Monday, April 19, 2010

“The film’s box office success suggests that’s where people are across the globe.”

The only way to avoid deicide is not merely to campaign against genocide, but to co-create a world with room for everyone. More basically, it involves sublimating and redirecting militaristic impulses to confront the violent false God residing deep within our own psyches. That God is driving us to suicide writ large. Consequently the fundamental battle must take place in our own hearts and souls. –Mike Rivage-Seul
I was googling references to the “punitive punishing god” for today’s entry on my “Not Far From The Kindgom” blog and stumbled upon Mike Savage-Reul who wrote among lots of other things, The Emperor’s God: Imperial Misunderstandings of Christianity.
Mike Rivage-Seul is a liberation theologian who directs Peace and Social Justice Studies at Berea College in Kentucky and bears a very impressive resume of activism.
I also learned that Mike, as do I, has a Zblog where I found the following excellent writing:
Avatar, what liberals are missing, Mike Rivage-Seul
Avatar is the 2nd most popular movie ever. Does anyone really think that the reason for that popularity is because it has a spectacular 3D aspect? I doubt it, that would drive  other 3D blockbusters – currently Clash of the Titans – headed up into the top five movies of all time as well.
It seems to me that something else has generated global popularity – the content. As Mike writes,
“The film’s box office success suggests that’s where people are across the globe. However, even more basically, “Avatar” is spiritual. Its popularity reveals widespread sensitivities of that kind in audiences everywhere. “
Mike then proposes a very eloquent review and interpretation of the spiritual message of Avatar, suggesting among other things that James Cameron’s creativity and design which presented a “hidden message” was deliberately crafted. As Jesus might say, “They who have eyes and ears, let them see and hear.”
Literal or fundamentalist Christian objections and rejections of the value of the film – based on doctrinal impurity, absolute and inerrant theology – even outright heresy have done little to reduce the impact of this provocative film.
Read Mike’s opinion on Avatar. Dare to be willing to rethink how you’ve always perceived reality through mortal eyes that have ignored spiritual signposts literally hidden along the pathl.
Or are you the type who believes that only the path itself matters and any deviation from the path is dangerous – could in fact be fatal given the fact that a scorekeeping God of judgment day awaits.
I’ve said before, many believing Christians clamor around and climb all over the image of Jesus who always pointed to Our Father, the God of Compassion. These believers ignore where Jesus is pointing and remain content to gather at the statue.

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