[canalabamian]

Frightening that a pastor is turning to Hollyweird for "spiritual" relevance(sp). Folks are searching for answers, but humanism isn't it. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father, but through Him. I'm probably just intolerant, though.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If they're so powerful, why do they need to use human bodies? It's just science fiction. But I guess it's human nature to think about these things.

[Samurai_Jack]

I havent seen the matrix reloaded yet. But I detected the christ figures in the first matrix. Paul made use of the 'Unknown God' to relate to the greeks. Jesus reached out to the people with parables. The Father actually used the 'adventures' of the Israeli people to parallel his love for his children. C.S. Lewis used some interesting parallels. So it wouldnt surprise me to find analogies being represented in the story lines. It might be interesting to find out the background of some of the writers.

Watch out though, it's easy to inject a tiny bit of poison into the story. This is very common so it's important that every theme be filtered through the bible. The challenge is to locate the poison so you can readily identify it for those whos spiritual curiosity has inadvertently been awakened by this movie.

If you ask me... This is the sowers seed falling on the rocky ground.

[weegee]

Sounds like he's refering to the first film (which was about drugs, "take this pill and open your eyes to a new way of seeing"). Bend a spoon with your mind. Alter your perception, control your reality.

[Buggman]

With all respect, I think you're both missing the point. Read again what Rev. Straw says: "How many people read philosophy or theology? How many people hang out with professors who talk about deconstruction? Millions of people around the world watch these films."

He's right.

If Christianity persists in speaking to people only in its own internal language, we won't be doing the Gospel any justice. The average young person in America knows jack about the Bible above whatever stories he remembers from when he was five--and doesn't care. He or she may be interested in the ultimate questions, but has a massive(and unfortunately well-earned) skepticism towards anything put in the context of coming from Organized Religion. Want to watch a young man wave you away and run in the opposite direction? Whip out that Four Spiritual Laws tract.

On the other hand, are you legitimately interested in speaking to a person of GenX or the Millennial Generation about Christ and actually connecting? If so, you need a bridge, a common interest and frame of reference. Enter The Matrix. You literally cannot have a discussion about that movie without the opportunity to express your faith in Christ in a way that is not threatening to the other person coming up.

The pastor isn't excited about the movie because he thinks the Bible is passe. He's excited because he sees an opportunity to bridge the gap between him and his audience. He's excited because he now has several dozen new illustrations to use in his sermons. And ultimately, he's excited because even though The Matrix doesn't give all the right answers, it's getting people to at least ask the right questions.

[WKB]

I'm probably just intolerant, though.

Nothing wrong with a little intoleRANT when you have THE TRUTH on your side!!