http://toyblog.typepad.com/lemon/2010/01/i-am-miles-quaritch.html

As I haven’t yet seen the movie I will withhold any opinions

On one level it appears to be a creative telling of the Native American story including borrowings from Pocahontas & John Smith (or in this case Jake Sully) with elements of the Cherokee Trail of Tears betrayal.

For me, as a Scots Irish, it was poignant since some of our people group were responsible some of the same betrayals on the indigenous tribes in the US centuries ago, and did so in the name of the gospel.

It was a bit like the prophet Nathan telling King David a parable of injustice and then revealing that he was the culprit – such is the prophetic potential of a truth well told in a story.

Hope that makes sense!

Cheers – Andy

P.S. On another tangent it struck me that the ‘deity’ in the movie Eywa was a word play on Yahweh. I then found these interesting comments on another site http://www.nowspellonion.com/onion/whats-the-name-of-the-deity-on-avatar-the-movie/#comment-547

Cheers – Andy

Culturally, this continues to be a response to the modern age, with its approach to mechanistic progress and a diminishing of the glories of the creation.

The animism (mother earth) is very strong, though theme of “sharing and mutual caring” with the created order has rich roots in Eden and in biblical theology.

This is why we spend so much time on Creational Theology in our Masters work – from Planet Earth to Astronomy, we discover God’s nature in what the Celts called “the 5th gospel” – creation.

My favorite concept in the film was the bonding between creatures and riders. For Cameron, I’m sure the “familiar spirit” concept was being affirmed (that’s the occultic practice of aligning oneself in soul with an animal). In my view, however, it spoke more of the importance of intimate communication.

The tentacle like fibers growing from their braids, and from the animals, spoke of a soul reaching out into its world. This is what made the “sacred tree” prayer scenes take on meaning – the soul would reach out to the source – the tree in this case – for help.

Run through a Christian lens, many themes have richness in the film. But, without discernment, I am convince entire generations are changed in their worldview – and not always for the better.

Worldview indoctrination, in my mind, can be more life threatening and historically devastating than violent or sexual themes in film.

Because I would rather train my kids to discern than to simply judge everything and everyone without nuance, I often choose the route of exposing them with the promise of discussion.

Without this approach, increasingly younger Christians will have more and more to say to one another, and less and less to say to an increasingly intentionally spiritual, postmodern world.

Good conversation.

I truly enjoyed the creativity and beautiful COLORS! My favorite creation is the “helicopter lizards.” Loved the imagination evident throughout in small details.

I knew going into it that there were controversial spiritual themes which to me often came across as a longing for, a search for, True spirituality…an evidence of someone hearing an echo, if you will. And in that a reflection of God’s heart.

Overall, the themes of unity, of truly “seeing” a person, of connecting stuck out to me throughout the movie. I particularly was captured by the scene when the tribe lays hands on Sulley and the extension of hands on shoulders spreading out like a network/web of support which reminded me of times of prayer where I’ve been that person in the center and felt the support and love and unity.

And, yes, must watch with discernment and will certainly have good discussions with my two eldest.