»Matrix a spiritual theme rather than a religious theme«

I appreciate matrix movie a lot because of its spiritual content rather than its religious content. this feature make matrix movies unique and finds international and interfaith and intercultural.

Often these two terms are misleading. I would love to discuss these two terms.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL

There is a difference between these two terms. One can be spiritual and need not be religious and vice versa. To be religious means more of a fanatic version. To be spiritual means to be very enquiring attitude. Being spiritual means to enquire about our own spirit or nature. This enquiring attitude is not because of any fear in life, but because of curiosity. Being spiritual is a more matured or advanced level of evolutionary thinking. The highest evolved people are spiritual.

Religious people are in the path of evolution (please excuse me, If I hurt anyone). I do not mean to demean religious people. Being spiritual or religious are like students at different levels of understanding. Religious people later mature to become Spiritual.

Atheist are at the level of religious people, the only difference is that they are at the other direction. Both the religious and atheist are fanatic about a certain belief. The religious strongly believe in a God and Atheist strongly believe there is no God. It is interesting to note that, the theist BELIEVE in a GOD that does not exist and also atheist DO NOT BELIEVE in a God that does not exist. Neither the atheist nor the theist do not know the reality of the creation and existence of God or life. It is spiritual people who with a balance look at things and enquire. The spiritual people are with an open mind and see the reality as it is. Their enquiring nature without any strong Concept in their mind helps them to see the reality.

To give an example, a spiritual person is like Judge is a person does not support the accused or the accused. The judge simply looks at the two sides without any bias and that is why his decision is "Justice". The same way the spiritual enquires without the belief or disbelief of God. Like a Judge spiritual view is balanced and finds the truth like a judge enquiring the “case”. Theist and atheist have strong concepts and so miss the truth like the attorneys who defend for their client.

SO FREINDS EVOLVE TO BE A SPIRITUAL AND KNOW THE TRUTH.

Here is a beautiful book that explains one to think of the reality of this universe. The author is a research scientist and makes a convincing journey to discover the truth, very interestingly using matrix movies as a platform.Those who really want to understand the reality of this universe and know the truth of our own life, about evolution and the force that drives the evolution should read this book "Journey To The Source: Decoding Matrix Trilogy

CHECK THIS LINK TO READ MORE

matrixjourney.com...

funmatrix2004 wrote -

Quote:

I appreciate matrix movie a lot because of its spiritual content rather than its religious content

Spiritually The Matrix was the best.

Personally, Religion is the worst thing that was ever invented by man

Spirituality tells us that you find 'God' within yourself.."Know Thyself".

Religion dictates to us who we should be worshipping...A guy on a throne in the sky....Come on...I really do prefer the "Know Thyself" take on things

By the way funmatrix2004, welcome to MeX...

Yes there is definitely a difference between Spirituality and Religion and the Matrix is more about Spirituality.

Spirituality and Religion may be two different things but that does not mean they aren't linked. To say that is like saying that swimming pools and water are different. Sure the water can exist in other places than a swimming pool, but the swimming pool isn't much of one without the water. Most religions consider themselves to have a spiritual path.

Why are you so harsh against religion Another Smith? Have you looked into every denomination of Christianity? Have you considered all the eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism? All religions are very different and all have their own strengths.

As for whether the matrix is about religion, while I will accept that it is MOSTLY about spirituality, you cannot ignore the religious references - the crucifix when Neo dies, the lotus when Neo is carried off, Rama Khandra - these are all religious symbols which mean nothing outside the context of the religion.

Fatpie42 wrote:

All religions are very different and all have their own strengths.

hah. he. hoo. all religions are very different huh? look again.

bah! i'm going to go stare at the sun for a while...

ok, finished staring at the sun, you get some very bright and vivid colors, it's nice. (of course i looked at the sun with my eyes closed, it's the only way)

'god is very bright, if you were to look at him you would go blind, so noone can look at him' (some christian belief)

so is the sun.

on another note, anyone know why your head starts feeling kinda weird when you are in the sun? it's the forhead in the region of the third eye, and when you turn your head (away from the sun), the feeling goes away, something to do with the pineal perhaps?

Luke 17:21 The Kingdom of God is within you.
-Here Jesus states that the Kingdom of God is a matter of consciousness. It is a matter of inner light

Matthew 6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God.
-Here Jesus states that what comes first is not prayer, not hymns, not church, not religion, but seeking within yourself, meditation.

Luke 11:52 Woe unto you lawyers. You take away the key of knowledge, you enter not in yourselves and them that are entering in you hindered.
-Jesus states that those who make religious law fail because they do not enter within themselves and they hinder others who are trying to find the key by entering within. How true that is of contemporary religion.

Matthew 6:22 If your eye be single your body will fill with light.
-Here Jesus speaks of stimulating the single eye or Pineal Gland of the brain.

Matthew 6:33 Take no thought for your life.
-From Matthew 6:25 through 6:33 Jesus states over and over the need to take no thought. Separate from the thoughts of the mind.

hiddenmeanings.com...

Fatpie wrote -

Quote:

Why are you so harsh against religion Another Smith? Have you looked into every denomination of Christianity? Have you considered all the eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism? All religions are very different and all have their own strengths.

I have met many people who have been severely damaged by religion. A friend of mine only last year commited suicide because of his harsh religious upbringing. He wasn't able to get the preaching and fear of God and the Devil out of his system, it stuck with him all his life.
He tried all of his life to look elsewhere and to get help, but he was damaged beyond all hope.

I was brought-up a strict Roman Catholic, I too had the fear of God and the Devil drummed into me...Thanks to the spark of freewill that I still possessed I looked elsewhere and found my own answers.
I do believe in a higher intelligence...but it is something that connot be described by man.
I asked 'God' for help very recently, I had not done that for a long time. To my surprise things began to change and you know the rest.
'God' is your inner strength, and it is there when you REALLY need it. I speak from experience Fatpie.

Quote:

As for whether the matrix is about religion, while I will accept that it is MOSTLY about spirituality, you cannot ignore the religious references - the crucifix when Neo dies, the lotus when Neo is carried off, Rama Khandra - these are all religious symbols which mean nothing outside the context of the religion.

I absolutely agree, but religion stole these symbols from ancient belief systems and incorporated them into their cults.
Paganism, and a belief of everything being spiritual and having a 'soul' was around a longtime before any religion got it's hands on it and twisted it to it's own interpretation.
I believe in multiple intelligences all incorporated into the One.
'God' is neither male nor female...'God' is not a separate entity. 'God' is everything and everywhere, it is you and me.
I don't go to church, I haven't been to one of those places for a long, long time. I don't feel as if I need to go to a building to say what's on my mind.
If I want to speak to the higher intelligence, I speak to it inside my head. I could be in a field, walking down the street or sat at a computer. I now realise that when I speak it hears me.

Another thing about religion I really despise is the fact that you do not need a priest, a rabbi, a vicar or any other so-called authority to speak with 'God'. You do not need a mediator or a go-between.
When you speak 'God' hears...and that goes for everyone. You really have to want to believe to hear it though...It's not just on a whim

Many religions do not require a mediator. In fact some religions do not even believe in any God (not any that you should worship at least. Buddhists believe in gods but do not consider them to have religious authority - just worldly power.)

To say that 'religion' screws people up is unfair. Some strict religions can screw certain people up. However, for many people religion is a helpful motivating force in their lives allowing them to maximise their inner strength. You shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.


What does religion actually involve?

A lot of people seem to have this bizarre idea that religion is a belief in otherworldly beings. Not only does religion not require a belief in angels and demons, but it need not even involve a belief in a God. As I have already said, Buddhists do not believe in God, however one theologian, Don Culpitt, does not feel the need for belief in a literal God in order to be Christian.

Another thing that a lot of people consider important religion is the afterlife. Eastern religions have solved this with reincarnation. What eastern religions are aiming for is preventing future rebirth. They want the ultimate rebirth from which they will not wish for any further changes.

What people don't seem to notice is that even in the Bible it says not to worry about the afterlife. Jesus says look at the birds and how God provides for them, will he not also provide for you (in the afterlife)? In Ecclesiastes chapter 9 there is an even more helpful piece of advice. In verse 10 it says 'whatever your hand finds to do, do it gladly, for in the grave where you are going there is no work, knowledge or wisdom.'

The main thing everybody thinks religion is about is a set of rules which must be obeyed or so help you. This is the part that screws people up badly. There is nothing but constant regret at failing to live up to the standards of your God or fear of an unpleasant rebirth. However, Christianity is the last religion that should feel like this since Jesus came to reject the views of the Pharisees who were so fixed in rule following that they were very unhelpful as spiritual leaders.

What is left then? Only the production of inner strength, the search for spiritual growth and the motivation needed to acheive a productive moral life. This is what connects the religions together. If this is what the essential part of religion is then it is surely not something to be dismissed lightly.


Esc, all religions have their own little interesting quirks and their own cultures. They are all different. Certainly there are similarities but only in that they are all religions. Oh, and I hate yoga so I guess if that's what I need in order to go to heaven then I'm stuffed.

Fatpie wrote -

Quote:

What is left then? Only the production of inner strength, the search for spiritual growth and the motivation needed to acheive a productive moral life. This is what connects the religions together. If this is what the essential part of religion is then it is surely not something to be dismissed lightly.

I agree with you Fatpie, I really do. I have found an inner strength that I never realised I had, I know of many people who have discovered they too have the strength. Those famous words that made a difference -
"KNOW THYSELF" very relevant, very true.
Once you know yourself you begin to understand exactly what 'God' is. You realise that you are perfectly able to accomplish the things in life that you had no idea you could do. Belief in yourself is the beginning of a belief in a higher intelligence and a first step on a path to a fuller, happier life.

There's a phenomena which many have observed: the mystic branches of the various religions (sufism, kabbalism, christian mysticism, buddism) are very similar, almost to the point that they practically deliver the same holistic message. I once read a poem of a persian sufi (muslim mystics) about Jesus. I was baffled: I thought to myself: "I've never heard any preacher in any church so clearly describe the walk of love manifested in Christ, never ever!"

If you had let the more mature mystics in every religion be the representatives of their religions, I believe the wars of religion will totally disappear!


/z

zynxamek wrote:

I once read a poem of a persian sufi (muslim mystics) about Jesus. I was baffled: I thought to myself: "I've never heard any preacher in any church so clearly describe the walk of love manifested in Christ, never ever!"

Um... you do realise that muslims give religious importance to Christ too don't you? If you found a Buddhist with a similar message then that would be more surprising wouldn't it. Maybe it is good to notice then, that the Dalai Lama and the Pope are able to gain some common ground.

Extremists are always exclusivists. Any religion which does not adhere to their strict rules is a crime against their God. Both the pope and the dalai lama are inclusivists - they accept other religions as being incomplete truths.

Ya the mystic and Mystery religions are very cool. annaerullo used to speak about them all the time. Maybe you can talk with him about it, zynxamek.

I dont have anything harsh on any religiion. I was once religious and from there I evolved to be spirtitual. Every spiritual person does so (most). As I have written else where, religion is a kinder garden school level with more of do and donts and spirituality is a university. Sad thing is that many people are so cozy with the kindergarden (attahced to the school, teachers and friends) they do not want to leave the kindergarden to go to hight school and university. They simply do not want to graduate. They are stuck up and do not know the truth. They get into a concept that God is a male or female and develop fanatic attitude.

One has to unplug from the concepts of religion to know the Truth. The blue pill would make them remain in thbeir kidnergarden class and allow to beleive what they want to beleive. Red pill is an test to open up to overcome the beleif systems and see the reality.

Wasjpwski brothers are intelligent in creating a movie with religious names openly but behind those names have hidden deep spiritual messages. That make Matrix unique. Each religious person claims Matrix is about their religious beleif or symbol. Infact the truth is that the movie is beyond relgious stuff but deep spiritual message which may be seen in the spiritual theme of all religions.

Very good, but the questions forum was not the place to post this!

*moves topic*