The Matrix: An Introduction to Faith
By: Dan Baxter
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Try for one second to imagine that
everything you believe in is false.
Imagine that the world around you is actually a prison and that you are a
slave. In the cinematic masterpiece
which is The Matrix, that is the truth.
A few centuries into the future, machines have taken over and are using
human beings as “batteries.” They
harvest out body heat for energy to keep them alive. “But how is this possible,” you may ask. That is where the Matrix comes in. The Matrix is control. It is the way machines are able to use the
human race as their energy source. The
Matrix is a computer universe created so that, all those plugged into it, may
live out their lives in it as if nothing were wrong whatsoever. According to The Matrix, that is the
world in which we know and live but it is not reality. It is a means of control used to enslave the
human race. There is hope, however,
while a few humans still remain outside of the Matrix. Centered in the last human settlement of
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The Matrix is a
cinematic work which illustrates three of the main ideas we have covered in
this first section of Junior Theology: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, faith, and making choices based on an
examined life.
The Matrix is essentially
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave put into
a futuristic sci-fi setting. The only
main difference is that the world outside “the cave,” which in the movie is of
course the Matrix, is not necessarily better than what is inside the cave. In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, there is also this idea of at first, the
prisoners know nothing but what they see in the cave which is the shadows of
the people carrying things across the wall behind them. Similarly, in the movie, most people believe
that the world within the Matrix they live in is reality and that there is
nothing outside of it. Since that is all
they see, they don’t know any different and they accept that as all there
is. However, eventually one is let out
and he sees reality causing him to want to set his fellow prisoners free as
well. For many, the first thing they
experience when set free is pain. Like
Cipher in the movie, they choose to reenter the cave or the Matrix and pretend as
though the outside world does not exist.
They choose denial, another topic discussed in class. As Cipher himself says, “Ignorance is
bliss.” After being told the truth but
before being let out, Neo too is given this choice. He can take the blue pill and wake up in his
bed or the red pill and be set free into reality. Neo of course, like the first man who was set
free in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave,
chooses to be set free into reality and even goes back to try to free the
others. Therefore, The Matrix is
the perfect modern day example of a story like Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
The Matrix is also a perfect
example of faith as well, which is the topic of the first semester of this
class. Faith was defined by our freshman
Theology Textbook’s author, Zanzig, as having two characteristics: belief and
trust. Both trust and belief are
essential to the movie in that the character Neo is “the One.” Morpheus for example is willing to risk his
life because he so strongly believes that Neo is “the One.” In the later movies of The Matrix
trilogy, the council and later Naomi believe Neo is worth sending out a ship,
which was by no means expendable, to find.
Naomi in fact trusts him so much she is willing to give him her own ship
for what is essentially a suicide mission.
These are examples of faith, but we also discussed Faith.
Faith is addressed in the character of Neo who is obviously a messianic figure, because, in the end he gives
his life in order to end the enslavement of humanity and establish peace. Together, these things show how The Matrix
constantly shows the value of faith throughout.
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Finally, the quote from this section
is that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Through his choices Neo shows that he does
live an examined life and how important choices can be. The Matrix itself is essentially about
choices. One prime example of this is
the Oracle. She tells Neo that he is not
“the One,” but that Morpheus believes he is so strongly he is going to sacrifice
his life for him and that one of the two of them is going to die but it is up
to Neo which one. Through his choice to
save Morpheus instead of himself, Neo dies and becomes “the One.” Later, in the second movie, when he visits the
architect he is given another choice.
There are two doors, behind one
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Therefore, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave can be seen retold
through The Matrix in a more science fiction setting. In addition, characters all throughout The
Matrix are prime examples of showing faith.
Finally, through his choices, we see that Neo leads an examined life
despite the difficulties. For these
reasons, The Matrix is a perfect example of a cinematic work which
illustrates the key ideas of this section.