel very uncomfortable. The people of the planet worship the goddess Ewahh, who is very similar to the wiicans idea of Mother Earth.

 

[TheUnworthyServant]

There are several definitions for avatar but in regards to this movie I believe this one is best:
An incarnation in human form, an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person.

I have seen the movie and feel that was definitely religious over-tones to it. But I did not see it as a dig against God. The inhabitants are intimately connected to their planet yes so I guess one could say that it leans to evolution side of things. But seriously, how many movies coming out of Hollywood don't? Maybe 2 movies a year? As with anything we watch as Christians, if we feel that it goes against the spirit of God, then don't watch it. This would of course include 99% of what on TV these days. This is why I don't own one.

A side note: I have seen in other forums, ( not Christian forums ) people calling for a boycott of this movie because it promotes global warming, which is ( as we all know ) nothing but a lie being pushed by the global elite to move us closer to a one world government. I have tried my best to explain to these folks that Gods word says that there is going to be a world government and nothing they do will change this. But alas, they will not listen. All I can do is plant the seed.

?

 

[Lance_Iguana]

The reason why the movie is called "Avatar", is because the humans sinc into bodies that are clones of Na'vi. They are called avatars because they put their conciance into this living body.

Avatar is a play on how some believe how souls and Gods form into another body. But in the context of the film, its no different then just taking your mind and controlling another body.


Also in the film Ewha is thought to be a God, but it turns out She's nothing more then an ecological version of the internet that the people download themselves into when their physical body dies. That's it basically.

Its like sincing your i-pod to your computer. Your computer is the source of the music, but it isn't the creator of said music, only holds the music and can take music uploads. ;)

 

[Nick]

The reason why the movie is called "Avatar", is because the humans sinc into bodies that are clones of Na'vi. They are called avatars because they put their conciance into this living body.

Avatar is a play on how some believe how souls and Gods form into another body. But in the context of the film, its no different then just taking your mind and controlling another body.


Also in the film Ewha is thought to be a God, but it turns out She's nothing more then an ecological version of the internet that the people download themselves into when their physical body dies. That's it basically.

Its like sincing your i-pod to your computer. Your computer is the source of the music, but it isn't the creator of said music, only holds the music and can take music uploads. ;)

Got it in one!

I believe that's all there is to this movie - I don't think it's a dig at God or anything. I think people are reading too much into this and are afraid of a little fiction here!

But if it makes one sin or feel spiritually unconfortable, then of course don't watch it, but it's not going to be the same for everybody.




BTW I've moved this to Movie/TV reviews.

 

[JamesG]

One of the interesting things about a movie like this is that it brings out all of the nuts, especially the Christian nuts. And I for one am glad because I want to know who the nuts are so I can stay away from them. I see that another thread has already begun that even calls the Christian nuts naive because they are not quite nutty enough in his opinion.

Apparently this one world government thing as a conspiracy started about a century ago. Read the first couple of novels in the Martian series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The idea behind Avatar is exactly the same.

I'm glad that I am still capable of just watching an entertaining movie and enjoying it without all of the Christian conspiracy garbage hindering me. This is just fiction folks. The Biblical writers are describing what is real. At least the Christians are supposed to believe that. If they can't tell the difference between reality and fiction, then maybe we need to try harder to help them out.

JamesG

 

[Lewis]

I have seen the movie.

 

[watchman F]

One of the interesting things about a movie like this is that it brings out all of the nuts, especially the Christian nuts. And I for one am glad because I want to know who the nuts are so I can stay away from them. I see that another thread has already begun that even calls the Christian nuts naive because they are not quite nutty enough in his opinion.

Apparently this one world government thing as a conspiracy started about a century ago. Read the first couple of novels in the Martian series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The idea behind Avatar is exactly the same.

I'm glad that I am still capable of just watching an entertaining movie and enjoying it without all of the Christian conspiracy garbage hindering me. This is just fiction folks. The Biblical writers are describing what is real. At least the Christians are supposed to believe that. If they can't tell the difference between reality and fiction, then maybe we need to try harder to help them out.

JamesG

I have a few question for you James
#1 Are you a Christian?
#2 Have you seen the movie?
And assuming questions 1 and 2 are yes
#3 Where you not the least bit uncomfortable when they all started worshiping bowing down praying for Ewah to bring the female scientist back to life?

 

[Nick]

One of the interesting things about a movie like this is that it brings out all of the nuts, especially the Christian nuts. And I for one am glad because I want to know who the nuts are so I can stay away from them. I see that another thread has already begun that even calls the Christian nuts naive because they are not quite nutty enough in his opinion.

Apparently this one world government thing as a conspiracy started about a century ago. Read the first couple of novels in the Martian series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The idea behind Avatar is exactly the same.

I'm glad that I am still capable of just watching an entertaining movie and enjoying it without all of the Christian conspiracy garbage hindering me. This is just fiction folks. The Biblical writers are describing what is real. At least the Christians are supposed to believe that. If they can't tell the difference between reality and fiction, then maybe we need to try harder to help them out.

JamesG

I have a few question for you James
#1 Are you a Christian?
#2 Have you seen the movie?
And assuming questions 1 and 2 are yes
#3 Where you not the least bit uncomfortable when they all started worshiping bowing down praying for Ewah to bring the female scientist back to life?

If you don't mind me answering as well:
#1 Yes
#2 Yes
#3 I took it as fiction, and as entertainment, while recognising that this is not taught in the Word of God, by watching it it doesn't mean that I'm worshipping them or supporting the worship of them. I think some are getting a bit too caught up in this.

Also, I advise anyone critsising the movie who hasn't seen it to actually go and see it for themselves and make up their own minds about it.

 

[Lewis]

I am with you Nick, heck I still watch vampire flicks, and I just saw Dayreakers, I love vampire flicks, it is nothing but entertainment to me. In other words, I am a big horror movie fan, and it does not affect my walk with God at all.

 

[JamesG]

watchman F

1 – Are you a Christian?

If one of the requirements for being a Christian is to dislike or to be uncomfortable with Avatar, then no I am not. If one of the requirements for being a Christian is to believe in one or more of the three “orthodox†versions of the Trinity or in Tritheism or Modalism or anti-Trinitarianism or any other kind of Godism, then no I am not. If the ONLY requirement for being a Christian is to be in Jesus Christ, then yes I am. Since I know of no denomination of Christianity that believes the latter explicitly, and since the term “Christian†is associated with Christianity and refers to a lot of people who even you hopefully would agree are not even in Christ, then no I am not.

2 – Have you seen the movie?

Yes!

3 – “Where (Were) you not the least bit uncomfortable when they all started worshiping bowing down praying for Ewah to bring the female scientist back to life?â€

Since that question presumes that the Na’vi were praying to the tree as if a God, I have to ask you, Did you see the movie? I am going to assume that because you think that I should have been uncomfortable implies that you saw the movie. And your thinking that the tree is the God of the Na’vi also implies that you did not understand what you were seeing. May I suggest that in the future you limit yourself to movies that you know you will be able to understand. I hate to see you wasting your money. Yes, you are right. It is your money and you can waste it in any way that you choose.

I have previously mentioned this segment of the movie that seems to continue to escape the notice of the prejudiced and the conspiracy hunters:

The situation for the Na’vi has become dire. Jake plugs into the tree and starts praying to it. Neytiri comes up behind him and tells him CLEARLY that he has the wrong idea about the tree. The tree is not their God. The tree merely keeps the balance of nature in the forest. Jake replies, “Well, I triedâ€. It is the people in the Corporation, including the head scientist, Dr. Grace, and even Jake initially, who have the misunderstanding that the tree is the God of the Na’vi. And it is that misunderstanding that motivates the attack on the tree by the mercenaries in an effort to drive the Na’vi away from an area that has an abundance of the coveted mineral. In the end, the tree does precisely what the God, who is not mentioned in the movie, created it to do. It stops the mercenaries of the corporation from destroying the forest. It kept the balance of nature.

Twice in the movie, the tree is revealed to be able transfer life, NOT CREATE LIFE, from a living person to a living, but soulless, Avatar. Grace was too badly injured for the transfer to take place. It is stated that her own life force was too weak. Jake was healthy, and in the end the movie implies that the tree was successful in his case. Why is this harder to grasp than the same thing happening to Jake through scientific means? What science could NOT do was to effect the transfer on a permanent basis. The tree was able to effect the transfer on a permanent basis. Or so the ending implied. Perhaps the problem that people are having is that in the end the tree was better than the science. If we assume that the tree was created by God and the science was created by human means, why are we surprised when the creation of God turns out to be superior to a creation by human science? But these are both assumptions because neither are specifically mentioned in the movie.

You want to read one of the original versions of Avatar? Read this novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, “A Princess of Marsâ€. It was published in 1912, and was extremely popular a century ago when it was first published. It was one of a series of novels. The series continues to be popular enough to still be reprinted on a regular basis. This same author also published a series of novels on “Tarzan of the Apesâ€, the original also published in 1912. Cameron obviously enjoys Science Fiction. No doubt he has read the whole Martian series by Burroughs. I personally believe that Cameron retold the story to a new generation very well.

Why would this movie bother anyone? It’s a Science Fiction Fiction Fiction movie. Most of it is impossible by our standards. Do you see the “Alien†series and the “Terminator†series in this same conspiratorial light? They’re Cameron movies also. If you do, why on earth would you be bothering with the movie Avatar? Do you really think that Avatar is worse than other non-Christian movies? How about Star Trek in its many incarnations? Are they all evil and advocates of conspiracy against God and Christianity? Why don’t you take this kind of thinking to its logical conclusion. Fictional stories are conspiratorial imaginations against the reality of God, and God would rather you only deal with reality as it is described in the Bible. No more movies or TV or books that are fictional for you.

On the other hand:

1 – Are you a Christian? A bothersome question when the shoe is on the other foot isn’t it?

2 – Did you actually understand the movie Avatar? I am assuming that you already saw it at least once. And I have already shown that you didn’t understand the movie in at least one area, maybe in both situations that I described.

3a – Are you able to try to understand the movie in and of itself without all of the typical interpretations that so many Christians especially, but others also, are prone to?

3b – If you are, then go see the movie again and just enjoy it as a fictional movie. You know, like you used to do when you were a kid, without trying to read into it things that aren’t there. It’s a very good movie with very good actors and a very well told story and very good special effects. In this story, it isn’t hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys, as it is in so many stories these days. And the good guys win in the end. It even includes a lot of good comedy bits. And if the movie implies that we should take better care of our planet, why would you as a Christian be against caring for a planet that you believe was created by God? I’d hate to see you miss this movie simply because you are too busy looking for conspiratorial ideas.

Movies tell stories. Movies provide a time of rest and enjoyment. And I for one praise God for a movie that accomplishes its purpose as well as Avatar.

JamesG

 

[watchman F]

James
#1 I am a Christian
#2 I have seen the movie
#3 I was uncomfortable.


I did understand the movie. The Na'vi worship Cameron's equivalent of Mother Earth. Knowing Cameron is anti christian it really should have cause all who are ''In Christ'' to become somewhat uncomfortable.

 

[JamesG]

watchman F

As you wish. If you were that uncomfortable, then I would be the last to suggest that you see the movie again. I have seen no evidence that Cameron is anti-Christian. Nor do I see any evidence of earth worship in the movie. The only thing that I see is a group of people who are not human in a fictional movie who have a very strong relationship with their environment. Sorry that I am unable to comply with your wishes.

JamesG

 

[watchman F]

watchman F

As you wish. If you were that uncomfortable, then I would be the last to suggest that you see the movie again. I have seen no evidence that Cameron is anti-Christian. Nor do I see any evidence of earth worship in the movie. The only thing that I see is a group of people who are not human in a fictional movie who have a very strong relationship with their environment. Sorry that I am unable to comply with your wishes.

JamesG

"Titanic"-director James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici have produced a Discovery Channel special (with a corresponding book, of course) based on a claim that is sure to sink. Their contention? That archeologists have discovered the tomb of Jesus, his mother, brothers, wife, and his child Judah as well! Who knew!


To read more http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christi ... -Tomb.aspx

 

[Lewis]

James
#1 I am a Christian
#2 I have seen the movie
#3 I was uncomfortable.


I did understand the movie. The Na'vi worship Cameron's equivalent of Mother Earth. Knowing Cameron is anti christian it really should have cause all who are ''In Christ'' to become somewhat uncomfortable.

If you know the truth and have a solid walk with the Lord, you can watch such, if you like, because it is only entertainment. I meet non Christians everyday, got many on my job, got Muslims on my job and in my family, and they do not worship the same God, as we do. So why always be uncomfortable around them all the time, so what if they were into tree worship, it is only a movie, are you going to start worshiping trees ? I thought not, so what's the big deal, it is only entertainment.

 

[watchman F]

[quote="watchman F":1ggx0y7o]James
#1 I am a Christian
#2 I have seen the movie
#3 I was uncomfortable.


I did understand the movie. The Na'vi worship Cameron's equivalent of Mother Earth. Knowing Cameron is anti christian it really should have cause all who are ''In Christ'' to become somewhat uncomfortable.

If you know the truth and have a solid walk with the Lord, you can watch such, if you like, because it is only entertainment. I meet non Christians everyday, got many on my job, got Muslims on my job and in my family, and they do not worship the same God, as we do. So why always be uncomfortable around them all the time, so what if they were into tree worship, it is only a movie, are you going to start worshiping trees ? I thought not, so what's the big deal, it is only entertainment. [/quote:1ggx0y7o]With all do respect you are wrong we are mandated by God to separate ourselves, and to abstain from all appearance of evil. As far as other people go even though we are not of this world we are in the world and we will co-exist with unbelievers. However we do not need to subject ourselves unnessecarally to evil such as was portrayed in Avatar. And when we find ourselves in such a situation it is our obligation to warn others believers so that they do not make the same mistake, financing the evil thoughts of a man such as Cameron.

 

[Lewis]

To me Avatar, or Dracular movies are harmless, to somebody else they might not be. If the movie is a sin unto you, then it is a sin unto you.

 

[JamesG]

watchman F

Re: The Lost Tomb of Jesus

James Cameron, the self-centered workaholic womanizer, obviously is not a Christian. But one has to agree that, like George Lucas, he is a genius with a camera. And like Lucas, he has been very innovative with technology. And now he not only is making movies, he has gotten interested in documentaries.

I have never heard of this matter of the lost tomb of Jesus. I checked it out and it sounds like shades of the Shroud of Turin and the DaVinci Code. Controversial subjects always generate money. But apparently Cameron’s interest is not totally on the money.

I listened to an interview on this documentary that included Cameron. Cameron sounds like his only interest in Jesus Christ is historical and archeological. He pointed out that this could be a find of momentous occasion because it proves the existence of Jesus on earth. But he did say that it shouldn’t be viewed as proof against the resurrection. That in itself is an odd position to take if he is anti-Christian. He seems to be merely an open minded observer. It is not his intention to attack anyone, or anyone’s religion. Just wants to see what is there. He says that he is no archeologist, but that he has been interested in the subject since his youth. And he said that he has always been interested in how a first century individual has been able to influence modern culture to such a remarkable degree. He said that the next step should be discussion and further research by real archeologists. He seems to be honestly curious. If he is being honest, then good for him.

Cameron has a strong cultural bias against belief, he is a Canadian. And the tendency in Canada has been toward liberalism for the last few decades. So the odds of him ever being in Christ are astronomical from a human point of view. But for those who believe in God, the odds are that God knows what he is doing in relation to James Cameron.

I have to wonder if, as happened with the DaVinci Code, negative Christian reviews actually resulted in more, rather than less, people watching the movie Avatar. Controversy is a great advertising ploy. Christian negative reviews have spurred more people to watch what they may not have otherwise watched since at least the days of Jesus Christ Superstar in the 1970’s. And I have to wonder how many “Christian negative reviews†have been written by movie promoters for that very purpose.

I rarely watch TV anymore. But I did watch the Ken Burns series on the National Forests. That is another piece of spectacular work that you might enjoy, without being bothered. Not knowing you personally, I don’t know what your personal interests are. But I offer that work as a possibility.

JamesG