Avatar

SYNOPSIS: AVATAR takes us to a spectacular world beyond imagination where a reluctant hero embarks on an epic adventure, ultimately fighting to save the alien world he has learned to call home.

GENRES: Action/Adventure and Science Fiction/Fantasy

TIME: 2 hr. 40 minutes

RATED: PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.

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OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS MOVIE

(Recommended Age Group: 13+ years)

Obviously Avatar is not a movie for kids. However, if you have teens and you’re not offended by seeing movies made by non-Christians with a non-Christian worldview—which describes almost every movie that comes out of Hollywood—then you’ve probably already seen it.

We’ve spent quite a bit of time in preparation for writing this article, reading reviews and comments from viewers about this movie all over the web. Frankly, the thing we came away amazed about is how so many Christians seem to be offended with Avatar’s non-Christian content.

In the comments we read, it has been criticized for being anti-God, anti-America, politically biased and supportive of non Christian religions. The question we were left asking is, “You paid money to see a movie made by non Christians in Hollywood. Why were you expecting the movie to reflect a Christian worldview?”

We live in a fallen world, but we’re citizens of God’s Kingdom. We’re called to grow in our Faith and to help bring others into the Kingdom so they can do the same. We are not citizens of this world whose task is to make everyone else—non-Christians—behave themselves so that we can have a nice place to bring up our children. Yes, we should care what goes on around us, however, it’s our focus or emphasis that we’re talking about. We can’t make others behave differently than they believe they should, just so they don’t upset us or contradict our worldview.

There’s really only two honest ways for Christian parents to deal with Hollywood’s movies. Either do your homework and only go see movies that are made by Christians and have a Christian worldview. Or go see some reasonable and rating-appropriate movies fully expecting typical Hollywood content—because that’s what you are going to get—and then discuss the movies with your kids.

We at ChristianParentingDaily believe that movies can provide an awesome opportunity to talk with our kids about the difference between the way the world sees things and what the Bible teaches. We of course don’t believe that Christian parents should intentionally serve up a plate full of rotting food just so that they can have a discussion with their kids about how awful it made them feel. Watching ‘R’ rated movies and/or movies that you know contain a load of garbage, and fooling yourself that you’re seeing it so you can talk about it as a family is hypercritical.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

However, watching reasonable movies and using them to help your kids learn to chew on the meat—or fat—of the entertainment and spit out the bones of misconception, is a reasonable response to our culture.

Our purpose here isn’t to review the movie—most of you have seen it and have read the reviews—but to provide some talking points that you can use to generate conversation with your teenagers who have seen it. Print this out and drop it on the dinner table at meal time and let the discussion fly.

Lewd Language

The movie contains a fair amount of off-color language and a few occasions where God’s and Jesus’ names are used in swearing. This kind of language is rife in our culture and it would be difficult to imagine how we could prevent ourselves or our kids from hearing it at all. Fortunately, hearing offensive language isn’t forbidden in the Bible; it’s using it that we’re told not to do.

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)

Unfortunately, unless we’re careful about our constant exposure to, and our attitudes towards swearing, we can find ourselves slipping into the habit of using language that’s unacceptable for Christians to use. Discuss with your kids why swearing is inappropriate for Christians—because “we’re not supposed to” only goes so far. Here are some questions to get the conversation started:

• Would you like your friends and family to use your name as a swear word and have your name—and person—become synonymous with frustration, stupidity and bad things happening? How do you think the Lord feels when we use his name merely as a throw away expression (OMG) or a swear word?
• Can we use God’s name carelessly in front of non-Christians and then expect them to believe us when we tell them about how good he is and how much he loves us? Do we diss the people we respect, or is that inconsistent?
• Read Ephesians 4:29 above: We are called to love others. When we swear at someone or about something they did, are we demonstrating that love? Love is patient, love is kind…
• Read Ephesians 5:4 above: The Bible says that we are to count it all joy when stuff goes wrong (James 1:2) because we know that God will work things out for us and that we’ll get stronger trusting him through it. When we swear when something bad happens, are we demonstrating our joy and our trust? Shouldn’t our immediate response show our thankfulness to God who’s willing to help us through trouble?
• God has called us to be holy; are we demonstrating our desire to be holy when we use language that’s crude and represents or depicts sinful acts?
• It’s not the words themselves that are wrong, it’s what they say about our attitudes, our Faith and our purity. If that’s true, is using substitute words (darn, frig, flipping, ship, omg etc.) any different?

Military Bashing

We read many viewer comments complaining that the movie had an anti-military message. The viewers taking the other side are quick to point out that the movie specifically states that the soldiers are EX marines who are now working for the corporation that is funding this expedition. The original group fires back that the uniforms, symbols and language all seem to identify these men as US soldiers, not mercenaries.

The Bible says that God is the one who set up the system of governments and the authorities to keep the peace and punish those who do wrong. (Read Romans 13:1 – 5) After reading this portion of scripture, start the conversation with these questions:

• Just as police help keep law and order within a country for a government, their army protects them from threats outside their borders. So don’t these verses show us that God uses armies as well as the police to keep those who do wrong in check?
• Even though God has ordained governments and their police departments and armies, isn’t it possible for politicians, police officers, judges and soldiers to also do wrong? Isn’t that why we have government authorities that check on government authorities? Also, in a democracy, aren’t the citizens similarly empowered to speak their mind or use their vote when they believe the government is abusing their power?
• Do you think this movie is anti-military or anti the misuse of military? Anti-American or anti-greed?

Racial Wranglings

Some have called the movie racist. The Bible is clear that we are to treat every human being, regardless of race, sex, status, financial position, etc. as equal and with respect whether they are believers or not.

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. (James 2:1)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

So we know what we believe, here are some questions about the movie:

• Do you think the movie’s message is racist or anti racist?
• Do you think the movie’s depiction of the Na’vi people is somehow a racist and negative depiction of Native Americans, African Americans or any other people group? Or do you think the movie is merely saying that, “Just because people are different from you, doesn’t mean they have less rights and just because you have more power than they do, that doesn’t mean you can take advantage of them”?

Religious Misconceptions

Many have complained about the worship and religion of the Na’vi, complaining that the movie is promoting earth worship or New Age Spiritualism. There are even scenes of worship rituals for, and prayer to, Na’vi’s unseen female deity.

In fantasy fiction, other worlds inhabited by otherworldly creatures with different customs, powers, and beliefs are created. Lord of The Rings, Narnia and even simple stories like Jack and The Beanstalk are fantasy fiction. The Lord of The Rings and the Narnia books were written by Christians, but we read very little in these books about prayer and Faith in God as the Bible presents it. There are even things done by the good people of these books that Christians should not do. Why?

It would be very awkward to impose Biblical accuracy on an imaginary world that God did not create as well as on imaginary people that he did not send his Son Jesus to die for.

The purpose for fantasy fiction is for entertainment and also—when it’s written with a message—to take us to another place that will help us reflect and observe something that may be good and/or wrong in ourselves. The message in The Lord of The Rings has to do with standing up for more than only your rights. It’s about courage in the face of adversity, friendship, acceptance of others despite their differences, servant leadership, and the true responsibility of, and not misuse of, power. All of these messages are Biblical, yet the Bible is not once mentioned in the story.

Here are some discussion starters:

• Do you feel that Avatar is merely a regular fantasy fiction—beliefs and all—trying to make a point, or do you believe its makers actually have a religious agenda that they are pushing?
• Do you think that the similarities that exist when you compare the Na’vi’s religion to some of the naturalistic and/or spiritualistic religions that are around today, were meant to promote those religions?
• Do you think that the creators of the movie created this religion for religious purposes or as a message on the environment or neither?
• Do you think the Na’vi religion will cause any of the movie’s viewers to be more open to naturalistic and spiritualistic religions?
• Not much is said about the Faith—or lack thereof—of the humans who have travelled to Pandora from Earth. What could be said about that part of the movie?

Political Maneuvering

Many have pointed to certain lines in the movie that seem to reveal a political agenda; “preemptive strikes,” “shock and awe” and fighting “terror with terror.”

A few simple questions:

• Do you see the movie as having a political agenda or as one speaking out against injustice, greed and the misuse of power, or both?
• Do you think it unfortunate that the writers added this language?
• Have you seen movies from Hollywood with political agendas? Do you expect it, or does it bother you and why?
• If a movie is supportive of a certain political view, does that make it anti-Christian?

Blue Modesty & Marriage

Some have complained about the fact that the Na’vi wear only a  lion cloth and very well placed bead and feather necklaces. There’s also one scene where two of the Na’vi ‘mate for life’.

Here’s a couple of discussion starters:

• Do you think that partial nudity is being promoted in the movie or that its creators wanted to properly reflect the way these people were most likely to dress? Or do you think they had another agenda, such as ticket sales?
• There are cultures in our world where partial nudity is acceptable and common-place. Do you believe there is a difference between depicting cultural partial nudity as a way of life and the sensual depiction of it?
• Jesus told us that looking on a member of the opposite sex with lust in your heart is the same as committing adultery (Matthew 5:28). How do you think that applies to this movie?
• The Bible book of Genesis tells the story of Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham’s servant was sent to get a wife for Isaac. With the Lord’s help he found a woman who agreed to go with him and to marry Isaac. When Isaac and Rebekah first met they went into a tent and became husband and wife forever (Genesis 24). The story seems to show that back then, agreeing to be husband and wife and then making love made you married for life. Different cultures have different marriage ceremonies. Did you find the Na’vi ‘wedding’ ceremony offensive? Or did you find it refreshing because the movie creators showed that sex is for marriage and marriage is forever? How is this different from the modern day—and unbiblical—concepts of casual sex, dating sex, and living together to see if it’s going to work?

The Road to Zion

The Bible teaches that God has written eternity on our hearts.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

…since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts… (Romans 2:15a)

You’ve heard it said that before we come to Jesus, we all have a God shaped hole in our hearts. The fact is God created us in such a way that His truth and the salvation story somehow ring true when we hear them—and if we’re open to hear the ringing. What I find fascinating is that writers who apparently don’t even understand God’s redemptive plan, will let the message that was written inside them by the hand of God, flow out of their hearts into their pens, creating uncanny parallels that end up finding a resonating ring in the hearts and minds of their audience.

Here are a few possible parallels to discuss;

• Fantasy Fiction usually takes place in a fantastic world and contains amazing creatures and/or beings with wonderful powers. Could it be that one of the reasons we all love this kind of movie is that it resonates with our interest in Heaven; an awesome place beyond imagining, with wonderful beings such as angels, cherubim and seraphim and amazing power and promise?
• Jesus always was and is part of the trinity. He became a human for the sake of our salvation. He died to help us, and then rose from the dead with a human body that he’ll have forever. Do you see a rough parallel in Avatar’s story?

If you’ve thought of other great discussion points or you’d like to share some great conversations that you had with your teens about this movie, feel free to add your comments.