My bride and I took in dinner and a movie last night.  After hearing so much about Avatar, we decided to see it. I read a couple of reviews about the movie here and here.  The first article is an op-ed piece from the NY Times calling Avatar an “apologia for pantheism.”  The second article is by Roger Ebert who calls Avatar “an Event, one of those films you feel you must see to keep up with the conversation.”  Ebert predicts that Avatar will create a cult.  That’s when I knew I wanted to see the movie.  Anything that smells of pantheism and is destined to create a cult I am concerned about since I am in the “business” of furthering the gospel and teaching the Word of God.

The special 3-D effects, animals, scenery, and topography of Pandora (the planet where the story takes place) created by James Cameron (writer and director) show his imagination and genius.  The vision of technology simply mystify the viewer for almost 3 hours.  It spellsbinds the watcher to the point that all track of time is lost.  If you go, you must see it in 3-D.  That’s the only way to see this movie.  When we look back over the last 30 years in technology a handful of movies come to mind (Star Wars, The Matrix, Jurassic Park, Minority Report, etc.).  Avatar just may trump that list.

The acting was not fantastic.  If you are a fan of powerful acting then you may be slightly disappointed but the characters do their part to carry the story line and deliver the message.  Some of the other reviews I have seen completely dismiss this movie due to the acting and trite storyline but most people who enjoy reading and movies have seen all the possible plot combinations anyway.  So I am not sure this is a sticking point for most folks.

The uniqueness of Avatar comes in two ways: its unapologetic approach to “green mysticism” and its use of technology to deliver the message.

Both of the reviews I mentioned are correct and in a way they both miss it.  Avatar definitely has some sort sort of hint of non-Christianity to it.  Notice I said “non” Christianity.  I don’t think this movie intends to be blatantly anti-Christian.  It is definitely a green movie and is most definitely anti-war.  It is sort of Dances with Wolves laced with Pocohontas but set in another time and place like Star Wars.

I probably need to read up on my definitions of pantheism and animism – and I’m probably off here in some way, but Russ Douthat (NY Times) says this movie is “pantheism apologia” but I thought that animism (and some of the Wiccan teachings) see almost every (or all) living thing(s) possessing a soul. That is what this movie leans toward whereas pantheism sees the wider universe as “god” and wants mankind to submit itself to the entire expression of nature.  I see animism giving everything a “life of its own” whereas pantheism sees nature as a “god” and an unseen presence or force.  Maybe only a slight difference to some but a big deal to those follow it.   There are hints Pantheism in this movie, but with my very narrow understanding of animism and pantheism, this movie is definitely animistic. Animism is more disturbing to me because it leans heavily toward my understanding of Wicca.  Given the rise of that religion and neo-paganism in general it would not surprise me to see this from Cameron.  Even on the TV series HOUSE, the lead doctor/character says he is “Wiccan” (as an aside, I think House was just trying to get Wilson to react – I don’t think House sees himself as religious at all).

Perhaps a better way to understand this movie is to see it as pure Paganism.

At one point in the movie, the chief scientist (played by Signorney Weaver) tries to explain the Na’vi’s pagan religion in pseudo-scientific terms  by saying (my paraphrase, sorry) that the people have an electro-chemical relationship with the trees and the trees are all connected at the roots and everything just kind of talks to each other: so we shouldn’t kill it.  That’s a poor paraphrase, but okay.

It does bother me to some extent that I enjoyed the movie.  It is up to you whether or not you want to see it but I want to be clear that while I enjoyed the production, the technology, the story, and even characterization, I felt uncomfortable when they were praying to the Ewya (their goddess of sorts).  I pray to YaHWeY.

If Ebert is right, and unfortunately I think he is, Christians have a lot of work to do.  I woke up this morning thinking that my life needs to be more real and more Godly – and worth emulating more than the empty religion of blue aliens.

What are you doing today to further the Good News of Jesus Christ?