Vatican vs. Avatar: The Movie

Vatican less than thrilled by film's pantheistic new age neo-paganism.

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09/05/2010 03:37 AM CST

(STARpod.org) -- I may be the only person left in Western Civilization who has not seen James Cameron's latest 3D special effects spectacular Avatar.

To be honest, in spite of a nearly unanimous choir singing their praises of how the film breaks open a new world of cinematic hypnosis, I'm afraid I might be disappointed.

I will, however, eventually see the film, hopefully soon enough to witness the full effect of the 3D animation on the big screen.

James Cameron is a very talented director, and I have enjoyed many of his previous films. Where we may part company was the subject this week of reviews of Avatar coming from the Vatican's media outlets.

Vatican Radio was particularly critical, noting that the film's alien world Pandora represents "pseudo-religious doctrines" and a "form of genuine pantheism" grounded in the worship of nature. Understandably, the worship of nature, as opposed to caretaking of God's creation, is viewed by the Vatican as a throw-back to "Age of Aquarius" new-age inspired paganism. On the far opposite side of the spectrum, I suspect scientific atheists would agree.

It's true that Cameron (and many of my left leaning friends and relatives) believe that corporate greed is exploiting natural resources to the destruction of nature's delicate checks and balances. (I have noticed that right-leaning thinkers lean towards blind faith in God-given authority over nature and the belief that nature is more resilient to damage than can be inflicted by human abuse.)

In spite of the obvious conflict between the Vatican and Cameron over pantheistic tendencies, the Vatican reviewer did admit the film projects "amazing images" of "flight on colored dragons," flowers glowing, hovering in mid-air, six-legged horses which communicate by telepathy, and beautiful and breath taking "colossal trees, mountains in the sky," and much more.

Of course, one might defend Cameron for projecting the message that neo-paganism represents a more ecologically sound approach to the world than modern materialism and progress.

The Biblical fall of mankind, after all, took place in a similar paradise filled with innocence: The Garden of Eden, with the loss of innocence  induced by the eating of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

It is also worth keeping in mind the old saying, "you can never go home again."

But you can spend a few hours immersed in virtual fantasy.

I intend to do exactly that.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Gary S Bekkum / STARstream Research / STARpod.org -- All rights reserved.

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