Customer Reviews

The Reality Within The Matrix

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The person who described this book as propaganda is quite correct. I give it one star because it will please some people who are already of a strong religious persuasion - or are considering taking leap of faith into being "born again" - and would like to read a book that uses The Matrix as a springboard to discussion of evangelical Christianity.

However, the book is exactly that: a mere springboard for evangelism. Every para is like this: "Living the truth is not always easy. There will be trials, testing of faith, persecution and rejection from the world, but these things are necessary for the perseverance which leads to maturity. The Lord is continually refining his saints for service in the kingdom of God. Be encouraged, you are more alive now than ever before."

If you want to read some serious discussion of The Matrix and the many philosophical and symbolic systems that have influenced it, this is not a book that you should bother with. You would be much better off with Taking the Red Pill (ed. Glenn Yeffeth) or The Matrix and Philosophy (ed.) William Irwin, both of which are crammed with interesting and seriously analytical discussion from a range of viewpoints. These books are responsive to the detail of the film and are genuinely insightful (though some of the essays in the Irwin book are very technical and heavy going).

Give this one a miss.

Great concept with some decent research, but it is poorly executed. Fans of the film are often insulted when the book reads more like a cheap tract. The summaries to each chapter are a good example, this one is from a chapter on the agents:

An Invitation to Apply the Message
¨ Recognize Satan and his tactics.
¨ Satan has the ability to transform and camouflage himself.
¨ Satan chal lenges God's Word and manipulates it's meaning.
¨ Protect yourself with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

The Christian themes abound in this film but this book oversimplifies them and ignores all of the other themes from literature, faith, anime, and philosophy. The film has likely inspired many sermons, but these are not good.

THE REALITY WITHIN THE MATRIX is a book by a Christian for Christians. Its primary purpose is to help movie goers sort out the Christian symbolism and find uses for it in their own spiritual experiences. In the introduction, LaVelle states her purpose "to evaluate a secular movie with a Christian point of view...While I understand the intention of the writers to borrow from several religions of the world, I feel the entire movie resonates the principle beliefs of Christianity." Since Amazon customers cannot examine the book first hand and see inside, it should be made clear that this book speaks mainly to those who are already familiar with religious symbolism but are mainly interested in the Christian slant. The book is a handbook or guide to a deeper study of the life of Christ and what it means to follow a Savior who broke all earthly bonds, including death.
Christians young people who enjoy the movie will find the book helpful as a roadmap to their own spiritual journey. Reading this book so see a Christian interpretation of certain aspects of the movie won't discourage readers from looking for additional views by other religious leaders. Other books may indeed bring out differing aspects of the movie. This one is for Christians and those interested in how Christianity can speak in more modern symbols to a more modern world. If the intention of the movie's writers and producers was to stir up new dialog among
world religions, this book makes a solid contribution as it speaks for the student of Christianity. As the old saying goes, "You see what you want to see." LaVelle helps those of us who want to see how The Matrix might have a message beyond the spectacular entertainment values. Maybe it should be called "The Christian Reality Within the Matrix." I gave it 4 stars because I think a subtitle might have helped clear up any confusion about the book's intentions. Then again, I could be wrong. Maybe the book does attract more attention with its present title. Either way, the book fulfills its stated purpose.

As a committed Christian myself I understand and appreciate the motivation of the author in writing this book. However, she should have made it more clear both in her introduction and the back cover that this book was not a serious exploration of the religious influences behind the Wachowski's movie, but rather it is an allegorical rendering of the movie that serves to promote the author's own message (i.e. the Christian gospel). In other words, this book treats The Matrix as simply a source for sermon illustrations. I was confused the whole way through as to whether the author really thought the spiritual analogies she pulled out of it were really intended in the movie by the Wachowskis, or whether she realized that they were simply her own interpretation of the film. If she really thinks that, for example, the light from the window Trinity dives through in the beginning of the film was intended to symbolize the Light of God, or that the "Heart O' the City Hotel" in the movie speaks to the need to focus our hearts on God then she is seriously misguided. You can allegorize them that way, no problem, but it's farcical to think that the Wachowskis actually had those meanings in mind when they wrote the film.

Anyhow, my issue is not that Ms. LaVelle allegorized the film (and incidentally she did a brilliant job of finding allegorical meanings in nearly every inch of the movie - some of her associations were very creative), but rather that she never made it clear whether or not she really thought that the spiritual allegory was actually intended by the filmmakers.

If you want a serious treatment of the actual influences behind The Matrix from a Christian perspective I highly recommend "The Gospel Reloaded" by Chris Seay & Greg Garret.

I knew it would only be a matter of time before someone co-opted the Matrix to help sell Jesus. The Matrix is an extremely ecumenical movie with references to Greek Platonic philosophy, Buddhism and yes, even Christianity. However, the version of Christianity the Wachowski brothers picked up on is the Gnostic branch of the family tree not the current version this book evangelizes. Gnosticism was basically hunted to extinction by the "christlike" forces of the Roman Catholic (with a big C) church (a small population of gnostics still live in rural Iraq and immigrant communities in Australia and Syria). It was extremely pluralistic (like the philosophies woven together in the film) with a variety of sects. Gnosticism's doctrines tended to be rather exclusive with the 'truth' remaining elusive to all but the most faithful initiates. Gnosticism tended to regard the current world as a lie and a fabrication of a false god known as the Demiurge. It was only by initiation and knowledge of both the falsity of the Demiurges world and the reality of the higher plane of existance of Sophia (Wisdom) that a believer could escape. I assume that I won't have to connect the dots for my fellow matrix fans. Of course, the brand of christianity propounded by this book views the gnostics as heretical. Instead, in its self-serving view, the non-evangelical christian world is the "matrix" and Morpheus is the local youth pastor while those jesus club members that harassed you in high school are his 'crew' with Neo being the big J. himself. Indeed, the rather simplistic attempt to condense a complex film like the Matrix into a convenient missionary device deserves the communal disdain of the entire Matrix fan community. Just say no to prostituting the Matrix to make Jesus 'hip'.

Update: I just saw the sequel to the Matrix (it opened today) and yes, this book has it all wrong. There is even a hover craft in Zion named "Gnosis", and well, the enitre messianic system of belief that this book plays upon and where Neo is the "One" turns out to be just an even more sophisticated system of control than the Matrix itself. To quote Morpheus,"It seems fate isn't without a sense of irony."

It is emberassing as a person of faith to see the Wachowski's story co-opted with complete disregard for the density of the film. I am reading all of the Matrix books out and each seems to have something different to offer. This book is the exception.

I previewed this book when it first came out and was impressed with the work put into it. While all of the analogies may not have been intended in the movie you can't help but notice them after their mention. This book can help Christians see the symbolism and allow them to better share the message of Jesus with others, especially those who love The Matrix. I would highly recommend the book.

Mike Furches
...

The Wachowski brothers have not hidden the fact that their film The Matrix draws from many philosophies, including Christianity. Any reader of the Bible will notice many Biblical allusions throughout the movie. LaVelle's book expertly uses these allusions as a springboard to share an even more important truth ... the truth of Jesus Christ. The points LaVelle makes in this book get to the heart of life. But like Morpheus, she can only show you the door. You have to walk through it.

I have the privilege of knowing Kristenea LaVelle as a personal friend. We were neighbors for years, and I have seen and experienced her genuine love for the Lord, and her concern for others. There were many times when I had questions or was in distress, and Kristenea was always there to help me find answers and a new perspective. Her insight into the things of God is amazing and unique. It came as no surprise to me that her new book is filled with this type of insight. This book is exciting and captivating and brings out points of the movie that I never would have guessed.