Comments on: Grace and the Goddess: AVATAR as a Christian/Pagan Parable

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 05:13:39 +0000

Wow! What great ideas and things to ponder. I’m curious about all the ways that I’ve heard people think about these ideas. As a Pagan, I think there must be hope and excitement about anything that portrays a coming together rather than a “tearing asunder” (to borrow a phrase . How silly of us to be upset about hearing a STORY that is beautiful and idealistic and putting it down as “unattainable, and therefore moot” Why? Why should idealism be scoffed at? Where is our hope for the future? Why can we not believe that true beauty is possible? I’ll be “earmarking” this blog! Thank you for your insights.

By: Bria

Bria — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:19:22 +0000

I disagree that Christianity and Paganism can coexist. Maybe its because I dont have my head so far up my behind that I cant see what is really going on here. After centuries of bloodshed, I honestly believe there is no way to reconcile paganism and christianity, the two should remain bitter enemies for either one to survive. Then agian, as much as I liked the Movie Avatar, it was just a movie, a feel good experience that can never happen outside the big screen.

A very disgruntled Pagan

By: Dharmashaiva

Dharmashaiva — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:34:58 +0000

Carl,

Very interesting review. I like the “Pagan-Christian” integration theme. It reminds me of the Zarathustran split from his Indian cousins, with Zarathustra emphasizing godliness as justice (and going on to influence Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and the Indians emphasizing godliness as realization (and going on to influence later Hinduism, and having connections to Buddhism and Jainism). The tragedy is that a split had to happen, but maybe by splitting, both justice and realization could be taken to their logical conclusions, culminating in the understanding that both are needed.

By: Tyson F. Gautreaux

Tyson F. Gautreaux — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:28:05 +0000

Avatar was a great movie, I just watched it a few day ago. I don't usually go to the theather because I get nervious around a lot people but I think I'll give this one a shot because people are saying that it's even better on the big screen, I think it might be in 3D. Anyway the movie Avatar get two thumbs up from me, I watch all of my movies at voobymovies,com if anyone was wondering and it's free

By: wii console

wii console — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:11:34 +0000

how do I add this to my blog?

By: Links of Great Interest 1/15/10 | The Hathor Legacy

Links of Great Interest 1/15/10 | The Hathor Legacy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:59:49 +0000

[...] “Instead of the American way they want multiculturalism. We plan to fight back—and, when it comes to textbooks, we have the power to do it. Sometimes it boggles my mind the kind of power we have.” God, couldn’t they just re-write Pocahontas? Oh, wait. Maybe the problem is that this time the Indians win, huh? Anyways, the Vatican thinks Avatar is stupid. Uhhh. Everyone else disagrees. Maybe they’re just feeling threatened because of its sheer awesomeness as a neopagan parable. [...]

By: Carl McColman

Carl McColman — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:17:42 +0000

Well, I think this falls under "No good deed goes unpunished." My intention was simply to make a positive statement as a Christian who enjoyed Avatar, unlike some other Christian bloggers (like this one) who are attacking the movie. I certainly didn't see the movie as suggesting that terrestrial Goddesses are not interested in justice, nor as suggesting that Paganism "needs" Christianity to "complete" it. Anyway, if in these or any other ways I've unwittingly offended Pagan readers by what I've written, I apologize.

By: Daniel Holzman-Tweed

Daniel Holzman-Tweed — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:31:55 +0000

If the Goddess of Pandors has no interest in Justice, then she is a poor analog for the Pagan Goddesses of Earth. They’ve been interested in justice at least since the Egyptians started reciting the Negative Confession to Ma’at.

By: Liz W

Liz W — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:17:55 +0000

I missed this when you first published it (probably because of the holidays). It’s certainly a very different take on the movie than I’ve read anywhere else. I do feel a bit uncomfortable with your description of it as a “satisfying integration” of pagan and Christian spirituality, given that you seem to identify Eywa’s becoming a bestower of grace as the Christian contribution. It smacks a bit of saying that indigenous religions need Christianity to perfect them, which strikes me as a dangerous statement in the light of the violence that has so often accompanied real-life attempts at Christianization.

By: Frank Hope

Frank Hope — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:41:09 +0000

Hi Carl. Thanks for reading my review. After reading some more comments on your site about Avatar and doing some more searching on the web, I'm more convinced than ever that the Christian connection in Avatar is deliberate. Isn't it wonderful to have society debating Christianity in a more mystical context? Perhaps without knowing it Cameron has created the new Middle-Earth or Narnia in Pandora. I actually had a wonderful conversation with my 13 year old daughter about Christianity by reading together my review and discussing the Christian aspects. I think it brought home to her that Christian beliefs are relevant and can be seen all around us, if only we are open to them. "Those who have eyes, let them see!" And one last comment. In the original script for Avatar (which you can find a description of here) the Jake Sully character was named Josh Sully. Of course Joshua is the person in the Bible that led the Hebrews into the Promised Land and conquered their enemies. Joshua means "Yahweh is salvation" in Hebrew and the name Jesus is an anglicized version of Joshua. So in my opinion Cameron has planted the ultimate "Easter Egg" in Avatar in the form of Jake as Jesus. And even when it is pointed out, many people refuse to see it. Blindness of course is not just a physical malady, but can also be a spiritual one.