Those who look at this blog know my religious views do not conform to conservative Christianity. Indeed, given that do not declare that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, I do not think I can be classified as a Christian. I am not surprised that my views are rejected, even castigated, by those who feel differently. I am surprised, however, that some very spiritual movies and books are rejected by conservative Christians. I am thinking in particular about the Harry Potter books and the movie 'The Matrix'.
WARNING- SPOILERS FOLLOW
The Harry Potter books and Matrix movies share several characteristics. Both involve characters who discover alternate worlds which change the perception of everyday reality. In both, evil is confronted to achieve freedom from that evil. Both main characters die to overcome the hold of evil over their autonomy and lives. Both, through unique interventions, return to life.
That fundamental story line should, it seems to me, hold great appeal to Christians. It is nothing less than the fictionalized playing out of Christian beliefs. And yet, both Harry Potter and Neo have evoked the most intense antipathy from conservative Christians. The books have been vilified as extolling evil because the words witch, wizard, magic and witchcraft are used. The Matrix's use of the term 'The One', and Harry Potter being addressed as 'The Chosen One' further offend conservative Christians.
This does not seem consistent with these same Christians' comfort with Greco-Roman myths, or Germanic stories. After all, Odysseus visits the Underworld, Heracles is carried up into Heaven to relieve his earthly suffering, Siegfried confronts evil and is triumphant.
Numerous stories from classical literature fictionalize Christian values. Faust makes a deal with Satan, and commits evil. In death he seeks, and receives, repentance. Many have shivered and wept at Beethoven's 9th Symphony, whose last movement is a musical setting of the 'Ode to Joy', a poem with Christian themes but no mention of Christ or God.
The acceptance of C.S. Lewis' stories is even less consistent with the rejection of Harry and Neo. His writings are thinly, and sometimes poorly, concealed Christian allegory. His Narnia books are favorites with children, despite Christ allegories and characters. The 'Out of the silent Planet' trilogy is acceptable, despite its clear biblical references and a main character who is unequivocally a Christ figure and it titled 'The Director'.
I wonder if the fierce resistance to Harry and Neo are because both stories are so intense, and neither can be disproved. As set up in the Harry Potter books, the magical world is hidden from the Muggle world (us) by various secrecy laws. Dragons, castles and various elements of the magical world are hidden by enchantments. Those who have contact with the magical world either keep silent because they know that to speak is to appear mad, or are 'confunded' and their memories modified. The story can not be proved false. One of its charms is that it is entirely possible that witches and wizards are around us and we don't even know it. This is also true of 'The Matrix', perhaps more so. The idea that we live in a machine-created dream world is chilling and entirely un-disprovable.
Unlike all the fiction acceptable to Christians, these two stories describe saviors, alternate Christ figures if you like, in an alternate reality that is quite seductively plausible. The appealing assumptions of these stories require acceptance of conditions contrary to our perception of reality. Well, so does Christianity.
Christianity asks that we believe in a corporeal life after death. It asks that we believe a woman was impregnated by a spirit, according to some traditions through her ear. We must accept conversion of water into wine while believing that wine should not be drunk, that the world was created in literally 6 days, that Noah lived 900 years and that Sarah conceived when she was well into menopause. The Red Sea was parted, the Jews were fed from the sky, Jesus was born in a manger, etc, etc. A monotheistic religion divides God into three parts, one of which was also a man on earth.
Christianity asks for acceptance of a great deal outside the ordinary experience of reality. It asks for the suspension of more disbelief than Harry Potter or The Matrix. I think this threatens the construct of Christianity in ways acceptable stories do not. The other stories do not directly challenge Christ as the world's only savior. They involve clearly fictionalized worlds and characters that are not overtly 'The One'.
I do not think it is the mentioning of witchcraft or titles like The One or The Chosen One. The Christian story is no more touching than Harry Potter, and requires many more alterations of reality. I think it is that if we reject such seductive and touching stories as unreal, it is no intellectual or emotional jump at all to question the reality of the Christian story.
Christianity can not tolerate the asking of questions. Whether formal Catholic heresy or non-conformity, to ask questions is to be Bad. No one will go to a doctor that forbids asking questions or the seeking of second opinions. Such a doctor is perceived as either a liar or very insecure in his knowledge and advice. As is said in 'Quills', is your God so weak that He can not stand in opposition to mine?
Christians must be awfully insecure to so steadfastly refuse to open their hearts and minds to inspiring stories that reflect their own values. And, given the unbelievability of their beliefs and strictures of their rules, I do not really blame them.
Ted
WARNING- SPOILERS FOLLOW
The Harry Potter books and Matrix movies share several characteristics. Both involve characters who discover alternate worlds which change the perception of everyday reality. In both, evil is confronted to achieve freedom from that evil. Both main characters die to overcome the hold of evil over their autonomy and lives. Both, through unique interventions, return to life.
That fundamental story line should, it seems to me, hold great appeal to Christians. It is nothing less than the fictionalized playing out of Christian beliefs. And yet, both Harry Potter and Neo have evoked the most intense antipathy from conservative Christians. The books have been vilified as extolling evil because the words witch, wizard, magic and witchcraft are used. The Matrix's use of the term 'The One', and Harry Potter being addressed as 'The Chosen One' further offend conservative Christians.
This does not seem consistent with these same Christians' comfort with Greco-Roman myths, or Germanic stories. After all, Odysseus visits the Underworld, Heracles is carried up into Heaven to relieve his earthly suffering, Siegfried confronts evil and is triumphant.
Numerous stories from classical literature fictionalize Christian values. Faust makes a deal with Satan, and commits evil. In death he seeks, and receives, repentance. Many have shivered and wept at Beethoven's 9th Symphony, whose last movement is a musical setting of the 'Ode to Joy', a poem with Christian themes but no mention of Christ or God.
The acceptance of C.S. Lewis' stories is even less consistent with the rejection of Harry and Neo. His writings are thinly, and sometimes poorly, concealed Christian allegory. His Narnia books are favorites with children, despite Christ allegories and characters. The 'Out of the silent Planet' trilogy is acceptable, despite its clear biblical references and a main character who is unequivocally a Christ figure and it titled 'The Director'.
I wonder if the fierce resistance to Harry and Neo are because both stories are so intense, and neither can be disproved. As set up in the Harry Potter books, the magical world is hidden from the Muggle world (us) by various secrecy laws. Dragons, castles and various elements of the magical world are hidden by enchantments. Those who have contact with the magical world either keep silent because they know that to speak is to appear mad, or are 'confunded' and their memories modified. The story can not be proved false. One of its charms is that it is entirely possible that witches and wizards are around us and we don't even know it. This is also true of 'The Matrix', perhaps more so. The idea that we live in a machine-created dream world is chilling and entirely un-disprovable.
Unlike all the fiction acceptable to Christians, these two stories describe saviors, alternate Christ figures if you like, in an alternate reality that is quite seductively plausible. The appealing assumptions of these stories require acceptance of conditions contrary to our perception of reality. Well, so does Christianity.
Christianity asks that we believe in a corporeal life after death. It asks that we believe a woman was impregnated by a spirit, according to some traditions through her ear. We must accept conversion of water into wine while believing that wine should not be drunk, that the world was created in literally 6 days, that Noah lived 900 years and that Sarah conceived when she was well into menopause. The Red Sea was parted, the Jews were fed from the sky, Jesus was born in a manger, etc, etc. A monotheistic religion divides God into three parts, one of which was also a man on earth.
Christianity asks for acceptance of a great deal outside the ordinary experience of reality. It asks for the suspension of more disbelief than Harry Potter or The Matrix. I think this threatens the construct of Christianity in ways acceptable stories do not. The other stories do not directly challenge Christ as the world's only savior. They involve clearly fictionalized worlds and characters that are not overtly 'The One'.
I do not think it is the mentioning of witchcraft or titles like The One or The Chosen One. The Christian story is no more touching than Harry Potter, and requires many more alterations of reality. I think it is that if we reject such seductive and touching stories as unreal, it is no intellectual or emotional jump at all to question the reality of the Christian story.
Christianity can not tolerate the asking of questions. Whether formal Catholic heresy or non-conformity, to ask questions is to be Bad. No one will go to a doctor that forbids asking questions or the seeking of second opinions. Such a doctor is perceived as either a liar or very insecure in his knowledge and advice. As is said in 'Quills', is your God so weak that He can not stand in opposition to mine?
Christians must be awfully insecure to so steadfastly refuse to open their hearts and minds to inspiring stories that reflect their own values. And, given the unbelievability of their beliefs and strictures of their rules, I do not really blame them.
Ted
You're right: The Matrix and Harry Potter stories hit a little too close to home for many Christians. Your acute observations are rejected by some because, let's face it, no one likes to hear the truth when it threatens a belief they hold dear.
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