World Analysis Essay

Introduction

As opined by McLaren (2019), a worldview can be best described as the ideological framework that has significance on an individual’s perception of reality. In other words, the concept of worldview can also be defined as the philosophical/theological belief that describes the interconnection amidst the Creator and mankind in an in-depth manner. The worldviews vary in nature and can be further divided into various categories such as naturalism, animism, far eastern thought, Christian theism, relational revelation, nihilism, etc. As per the opinion of Nerhus and Mooney (2019), human beings have distinctive worldviews, either on a conscious or a subconscious mind that have a major influence on how they perceive the world and reality that encompasses their existence. With respect to this, the learner significantly aims to reflect on the distinctive worldviews that influence the perception of human beings. In brief, the task analyzes the worldviews that have been portrayed through the characters of the three films, i.e. Avatar, The Dark Knight, and The Contact to provide a critical reflection on their interpretation of the worldview of Christian theism critically. The learner utilizes the evidence gained from the analysis of the distinctive theological beliefs portrayed through the journals to support the assessment, and critically reflect on their perception of worldview.

Discussion

Discussion on the worldview through the claims of Jesus

According to the opinion of Nerhus and Mooney (2019), a worldview reflected through Christian theism is primarily addressed as a Christian/Biblical worldview that describes the perception of how Christians engage in interactions with the world. As per the opinion of Thompson (2016), God has been recognized to exist in the integration of a holy trinity that is composed of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The ideologies shared by the Christian worldview are significantly influenced by the Bible. As per Genesis 1:27, the biblical worldview defines human beings as the creation of the Almighty, and are destined to maintain the governance of the world under his leadership (Thompson, 2016). Furthermore, Genesis 3 of the Bible states that human beings have committed sins against the Almighty, which had further cursed the world (Thompson, 2016). Furthermore, the Biblical worldview also claims that the Almighty had blessed the world with redemption by sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and soon the creation will undergo a synchronized restoration that will refurbish the world into a state of perfection. In this context, the understanding indicates that a biblical worldview is a reflection of beliefs that encompasses various criteria such as the potential redemption from the sins of human beings, dignity, and possibly supernatural miracles as well. Nevertheless, the significance of a Christian worldview can be interpreted through various sets of perceptions, which can be further recognized as theism, supernaturalism, creationism, mind/body dualism, etc (McLaren, 2019). The Christian worldview further states that the destiny of human beings composed of both salvation and judgment, and further highlights that the teachings and ideologies of the “Jesus of Nazareth” facilitate the keystone for the establishment of Christian theism.

Critical analysis based on the evidence from worldview perspectives obtained from the films

From The Dark Knight, the character of Joker is regarded as Nihilism, which is considered as the child of naturalism. The joker is portrayed as the agent of chaos and throughout the film; he has claimed himself to be one. The question arises Why? This is because the character of Joker explains that only the lucid way to live life is to stand without rules. This character explains that the world has no point and the only thing that can end it is death (Bellinger, 2016). He stated that human life is worthless and throughout the film, Joker tried to prove his viewpoint through dangerous and chaotic actions. He stated a simple Naturalist view that when you die, life is nothing.

Additionally, this film has a significant impact on human lives and they have regarded Joker as the hero wrapped in the shell of a villain. Thus, a real nihilist such as Joker has no DNA matches, no fingerprints, and thus, cannot successfully survive in the world. He has specifically removed all the signs of reality from his life to deal with a real-life and finally ended up in an asylum. Hence, from the worldview analysis, it can be said that The Dark Knight is totally based on the Naturalism view and has no relation with the Theism view hold by the Christian society.

Throughout the film, themes of redemption, sacrifice, fear, revenge, and selfishness have persisted that defined the natural human living world. In comparison to this, Avatar portrays the pantheistic worldview. The film explains the spiritual connection the Navi hold with the entire world consisting of both plants and animals. They live on a humongous tree that represents Mother Earth. Additionally, they are also connected to the spiritual beauty of nature, such as when they kill an animal they cry or pray for mercy (Jeserich, 2016). A virtual lesson is portrayed in the film through pantheism when Neytiri mentors Jake when they walk the path of life. The pantheistic explanation suggests their every way of living including their food habits, habitation, religious beliefs, and many others (Potter, 2019). Thus, the film preached pantheistic spirituality through which an individual can self-evaluate himself.

Apart from the worldview set by The Dark Knight and Avatar, Contact faced severe criticism from the Biblical/Christian viewpoint. There were two viewpoints set by the film Naturalist and Theistic. Although the film was of high quality, yet it has to face significant negative reviews from Christian society. This is because the film portrayed abrupt swearing of God's name and extra-marital sex. Additionally, the film featured that God does not exist and science has proven this. There were numerous anti-Christian ideas and the Christians were depicted as incapable to solve any answers.

Moreover, the film stated that religion and science. This is not true for Christian belief, as many founding fathers of science used to be Bible-believing creationists. This is evident from the Bible commentaries written by Sir Issac Newton. The film depicts that there are no God and science can only explain any plausible argument. The Christian society did not oppose the worldview set by The Dark Knight and Avatar, but strongly opposed the theme set by Contact. In the much-acclaimed film Avatar, a Scientific Naturalism worldview has been undermined. The film has been an embodiment of the pantheistic spiritualism worldview. The world view, which has been pictured in the film, is unrealistic.

In the film, nature has been showcased as a living entity, which is not the truth in the real world. The film has depicted an interactive and integral connection that exists between human beings and nature, which is not possible in reality. Idyllic primordial culture does not exist in the real world. The real world depicts a very harsh scenario with a very minute scope of improvement for the human beings. In the real world, the mortality rates of the infants are very high where the lives of human beings are highly endangered as a result of illness, animal predators as well as natural disasters, thereby entailing the illustration of the movie as a fairy tale vision.The theme of the film is largely based on pantheism. However, Panentheism, which is referred to as the belief system positing the existence of God and interpenetrating God every each part related to the nature, which extends beyond timelessly as well is largely distinguished from  Pantheism, which pervades in the film and is dominant ideology believed by the population of the N’avi people (marketfaith.org. 2018). 

Pantheism depicts the ideology entailing the position of the God as tantamount with the entire material Universe. However, the film has depicted a contradictory reality entailing the entire universe is in the God. Henceforth, in a nutshell it can be viewed that the film has depicted a different scenario, which the parallel existence of the God and universe, which is highly contradictory to the belief of the Christians thereby depicting an ideology, which is different to Theism. Christianity believes in the ideology pervading the existence of God, in whom the entire universe exists.  Concisely, it can be said that the entire film has symbolized the triumph of good over evil.

Moreover, the film is the depiction of living beings as the creature of God. On the other hand, in the film Dark Knight a different world view has been depicted. The entire film is entirely based on the central theme depicting the battle between the chaos and structure. The world view of Nihilism has pervaded in the entire film through the depiction of the character Joker entailing the absence of good or evil. The film has been highly illustrative of the actuality that is the absence of any particular structure and authority, which instructs the universe how to act. The character of Joker has personified the blatant truth the world, which is in absolute chaos where human beings turn out to be two-faced. Back in the year 1997, this had been found that one of the main reasons behind the impacts of Contact was the captivating depiction of it for the eternal struggle between the religion and science. The argument can be considered as one of the core aspects of the film and not subtle in the least (Topal and Ozsoyoglu, 2016). However, it can be told that this fascinated many people.

In this regard, it had been found that contact takes the two equal persuasive sides of the argument alon with personifies them with Jodies Fosters scientists Ellie Arroway and Mathew McConaugey’s religious scholar plamer Joss. In this regard, it can be said that science always demands proof but religion demands less prove comparing to science. After two decades, this can be said that Contact is Zemeckis depiction of media along with technology. People video chat regularly and this was not very common in the year 1997. The attacks of terrorities on the Machine can be considered as the first that is discovered on the TV monitor along with that played out there subsequently too. Contact uses television and monitors. However, after seeing the obsession of the films with video, this can be considered as also comical how often this is utilized. Which poses the oblivious questions, “Why?”. This can be said that may be Aemeckis is trying simply to warn us regarding the influence of media.

Apart from that this can be revealed that Joker believes that there is not good or no evil and rejects any authority including God (Topal and Ozsoyoglu, 2016). This belief can be considered as very driving force of Joker’s actions throughout the movie. If no meaning is there in the universe then this can be said that why should a person care about good or evil. This can be considered as very much interesting to compare joker with the batman. This can be revealed that worldview of Joker is incorrect and the main reason behind this is it could direct truly toward a chaotic life (Topal and Ozsoyoglu, 2016). However, as God is there, this can be sure that there is meaning in this world.                             

Personal reflection of worldview

I have been realized that Contact fascinated many people. In this regard, in my opinion I can say that contact takes the two equivalent persuasive sides of the argument along with personifies them with Jodies Fosters scientists Ellie Arroway and Mathew McConaugey’s religious scholar plamer Joss. This move also show me that science always demands proof but religion demands less prove comparing to science.

I saw that the attacks of terrorist on the Machine can be considered as the first, which is discovered on the TV monitor along with that played out there subsequently too. Contact uses television and monitors. However, after seeing the obsession of the films with video, I have come to a point that it can be considered as also comical how often this is utilized. Which poses the oblivious questions, “Why?”. This can be said that may be Aemeckis is trying simply to warn us regarding the influence of media. After two decades, this can be revealed that Contact is Zemeckis depiction of media along with technology. I have seen in Contact that people video chat regularly and it was not very common in the year 1997. I have been realized that the film is an epitome of the pantheistic spiritualism worldview.

In my opinion, Ti can say that the world view that has been pictured in the film is unrealistic. In my opinion, the real world depicts a very harsh scenario with a very miniature scope of development for the human beings. This has been found that in the real world, the rates of humanity of the infants are very high where the lives of the human beings are extremely endangered as a outcome of illness, animal predators as well as natural disasters, thereby entailing the illustration of the movie as a fairy tale vision.

I have noticed in the film, the nature has been showcased as a living body and that is not the truth in the real world. I have seen that the film has depicted an interactive plus essential connection that exists between human beings and the character, which is not possible in reality. I have seen peaceful primordial culture does not exist in the real world. I have also realized that the theme of the film is mainly based on pantheism. On the other hand, Panentheism, which is referred to as the belief system, positing the existence of God and interpenetrating God every  part related to the nature, which extends beyond timelessly as well is largely distinguished from  Pantheism. In this regard I understand that pervades in the film and is dominant ideology believed by the population of the N’avi people. Pantheism depicts the ideology entailing the position of the God as tantamount with the entire material Universe.

Conclusion

Based on the discussion, it can be concluded that the ideologies shared by the Christian worldview are considerably influenced by the Bible. As per Genesis 1:27, the biblical worldview reveals that human beings are the creation of the enormous, and are destined to uphold the governance of the world under his leadership. Theism view holds by the Christian society. During the film, Dark Knight, themes of, sacrifice, redemption, fear, revenge and selfishness have persevered, which defined the natural human living world. In contrast to this, Avatar shows the pantheistic worldview. The film says the spiritual connection, the Na’vi holds with the all over the world consisting of both plants and animals. The Christian worldview states more that the destiny of human beings creates of both salvation plus judgment, and further reveals that the teachings plus ideologies of the “Jesus of Nazareth” facilitate the foundation for the establishment of Christian theism. In addition, Genesis 3 of the Bible states that the human beings have dedicated sins against the Almighty, which had further cursed the world.

 

Reference List

Bellinger, C.K., 2016. The Joker is Satan, and So Are We: Girard and The Dark Knight. Journal of Religion & Film, 13(1), p.5.

Jeserich, F., 2016. Spirituality as Anti-Structure in James Cameron's Avatar. Journal of Religion & Film, 14(1), p.12.

marketfaith.org (2018) available at:  [accessed on 09.09.2019].

McLaren, B.D., 2019. A new kind of Christian: A tale of two friends on a spiritual journey. Fortress Press.

Nerhus, L. and Mooney, J., 2019. Occupational therapy at Stable Days: Supporting a Christian Worldview.

Potter, M.A., 2019. Human-Nature-Technology interfaces within the Avatar cinema-scape. Image & Text: a Journal for Design, 33(1), pp.1-16.

Thompson, R.C., 2016. Preaching a Christian worldview in a post-Christian culture.

Topal, K. and Ozsoyoglu, G., 2016, August. Movie review analysis: Emotion analysis of IMDb movie reviews. In Proceedings of the 2016 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining (pp. 1170-1176). IEEE Press.