Vatican slams Avatar. Panthenism?

[danlo]

(AP) VATICAN CITY - The Vatican newspaper and radio station have called the film "Avatar" simplistic, and criticized it for flirting with modern doctrines that promote the worship of nature as a substitute for religion.

L'Osservatore Romano and Vatican Radio dedicated ample coverage to James Cameron's big-grossing, 3-D spectacle. But the reviews were lukewarm, calling the movie superficial in its eco-message, despite groundbreaking visual effects.

L'Osservatore said the film "gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature." Similarly, Vatican Radio said it "cleverly winks at all those pseudo-doctrines that turn ecology into the religion of the millennium."

"Nature is no longer a creation to defend, but a divinity to worship," the radio said.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said that while the movie reviews are just that — film criticism, with no theological weight — they do reflect Pope Benedict XVI's views on the dangers of turning nature into a "new divinity."

Benedict has often spoken about the need to protect the environment, earning the nickname of "green pope." But he has sometimes balanced that call with a warning against neo-paganism.

In a recent World Day of Peace message, the pontiff warned against any notions that equate human person and other living things. He said such notions "open the way to a new pantheism tinged with neo-paganism, which would see the source of man's salvation in nature alone."

Sorry y'all lost this Dao/Deist a long time ago! And I haven't even watched it yet.

[aliantha]

Hmmm...I may have to see this movie now.

[danlo]

Me too...even if my god(s) is (are) kinda gappy...

[Menolly]

Hmmm...I may have to see this movie now.

I keep sayin...
go go go go GO!
In IMAX 3-D, if at all possible.
But it's not necessary.
The story is worth it, even without the 3-D effects.

[Orlion]

Just beware, danlo, some people have left the movie depressed, wishing they could live in the world of Avatar. However, if this is the case, there is some assistance to help you cope

[Avatar]

I had a "WTF?" moment when I saw the title of this thread.

Haven't seen it yet, but sheesh...I thought they gave up on this course after the HArry Potter thing?

--A

[Fist and Faith]

Yeah, I thought the same thing. "How the hell did Avatar piss off the pope?! I didn't know they even knew each other!"

[Menolly]

In my point of view...

We all contain a spark of The All.
The All is us and everything else.
...and more than we have ever imagined or will imagine.
Panentheism

It is not nature that is worshipped, per se.
But that which brought about nature.
And all that Is.
Whether we know of or can conceive of it.

The Pope is entitled to his belief.
As are we all.
Or non-belief, if one so chooses.
Behind the mask of every religion, is the face of The All.
Whatever approach we take, what happens once we pass from this plane will remain the great mystery of this plane. Enticing to think about. However, I feel no one has the right to dismiss how another believes. It is all personal choice, and should be left at that.

But again, this is personal opinion.

[Loredoctor]

I'll pass seeing the movie; the noble savage story, combined with the 'corporations are bad' is cliche and tiring.

[Avatar]

Corporations are bad. Of course, so is government.

I haven't seen it yet, although I mean to. Knowing me though, I'll fail to get around to it.

--A

[Xar]

Corporations are bad. Of course, so is government.

I haven't seen it yet, although I mean to. Knowing me though, I'll fail to get around to it.

--A

Of course, if Avatar doesn't go watch Avatar, at least we'll know you're not the narcissistic type

[Loredoctor]

Corporations are bad. Of course, so is government. --A

How are they bad? Are we talking about absolutes or moral relativism?

[Avatar]

Well, it was a slightly hyperbolic statement. They're not all or always or necessarily bad. They just have the potential to be so, especially should they be unconstrained by any motive but profit. And it's subjectively of course. I'm sure that some shareholders for example might consider profit at all costs to be good. To them it would be, as they'd benefit. And of course they have equal potential to do good as well. I just don't have that much faith in human nature.

--A

[Cameraman Jenn]

I too thought, "How did Av piss off the pope?" Then followed it with "Did he tear up his picture in a guest spot on Saturday Night Live?"

[Vader]

I'll pass seeing the movie; the noble savage story, combined with the 'corporations are bad' is cliche and tiring.

[High Lord Tolkien]

[aliantha]

As a certain author has said, there are no new stories.