Articles for Matrix fans

Tiassa · Jul 16, 2003

Killing the Buddha features in its present edition two articles concerning The Matrix:

(1) "Gnosis Reloaded", by Robin L. Zebrowski
(2) "One Baaad Messiah", by E.J. Park

Just a couple quick teasers:

The analogy of Neo as the new Messiah has become even stronger in Reloaded than it was in the original film. We initially met Neo as the One, whom a prophet named Oracle said would one day return. (There was a savior before, and it was predicted that he would come again, mirroring Biblical prophecy). Neo is able to perform miraculous acts, and, as we saw in the first film, he died and rose from the dead (at the very end even ascending into the heavens bodily). The sequel draws even stronger imagery of Neo as the Messiah, in one scene showing him arriving in Zion to find many of its inhabitants greeting him as devotees, asking for blessings and later leaving offerings outside his door. Throughout the film, he performs miracles that cannot be explained.

The religious imagery permeates even the most action-packed fighting sequences, as in one that takes place in a great hall where we witness Neo fighting off enemies as statues of ancient gods and demons crumble around him. It’s suggestive of the stories of the saints who would exorcise demons from the sick; as they did so, the nearby statues would break, evidence that the spirits had been dispelled.

We meet characters named Niobe (a name familiar as a boastful woman of Greek mythology), Persephone (who has been stolen into the Underworld to be a bride and wishes to escape), Merovingian (a dynasty of Kings in France, believed to contain members of the Grail bloodline -- direct descendants of Jesus Christ, protected by several secret societies), Cain (original son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy). We see a ship called the Logos, which to the Gnostics is the light that brings knowledge (and which manifests in the Messiah), and we even hear a woman mention her son Jacob, who is stationed on a ship called Gnosis. (1)

If Neo’s reluctance and kick-ass power are the perfect messianic combination, then Jesus’ insistence on being the One combined with his refusal to kick ass is nothing but scandalous. What kind of messiah claims to be the One and then insists on suffering and dying? When Neo dies, it is in the context of fighting and is the result of not fully understanding his power. That’s acceptable. Thanks for trying Neo. You’re dead, but you’ve learned your lesson. Now resurrect yourself, and kick some more ass! But Jesus doesn’t even try. He understands his power but refuses to use it.

Saint Peter would have preferred Neo over Christ. Peter rebukes Jesus for telling people that he is going to suffer and die. Several days later soldiers surround Jesus. Peter knows that Christ could (and should) kick ass, but the self-proclaimed messiah just stands there. Peter slices an ear off one of the soldiers but is reprimanded by Jesus. Neo would have kung-fooed the snot out of everyone, but Christ does nothing. And so Peter denies ever knowing such a disappointing messiah. (2)
Click to expand...

Well, since people talk about the awesome philosophies of The Matrix, I thought I might as well offer these discussions of those very philosophies.

Enjoy.

:m:,
Tiassa
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Articles for Matrix fans

Who's cooler?

Neo

Jesus Christ

John Lennon

Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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Articles for Matrix fans

Who's cooler?

Neo

Jesus Christ

John Lennon

Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

Share This Page

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