Comments on: Hollywood's Rampant Pantheism

By: The Wild Hunt » A Pagan’s Guide to the Oscars

The Wild Hunt » A Pagan’s Guide to the Oscars — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:08:03 +0000

[...] vs. just about everybody else. Will the highest grossing movie of all time, the one that sends conservative Christians into fits, also take home the critical accolades of its peers? Most critics are split on whether Avatar, up [...]

By: The Wild Hunt » Our Dark Green Religious Future?

The Wild Hunt » Our Dark Green Religious Future? — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:04:05 +0000

[...] posits? Christian scholar John Morehead wonders if the massive success of “Avatar”, with its pantheistic and environmental themes, may be connected to this phenomenon. “…in terms of popular culture, such sentiments [...]

By: Souris

Souris — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:34:02 +0000

Hear, hear. I was very pleasantly surprised, and would watch it again, even without the 3d.

By: The Wild Hunt » RIP Mary Daly and other Pagan News of Note

The Wild Hunt » RIP Mary Daly and other Pagan News of Note — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:19:08 +0000

[...] audience” with the “Christian audience”, even though they mention the pantheistic “Avatar” as part of the trend. With films like films “Agora”, “The Wicker Tree”, [...]

By: Breathing In 2010 « Pagan Godspell

Breathing In 2010 « Pagan Godspell — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:43:49 +0000

[...] to his desire to create a science fiction spectacle…critics who are pissed about the mythical “Hollywood pantheist agenda” might want to take a second look: this is Mammon in action here, not Gaia. Proof? How about: if [...]

By: The Wild Hunt » A Few Quick Notes

The Wild Hunt » A Few Quick Notes — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:16:39 +0000

[...] count-downs and retrospectives, starting with SF Gate columnist Mark Morford, who argues that all the discussions about pantheism in “Avatar” are besides the point, what it’s really about is “alien porn”. “But wait, [...]

By: Apuleius

Apuleius — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:22:31 +0000

The title of the film is, after all, "Avatar". Therefore discussing the relationship of the film's "theology" (such as it is) to the spiritual traditions of India hardly amounts to "dickering".

And the fact that Buddhism is not "non-theistic" is far from being simply a personal opinion of mine. According to Buddhist scholar Miranda Shaw in her book "Buddhist Goddesses of India":

"The Mahayana pantheon features several powerful protectors, such as Marici, goddess of the dawn; Sitatapatra, guardian against supernatural dangers; and Janguli, protectress against harm by snakes and poison. A range of divinities address specific areas of human need. The most important among them are Parnasavari, a healing deity; Vasudhara, bestower of wealth and abundance; Sarasvati, patroness of learning and the arts; Us nisavijaya, who confers long life and a fortunate rebirth; and Cunda, who inspires and supports spiritual practice. Tara, the subject of the last chapter in this section, is the most beloved goddess of the Mahayana pantheon and a savioress of unlimited powers. She is the focus of an immense theological enterprise proclaiming her metaphysical supremacy and, uniquely among the Mahayana cohort, her Buddhahood."

From here:
http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/i8235.html