Vatican underwhelmed by 'Avatar'
Muslims are often criticised for being dogmatic and closed minded when they criticise concepts that violate the Islamic code of conduct. Here is a commentary by the Vatican (the very respected headquarter of the Catholic faith) on the new Hollywood movie Avatar, criticising it as having placed worship of nature over religion.(Not my words but I agree with the author)
So. What is your take?
Vatican underwhelmed by 'Avatar'
Jan. 12, 2010, 9:28 AM EST
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- 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 humans 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."
The Vatican newspaper occasionally likes to comment in its cultural pages on movies or pop culture icons, as it did recently about "The Simpsons" or U2. In one famous instance, several Vatican officials spoke out against "The Da Vinci Code
You go to church to worship god instead you recall the satuates and painting there in your mind sensing you will be inspired to worship ture god who is imageless, bodyless, it is nothing but stupidity I guess illiterate Catholics are better than educated lot.
OMG!!!! This is just a movie!!!!!!!!!! its not a "true to life" so why do they need to internalized it???? just enjoy the special effects...
"Knowledge is best used when shared."
mother's or father's picture? To remember is okay, but kneeling down means worshiping and that's what makes the true God jealous and angry! Can you imagine what's dangling in your neck if electric chair is already use at the time of Jesus?
"I'm back, simple as that"
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maginoong_kalog said ..." take note that they (the Vatican) also violates and consider as pagan as Bible is concerned since they are worshiping many gods and goddesses, saints and the likes with their own image."
Aiseh man! Reminds me of some people in my past that were a little bit over the top. It ain't the statues that they're worshiping per se. They are mere devices / tools / focus points. That's all.
"Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Just as it helps to remember one’s mother by looking at her photograph, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at pictures of them. Catholics also use statues as teaching tools. In the early Church they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate. ... Catholics also use statues to commemorate certain people and events..."
Googled - http://..... Do_Catholics_Worship_Statues.asp
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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder.
Well said, phoenix2009.
But "...the only silly and pathetic part of the movie is that it takes an american to save you from americans :S so silly and stupid."
Not silly - message is - it takes someone from within the organization to make the change because the egocentric leaders with the superiority complex would not bother to listen to any outsiders.
Btw - not referring to Americans generally but any group - with the egocentric and superiority complex issues. They could do with a little humility.
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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder.
Vatican.
now , who cares.
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A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose! Dr. Choc
the Vatican as the center of the Catholic faith is just expressing its view and giving emphasize on something they teach (or as being carried out by their leaders). It's totally their right. We may or may not agree, but they are reaching out to their members not to others! What is important is being respectful in criticism!
"I'm back, simple as that"
i believe the Vatican is overacting regarding this matter. take note that they (the Vatican) also violates and consider as pagan as Bible is concerned since they are worshiping many gods and goddesses, saints and the likes with their own image.
so Vatican should not make comment such as this...
Phoenix, not completely irrelevant. Agressive muslims response that you are comparing is often triggered by the attack of their basic belief by ridicule, mockery etc. Avatar doesn't go to such extent to call for such a rage from vatican. Anyway, not totally defending muslims.
Let them do. Lets keep on barking like a loser always do. This won't move a single hair on their body.
arien ... i don't care
look to history, only americans have ever influenced America,,,never has or will an outsider ever done so....so its a truth embedded in the story in fact.
i know it's good for me
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I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise
I enjoy the comic aspect of it.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
Good for you dolly.. hardly anyone do.
arien , i care :)
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I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise
Vatican? who cares??
They are entitled to criticize or comment about anything as we are...
Let them. Avatar, is a movie and that's that.
...listen to the sound of silence....
now for the movie, i saw different perspective that is related to our reality, americans invading a peaceful land, driven by greedy capitalists seeking natural resources, and when having resistance from the locals, they simply call them terrorists and legalize the extermination of a whole nation defending their own home.
the only silly and pathetic part of the movie is that it takes an american to save you from americans :S so silly and stupid.
Yalla!
blabla: Vatican might have criticised the movie, but the point to be noted is that they did not raise a fatwa against the movie or request a ban against it. Neither did they exhort people towards violent demonstrations on streets. They just expressed their opinion, to which, IMHO, they do have a right.
blabla, your comparison of muslims and vatican is somehow irrelevant to me, muslims reactions to movies that might harm their beleifs is way offensive, if the vatican is stating something about a movie, that's because they are supposed to be the world catholic reference, to be compared to one single muslims reference, it's not available, muslims in every country speak of themselves, you can find muslims in pakistan condemning something that muslims in USA are supporting.
Yalla!
Vatican, respected? LOL, by who... An example of religious totalitarism at its worst. Don't be led by old men and what they tell you is right and wrong, be comfortable with your faith between you and God.
Why the Vatican is wasting its time commentating on some fantasy film is beyond me. The vatican is one of the richest organisations in the world, if they are that bothered why don't they make their own films? Well apart from the fact that no one would go to watch them...
Reminds me of:
"A wee child toddling in a wonder world, I prefer to their dogma my excursions into the natural gardens where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of mighty waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers. If this is Paganism, then at present, at least, I am a Pagan."
Zitkala-Sa
btw, recently read quite a few articles which called Avatar 'racist'; that it was replaying the white man's guilt on destroying certain cultures n all that. Someone added, "Once in a while we would like to save ourselves without needing a white male to do it!" :-p
Personally, I thought the moview was made quite well, with really nice visuals. Donno whether anything more should be seen into it.
and to believe in a 2000 year old dude preaching love, amended and re-written by 2000 years years of foolishness is beyond logical belief.
A current day grade 12 student can perform any of the "miracles" that guy did,,,and come out ahead,,,
Meanwhile, worshipping the earth and nature, which gives us food, air, and life itself, and which we are Borging at an unbelieveable speed, is a pretty healthy thing and attitude, I think anyway. There is nothing wrong with being and thinking in rational and healthy manner.
mmyke all forms of worship carry a devotion often with a wrong notion. The actual difference is worshiping the seen than beliefs, I suppose..
"Muslims are often criticised for being dogmatic and closed minded when they criticise concepts that violate the Islamic code of conduct."
The same applies to the Vatican - No one with sense follow or listen to either!
is completely irrelevant for most catholics in North America,,,,its an old establishment run by old men who are completely out of touch. That being said, the Catholic Church is a good social institution that does a lot of good things....
However, I believe that it is much better to worship nature than the life and doings of a poor (and probably ficticious) man living on the dole of his day.
The church should stay out of the limelight until the day it stops having abusive sex with countless young boys.
It's been quite awhile since the Vatican could be considered "respected", what with the many many mistakes they've made concerning pedophile priests, AIDS in Africa, etc etc, the Vatican & the current Pope in particular is viewed more as an antiquated joke then a respected authority by most Catholics.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce