I believe you are right about the purpose of distraction - to draw us away from God.
But more specifically, to detach us from our own innate divinity.
The bible tells us many times that God & Jesus are within us. We are gods.
The Matrix is there to convince us otherwise -to convince us that we are nothing, tiny organisms in an infinite universe; prey to huge events outside our control.
Interesting. I certainly agree with your last point. Evil definitely tries to convince us that we are meaningless. That we are inconsequential groupings of atoms floating pointlessly in the infinity of space. It also seeks to convince us of the power of evil which is by itself an argument against the existence of God (the "Problem of Evil").
Understanding that the bigger threat to my relationship with God is not overt sin, but instead the sins of omission and forgetting, has been a revelation to me.
I heard a pastor describe most of the things we do (in the Matrix) as “spiritual Twinkies” — food that is not a sin to eat, won’t kill you outright, but just totally devoid of nutrition. A person who lives on spiritual Twinkies looks back and discovers that they have missed so much that was good and healthy and why they are currently fat and listless.
Recognizing that being distracted is a bigger threat than some magnificent “sin” has probably helped me more than anything in my walk with God.
Yes, absolutely. Evil conquers you by a thousand cuts rather than some great assault. But to find God requires no great perfection - it just requires you to look. Even the weak stare finds its mark.
Well said. The works of Philip K Dick have a similar thread to the matrix. I’m slowly working my way through some of them (he’s difficult to read at the best of times). Gnostic thought - we live in an iron prison made by an angry god which he says is Rome, and he explores ways to escape it (which he’s not very good at doing). David Icke too, in his book The Dream, which leaves a sense of futility in your mouth. Bring God in and everything changes.
Aren't you afraid of becoming cynical towards things you perceive as being a part of the Matrix? What I keep hating about the film is how easily the lives of ordinary people are dismissed. Looking at big things distracts us from the close things. I got that lesson from Screwtape's Letters.
... it was so lovely to end on a note that made me smile deeply - thank you
I feel the same - it was very lovely.
Nice read, echoes of Paul Kingsnorth sentiments on the machine.
Yeah, Paul calls it the Machine. John Waters calls it the Combine. Many recognise it.
I believe you are right about the purpose of distraction - to draw us away from God.
But more specifically, to detach us from our own innate divinity.
The bible tells us many times that God & Jesus are within us. We are gods.
The Matrix is there to convince us otherwise -to convince us that we are nothing, tiny organisms in an infinite universe; prey to huge events outside our control.
Interesting. I certainly agree with your last point. Evil definitely tries to convince us that we are meaningless. That we are inconsequential groupings of atoms floating pointlessly in the infinity of space. It also seeks to convince us of the power of evil which is by itself an argument against the existence of God (the "Problem of Evil").
This video gives a good summary of our innate divinity.
https://youtu.be/-9M0snom4AA?si=3ga1H3jmwcampswk
Superb analysis and I’m so delighted about that lovely girl!
Understanding that the bigger threat to my relationship with God is not overt sin, but instead the sins of omission and forgetting, has been a revelation to me.
I heard a pastor describe most of the things we do (in the Matrix) as “spiritual Twinkies” — food that is not a sin to eat, won’t kill you outright, but just totally devoid of nutrition. A person who lives on spiritual Twinkies looks back and discovers that they have missed so much that was good and healthy and why they are currently fat and listless.
Recognizing that being distracted is a bigger threat than some magnificent “sin” has probably helped me more than anything in my walk with God.
Yes, absolutely. Evil conquers you by a thousand cuts rather than some great assault. But to find God requires no great perfection - it just requires you to look. Even the weak stare finds its mark.
Well said. The works of Philip K Dick have a similar thread to the matrix. I’m slowly working my way through some of them (he’s difficult to read at the best of times). Gnostic thought - we live in an iron prison made by an angry god which he says is Rome, and he explores ways to escape it (which he’s not very good at doing). David Icke too, in his book The Dream, which leaves a sense of futility in your mouth. Bring God in and everything changes.
Interesting. Icke believes we live in a literal simulation?
Yes. He’s a big believer in simulation theory alright.
Does his theory extend to why the Stimulation simulates him?
Aren't you afraid of becoming cynical towards things you perceive as being a part of the Matrix? What I keep hating about the film is how easily the lives of ordinary people are dismissed. Looking at big things distracts us from the close things. I got that lesson from Screwtape's Letters.