20th Century Fox/AP
Revelations 7:3: “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees.”
It seems that the arguement for more eco-friendly habits recieved an extra boost from the recent block buster movie Avatar. Decribed by the Associated Press as "The story of the tall blue creatures who inhabit Pandora and contend with humans intent on grabbing the resources of their planet", the movie has made over $1 billion worldwide. Impressive! Well not so much to the Vatican. A recent review pans James Cameron's latest work as 'bland', for its failure to dig deeper in its story-line which is masked by its spectacular visual-effects. The AP interpreted a main concern with the film for the Vatican, is that it seems to promote contemporary doctrines which support a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature. In other words "nature as religion", a slavation through the love of nature. Really??? This is rather perplexing for me because, while some see the evolution of the earth and nature as divine progression, and that humans have no power in affecting eventual outcomes, can't one love nature and God. While the "Go Green" movement has gotten a bit out of hand in some instances, does Avatar necessarily promote love of nature above all else. I have not seen the film and do not plan on seeing it, but entertainment is entertainment. While there is no way to stop people from taking fiction and making it into their own truths, critiques no matter the source shouldn't stop people from expressing themself artistically. Think of it as contemporary fellowhsip!
-O. Lucius
