Matrix Paper

8/10/2019 Matrix Paper

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Postmodern and Christian ExpressionsPostmodern and Christian Expressionsinin The MatrixThe Matrix MediaMedia

David HerringChristianity and the Postmodern World

Dr. Richard LintsTH 9 !





analy<e the relevant Matrix mediaF in the light o% its +road postmodern context, given its

s"ccess and depth, and its "se and perception o% Christian and +i+lical themes.

Postmodern Milieu of The Matrix 4

Jean Baudrillard . =n the %irst scene o%The Matrix that /e see the to +eF hero, 8eo, a

cohort +y the name o% Choi comes to 8eoJs apartment see0ing some sort o% program. ;s 8eo

con%irms that Choi has the money to +"y this program, 8eo /al0s over to a +oo0case and selects

the +oo0 Simulacra and Simulation +y #ean -a"drillard, t"rns to the chapter Kn 8ihilism,F

/hich has +een hollo/ed o"t, and selects the appropriate dis0. This moment inextrica+ly %rames

and de%ines m"ch o% the postmodern %lavor that is resident in the %ilms.!

-a"drillard is a Grench postmodern philosopher and sociologist /ho has pop"lari<ed the notion that o"r c"lt"re has

+ecome one in /hich reality is no longer attached to sym+ols or representations, +"t the sym+ol

has ta0en the place o% reality, calling reality itsel% into :"estion. This premise is the driving

The ass"mption that The Matrix em+odies certain postmodern tho"ght or has at least postmodern elements is pace#osh -"re0, The 5ospel ;ccording to 8eoF ' Christian Science Monitor May 9, ( )*, Ed/ard Rothstein,Philosophers Dra/ on the Gilm MatrixJ ' New Yor Times May ( , ( )*, #ames Mc5rath, The Desert o% theReal1 Christianity, -"ddhism -a"drillard in The Matrix Gilms and Pop"lar C"lt"re,F H"+ert and $tephen Drey%"s,The -rave 8e/ World o% the MatrixF 'http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com*, #ames Mc5rath, The Desert o%the Real,F Chris $eay and 5reg 5arrett, The !ospel Reloaded: Exploring Spiritualit" and #aith in The Matrix'Colorado $prings1 Pe on Press, ( )*, David We+erman, The Matrix $im"lation and the Postmodern ;geF inThe Matrix and $hilosoph": %elcome to the &esert of the Real , ed. +y William =rvin 'Chicago1 Kpen Co"rt,( (*, Thomas $. Hi++s, 8otes %rom Andergro"nd1 8ihilism and The Matrix ,F in The Matrix and $hilosoph" , ed.

+y William =rvin, and Dino Gell"ga, The Matrix 1 Paradigm %or Postmodernism or =ntellect"al Pose"rN 'Part =*F inTa ing the Red $ill: Science $hilosoph" and Religion in The Matrix, ed. +y 5lenn e%%eth 'Dallas1 -en-ella-oo0s, ( )* contra ;ndre/ 5ordon, The Matrix 1 Paradigm %or Postmodernism or =ntellect"al Pose"rN 'Part ==*Fin Ta ing the Red $ill: Science $hilosoph" and Religion in The Matrix, ed. +y 5lenn e%%eth, and Richard Hanley,$im"lacra and $im"lation1 -a"drillard and The Matrix F 'http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com*. M"ch o% thearg"ment made +y 5ordon and Hanley hinges on their point that the Wacho/s0i +rothers do not acc"rately interpret-a"drillard in their %ilms as even -a"drillard has said 'the %irst %ilm stemmed mostly %rom mis"nderstandingsF as-a"drillard is :"oted in Ed/ard Rothstein, Philosophers Dra/ on the Gilm Matrix,J New Yor Times May ( ,( )*. Gor o"r concerns, /e can recall /hat Morphe"s said in Reloaded , my +elie%s do not re:"ire them toF.!

While s"ch /idely divergent streams s"ch as Christ imagery, eastern philosophy, and 5ree0 mythology all in%ormthe narrative and the characters, -a"drillardOs Simulacra and Simulation is pro+a+ly the +est starting point %or a

philosophical and sociological approach to the movieOs contentF '#im Rovira, -a"drillard and Holly/ood1$"+verting the Mechanism o% Control and The Matrix,F http122///."ta.ed"2english2apt2colla+2texts2holly/ood*. 8o/, says -a"drillard, o"r sit"ation is one o% hyperrealityJ. With distinctions dissolved +et/een o+>ects and

their representations, /e are le%t only /ith sim"lacraJ. These re%er to nothing +"t themselves. Media messagess"ch as T& ads, are prime examples. This sel%4re%erentiality goes %ar +eyond Max We+erJs %or a disenchanted,detraditionali<ed /orld. $igns lose contact /ith things signi%ied in some advertisements the o+>ect, /hether car,/atch or +eer +ottle, no longer appears. The late t/entieth cent"ry is /itness to "nprecedented evaporation o% thegro"nds o% meaning. The :"est %or some division +et/een the real and the "nreal, or even the tr"e and "ntr"e, moral

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provide /arrant %or the re+ellion /hich ta0es place in the story. $mith even calls Morphe"s a

0no/n terroristF in the %irst %ilm /hen heJs interrogating 8eo.

Kierkegaard and Nietzsche . ;s those /ho anticipated the rise o% postmodernism,

Qier0egaard and 8iet<sche also play important roles in The Matrix . Qier0egaard, most certainly

serves as the paradigm %or %aith /ith his concept o% the leap o% %aithF.( While 8eo is training in

the %irst %ilm, Morphe"s has the >"mp programF loaded to test 8eo, /here he literally ta0es a

leap o% %aithF in the attempt to %ree his mindF. 5host mentions Qier0egaard explicitly in the

Enter the Matrix d"ring his dialog"e /ith Trinity1

Trinity 1 Do yo" +elieve that 8eo is going to end the /arNGhost 1 es, = do.Trinity 1 $o do = ... +"t = canOt explain ho/ or /hy Ghost 1 (ier egaard reminds "s that +elie% has nothing to do /ith ho/ or /hy.-elie% is +eyond reason. = +elieve +eca"se it is a+s"rd.Trinity 1 o" thin0 itJs cra<y to +elieve itNGhost 1 To +elieve /hat N That a single man can de%eat an entire race o% machinesand end a /ar that has end"red %or over a h"ndred yearsN K% co"rse. =tJs completel"nacy and thatJs /hy /e m"st +elieve it /ill happen. Gaith, +y its very nat"re,m"st transcend logic.

This is echoed in the %irst %ilm /here Tan0 tells 8eo that he is cra<y %or /anting to go and save

Morphe"s and 8eo says, = 0no/ thatJs /hat it loo0s li0e, +"t itJs not. = canJt explain to yo" /hy

9 -y s"ggesting that one can act"ally have access to that real, Morphe"s and the Wacho/s0is co"ld +e said tomis"nderstand postmodernist theory ho/ever, the Wacho/s0is ma0e it clear that on some level h"mans /ill al/aysremain one step removed %rom any direct access to real, /hich is the main import o% the mess4hall disc"ssion. The

+ody needs more than synthetic aminos, vitamins, and mineralsJ to s"rvive. =t needs the %antasy4space o% desire +eca"se direct access to the real is a0in to madnessF 'Dino Gell"ga, p.@ *. This is also seen in the irony o%Morphe"s sho/ing 8eo the real /orldF a+ove gro"nd %rom a T& /hile they are in a program >"st li0e the Matrix,as /ell as in Revolutions /here 8eo is +lind and cannot see the real /orld except in his connection to the $o"rceF.

Richard Hanley, $im"lacra and $im"lation1 -a"drillard and The Matrix ,F and Ed Rothstein, Philosophers Dra/

on the Gilm MatrixJ. He states, = am a nihilist and terrorist in theory as others are /ith their /eaponsF ' Kn 8ihilismF*.

Qier0egaard in his existential criti:"e o% enlightenment thin0ing and 8iet<sche in his /ill to po/erF philosophyand nihilism. $ee $teven -est and Do"glas Qellner, The $ostmodern Turn '8e/ or01 5"il%ord Press, 99B*,

p.)@4B@. -est and Qellner speci%ically connect Qier0egaard to -a"drillard1 His vision o% massi%ication and o%individ"als lost in the /orld o% the media and p"+lic opinion provides an "ncanny anticipation o% the later

postmodern theories o% -a"drillard and othersF 'p. *. Li0e/ise, Lissa McC"llo"gh connects 8iet<sche to-a"drillard, Li0e 8iet<sche, -a"drillard is a comic /riter, %or /hom tragedy and horror are merci%"lly re%ractedthro"gh comic /itF ' #ean -a"drillard and the Death o% 5odF 6http122>crt.org2archives2 (.)2mcc"llo"gh.shtml7*.( $ee #ear and Trem)ling %or his most pop"lar exploration o% this idea.

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itJs not.F When Trinity says that no one had ever tried that +e%ore, 8eo responds, ThatJs /hy

itJs going to /or0.F There is also a li0ely nod to Qier0egaard +y the Wacho/s0i +rothers

naming one o% the captains in Reloaded $oren,F /ho vol"nteers /itho"t hesitation %or a death

missionF to help the cre/ o% the 8e+"chadne<<ar. )

The mention o% nihilism no do"+t reminds "s o% the philosophy o% 8iet<sche. Qean"

Reeves has said in intervie/s that the Wacho/s0i +rothers as0ed him to read 8iet<scheJs %ill to

$ower , among other /or0s, in helping "nderstand the character o% 8eo. ! Choice, and the po/er

to choose in The Matrix is signi%icantly in%l"enced +y his /ill to po/erF philosophy. When

8eo is late %or /or0, his +oss con%ronts him /ith a de%ining choiceF. When he sees Morphe"s%or the %irst time, he is given a choiceF +et/een the red and +l"e pills. When he %irst sees the

Kracle, she tells him he m"st chooseF to save either Morphe"s or himsel%. When he meets the

;rchitect in Reloaded , he m"st choose the right or le%t door. Morphe"s says in Reloaded ,

everything +egins /ith choiceF. ;ccording to 8iet<sche, h"man identity is h"man choices. =n

the %irst %ilm, 8eo sees a resta"rant /here he "sed to eatF ' really good noodlesF*, and he as0s

Trinity /hat it means that he never act"ally lived his memories, to /hich she says, The Matrix

cannot tell yo" /ho yo" areF. The one pro+lem the machines had in getting h"mans to accept

the Matrix according to the ;rchitect in Reloaded is choice, she 'the Kracle* st"m+led "pon a

sol"tion /here+y nearly 99I o% all test s"+>ects accepted the program, as long as they /ere

) Qier0egaardJs s"+>ectivity o% tr"thF and philosophy o% love co"ld acco"nt %or the strong emphasis on love in the%ilms also.

Hi++s, 8otes %rom Andergro"nd1 8ihilism and The Matrix ,F in The Matrix and $hilosoph" , p. ! . ;gent $mithseems to em+ody the nihilism o% the %ilms, most partic"larly d"ring his last %ight /ith 8eo in Revolutions , Why,Mr. ;nderson, /hyN Why do yo" do itN Why, /hy get "pN Why 0eep %ightingN Do yo" +elieve yo"Jre %ighting %orsomething, %or more than yo"r s"rvivalN Can yo" tell me /hat it is, do yo" even 0no/N =s it %reedom or tr"th,

perhaps peace4co"ld it +e %or loveN =ll"sions, Mr. ;nderson, vagaries o% perception. Temporary constr"cts o% a%ee+le h"man intellect trying desperately to >"sti%y an existence that is /itho"t meaning or p"rpose. ;nd all asarti%icial as the Matrix itsel%. ;ltho"gh only a h"man mind co"ld invent something as insipid as love. o" m"st +ea+le to see it, Mr. ;nderson, yo" m"st 0no/ it +y no/ o" canJt /in, itJs pointless to 0eep %ighting Why, Mr.;nderson, /hy, /hy do yo" persistNF $mith concl"des, The p"rpose o% li%e is to endF.! Peter Lloyd, Exegesis of the Matrix 'London1 Whole4+eing +oo0s, ( )*, p. 4!



given a choice , even i% they /ere only a/are o% the choice at a near "nconscio"s levelF. =n

Revolutions /hen it loo0s li0e $mith has +eat 8eo, $mith tells him it is pointless to contin"e and

he as0s him /hy he persists. 8eoJs only response is, -eca"se = choose to,F exposing that this is

the element that $mith does not "nderstand a+o"t h"mans he has only +een %orce%"lly copying

himsel% to everyone he sees. 8iet<scheJs Death o% 5odF declaration is also consistent /ith the

%ilms in that there is no personal, sovereign 5od resident 'choice precl"des 5od*, and the one

+earing the name o% the Christian 5od, Trinity,F dies at the end o% Revolutions .

Pluralism 1 and !m"iguity . There are o+vio"s re%erences and all"sions to all 0inds o%

religio"s and philosophical /orldvie/s in the %ilms1 -"ddhismB

'appearance o% -"ddhist 0id inThe Matrix , mention o% 0arma in Revolutions , reincarnation o% the KneF*, 5nosticism 'one ship

is called the 5nosisF*, @ Christianity 'see +elo/*, #"daism 'see +elo/*, =slam 'men 0neeling to

pray in $econd Renaissance Part =F in The Animatrix *, Hind"ism ' $atiF is Hind" term %or a

/ido/ /ho %alls on her deceased h"s+andJs ashes, $atiJs ne/ s"nset is %or a ne/ age,F Rama4

QandraF +orro/s RamaF %rom name o% seventh incarnation o% Hind" god &ishn", lyrics in %inal

8eo2$mith %ight seen are ta0en straight %rom Hind" script"res in $ans0rit*, stoicism 'sho/ing o%

little emotion in main characters o% each %ilm*, nihilism 'see a+ove*, existentialism 'see a+ove*,

Platonism 'cave allegory in Repu)lic *,9 5ree0 philosophy ' 0no/ thysel%F originates %rom

$ee 5regory -assham, The Religion o% The Matrix and the Pro+lems o% Pl"ralism,F in The Matrix and

$hilosoph" , p. 4(! %or a help%"l disc"ssion and response to pl"ralism %ollo/ing ;lvin Platinga.B When as0ed i% -"ddhism in%l"enced them in ma0ing the %ilm, the +rothers responded, es. ThereJs something"ni:"ely interesting a+o"t -"ddhism and mathematics, partic"larly a+o"t :"ant"m physics, and /here they meet.That has %ascinated "s %or a long timeF.@ $ee Grances Glannery4Dailey and Rachel Wagner, Wa0e Ap 4Christianity, 5nosticism, -"ddhism in TheMatrixF 'http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com*, #ames Gord, -"ddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix1 TheDialectic o% Myth4Ma0ing in Contemporary CinemaF *ournal of Religion and #ilm '( *, #ames Mc5rath, TheDesert o% the Real,F and Michael -rannigan, There =s 8o $poon1 ; -"ddhist Mirror,F in The Matrix and

$hilosoph"9 $ee #ohn Patridge, PlatoJs Cave and The Matrix ,F 'http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com*

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$ocrates*, ( and 5ree0 Mythology ( ' Morphe"sF is the 5ree0 god o% dreams, the ship name

=car"sF is +orro/ed %rom the 5ree0 story o% =car"s, PersephoneF /as the /i%e o% Hades, and

8io+eF /as mentioned in The +liad *. =n an online chat in 8ovem+er o% 999, the Wacho/s0i

+rothers con%irm the intentionality o% s"ch all"sions1 ((

#tarr$$ says 1 ;re all the religio"s sym+olism and doctrine thro"gho"t this movieintentional, or notN%acho&skiBros 1 Most of it is intentional . Kne o% the things /e tried to do /iththe 8e+ %or /hen /e /ere shooting in the real /orldF /as "se long lenses toseparate the h"mans %rom the +ac0gro"nds, as opposed to /hen /e shot theMatrix /e "sed short lenses to place the h"mans in speci%ic deep spaces. We alsotinted all o% the lights +l"e in the real /orldF and green in the Matrix.

'onin says 1 o"r movie has many and varied connections to myths and philosophies, #"deo4Christian, Egyptian, ;rth"rian, and Platonic, >"st to namethose =Jve noticed. ,ow much of that was intentional N%acho&skiBros 1 All of it .

Kther important philosophical in%l"ences /ere revealed +y Qean" Reeves in intervie/s as he

shared some o% the reading the Wacho/s0i +rothers had him do %or his part1 -a"drillard,

$chopenha"er, 8iet<sche, H"me, () Wagner, Hegel, and Qant. ( Gormer Harvard, and no/

Princeton pro%essor, Cornel West in%l"enced the +rothers eno"gh +y his /or0s, Race Matters and

$rophes" &eliverance , that they /rote a part %or him 'Co"ncilor West*.

There, he met the Wacho/s0is and had long philosophical disc"ssionsF +et/eenta0es and in resta"rants a+o"t the p"rpose o% li%e and the role o% technology inscience and history. They covered a range o% thin0ers incl"ding Le/is M"m%ord,;rth"r $chopenha"er, William #ames, Homer, and 8i0os Qa<anta0is 'a"thor o%

( $ee Comp"ters, Caves, and Kracles1 8eo and $ocrates,F in The Matrix and $hilosoph"( $ee re%erences in The -xford Classical &ictionar" , ed. +y 8.5.L. Hammond and H.H. $c"llard 'sec.ed. Kx%ord1Aniversity Press, 9B *((

Matrix &irt"al Theatre.F Wacho/s0i -rothers Transcript. 8ovem+er , 999. http122///./arnervideo.com2matrixevents2/acho/s0i.html() H"me is even mentioned +y 5host in Enter the Matrix 5host1 ,ume teaches "s that no matter ho/ many timesyo" drop a stone and it %alls to the %loor yo" never 0no/, /ill it happen the next time yo" drop itN =t might %all to the%loor, +"t then again, it might %loat to the ceiling. Past experience can never prove the %"t"re.F 8io+e1 $oNF 5host1$o yo"Jll never 0no/.F 8io+e1 Here /e go.F

( Peter Lloyd, Exegesis of the Matrix , p. 4!. Kne co"ld also thro/ in Descartes, -er0eley, Lei+nit<,Dostoevs0y, etc. 'see Lloyd, p.!)4 , $ean 5reen+erg, Matrix and Monadology1 Lei+ni<ian Themes The

Matrix F 6http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com7, and Hi++s, 8otes %rom Andergro"nd1 8ihilism and The Matrix ,F p. !!%%.*.

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So+ra the 5ree0F*. We tal0ed a+o"t #amesJ essay, Will to -elieveJ in terms o%$chopenha"erJs challenge...He /as "ns"re li%e had a p"rpose at all.F (!

The pl"ralistic ca"ldron o% The Matrix 0eeps an even temperat"re %or all its ingredients that is to

say that no one /orldvie/ or ideology carries all the others in the %ilms, they all have even

%ooting. $"ch is the condition o% postmodern pl"ralism, ( as Richard Lints points o"t, ;ltho"gh

the postmodernist hesitates to deny the validity o% all religions, he hesitates also to assert the

excl"sive tr"th o% +"t one religionF. (B ;nd as the Wacho/s0i +rothers have revised and adapted

each /orldvie/ all"ded to, so this too accords /ith the postmodern tendency to revise each

+elie%.(@

;m+ig"ity and personalF interpretation pervade the entirety o% The Matrix media. The

%act that the Wacho/s0is have not done an intervie/ in %o"r years, and that all /ho have /or0ed

on the %ilms have signed an agreement not to disc"ss ma>or elements o% the %ilm attest to this.

They also o%%er no commentary on the D&DJs and ended the last %ilm in the trilogy, Revolutions ,

/ith very little philosophical or storyline clos"re, leaving things /ide open %or interpretation.

They even comment on their online chat1

!gentMartin says 1 Do yo" appreciate people dissecting yo"r movieN Do yo"%ind it a +it o% an honor or does it annoy yo" a little, especially /hen the personmay have it all /rongN%acho&skiBros 1 ThereJs not necessarily ever an all /rong.F -eca"se it.s a)outwhat a person gets out of the movie/ what an individual gets out of the movie .

(! Lynn $mith, The =ntellect"al and The Matrix,JF 0os Angeles Times May ( , ( ). Larry and = got into thesegreat philosophical disc"ssions,F West recalls. We tal0ed a+o"t the history o% the epic, %rom Homer to 8i0os

Qa<ant<a0is. The +rothers are very into epic poetry and philosophy into $chopenha"er and William #ames. =t /as"n+elieva+le WeJd shoot %rom 1) a.m to mid4a%ternoon ! , B! ta0es it /as hard %"n and hard /or0. Then/eJd go o%% to a resta"rant and have a philosophical disc"ssion. = /as impressed /ith their sheer geni"s, theirengagement /ith ideas. Larry Wacho/s0i 0no/s more a+o"t Hermann Hesse than most 5erman scholarsF 'asintervie/ed +y Richard Corliss, Anloc0ing The Matrix ,F Time Maga1ine May (, ( )*.( Carl G.H. Henry, Postmodernism1 The 8e/ $pectreNF in David Doc0ery 'ed.*, The Challenge of

$ostmodernism 'sec.ed. 5rand Rapids1 -a0er, ( *, p. and Richard Lints, The Glight o% 5ar"da1 ThePl"ralist =mp"lse in the Postmodern ;geF in The %a" of %isdom '%orthcoming*.(B The #a)ric of Theolog" '5rand Rapids1 -a0er, 99)*, p.((@ i+id.

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; %"ndamental tenet o% postmodernism is the disassociation o% a text 'or comm"nication* /ith its

a"thor. (9 Qevin &anhoo<er comments, We can s"m "p the so4called postmodernJ condition

that is the context o% contemporary disc"ssion concerning the theory and practice o%

interpretation in a single phrase1 incred"lity to/ard meaningJF 'amending LyotardJs de%inition,

incred"lity to/ard metanarrativesF*. ) ;ltho"gh one co"ld ma0e the case that the Wacho/s0is

are simply saying that movies a%%ectF people di%%erently li0e any piece o% art, the a+ove :"estion

clearly is aimed at dissectingF the movie %or an interpretation consistent /ith the creators.

(hristian Motifs in The Matrix )1

God . The Trinity...F ;ltho"gh the personhood2+eing o% 5od is never addressed orall"ded to in The Matrix , He appears many times in veiled re%erence. =n The Matrix , right +e%ore

Cypher +etrays his cre/, over the phone he says, $ome+ody "p there still li0es meF. 5od is

act"ally mentioned %re:"ently in The Matrix media al+eit +y /ay o% c"rsing. The /ord 5odF

is "sed times in The Matrix , times in Reloaded , B times in Revolutions , times in Enter

the Matrix , and t/ice in The Animatrix . 5iven the r"+ric o% the story, it seems "nli0ely that

some, i% not all, o% these re%erences are "nintentional)( as is played on in Reloaded /hen -ane is

copied +y $mith, he says, Kh !od ,F to /hich $mith says, $mith /ill s"%%iceF. 5od is also seen

in the name o% the main %emale character, Trinity,F /hich, altho"gh not in the -i+le, is a

speci%ic name that is "sed in Christian theism to descri+e the tri4"nity o% 5od 'Gather, $on, Holy

(9 This is evident in the /ritings o% Rorty, Derrida, Gish, et.al.) +s There a Meaning in This Text: The 2i)le/ The Reader/ and the Moralit" of 0iterar" (nowledge '5rand Rapids1

Sondervan, 99@*, p. . =n Revolutions , Rama4Qandra even says /hen as0ed +y 8eo i% he +elieves in Qarma, 8o,it is a /ord. What matters is the connection the /ord implies.F) 8eedless to say, there is s"+stantial overlap here /ith other /orldvie/s on certain themes. The He+re/ script"resare canonical +oth in #"daism and Christianity th"s providing sim"ltaneo"s parallels. Moti%s s"ch as

prophets2prophecy, hell, sin, angels, creation, and sovereignty2%ree /ill are all prevalent in 5nosticism, -"ddhism,and Hind"ism among other %aiths, +"t have +een pop"lari<ed in /estern c"lt"re primarily thro"gh the in%l"ence o%Christianity.)( Perhaps, even %or the simple idea or irony, in that, no is loo0ing to a personal 5od or seems to +elieve in one in thestory yet many c"rse in His name. ;s %ar as intentionality o% the divine name in c"rsing, one needs only considerthose c"rses "sing ChristJs name. $ee +elo/.



$pirit*. De"s ex MachinaF ' 5od o% the MachinesF* is the name o% the machine that 8eo

negotiatesF /ith at the end o% Revolutions +e%ore his %inal enco"nter /ith $mith, /hich may

in%er that 8eo is 5od o% the H"mansF. )) The Trainman character in Revolutions re%ers to

himsel% as 5odF /hen he responds to 8eoJs comment, = donJt /ant to h"rt yo",F +y saying

o" donJt get it. = +"ilt this place. Do/n here = ma0e the r"les. Do/n here = ma0e the threats.

Do/n here, +.m !od F. This may also imply that 8eo is 5odF in the sense de%ined here,

considering he has the a+ility to change /hatever he /ant6s7F as Morphe"s said he /o"ld.

$mith seems to see himsel% as 5odF /hen he meets 8io+e in Enter the Matrix and says, = am

the ;lpha o% yo"r Kmega,F echoing 5odJs statement in Revelation 1@. The creation acco"ntFin The $econd Renaissance1 Part =F %rom The Animatrix also depicts manF as 5od. )

T/o important veiled re%erences to 5od are %o"nd in the %ilmsJ concepts o% miracles and

providence. )! =n The Matrix , Cypher tells Trinity +e%ore heJs a+o"t to p"ll the pl"g on 8eo, i%

8eoJs the one, then thereJd have to +e some 0ind o% a miracle to stop meF. =n the next scene,

Tan0 as0s 8eo +e%ore he goes to save Morphe"s, What do yo" need, +eside a miracle NF =n

Revolutions , Commander Loc0 tells the Co"ncil to loo0 to Morphe"s J6c7a"se heJs the one /ho

+elieves in miracles F. Providence +ecomes the logical ded"ction o% certain p"rposes and designs

as asserted +y Morphe"s and 8io+e. =n Reloaded , Morphe"s considers their circ"mstances,

)) His name 8eoF is an anagram o% KneF 'in the P.K.D. video %or their song, $leeping ;/a0eF on the Reloadedso"ndtrac0, the lead singer has three +loc0s that spell, 8EK,F and he rearranges them to say, K8EF* as he is calledthe oneF thro"gho"t The Matrix , /hich is part o% designations o% 5od in parts o% $cript"re li0e Mighty KneF'5en. 91( #osh.((1(( Ps. !1)1 ! 1 )(1(,! =s. 1( 91( *, Holy KneF '( Qgs. 91(( #o+ 1 Ps.B 1((

B@1 @91 @ Pro.91 ) 1) =s. 1 !1 9,( 1 B,( (1 B1B (91 9,() ) 1 , (, ! ) 1 )B1() 1(!1 , ,( )1), , ! !1 B1 @1 B 91B ! 1! !!1! 19, , #er.! 1(9 ! 1! E<.)91B Hos. 19, (

Ha+. 1 ( )1) Seph.)1 B Rev. 1!*, the Kne o% $inaiF 'Ps. @1@*, Righteo"s KneF 'Pro.( 1 ( =s.( 1 *, Ma>esticKneF '=s. 1) *, the KneF '=s.!B1 ! #ohn @1! *, the Lord o"r 5od is oneF 'De"t. 1 5al.)1( #ames (1 9*, theLord /ill +e one and His name oneF 'Sech. 19*, the one 5odF 'Mal.(1 !*, Kne is yo"r Gather 'Matt.()19*, He isoneF 'M0. (1)(*, = and the Gather are oneF '#ohn 1) *, and there is no 5od +"t oneF ' Cor.@1 *) Man +ecame the architect o% their o/n demise,F an intentional connection to the ;rchitect o% the Matrix.)! Miracles have al/ays +een "nderstood as acts o% 5odF '$ee Pa"l Gontana, Gind 5od in The Matrix ,F in Ta ingthe Red $ill , p. B@49*, as providence has al/ays +een associated /ith the +enevolent care o% 5odF. $ee %e)ster.s

New %orld College &ictionar" '%o"rth ed. 8e/ or0. Macmillan, 999*.



;ll o% o"r lives /e have %o"ght this /ar. Tonight = +elieve /e can end it.Tonight is not an accident. There are no accidents. We have not come here +ychance. = do not +elieve in chance /hen = see ) o+>ectives, ) captains, ) ships. =do not see coincidence, + see providence , = see p"rpose. = +elieve it is o"r %ate to

+e here. =t is o"r destiny. = +elieve this night holds %or each and every one o% "s

the very meaning o% o"r lives.

=n Revolutions , 8io+e, altho"gh she /as do"+t%"l o% Morphe"sJ statement a+o"t providence in

Reloaded , shi%ted her thin0ing +y saying, T/o ships, t/o directions. $o"nds li0e providence ,

doesnJt it, Morphe"sNF

#o*ereignty+,ree %ill . =% yo" already 0no/, ho/ can = ma0e a choiceNF The perennial

:"estion o% determinism and choice plays a salient role in the %ilms. This, o% co"rse, is not

original /ithin Christendom, +"t has %o"nd expression in ch"rch history, rising in de+ate /ith

;"g"stine ) and Pelagi"s, L"ther and Erasm"s, Calvinism and ;rminianism, and Ed/ards and

certain eighteenth cent"ry intellect"als. 5enerally, Calvinists "nderstand that 5od predetermines

h"man choice +ased "pon His o/n /ill, and ;rminians +elieve that 5od %oresees h"man choices

+"t does not determine them. ;ltho"gh these terms are "s"ally applied to soteriological aspects

o% Christian theology, they do apply to the +roader :"estion o% choice pressed in the %ilms. )B The

character o% 8eo interacts :"ite ironically /ith determinism and choice, as one /ho re>ects the

idea o% %ate, +"t is completely +o"nd to it. When Morphe"s %irsts meets 8eo, Morphe"s as0s

him, Do yo" +elieve in %ate, 8eoNF 8eo says, 8oF. Morphe"s as0s, WhyNF ;nd 8eo

replies, -eca"se = donJt li0e the idea that =Jm not in control o% my li%eF. et, +y the end o% the

%irst %ilm, 8eo discovers that he is on the pathF as Morphe"s states, ThereJs a di%%erence

+et/een 0no/ing the path and +eing on the pathF.

) That the Christian de+ate over choice is partly in vie/ in The Matrix may +e connected to the mention o%;"g"stine in Enter the Matrix , /here 5host mentions him in a %ar di%%erent context 5host1 Li0e ;"g"stine, =Jmdedicated to a higher p"rpose.F Trinity1 WhatJs that NF 5host1 Knanism.F)B The :"estion o% determinism and choice seems to tric0le into one o% p"rpose, /hich is especially paramo"nt in

Reloaded .

(



-oth 8eoJs and Morphe"sJ ideas o% choice and control are dissolved thro"gho"t the

events and dialog"es o% Reloaded . Most nota+ly, as a res"lt o% their dialog"e /ith the

Merovingian /e see s"ch a shi%t.

Mor-heus 1 o" 0no/ /hy /e are here.Mero*ingian 1 Hmph...= am a tra%%ic0er o% in%ormation, = 0no/ everything = can.The :"estion is, do yo" 0no/ /hy yo" are hereNMor-heus 1 We are loo0ing %or the Qeyma0er.Mero*ingian 1 Kh yes, it is tr"e. The Qeyma0er, o% co"rse. -"t this is not areason, this is not a /hy.J The Qeyma0er himsel%, his very nat"re, is means, it isnot an end, and so, to loo0 %or him is to +e loo0ing %or a means to do... /hatNNeo 1 o" 0no/ the ans/er to that :"estion.Mero*ingian 1 -"t do yo"N o" thin0 yo" do +"t yo" do not. o" are here

+eca"se yo" /ere sent here, yo" /ere told to come here and yo" o+eyed. =t is, o%

co"rse, the /ay o% all things. o" see, there is only one constant, one "niversal, itis the only real tr"th1 ca"sality. ;ction. Reaction. Ca"se and e%%ect.Mor-heus 1 Everything +egins /ith choice.Mero*ingian 1 8o. Wrong. Choice is an ill"sion, created +et/een those /ith

po/er, and those /itho"t...Ca"sality. There is no escape %rom it, /e are %oreverslaves to it. K"r only hope, o"r only peace is to "nderstand it, to "nderstand the/hyJ. WhyJ is /hat separates "s %rom them, yo" %rom me. WhyJ is the onlyreal social po/er, /itho"t it yo" are po/erless. ;nd this is ho/ yo" come to me,/itho"t /hy,J /itho"t po/er. ;nother lin0 in the chain.

8eo also gets a personal dose o% p"rpose1F

#mith 1 Than0 yo". -"t as yo" /ell 0no/, appearances can +e deceiving, /hich +rings me +ac0 to the reason /hy /eJre here. WeJre not here +eca"se /eJre %ree,/eJre here +eca"se /eJre not %ree. ThereJs no escaping reason, no denying

purpose 4+eca"se as /e +oth 0no/, /itho"t purpose , /e /o"ld not exist. #mith $ 1=t is purpose that created "s, #mith ) 1 $urpose that connects "s, #mith 4 1

$urpose that p"lls "s, #mith . 1 That g"ides "s, #mith 1 That drives "s, #mith / 1=t is purpose that de%ines,#mith 0 1 $urpose that +inds "s.

-y the end o% Reloaded , Morphe"s is saying, = donJt +elieve in chance...= do not see

coincidence, = see providence, = see purpose F.

(reation . =n the +eginning...F The Matrix +orro/s heavily %rom +i+lical imagery %or its

lang"age o% creationF. =n The $econd Renaissance1 Part =F in The Animatrix , the narration

starts, =n the +eginning there /as man, and %or a time, it /as good,F condensing elements o% the

)



creation acco"nt /ith snippets %rom 5enesis 1 , =n the +eginning,F and the re%rain o% the entire

chapter o% 5enesis , it /as goodF. #"st as 5od created man in His o/n li0enessF '5en. 1( 4

B* and +reathed His spirit into him '5en.(1B*, so man made the machine in his o/n li0enessF

and they /ere endo/ed /ith the very spirit o% manF. Machines also start to create, Sero Kne

prospered, and %or a time, it /as good. The machinesJ arti%icial intelligence co"ld +e seen in

every %acet o% society, incl"ding the creation o% ne/ and +etter ;=F. ;t the +eginning o% The

$econd Renaissance1 Part ==,F this lang"age is pic0ed "p again, and man said1 Let there +e

light.J ;nd he /as +lessed +y light, heat, magnetism, gravity, and all the energies o% the

"niverse,F :"oting %rom 5enesis 1). 8eo enco"nters the ;rchitectF in Reloaded /ho says hecreated the MatrixF, /hich has echoes o% He+re/s 1 , 6;+raham7 /as loo0ing %or/ard to

the city that has %o"ndations, /hose architect and +"ilder is 5od. ; more interesting parallel

here, is that #es"s /as a carpenter, /hich /o"ld ma0e the Gather +y de%a"lt the ;rchitectF, >"st

as the ;rchitect created the Matrix and 8eo seems to a +e a carpenterF o% sorts /ithin it.

#in .)@ yo" are a slave...F ;ccording to +i+lical theology, sinF is covenant or

command +rea0ing in relation to 5odF 'see 5en.), #ohn )1 , et.al.*. ;ll h"mans +eings are

%allen and depraved so that o"r nat"re is one o% sinning 'see Romans 4),!, Ephesians (1 4 ,

et.al.*. ;%ter the +rie% creation prel"deF in The $econd Renaissance1 Part =,F /e hear the

%allF, -"t h"manityJs so4called civil societiesJ soon fell victim to vanity and corr"ption...Th"s

did man +ecome the architect o% his o/n demiseF. The machines also %ellF1

The machines /or0ed tirelessly to do manJs +idding. =t /as not long +e%ore seedso% descent too0 root. Tho"gh loyal and p"re, the machines earned no respect %romtheir masters, these strange and loosely m"ltiplying mammals...- 4ER, a namethat /ill never +e %orgotten, %or he /as the %irst o% his 0ind to rise "p against hismasters.

)@ Most /o"ld act"ally say that this is a Christian element missing %rom the %ilms. $o Cecil Copeland, The Matrix 4; Cy+erp"n0 Para+le,F 'http122a/esomeho"se.com2matrix*.



They also /ere +anished %rom the gardenF o% man0ind, -anished %rom h"manity, the machines

so"ght re%"ge...F The To/er o% -a+el '5en. * incident /hispers into this prehistory as

Morphe"s tells 8eo in The Matrix , at some point in the early t/enty4%irst cent"ry all o% man0ind

/as "nited in cele+ration. We marveled at o"r o/n magni%icence as /e gave +irth to ;=.F )9

$lavery2+ondage lang"age is %irst "sed +y Morphe"s to descri+e to 8eo his sit"ation in the

Matrix, /hich is very similar to the +ondage lang"age o% sin 'Rom. *, yo" are a slave, 8eo.

Li0e everyone else yo" /ere +orn into +ondage, +orn into a prison that yo" cannot smell or taste

or to"ch. ; prison %or yo"r mindF. Morphe"s also "ses the lang"age o% depravity /hen he says

in Reloaded , /e /ell 0no/ that the reason most o% "s are here is +eca"se o% o"r affinit" fordiso)edience ,F as does $mith, = /as compelled to stay, compelled to diso)e" F. Mid/ay thro"gh

The $econd Renaissance1 Part ==,F the narrator tries to solace the sit"ation o% man and machines

+y saying, May there +e mercy on man and machine %or their sins F.

Messiah . o" are the Kne, 8eo.F The clearest Christian theme in The Matrix is 8eoJs

role as a ChristF %ig"re and %ledgling messiah. When Choi receives his dis0 %rom 8eo in the

%irst %ilm, he says >o0ingly, Hallel">ah. o"Ore my savior, man. My o/n personal #es"s

ChristF. Morphe"s plays the role o% #ohn the -aptist ( as the man /ho prepares the /ay %or the

messiahF and +apti<esF him a%ter he is emptied %rom his vat. ) He is also imprisoned on 8eoJs

acco"nt as #ohn /as %or #es"sJ sa0e. M"ch li0e #es"s, 8eo had a +and o% disciplesF 'cre/ o%

)9 $o Glanery4Dailey and Wagner, Wa0e Ap 4Christianity, 5nosticism, and -"ddhism in The Matrix ,F nt. @

$ee Cecil Copeland, The Matrix as Messiah MovieF 'http122a/esomeho"se.com2matrix* %or a systematic parallelloo0 at some o% the %ollo/ing elements. ;s a messiah, 8eo necessarily loo0s similar to Moses as /ell. His cryF tothe Machines is Let my people goF as he even goes to pharaohF 'De"s Ex Machina*.

=t is :"ite sa%e to ass"me the each time someone c"rses "sing, #es"s Christ,F or Christ,F that it is intentional. =nThe Matrix , 8eo says, #es"s,F #es"s Christ, that thingJs realN,F Mo"se says, #es"s Christ, heJs %ast,F Cypher says,o" scared the -J#es"s o"t o% me,F Trinity says, #es"s, heJs 0illing himF in Reloaded , Lin0 says, #es"s. ;s soon

as they open the door itJs all overF in Revolutions , ;Q says, #es"s H. Christ,F and Roland says, %or ChristJs sa0e, 8io+eF.

( $eay and 5arrett, The !ospel Reloaded , p.@ 4@) Lloyd, p. 9, 5regory -assham, Religion in The Matrix ,F p. (

!



the 8e+"chadne<<ar* and a #"dasF %ig"re amidst those disciplesF /ho +etrays him 'Cypher*.

8eo is also connected to the Logos,F the hovercra%t /hich ta0es him to the machine city in

Revolutions , as #es"s is called the LogosF 'literally WordF*. =% 8eo is li0e Christ, than $mith is

li0e the ;ntichrist. $mith said to 8eo in Reloaded , = donJt %"lly "nderstand ho/ it happened.

Perhaps some part of "ou imprinted onto me , something over/ritten or copiedF. The Kracle tells

8eo in Revolutions , He '$mith* is yo". o"r opposite, yo"r negative...F 8eo experiences a

death and res"rrectionF in the %irst %ilm and he ascendsF /hile inside the Matrix a%ter telling

the Matrix /hat he intends to do '/hich may +e vie/ed as a 0ind o% commission to them*, m"ch

li0e the 5reat Commission and ;scension o% #es"s 'Matt.(@*. =n the climactic scene o% Revolutions , his death saves the /orld as he is in the machine city ' * connected to the Matrix

and a cross literally glo/s o"t o% his torso. ;%ter $mith has +een destroyed +y the s"rge thro"gh

8eoJs +ody, De"s Ex Machina says, =t is done,F similar to #es"sJ /ords, =t is %inishedF '#ohn

91) *. When $ati as0s that Kracle i% they /ill ever see him again, she responds, = expect so.

$omeday,F %oreshado/ing a second comingF.

thers . This is ;poc...F -i+lical all"sions are %o"nd in many names in The Matrix . !

TrinityF and LogosF /ere mentioned a+ove. CypherF so"nds similar to L"ci%er,F a.0.a.

$atan. 8e+"chadne<<arF is the name o% the -a+ylonian 0ing in the -oo0 o% Daniel that has a

series o% dreams and calls on Daniel to interpret them. ;pocF is short %or ;pocalypseF /hich

The Merovingian calls $eraph my little #"dasF in Revolutions since he +etrayed the Merovingian. -ane isanother #"das %ig"re +eca"se he +etrayed his %ello/ cre/ in Reloaded .! When as0ed ho/ they chose the names %or the characters, the Wacho/s0i +rothers responded, They /ere chosen

care%"lly, and all o% them have m"ltiple meaningsF ' Matrix &irt"al TheatreF http122///./arnervideo.com2matrixevents2/acho/s0i.html*. ;long /ith the names disc"ssed, 8eoJs name in the Matrix is Thomas ;nderson /ith +othson o% man,F #es"sJ most "sed sel%4designation ' ;nderF coming %rom 5ree0 androj manF*, and do"+tingFThomas, one o% the disciples '#ohn ( 1( 49*. Many also point to the Mar0 ===. 8 o F that is on the pla:"e o% the

8e+"chadne<<ar as pointing to the +i+lical text Mar0 )1 , Whenever the "nclean spirits sa/ him, they %ell do/n +e%ore Him and cried o"t, o" are the $on o% 5odF 'E$&*. $o Glanery4Dailey and Wagner. Ho/ever, /hen they/ere as0ed directly a+o"t this in the online chat, they only pointed o"t that 8e+"chadne<<ar is %rom the +oo0 o%DanielF. G"rthermore, on the plag"e o% the LogosF it reads Mar0 3=&. 8 o F /hich has little correspondence tothe +i+lical text o% Mar0 1 ' .../here is my g"est room that = might eat Passover /ith my disciplesF*.

-assham, p. )



means "nveilingF or revelationF li0e the last +oo0 o% the 8e/ Testament, The Revelation o%

#es"s ChristF or #ohnJs ;pocalypseF. Co"ncilor 5raceF is a re%erence to a central +i+lical

theme ' gospel o% graceF, see Romans*. Co"ncilor HamannF is reminiscent o% the tyrant

HamanF in the -oo0 o% Esther. SionF is synonymo"s /ith city o% 5odF in the -i+le, +oth on

earth '#er"salem* and in heaven 'Mo"nt Sion*. The %act that there is a temple,F even a

priestessF according to Reloaded , and t/elve elders in Sion reminds "s o% the t/elve tri+es o%

=srael. $eraphF is the He+re/ /ord %or angelF "sed in the Kld Testament ' seraphimF =sa. *.

Kne o% the +rothers that Persephone 0ills in Reloaded is ;+elF and his +rother is CainF

'5en. *. $eraph, Trinity, and Morphe"s go to the Hel Cl"+F to spea0 /ith the Merovingian in Revolutions , /here he says they %o"ght thro"gh hellF to do so. The Merovingian calls $eraph

the prodigal child,F +orro/ed %rom the story o% the Prodigal $on 'L0. !1 4)(*. Prophecy plays

a large role in the %ilms as it does in $cript"re. B We hear a+o"t good ne/sF ';poc tells 8eo in

the %irst %ilm, = hope the Kracle gave yo" some good ne/s,F and in Revolutions Roland says,

=tJs a+o"t /e had some...good ne/sF*, /hich is synonymo"s /ith /ord, gospelF. @

Intersections and !nalysis

Mor-hology of (hristian 2anguage and Imagery . ;s can +e expected /ith s"ch a

story, Christian images are not exact and intersect /ith many other %aiths 'see %n.) *1 8eo is a

messiah, incarnation o% -"ddha, incarnation o% &ishn", etc, Trinity is a /omen, a %eminist

s"+tly, most people in Sion are not Ca"casian, per the in%l"ence o% Cornel West, there is no one

5od to +elieve in, Qarma is e:"ated /ith love, sin is not against 5od, etc. =t m"st +e

remem+ered, tho"gh, that the Wacho/s0i +rothers /rote the Matrix story %or themselves,

B =n the +eginning o% the %irst %ilm, 8eo literally gets his callF 'on a cell phone* a%ter a%%irming to the Ged Ex g"yThatJs me,F a modern /ay o% saying, Here am =,F /hich +i+lical prophets /o"ld do ' $am.)1!%%.*. $o Pa"lGontana, 5eneration Exile and 8eo Restoration1 ; $t"dy o% Messianic Hope in The MatrixF 'Class Paper atHarvard Divinity $chool %or ;pril !, ( *.@ Grom the 5ree0 /ord euavgge,lion ' gospelF*. When 8eo discovers that he can spend ( 4) ho"rs /ith Trinityalone, he comments, $ome people go their entire lives /itho"t hearing news that good F.

B



primarily 'see online chat*, and then p"t it into mediaF. -"t /hat is most appealing a+o"t these

+rothers is that they are tapping into the root o% the philosophical and religio"s "nderpinnings o%

o"r society and are expressing many c"rrents o% postmodern tho"ght.

The Matrix com+ines stories and styles in a per%ect postmodern mishmash o%narrative and sym+ol. They are too n"mero"s to name, and yet %ollo/ing many o%these threads +ac0 to their so"rces gives "s a greater "nderstanding o% this %ilmand the reasons /hy /e are dra/n to it. 9

Th"s, +eing a+le to parse and translateF s"ch a %ilm /ill "ndo"+tedly help "s exegete a

signi%icant element o% o"r c"lt"re. Gor instance, the notion that %o"ndationalism has +een

overshado/ed again +y %aithF or leaps o% %aithF is a very help%"l insight into ho/ and /hy

many people today do /hat they do. ;s Christians, /e are having a hard time penetrating this

lac0 o% epistemic a/areness or care. #"st +y the mere %act that the Wacho/s0is have shape4

shi%tedF Christian lang"age to s"it their narrative needs helps "s "nderstand the pragmatic

approach people are ta0ing to Christianity among other %aiths, at the ris0 o% discarding the very

meat o% the 5ospel. ! ;nd as /as noted on page @, The Matrix expresses the tr"th claims o%

Christianity /ith the same verita+ility as any other /orld religion.

'eflections on the Message of The Matrix . ;long /ith the -i+le, The Matrix a%%irms

that h"manity is corr"pt and in a serio"s plight. Kne o% the things Don Davis, the m"sic director

o% the %ilms, did /as "se a h"man voices choir in scenes li0e the po/er plant and scenes on the

8e+ to sort o% s"ggest the plight o% h"manityF 'online chat*. Creation and eschatology are

important themes, as #onathan Dodson remar0s1 !

Directors o%The Matrix trilogy, ;ndy and Larry Wacho/s0i, recently remindeda"diences o% the importance o% doctrines o% creation and eschatology,epigrammatically expressed in the s"+title o% the trilogyJs %inal installment

9 $eay and 5arrett, p.(B! The metaphor comes to mind o% ta0ing the +ones o% all sorts o% c"ts o% meat '+ee%, por0, chic0en, etc.* to ma0esome deranged s0eleton.! The Qings o% the Earth and the Eschaton1 Eschatological Go"ndations %or Engaging C"lt"reF 'paper %or 8e/Testament Theology class ta"ght +y $ean McDono"gh at 5ordon4Con/ell Theological $eminary, Gall ( )*.

@



' Matrix Revolutions *, Everything that has a +eginning has an end.F Ho/ever,the Wacho/s0isJ tr"ncated eschatology res"lts in an anticlimactic concl"sion tothe trilogy. Matrix Revolutions leaves the real /orld in dar0 de4created s"+>ectionto the machines, /hile the comp"ter4generated mental constr"ct, the MatrixF, isrene/ed and restored leaving most o% h"manity pl"gged into the Matrix /ith a

remnant o% resc"ed individ"als living "ndergro"nd in Sion, the last remainingh"man city.

Anity is a 0ey message, as is seen in the solidarity o% Sion in the rave sceneF in Reloaded , and

in the >oining o% all h"manity together %or one p"rpose end the /ar. =t is possi+le that this /arF

is dialectally portraying modernismJs 'depicted +y machines* relationship to postmodernism

'depicted +y h"mans*. This is more via+le /hen one considers that machines are the %r"it o%

modernism and its ideology that science and technology are the means thro"gh /hich /eo"rselves discover meaning or tr"th. There%ore, /e need to +rea0 %reeF and reali<e that o"r

science and technology are >"st as %la/ed as /e are, /hich is postmodernismF in essence. =n

Reloaded , as Morphe"s enters a meeting in the Matrix /ith all the other captains disc"ssing the

(! , sentinels they are potentially %acing, he says in response to the impossi+ility o% that

n"m+er, Why notN ; sentinel %or every man, /oman, and child in Sion. That so"nds exactly

li0e the thin0ing o% a machine to meF. ; %e/ scenes later /hen do<ens o% copies o% $mith are

%acing 8eo in the playgro"nd and they seem to +e ma0ing no gro"nd, $mith says, More F as

do<ens more %lood into the playgro"nd %rom every door availa+le. Commander Loc0, /hose

name echoes the enlightenment philosopher and government analyst #ohn Loc0e, thin0s similar

to the machines /hen he says to Co"ncilor Hamann, = +elieve = need every ship /e have i%

/eJre going to s"rvive this attac0 F HamannJs reply is, = +elieve o"r s"rvival depends on more

than ho/ many ships /e haveF. Loc0, li0e the machines, is thin0ing in a logical, modernist /ay,

ma0ing the n"m+ers the premier %actor. Anity is %"lly reali<ed in Revolutions , /here 8eo

"nderstands that he m"st ma0e peace /ith the machines in order to de%eat their common enemy

9



$mith. $mith is the /orst o% +oth o% them, +eing a machine programF that has +een copied to

certain elements o% 8eo. This is also %oreshado/ed +y the Kracle in Reloaded a%ter 8eo

delineates she is a program and she says, =Jm interested in one thing, 8eo, the %"t"re. ;nd

+elieve me, = 0no/ the only /ay to get there is together.F Part o% 8eo coming to terms /ith this

concept is his dialog"e /ith Rama4Qandra in the s"+/ay scene o% Revolutions 1 Rama4Qandra1

8o. = donJt mind. The ans/er is simple. = love my da"ghter very m"ch. = %ind her to +e the

most +ea"ti%"l thing =Jve ever seen. -"t /here /e are %rom, that is not eno"gh. Every program

that is created m"st have a p"rpose i% it does not, it is deleted. = /ent to the Grenchman to save

my da"ghter. o" do not "nderstand.F 8eo1 = >"st have never...F Rama4Qandra1 ...heard a program spea0 o% loveNF 8eo1 =tJs a... h"man emotion.F Rama4Qandra1 8o, it is a /ord. What

matters is the connection the /ord implies. = see that yo" are in love. Can yo" tell me /hat yo"

/o"ld give to hold on to that connectionNF 8eo1 ;nything.F Rama4Qandra1 Then perhaps the

reason "ou.re here is not so different from the reason +.m here .F Perhaps the Wacho/s0i

+rothers are s"ggesting modernism and postmodernism are not as di%%erent as some /o"ld li0e to

thin0.

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Bi"liogra-hy=. $cripts and Transcripts

K%%icial Matrix $cript4Wacho/s0i, Larry and ;ndy. The Matrix: The Shooting Script . 8e/or01 8e/mar0et Press, (

The Matrix 4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2matrix2archive2transcript.html

Reloaded 4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2reloaded2archive2transcript.txt Revolutions 4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2revol"tions2archive2transcript.htmlThe Animatrix $econd Renaissance1 Part =F4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2animatrix2 2

transcript.htmlThe Animatrix $econd Renaissance1 Part ==F4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2animatrix2 !2

transcript.htmlThe Animatrix Ginal Glight o% the KsirisF4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2animatrix2 )2

transcript.htmlThe Animatrix ProgramF4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2animatrix2 (2transcript.htmlThe Animatrix ; Detective $toryF4http122///.<ionmain%rame.net2main2animatrix2 2 transcript.html

Enter the Matrix 4http122///.0alime.com2etm ==. Knline ChatMatrix &irt"al Theatre.F Wacho/s0i -rothers Transcript. 8ovem+er , 999. http122///.

/arnervideo.com2matrixevents2/acho/s0i.html

===. K%%icial We+sitesThe Movies and Comics4http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.comThe Animatrix 4http122///.theanimatrix.com

Enter the Matrix 4http122///.enterthematrixgame.com

=&. Kther We+sitesSion Main%rameF4http122///.<ionmain%rame.netThe Matrix Comm"nityF4http122///.matrixcomm"nity.org$yrac"se Aniversity Li+rary Matrix Lin0sF4http122li+///.syr.ed"2research2internet2art2

8avMatrix2Matrix.htmKpen Directory Lin0sF4http122ne/hoo.com2;rts2Movies2Titles2M2MatrixU$eries2Matrix,UThe2 ;rticlesUandU=ntervie/s2;nalysesUandUEssaysMatrix Gor"mF4http122matrix4explained.com

&. Movie, D&D, and $o"ndtrac0 =n%ormationLeeJs Movie =n%oF4http122///.leesmoviein%o.comThe =nternet Movie Data+aseF4http122///.imd+.comGilmsco"ts.com4MatrixF4http122///.%ilmsco"ts.com2scripts2%ilm.c%mNGilmVmatrixLyrics %orThe Matrix $o"ndtrac04http122///.elyrics ".com2al+"m2t2theUmatrixU so"ndtrac0.htmLyrics %or Reloaded $o"ndtrac04http122///.lyricsondemand.com2so"ndtrac0s2m2matrixreloaded LyricsLyrics %or Revolutions $o"ndtrac04http122///.pro>etx.net

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&=. K%%icial We+site ;rticlesChalmers, David #. The Matrix as Metaphysics.F Philosophy The Matrix. March ( , ( ).

http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com. %"ll version at http122///.".ari<ona.ed"2IBEchalmers2papers2 matrix.html

Clar0, ;ndy. The T/isted Matrix1 Dream, $im"lation or Hy+ridNF Philosophy The Matrix.

Decem+er 9, ( ). http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.comDrey%"s, H"+ert and $tephen. The -rave 8e/ World o% The Matrix .F Philosophy TheMatrix. 8ovem+er ( , ( (. http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

Driver, #"lia. ;rti%icial Ethics.F Philosophy The Matrix. March ( , ( ). http122/hat isthematrix./arner+ros.comGlannery4Dailey, Grances and Wagner, Rachel. Wa0e Ap 4Christianity, 5nosticism,

-"ddhism in The Matrix .F Philosophy The Matrix. 8ovem+er ( , ( (.http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

5ra", Christopher. Philosophy in The Matrix .F Philosophy The Matrix. 8ovem+er ( ,( (. http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

5reen+erg, $ean. Matrix and Monadology1 Lei+ni<ian Themes The Matrix .F Philosophy

The Matrix. Decem+er 9, ( ). http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.comHanley, Richard. Re%lections on the Girst Matrix.F Philosophy The Matrix. 8ovem+er ( ,( (. http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

444444444444. $im"lacra and $im"lation1 -a"drillard and The Matrix .F Philosophy The Matrix.Decem+er 9, ( ). http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

Ma/son, T.W. Morphe"s and -er0eley on Reality.F Philosophy The Matrix. Decem+er9, ( ). http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

Mc5inn, Colin. The Matrix o% Dreams.F Philosophy The Matrix. 8ovem+er ( , ( (.http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

McQenna, Michael. 8eoJs Greedom...Whoa F Philosophy The Matrix. March ( , ( ).http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

Partridge, #ohn. PlatoJs Cave and The Matrix .F Philosophy The Matrix. March ( , ( ).http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

Pryor, #ames. WhatJs $o -ad ;+o"t Living in the Matrix.F Philosophy The Matrix. March( , ( ). http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

&asilio", =a0ovos. Reality, What Matters, and The Matrix .F Philosophy The Matrix. 8ovem+er ( , ( (. http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

War/ic0, Qevin. The Matrix 4K"r G"t"reNF Philosophy The Matrix. 8ovem+er ( , ( (.http122/hatisthematrix./arner+ros.com

&==. Movie Revie/s-"re0, #osh. The 5ospel ;ccording to 8eo.F Christian Science Monitor May 9, ( )5arrett, 5reg. $pea0ing K"t1 Loo0ing %or 5od in The Matrix .F Christianit" Toda" May ,

( ) http122///.christianitytoday.com2ct2( )2 92! . .htmlHert<, Todd. Exegeting The Matrix .F Christianit" Toda" B 'Dec.( )*1 )Le/is, $tephanie. Watch The Matrix ;gain.F Relevant Maga1ine #an"ary , ( http122 ///.relevantmaga<ine.comMathe/es45reen, Grederica. $pea0ing K"t1 Desert o% the Real.F Christianit" Toda" May (,

( ) http122///.christianitytoday.com2ct2( )2 92 . .htmlKverstreet, #e%%rey. Gilm Gor"m1 Tal0ing ;+o"t Revol"tions.F Christianit" Toda" 8ovem+er

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), ( ). http122///.christianitytoday.com2ct2( )2 2 . .html444444444444. Gilm Gor"m1 Matrix $e:"el Gla"nts Glashy E%%ects, Tedio"s Tal0.F Christianit"

Toda" May ((, ( ). http122///.christianitytoday.com2ct2( )2 ( 2 . .htmlPro+st, Christopher. Directors Larry and ;ndy Wacho/s0i Reteam /ith Cinematographer -ill

Pope on the G"t"ristic, Eye4popping ;ction Thriller The Matrix .F American

Cinematographer ;pril 999 http122///.theasc.com2maga<ine2apr992matrix2Rothstein, Ed/ard. Philosophers Dra/ on the Gilm Matrix.JF New Yor Times May ( , ( )$il+erman, $teve. Matrix ( .F %ired Maga1ine 'May ( )* http122///./ired.com2/ired2 archive2 . !2matrix(Upr.html$tamets, -ill. 8othing is Real.F Chicago Reader http122///.chireader.com2movies2archives2 9992 992 9.html$ta"+, Dic0. The Dic0 $ta"+ =ntervie/1 Why We ;re Dra/n to The Matrix .F Christianit"

Toda" May (B, ( ) http122///.christianitytoday.com2ct2( )2 ( 2 (. .htmlWeinra"+, -ernard. =n Matrix,J the Wacho/s0i -rothers Anleash a Comic -oo0 o% =deas.F

New Yor Times ;pril !, 999

&===. -oo0s and Kther Wor0sCopeland, Cecil. The Matrix 4; Cy+erp"n0 Para+le.F http122a/esomeho"se.com2matrix2444444444444. The Matrix as Messiah Movie.F http122a/esomeho"se.com2matrix2Corliss, Richard. Pop"lar Metaphysics.F Time Maga1ine ;pril 9, 999444444444444. Anloc0ing the Matrix.FTime Maga1ine May (, ( )Gontana, Pa"l. 5eneration Exile and 8eo Restoration1 ; $t"dy o% Messianic Hope in The

Matrix .F Class Paper at Harvard Divinity $chool %or ;pril !, (Gord, #ames L. -"ddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix 1 The Dialectic o% Myth4Ma0ing in

Contemporary Cinema.F *ournal of Religion and #ilm '( *5ood, Tom. K+servations ;+o"t the Movie The Matrix .F http122///.geocities.com2 Holly/ood2Heights2 9!2index.html

=r/in, William 'ed.*. The Matrix and $hilosoph": %elcome to the &esert of the Real . Pop"larC"lt"re and Philosophy &ol.). Chicago1 Kpen Co"rt, ( (Lloyd, Peter -. 5litches Reloaded.F #"ne , ( ) http122///.0"r</eilai.net444444444444. Exegesis of the Matrix . London1 Whole4+eing -oo0s, ( )Mann, Do"g and Hochenedel, Heidi. Evil Demons, $aviors, $im"lacra, and The Matrix .F

http122home.comcast.net2 crapsonline2Li+rary2matrix.htmlMc5rath, #ames G. The Desert o% the Real1 Christianity, -"ddhism -a"drillard in The

Matrix Gilms and Pop"lar C"lt"re.F http122///.inter4disciplinary.net2ati2&isions2& 2 mcgrathI( paper.pd% Rovira, #im. -a"drillard and Holly/ood1 $"+verting the Mechanism o% Control and The

Matrix .F http122///."ta.ed"2english2apt2colla+2texts2holly/ood.html

$eay, Chris and 5arrett, 5regg. The !ospel Reloaded: Exploring Spiritualit" and #aith in TheMatrix. Colorado $prings1 Pe on Press, ( )$pencer, $teven. -"ddhism in the Matrix Reloaded.F http122///.stevenspencer.comTa0le, -rian. The Matrix: Reloaded Explained.F 8ovem+er ( , ( ) ver. (. . http122/yl%ing. net2essays2 matrixUreloaded.html444444444444. The Matrix: Revolutions Explained.F Decem+er (, ( ) vers. .(. http122/yl%ing. net2essays2 matrixUrevol"tions.htmle%%eth, 5lenn 'ed.*. Ta ing the Red $ill: Science/ $hilosoph" and Religion in The Matrix.

()



Dallas1 -en+ella -oo0s, ( )

=3. 5eneral Wor0s on Postmodernism-a"drillard, #ean. Simulacra and Simulation . trans. +y. $heila Garia 5laser. ;nn ;r+or1

Aniversity o% Michigan Press, 99

-est, $teven and Qellner, Do"glas. The $ostmodern Turn . 8e/ or01 5"il%ord Press, 99BDoc0ery, David $. The Challenge of $ostmodernism . sec. ed. 5rand Rapids1 -a0er, (5ren<, $tanley #. A $rimer on $ostmodernism . 5rand Rapids1 Eerdmans, 99Lints, Richard. The &awn of the $ostmodern . %orthcomingLyon, David. $ostmodernit" . sec. ed. Minneapolis1 Aniversity o% Minnesota, 999McC"llo"gh, Lissa. #ean -a"drillard and the Death o% 5od.F http122>crt.org2archives2 (.)2

mcc"llo"gh.shtml

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