Comments on: AVATAR Attacks! http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/ redefining entertainment Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:47:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: =David http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 =David Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:27:49 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-1506 I realize that I'm coming into your discussion rather late, but I find this article incredibly helpful. As someone who has lived through the Harry Potter hoopla in the Christian church, I think that the way Christians decry something as "pagan" or "filth" is unhelpful and serves to make us look like we're worshiping a Gospel that's no longer relevant in this day and age. Plus, it ignores the fact that the reason these particular themes and motifs are so popular (even in the pagan world) is that they are drawing on something that God has hard-wired us to react to. For instance, the "life-giving tree" in Avatar may be intended as a reference to the tree in Eden, or the pantheistic worldview, but even the pantheistic worldview is itself an unconscious reference to God's creation (albeit a warped one). In short, while there may be some culture that isn't worth redeeming, I don't know that it's in the majority - or even statistically significant. I realize that I’m coming into your discussion rather late, but I find this article incredibly helpful. As someone who has lived through the Harry Potter hoopla in the Christian church, I think that the way Christians decry something as “pagan” or “filth” is unhelpful and serves to make us look like we’re worshiping a Gospel that’s no longer relevant in this day and age.

Plus, it ignores the fact that the reason these particular themes and motifs are so popular (even in the pagan world) is that they are drawing on something that God has hard-wired us to react to. For instance, the “life-giving tree” in Avatar may be intended as a reference to the tree in Eden, or the pantheistic worldview, but even the pantheistic worldview is itself an unconscious reference to God’s creation (albeit a warped one).

In short, while there may be some culture that isn’t worth redeeming, I don’t know that it’s in the majority – or even statistically significant.

]]> By: QuestionMark http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 QuestionMark Fri, 28 May 2010 15:46:24 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-1158 Have you tried comparing Avatar to Disney's Pocahontas? Have you tried comparing Avatar to Disney’s Pocahontas?

]]> By: Ironman 2 – Legacy, Vengeance, Self-Sufficiency « God Is My Constant http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Ironman 2 – Legacy, Vengeance, Self-Sufficiency « God Is My Constant Wed, 12 May 2010 02:23:19 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-1083 [...] Harelman notes elsewhere, “science fiction and fantasy films will often cherry-pick ideas from philosophies, religions [...] [...] Harelman notes elsewhere, “science fiction and fantasy films will often cherry-pick ideas from philosophies, religions [...]

]]> By: The Flash-Sideways Oscars - cinemagogue http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-903 The Flash-Sideways Oscars - cinemagogue Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:31:25 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-903 [...] Avatar (read the review) [...] [...] Avatar (read the review) [...]

]]> By: admin http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-887 admin Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:11:14 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-887 I believe recognizing both sides of this coin to be extremely important; I think a journey through any culture fraught with offerings of fictional salvation and/or second-rate symbols of hope can weigh heavy on a heart one day, and then the next day those self-same things can spark my heart to speak and reason from those truism slivers toward a living and lasting truth. Lamentation, aggravation, inspiration and proclamation are all pieces of a discerning, visceral response, and I think a well-rounded community will evidence them all. I believe recognizing both sides of this coin to be extremely important; I think a journey through any culture fraught with offerings of fictional salvation and/or second-rate symbols of hope can weigh heavy on a heart one day, and then the next day those self-same things can spark my heart to speak and reason from those truism slivers toward a living and lasting truth. Lamentation, aggravation, inspiration and proclamation are all pieces of a discerning, visceral response, and I think a well-rounded community will evidence them all.

]]> By: Joey Furlan http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Joey Furlan Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:10:27 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-886 Great stuff James. This should be interesting. I've never seen a movie that filled me with such a longing for heaven (sort of the antithesis of the Avatar blues. This movie helped me imagine things I'd never imagined before. I thought to myself, "If this vision,created from the mind of a man can be this breath taking... what worlds of wonder and joy await us in the new creation?" On a second viewing however I have to admit being struck by the heavy handed pagan/witchcraft spiritually on show in the film. I came away with a better understanding of why guys like Mark found the movie "Demonic". Great stuff James. This should be interesting. I’ve never seen a movie that filled me with such a longing for heaven (sort of the antithesis of the Avatar blues. This movie helped me imagine things I’d never imagined before. I thought to myself, “If this vision,created from the mind of a man can be this breath taking… what worlds of wonder and joy await us in the new creation?” On a second viewing however I have to admit being struck by the heavy handed pagan/witchcraft spiritually on show in the film. I came away with a better understanding of why guys like Mark found the movie “Demonic”.

]]> By: Our Savior in AVATAR - cinemagogue http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Our Savior in AVATAR - cinemagogue Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:28:50 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-878 [...] (this is the last post in a series, click here for the introduction to our series on James Cameron’s AVATAR.) [...] [...] (this is the last post in a series, click here for the introduction to our series on James Cameron’s AVATAR.) [...]

]]> By: New Birth, Blue Birth in AVATAR - cinemagogue http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-875 New Birth, Blue Birth in AVATAR - cinemagogue Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:25:49 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-875 [...] AVATAR Attacks! Categories [...] [...] AVATAR Attacks! Categories [...]

]]> By: DeprAVATAR of man - cinemagogue http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-868 DeprAVATAR of man - cinemagogue Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:49:37 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-868 [...] AVATAR Attacks! [...] [...] AVATAR Attacks! [...]

]]> By: AVATAR & The Great Divorce - cinemagogue http://cinemagogue.com/2010/02/12/avatar-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-857 AVATAR & The Great Divorce - cinemagogue Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:25:26 +0000 http://cinemagogue.com/?p=1787#comment-857 [...] AVATAR Attacks! [...] [...] AVATAR Attacks! [...]

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