BY KATIE GAISER
Lions’ Pride Layout Editor

The controversy surrounding the Vatican’s more than unpleasing view of the hit movie Avatar is more than unpleasing to me.

Vatican officials, in both their newspaper and radio stations, have been voicing their disapproval of the film because they claim that the movie portrays a civilization which worships nature instead of a god.

Frankly, I can understand why people of any faith would interpret the movie’s message this way. What these beings worship is something very different from many other religions and faiths. It just figures that different always means wrong or bad.

In this movie, God and nature are one. The being they pray to which represents “Mother nature” is referred to as Eywa. The civilization, called the Na’vi, is one with nature and therefore one with Eywa. In other words, the Na’vi do not chose to worship nature over god, because to them, nature is part of god.

This is a concept that I would think many religions would agree with. The Na’vi are one with who they worship. They can literally connect themselves to Eywa and pray to her directly. What an amazing ability that unfortunately can only happen in the movies.

According to yahoo news, the pope himself explained in a message that the appropriate relationship between nature and man is not one of “absolutizing nature” or “considering it more important that the human person.” Well why not? If nature is part of their god, then why not worship it as such?
Things are different in real life. To my best understanding, the Vatican believes that humans worship God and respect nature because He created it. It’s the same thing in the movie. The Na’vi worship their environment because it is part of what their god created. In fact, it is part of their god period.
What’s wrong with the idea that these beings worship nature anyway? After all, the movie is fictional, and I doubt it’s going to affect anyone enough to run off in the woods and start bowing down to the nearest fern. People would more likely be influenced by a pastor preaching on the street corner about faith.

The Na’vi represents a civilization which works together to sustain life in a peaceful manner. They value their elders, they honor their god, and they remain connected their surroundings. They are something to be admired, not hated on.

In fact, the humans in this film were the ones who projected any kind of negative message. They were filled with greed and selfishness and were willing to destroy an entire civilization just to make a ton of money.

Taking lives for money; why do I feel like I’ve seen this before in real life?

I think that’s why this film spoke volumes. The way the writer depicted these peaceful people fighting for their right to keep their home safe was incredibly moving. I don’t think there are any religious messages behind the film influencing people into believing that nature is more important that God. I couldn’t disagree more with this notion.

If I came face to face with any Vatican official, I’d tell them to rest easy. Maybe we’re both taking our opinions a little seriously. After all, the movie is hardly a how to guide on religious practices. Sometimes, a film is just a film. And that’s what she said.