Comments on: Southern Seminary Panel on Avatar http://www.dennyburk.com/southern-seminary-panel-on-pop-culture/ A commentary on theology, politics, and culture Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:07:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christian News New Zealand » Blog Archive » Driscoll: “the most demonic, satanic movie I’ve ever seen.” http://www.dennyburk.com/southern-seminary-panel-on-pop-culture/#comment-55544 Christian News New Zealand » Blog Archive » Driscoll: “the most demonic, satanic movie I’ve ever seen.” Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:16:29 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=6785#comment-55544 [...] Finally, to help you further think through the different trajectories of thought involved, watch this video from the Southern Baptist Seminary, who have a panel discussion on Avatar [...] [...] Finally, to help you further think through the different trajectories of thought involved, watch this video from the Southern Baptist Seminary, who have a panel discussion on Avatar [...]

]]> By: Driscoll: “the most demonic, satanic movie I’ve ever seen.” | iamjonnyking.com http://www.dennyburk.com/southern-seminary-panel-on-pop-culture/#comment-55543 Driscoll: “the most demonic, satanic movie I’ve ever seen.” | iamjonnyking.com Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:14:47 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=6785#comment-55543 [...] Finally, to help you further think through the different trajectories of thought involved, watch this video from the Southern Baptist Seminary, who have a panel discussion on Avatar [...] [...] Finally, to help you further think through the different trajectories of thought involved, watch this video from the Southern Baptist Seminary, who have a panel discussion on Avatar [...]

]]> By: Michael Metts http://www.dennyburk.com/southern-seminary-panel-on-pop-culture/#comment-55316 Michael Metts Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:25:13 +0000 http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=6785#comment-55316 I'm not sure which panel member made the comment about secularism's noble attempts at understanding spiritual longings, but I share his concern. He made the comparison of trying to teach a cat algebra: there is simply a failure to capture the meaning or understand. While man is tailored for creation, and community, he is more importantly made in the image of God. Man's search within for spiritual content (cf. Romanticism), while noble, can spark feelings of such disparity and hopelessness, and those were my impressions when reflecting on the spiritual content of Avatar. To borrow a frequently used expression in NT studies -- you know, the one about peering into a deep well and seeing your own face? -- we find that the spiritual expression of this movie is ultimately Cameron's own face peering back at him, despite all nobility. A cat will simply not see anything else. I'm so thankful that in Scripture man's Eden is one of such beauty that not even death tarnishes it. The incredible popularity of Avatar's lush garden Pandora, while a nice weekend retreat, would not be my paradise of preference. Give me beautiful Eden and her transcendent Creator. I’m not sure which panel member made the comment about secularism’s noble attempts at understanding spiritual longings, but I share his concern. He made the comparison of trying to teach a cat algebra: there is simply a failure to capture the meaning or understand. While man is tailored for creation, and community, he is more importantly made in the image of God. Man’s search within for spiritual content (cf. Romanticism), while noble, can spark feelings of such disparity and hopelessness, and those were my impressions when reflecting on the spiritual content of Avatar.

To borrow a frequently used expression in NT studies — you know, the one about peering into a deep well and seeing your own face? — we find that the spiritual expression of this movie is ultimately Cameron’s own face peering back at him, despite all nobility. A cat will simply not see anything else.

I’m so thankful that in Scripture man’s Eden is one of such beauty that not even death tarnishes it. The incredible popularity of Avatar’s lush garden Pandora, while a nice weekend retreat, would not be my paradise of preference. Give me beautiful Eden and her transcendent Creator.

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