The movie AVATAR shows the power that image has in our culture. More than the New Age Western Pantheism it asserts, it is the power of image and imagining. AVATAR is an imaginary fantasy story that seeks to “right some wrongs” of the past and present. It may be an attempt to spread Hollywood’s religious confused inclinations, but by far it displays the power of image. It is also a wake-up call to baby boomers; if you had not noticed, the world has changed its views on some things you hold dear.

A lot of work went into creating the planet called, Pandora with all of its hybrid animals and creatures. Airborne flying jellyfish, cat-like wolves, humanoids with lion-ish facial features that stand over 10 feet tall are but a few.. These are few descriptions and not the point of this brief review that  points out more than details.

The point of AVATAR is how much the power of image has over the power of reason. It is an unfair comparison, not a fair fight at all, but one that has been waged since the first painted poster appeared advertising a product. The image evokes far more feelings that sweep over your mind, clouding your reasoning abilities. Although reason may point to what is right, it will drown in the euphoric delights in the senses. Neil Postman warned of this in, Amusing Ourselves to Death, more than 25 years ago.

The story line of AVATAR is very predictable. So, that’s not what led it to outsell the best box office sellers. It is the image and the ability of movie makers to create such images. It is a fantasy fairytale people want to believe and it is well done. In 2 hours and 40 minutes the movie passes judgment on the American military, corporate business, and greed, not that greed shouldn’t be addressed. In this case, it is greed for native lands  and it wears Hollywood’s confused religious beliefs on its sleeve, chest, back, and face. This is a world we want to go to. There’s one problem. It’s not real. But it is a dream. Ah, imagine.

AVATAR is entertainingly colorful and fast paced for the most part. There is enough New Age religion to satisfy any “spiritual” person for a long time. There are no excuses made for the religious beliefs portrayed by the Na’vi, the natives of Pandora, and neither should there be. As mentioned, this is Hollywood’s religion. Christian’s ought to recognize that entertainment sugar coats a lot of error and false religious beliefs. AVATAR does this well, but this is cruel in a sense we often don't think about.

Heresy and false religions are cruel because they do not provide salvation, but disguise the lies and trap us. Heresy and false religions are bondage because a person gets taken captive by the thoughts, ideologies and false beliefs. They are cruel because the do not lead us to the truth and only the truth sets people free. And, they do not provide salvation.

AVATAR provides visual entertainment, but disguises the bondage of pantheism, New Age Religion, Gaia worship, and more. These “feel good” religions do not set people free to be who the real Creator has made them to be. Images can dull the mind to what is real by intoxicating the senses with colors, shapes,  and movement that beckons us to follow mindlessly. It is the mind that should lead and create. It is not wrong to watch AVATAR or enjoy it. What is wrong is to be led by its persuasive images to deny reality. Learn the power of images and submit to the one who says, “Make no image of me.”

Loving Wisdom, Chalice Press, St Louis, 2007, by Paul Copan is a must read. Dr. Copan has done what few philosophers do, no, are capable of doing. He has brought a subject: Christian Philosophy of Religion, into the language of the average church goer. This hasn’t “dumbed down” the content of the book at all, but made it accessible to people who do not have a degree in philosophy. 

I have several books occupying my bookshelf on this topic. Admittedly, most if not all, are half-read. I dislike getting bogged down in a book where you begin to think the actual weight of the book strains your hand and arms to hold it up. It becomes an effort to continue slogging through the pages. Not so with Loving Wisdom. In fact, you may find it hard to put the book down, as I did.

Two things come to mind when you read this book: First, Paul Copan really loves this subject (philosophy). And secondly more important, he loves Jesus Christ. It appears quickly that the motivation for writing this book was love of both Jesus and His wisdom. It is very refreshing.

In a day when knowledge, let alone intellectual knowledge, is not valued in the church, Dr. Copan’s contribution in Loving Wisdom is readable, informative, and hopefully provoking. Not that the subject matter is controversial, but that it would provoke us and stir us up to pursue knowing God . . . in more than experiences.

The book is laid out in a simple format that is used occasionally to explain worldviews. Major sections are God, Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Re-Creation. Although they don’t fall exactly in line with the Reformed camps, Creation, Fall, Redemption, Glorification categories, they do remind you of the similarities. However, that’s where the similarities end.

The subjects explore the need for knowing the God of the Bible, the arguments used for pointing to His existence, the problems of evil, Original Sin, Hell, the Person of Christ, to name a few. The introduction is most memorable in its exposition of what Christian philosophy is, a subject much in need.

Paul Copan has done the church a great service in Loving Wisdom. My prayer is that many people will be attracted, buy and read the book. It will serve to strengthen the church in all the right ways, growing in faith that is dependent on knowing who God is.