The Gospel According to Neo

Xel writes "Josh Burek, writer for The Christian Science Monitor and A.K.A. the guy who sits 4 cubicles from me, has written an excellent essay on religion in The Matrix: The Gospel According to Neo. Sure, this topic has been covered ad nauseum, but it's refreshing to see such a thoughful examination aimed not at geeks alone but a broader, more traditional, and more traditionally religious audience. It also has a nice little glossary at the end where even pasty-faced and vinyl-clad Matrix worshippers may find some easter eggs they didnt know."

Comments

Christian Science Monitor Not Really Religious

[stardazed0]

Despite the name of the publication, it should be understood that the Christian Science Monitor is not an intensely religious newspaper. In fact, it is one of the most objective and well-written news publications in national circulation. The CSM is often cited by debaters, etc. as a reputable and impartial source of journalism (much more integrity and journalistic value than the likes of CNN, for example).

They forgot to mention Descartes

[Samari711]

the bulk of his book meditations on first philosophy deals with the idea that we can never truely know if reality exists as we percieve it. one of the possible realities he throws out is that we are constantly being decieved by some all powerful evil being who's goal is to make us believe everything that is not true. what descartes concludes is that even if everything he believes is false, he can still convince himself that he exists, because of the fact that he can convince himself (i think therefore i am). Descartes was one of the first christian philosophers to actually try to find other explanations for the way things worked other than "God willed it that way" so i'm surprised he didn't get brought up. maybe it has something to do with his whole "machines will never be able to think" theory ;)

Re:Meh, sometimes you look a little TOO deep

[dvorak_keys]

Wasn't it in the voiceover that one of the Wachowski brothers said they changed the color and logo because they wanted to set the tone, to suggest how pervasive the matrix one? Since everything in the Matrix was green they extended it to the credits. I don't recall them saying anything about wanting to "corrupt the Gospel of John". This article reminds of a bad lit class where they read what they want into it... it's a movie, not a neo-christian vinyl clad pamphlet.

Re:Religion in the matrix? Are you serious?

[spongman]

Oracle lady

I'll bite. The Oracle at Delphi is a character from ancient Greek history. As the story goes, a goat herder (Koretas) wandered up the slopes of mount Parnassus and came across a crack in the mountainside where he became intoxicated and started spouting prophetical gibberish ("there was a man, born inside..."). Eventually it was decided that a woman (the Pythia) should be appointed to reside in a specially-built temple (of Apollo) at the site. Orginally the post was supposed to be held by young virgins, but eventually it was decided that the Oracles should be women no younger than 50. In the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Oracle tended a fire (oven?) and a crack in the floor from which arose sweet smelling vapours ("smell good, don't they?") which the Pythia would inhale, seated on a three-legged stool, and, entranced by the noxious fumes, speak the words of the Gods. One of the famous enscriptions on the walls of the temple was "Know Thyself", supposedly a quote from the God Apollo himself.

Michelangelo painted the Oracle of Delphi on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. Compare Michelangelo's painting to the costume worn by Gloria Foster in the movie.