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Hi to my Forum Friends,

For all Christian believers, we must be diligent in protecting ourselves, our families, especially our young, impressionable children -- and our Christian fellowship of believers, and all of our friends -- from false teachings and false theologies which have the potential to lead people down the wrong path of eternity. Yesterday, I received the latest The Berean Call newsletter in the mail. The main article in this issue, "The Avatar Gospel," should make all Christians sit up and take notice -- and ask yourself, "Do I have family or friends who are vulnerable to being led away from the true Christian path -- by this false, pagan theology?"

Last night, I lay in bed, reading the newsletter, and getting out my yellow highlight pen to mark the excerpts I want to pass on to you. What I have included below is just the main points of the article. If you like, with the URL link below you may visit their web site to read the full article. My Friends, we must be aware of the great influence Hollywood, Oprah, and other New Age teachers can exert upon those in our families -- immediate families and fellowship families -- who are not yet as mature as they need to be in their knowledge of God's Word.

And, we must not shirk our duty of bringing this information about the movie "Avatar" and other such New Age teachings to their attention. I would rather have a family member or friend get testy with me for sharing this warning -- instead of having them later ask, "Why didn't you tell me while there was still time? If you really loved me, why did you allow me to be lured into this pagan religion? If you really cared for me, if you really loved me -- why did you not tell me about the real Jesus Christ?"

We want to greet our ALL of loved ones and friends in heaven one day -- not, mourn the fact that we did not tell them about Jesus Christ, while there was still time.

If you agree, please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's make sure that everyone in our "circle of influence" meets us in heaven on that Glorious Morning.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE AVATAR GOSPEL
By T. A. McMahon, The Berean Call
http://www.thebereancall.org/node/8404

Movies are today's most popular means of influencing cultures on a worldwide scale. They have been effective in that way for the greater part of a century. They are, and always have been, teaching machines. Although most people regard them as simply escapist fare or a mode of entertainment, they nevertheless always teach something.

That is certainly true of one of the most expensive films to date, the quarter-of-a-billion-dollar production of Avatar, which has already grossed two billion dollars. No film thus far has matched its stunning production value in creating a fantastic world of computer-generated characters that seamlessly match and interact with the physical actors and the world we know. Believability is the "do or die" quality of every movie of any kind, and Avatar makes believers of all but the most critical film goers -- few of whom could complain that this extraordinary production did not give them their money's worth.

Avatar's theology is my primary concern.

First of all, it shouldn't be surprising that the beliefs of most people are not derived from Sunday school or church teaching but rather religious ideas they pick up from a wide variety of sources as they go through life. Prior to being born again and becoming a biblical Christian, for example, I had received a great deal of religious instruction, growing up Catholic, to which I added all kinds of contrary spiritual ideas, from reincarnation to the denial of hell to the universal salvation of everyone.

I've had conversations with those who claim to hold the Bible as their only source of faith and practice -- yet who also hold ideas they have gleaned from Oprah Winfrey or some of her New Age guests. Humanity, in general, seems to be a magnet for all kinds of beliefs about God, and this would include not only the very religious but the agnostic and the atheist as well.

Movies often teach theology. Some have greatly influenced our last two generations about the character and qualities of God -- and perhaps none more than the Star Wars series, which began in the late 1970s. This series promoted the supreme deity as an impersonal, amoral energy "Force" that could be tapped into and used for one's own end through mental techniques. "May the Force be with you" was even interpreted by some sincere (but sincerely wrong!) Christians as Jesus being the true "Force."

Such a promotion attributes characteristics to Jesus that both distort and demean His character as presented in the Scriptures -- resulting in "another Jesus." Star Wars wrapped the beliefs and practices of Hinduism in a high-tech, science fiction saga. Obi Wan was a sorcerer; Yoda was a yogi by design and practice, and the incredibly successful film series propelled Eastern mysticism into the minds of Western youth. Avatar does the same for shamanism.

Shamanism is the religion of nature and spirits -- and is the most widespread of all the religions in the world. It's found among every indigenous people group throughout the earth, and its beliefs and techniques are the same wherever it is found. This is due to the fact that shamanism is a practice that comes from the spirit realm, with the spirits themselves not restricted by distant geographical locations.

The term shaman comes from the Tungus people of Siberia and has been preferred by anthropologists over "witch doctor," "medicine man," "wizard," "sorcerer," etc. According to noted authority Michael Harner, an anthropologist and shaman, "A shaman enters an altered state of consciousness at will to acquire knowledge, power, and to help other persons. The shaman has at least one, and usually more, 'spirits' in his personal service. To perform his work, the shaman depends on special, personal power, which is usually supplied by his guardian and helping spirits."

Avatar is a spectacular platform for preaching shamanism.

Director and writer James Cameron makes his theological (and ecological) bent quite clear in nearly every frame of the film. The movie's title and image of the Na'vi are derived from the Hindu god Krishna, a blue-skinned incarnated avatar of the god Vishnu. Hinduism teaches that throughout history avatars have manifested in human and/or animal forms to restore the balance of good and evil.

The emphasis on trees in the movie is consistent in all shamanism. The huge Hometree that housed the Na'vi clan and is destroyed in the attack by the humans is representative of Eywa providing for the Na'vi through "Mother" nature. The luminescent Tree of Souls, which provides direct communication with Eywa, is also a power center that can transfer souls to other bodies. In traditional shamanism, the tree is a universal communication medium for such cultures to connect with deceased shamans, ancestors, and the spirits themselves.

Cameron has added his own twist to native shamanism by having the Na'vi communicate with the Eywa, spirits, and animals through fiber optics in their braided hair tails. The Na'vi plug the strands into similarly compatible devices found in animals and plants. Although at odds with the actual practice of shamanism, this does reflect the necessity of "experiencing" a god that cannot be "known" through reason, intellect, or science.

It also solves a problem for Cameron the filmmaker. In what was no doubt a box office-related decision, he avoids the method commonly used by shamans to contact the spirits: inhaling or imbibing hallucinogenic drugs. Na'vi "doing drugs" would have forced Avatar out of a PG-13 rating, eliminating an age group that is prone to seeing such a movie many, many times, as well as being a top consumer of Avatar-related merchandise.

After reading dozens and dozens of comments by young people enamored with the theology in Avatar, it is apparent that its false gospel is finding fertile soil worldwide as it introduces and attracts millions of moviegoers to shamanism.

Cameron is certainly entitled to preach the shamanic gospel of Avatar. Christians, however, need to be aware of what they are being fed along with the overpriced popcorn. It is a general lack of discernment among them that is often maddening and spiritually treacherous for the upcoming generation of believers. The maddening part comes when professing believers attempt to read Christianity into popular movies that are thoroughly antichrist. It happened with Star Wars, the Harry Potter series, and too many others to list. It's a foregone conclusion that we will see much of the same for Avatar.

Christianity Today, the Emerging Church Movement, Rick Warren's Global P.E.A.C.E. plan, and those among some mission and parachurch organizations (e.g., those that follow the leadership and teachings of C. Peter Wagner) have a penchant for trying to find buried nuggets of Christ in the culture -- or accommodating Christianity to the culture, and vice versa. Many are about sanctifying and redeeming the paganism of a society -- or at least trying to harmonize and work with all religions. This is all fodder for syncretism and ecumenism. They are contributing to the religion of the Antichrist.

A. W. Tozer took such an endeavor to task by noting that Moses did not enter into a panel discussion with the Israelites for finding some spiritual merits of the golden calf. Nor did Elijah trade edifying insights with the prophets of Baal. And, neither did Jesus seek a meeting of the minds with the Pharisees.

Furthermore, promoting a "group hug" among contradictory religions with the intention of solving the world's problems is a grand delusion at best. Isaiah, speaking for Jehovah God, makes His view absolutely clear: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this [God's] word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

Warnings are also clear in the Word of God that a great spiritual battle is being waged all around us -- that we are in the days of rampant apostasy in the church -- and that we are being subjected to an increasing antichristianity in the world. What, then, must a believer do? We must diligently follow the Lord's prevention and protection program, the heart of which is found in Psalm 1: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

But certainly there's more: prayer and fellowship, for example. We need to circle the wagons at times -- for spiritual protection, counsel, encouragement, and ministry to one another. If such things become our disciplined practice of life, though the Apostasy dries up the spiritual environment around us -- we and our families nevertheless shall be fruitful in the Lord.

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T.A. McMahon is president and executive director of The Berean Call ministry, editor-in-chief and contributing writer for The Berean Call newsletter, co-author of The Seduction of Christianity, The New Spirituality, Understand the Times, and author of Showtime for the Sheep? Holder of a master's degree in communications, he has researched and written numerous documentaries and scripted several feature films. His writing/producing for Christian videos includes The Cult Explosion, The God Makers, The New Age: Pathway to Paradise? The Evolution Conspiracy, A Woman Rides the Beast, Israel, Islam & Armageddon, and Psychology and the Church.

Tom is the executive producer and co-host of two weekly radio programs, Search the Scriptures Daily (with Dave Hunt) and According to God’s Word (with Jim McCarthy, Greg Durel, and Mike Gendron). He is also cofounder and an executive committee member of Reaching Catholics for Christ.

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quote:
Originally posted by _Joy_:
Avatar is a work of fiction. It should be viewed as such. If someone is basing their entire system of belief on a movie, they might need to see a psychiatrist. JMHO

Hi Joy,

What level of the "power of suggestion" would you say qualifies a media as dangerous to young minds?

Tom McMahon is merely pointing out the dangers of this and other New Age/Pantheistic teachings. Then, folks can take his counsel or ignore it. Personally, I agree with him about this type of Hollywood indoctrination media -- and about Oprah. In my opinion, both are a danger to young people.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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Sorry, it sounds like "The sky is falling!" to me. These scare tactics come along every so often...backward masking, turning Halloween into something evil, warnings bout that evil J.K. Rowling who turned out to be a believer, etc. These people are con artists trying to sell a book through feeding the public's fears.
Frankly, I am at least as wary of the influence of the addled, extremist, hermeneutically-confused, "end-time", "Left Behind," Darbyite, Scofieldian premillennialist false prophecy so commonly accepted by so many gullible folks as I am of any kind of subliminal messaging by Hollywood in a film that is pretty much a passing fancy.
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
Frankly, I am at least as wary of the influence of the addled, extremist, hermeneutically-confused, "end-time", "Left Behind," Darbyite, Scofieldian premillennialist false prophecy so commonly accepted by so many gullible folks as I am of any kind of subliminal messaging by Hollywood in a film that is pretty much a passing fancy.

THAT WAS A LOT OF YAKKING JUST TO SAY, "I BELIEVE IN A LIBERAL THEOLOGY!"

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It's a movie...

with blue people...

and cool vehicles...

and lots of explosions...

and a recycled plot...

did I mention it's a movie?

Oh, by the way, Led Zeppelin sounds much better when you play their albums forwards.

I've also read the whole Harry Potter series. No demon possession or urge to perform witchcraft yet, but I'll let you know if that changes.
quote:
Originally posted by NashBama:
I've also read the whole Harry Potter series. No demon possession or urge to perform witchcraft yet, but I'll let you know if that changes.

Hi Nash,

That may be true for adults. However, if you were an impressionable 10 or 12 year old child -- would that always hold true? How many of our young people are you willing to sacrifice on the altar of the New Age -- just to prove a point?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
Frankly, I am at least as wary of the influence of the addled, extremist, hermeneutically-confused, "end-time", "Left Behind," Darbyite, Scofieldian premillennialist false prophecy so commonly accepted by so many gullible folks as I am of any kind of subliminal messaging by Hollywood in a film that is pretty much a passing fancy.

THAT WAS A LOT OF YAKKING JUST TO SAY, "I BELIEVE IN A LIBERAL THEOLOGY!"


You are sadly mistaken to characterize as "liberal" all those who do not subscribe to the highly dubious mislinking of scriptures to create the fanciful notions of the premillennial view. But that kind of answer gets you off cheaply, I suppose--at least in your own conceits.
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
Frankly, I am at least as wary of the influence of the addled, extremist, hermeneutically-confused, "end-time", "Left Behind," Darbyite, Scofieldian premillennialist false prophecy so commonly accepted by so many gullible folks as I am of any kind of subliminal messaging by Hollywood in a film that is pretty much a passing fancy.

THAT WAS A LOT OF YAKKING JUST TO SAY, "I BELIEVE IN A LIBERAL THEOLOGY!"

You are sadly mistaken to characterize as "liberal" all those who do not subscribe to the highly dubious mislinking of scriptures to create the fanciful notions of the premillennial view. But that kind of answer gets you off cheaply, I suppose--at least in your own conceits.

Hi Beter,

It is a well known fact on this Forum that you would argue with a stone wall if you could get it to grunt.

So, let's just leave it that you and I do not agree -- and move on to more productive endeavors.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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I actually, before I read this post, viewed the movie Avatar in it's entirety. Although I could see where someone could, if they wanted, draw parallels to religion or a supreme being or even the worship of nature or even white man's encroachment and taking over of the American Indian's territory but frankly I viewed it as solely a work of fiction and entertainment. Sure there are overtones of good and evil or good vs evil as well as applications toward say the "green" movement. Could the movie be used to preach such doctrines? Yes, it could if the adults decided to do so but mostly I believe that children, teens, and others will view it as it was intended to be which is entertainment.

As a Christian I'm much more concerned with the messages that are being indoctrinated and taught to our youth, today, in secular, progressive textbooks and by liberal teachers as well as the morals or lack of them, in today's songs that are listened to and memorized. I'm much more concerned with the more violent video games and movies than I am Avatar, again which I view more as a "good" vs "evil" fight with "good" winning in the end over seemingly unsurmountable obstacles.

Also, as a Christian, I'm also concerned, or maybe let's say undecided, about the messages that we (many Christians) send to our own Children and youth when we make so much about selling Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny on the Holidays. Okay before you think I"m being extreme let me explain. If taken to absurdity think about it. We expect our kids to grow up accepting God, Jesus Christ ... someone they can't really see with physical eyes but that we've told them to believe in when we spend a lot of their formative years selling Santa Clause as a "real" person and the Easter Bunny or other things that eventually the kids who buy into these stories, lock stock and barrel, learn or come to realize was just us leading them on for their own benefits of enjoying the holidays. Am I saying tell all the kids about Santa being a hoax? NO! but seemingly we want to make adult applications of this Movie meant for entertainment while I doubt very seriously that any children or kids will use Avatar to develop their basis of Religion or Religious belief. If a viewer takes anything away it might be that there is a supreme power that assist "good" in the long run but even i believe that's a stretch.

There are lots of things to concern ourselves with today and when it comes to it the most essential and meaningful thing is that we, as parents, and as Christian's provide the best example, in our own lives, as we can. Examples that would be so profound that our kids are taught the correct lessons and gat the correct information over time by watching us and listening to us. Likewise providing a Christian example which would make another curious enough to wonder what's different about our belief's and lives that would cause us to live the way we do. Those message are direct and much more profound ( I believe ) than to worry about a movie that's filled with things that don't exist today and is obviously science fiction and fictional.

Sorry but I just view it as entertainment and feel there are far more destructive content found out there as it is not to mention the things that the youth and people pull up over the internet. The best examples and strongest preaching comes from what we do and how we live our lives in front of our kids and how we teach them.
quote:
Originally posted by gbrk:
I actually, before I read this post, viewed the movie Avatar in it's entirety. Although I could see where someone could, if they wanted, draw parallels to religion or a supreme being or even the worship of nature or even white man's encroachment and taking over of the American Indian's territory but frankly I viewed it as solely a work of fiction and entertainment rather than an attempt to preach a message through a popular movie. Sure there are overtones of good and evil or good vs evil as well as applications toward say the "green" movement. Could the movie be used to preach such doctrines? Yes, it could if the adults decided to do so but mostly I believe that children, teens, and others will view it as it was intended to be which is entertainment.

As a Christian I'm much more concerned with the messages that are being indoctrinated and taught to our youth, today, in secular, progressive textbooks and by liberal teachers as well as the morals or lack of them, in today's songs that are listened to and memorized. I'm much more concerned with the more violent video games and movies than I am Avatar, again which I view more as a "good" vs "evil" fight with "good" winning in the end over seemingly unsurmountable obstacles.

Also, as a Christian, I'm also concerned, or maybe let's say undecided, about the messages that we (many Christians) send to our own Children and youth when we make so much about selling Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny on the Holidays. Okay before you think I"m being extreme let me explain. If taken to absurdity think about it. We expect our kids to grow up accepting God, Jesus Christ ... someone they can't really see with physical eyes but that we've told them to believe in when we spend a lot of their formative years selling Santa Clause as a "real" person and the Easter Bunny or other things that eventually the kids who buy into these stories, lock stock and barrel, learn or come to realize was just us leading them on for their own benefits of enjoying the holidays. Am I saying tell all the kids about Santa being a hoax? NO! but seemingly we want to make adult applications of this Movie meant for entertainment while I doubt very seriously that any children or kids will use Avatar to develop their basis of Religion or Religious belief. If a viewer takes anything away it might be that there is a supreme power that assist "good" in the long run but even i believe that's a stretch.

There are lots of things to concern ourselves with today and when it comes to it the most essential and meaningful thing is that we, as parents, and as Christian's provide the best example, in our own lives, as we can. Examples that would be so profound that our kids are taught the correct lessons and gat the correct information over time by watching us and listening to us. Likewise providing a Christian example which would make another curious enough to wonder what's different about our belief's and lives that would cause us to live the way we do. Those message are direct and much more profound ( I believe ) than to worry about a movie that's filled with things that don't exist today and is obviously science fiction and fictional.

Sorry but I just view it as entertainment and feel there are far more destructive content found out there as it is not to mention the things that the youth and people pull up over the internet. The best examples and strongest preaching comes from what we do and how we live our lives in front of our kids and how we teach them.
quote:
That may be true for adults. However, if you were an impressionable 10 or 12 year old child -- would that always hold true? How many of our young people are you willing to sacrifice on the altar of the New Age -- just to prove a point?


I know lots of kids who have read the entire Harry Potter series. No witchcraft or devil worship there either.

You're not going to win over any converts with this ridiculous type of fear mongering. The Harry Potter series introduced a whole generation of kids to the joy of reading. "Avatar" is nothing more than a silly movie. To make such a big deal out of nothing pushes people away from Christianity.

Kids are dealing with much more serious, real life issues. Maybe you should spend your time trying to help them with their real problems instead of worrying about a silly sci fi movie.
the more I think abotu the, the madder I get. You knwo what Bill Gray? There IS a lot you can read into this movie.

I interpret the 10 Commandments movie as an attempt to cartoon-ize the bible. Howzzat?

I interpret the Passion of the Christ to be a twisted way for many to get some sort of sick entertainment out of the portrayal of the suffering Jesus endured.

Sponge Bob, The Movie, was obviously an attempt to represent Bob as a sponge for all our sins.

There is a whole lot wrong in this world without having to look for stupid stuff where none exist like in this Avatar movie. the ignorance, it blinds me!

In fact, if I were of the mind, I could interpret every movie in some wild way that is completely different from

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