The Gospel according to Neo: 'The Matrix' as a phenomenon shaping public opinion about religion

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | May 09, 2003 | Josh Burek

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

wouldn't that be "in illo fundo"? Or even better, "illo fundo." Cheers.

I'm partial to the place where ablative with the preposition in this particular case, even though I tend to like the preposition-free ablative constructions where possible. (Regnat dorkitas latina! Latin dorkiness rules! My second or third-year HS Latin class made up dorkitas, as well as such wonderful phrases as "carrus longus brevis" for "short bus.")

[Aric2000]

Bump for later perusal... And Yes, I LOVED the Matrix!!

[spodefly]

Matrix bump.

I believe I could sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write out every line in that movie from start to finish.

Yes, I should get a life ...

[Jeff Chandler]

It is an astute analysis of psychopathological nature of the mindset of the Woodstock generation, and the parallel to The Matrix is chilling, especially in light of the fact that most people would consider the "message" of The Matrix to be an affirmation of their libertine adolescent oppositional defiance.

[B-Chan]

Velut in Somnio

Duc, duc, remos duc
Flumine secundo
Vivitur, vivitur, vivitur, vivitur
Velut in somnio.

[spodefly]

Philosophical question for fans of The Matrix: We know that The Matrix can create a virtual-reality environment of sufficient detail to fool any human being. With this in mind, how can Neo know for certain that the world into which he awakens after taking the red pill is truly the Real World and not just a computer-generated "honey trap" created by The Matrix to trap potential troublemakers?

"What is real? How do you define real? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain."

The aspect you inquire about is not the most disenchanting aspect of the movie to me. The part that I have a hard time suspending disbelief about is the premise that Zion is an underground city "Deep underground, near the earth's core where it's still warm." So all humans not plugged into the matrix live in deep caves warmed by the still warm core in an otherwise cold earth ... not likely.

Maybe the Neb really is a 'honeypot' as you put it.

Nevertheless, I will be standing in line on May 18th. I have waited years for this ...

[ffusco]

Ack! I can't read. Is it a nursury ryhme?

[lurky]

Hollywood claiming a live-action cartoon has religious significance?

did you read the article?

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

Yes, it's a nursery rhyme.

Row, row, row your boat (literally, "the oars"). :-)

[ffusco]

I thought so!

The 4 Viviturs thought meant Lively. "Merrily"

And I thought Somnio was to sleep.

[lurky]

I hate those "Is it in you" ads!

that's Gatorade

[B-Chan]

it's a familiar song to most English speakers, and one particularly appropriate to a discission of ontology: "velut in somnio" means (roughly) "life is but a dream".

[Destro]

By most Romans I meant those Romans stationed east. Even the lowly Centurian needed to speak some Greek to communicate with the local hookers. Where Latin survived was in the non-Helenistic provinces where the not so connected went. Western European frontiers and Romania were hard tours of duty that were given to the middle and lower free class of Romans-those unable to afford a Greek education. Greece, Asia, Egypt and even Palestine (The Hellenistic east) were rich tax provinces (Rome made money from taxes-so the most populous areas were the most coveted assignments) where a Roman could get rich and build a reputation.

PS: The cross had three signs - one in the Latin, one in Greek and one in Hebrew (Aramaic?). The signs 3 languages was to explain the reason for execution to as wide an audiance as possible. And the words were written out not abbreviated.

[Destro]

The M5....

[Destro]

I loved "In Search Of.."

[Beck_isright]

" There're a whole lot of religious aspirations packed into that first film."

Thanks for ruining it for me. I was just going to munch on my popcorn and enjoy the movie. Now I have to watch it and see if I can catch all the religious aspects and analyze every scene.




Oh, you're talking about the new Matrix. I thought this was about Bruce Almighty.

[Destro]

Neo became self aware. His power comes from being able to change the program with his mind. He can fly because he writes the program allowing him to fly. But the world within a world with a world concept has driven philosophers mad.

Remember the Star Trek New Generation episode where Moriority was tricked into getting off the Holo-Deack and to live within a virtual reality matrix?

[Destro]

PS: Re the trap scenario: Wasn't the chartacter from Orwell's 1984 - Goldstein or whatever that enemy to Big Brother was called - a creation of the totalitarians to flush out and destroy the opposition?

[mercy]

****Casting Keanu Reeves as a Christlike figure in "The Matrix" trilogy may seem blasphemous, but it's not new. "Star Wars" didn't push the idea of a Jedi Jesus, but many fans felt that it freely mixed myth and religion.****

Who better to comment on mixing myth and religion than the Christian Science Monitor.