Reality/Christianity/2.0 vs Virtuality/Matrix/1.0

I must say it is always refreshing and enlighting to read a book over again, as well as it is to view a movie for the second time.

As a result of being in this class, I gained a new perspective, from my previous one which was for pure entertainment. Where I focused more on the special effects, the actors who played the parts and a little on the plot. Yet, as I saw the film for the second time, I was able to make more connections and do deeper analysis with what I learned in class to what was going on in the movie. I keyed in on the aspects of cyberspace. (So that is what cyber space looks like) I was able to get a visual picture of what the inside of a computer would possible look like, as seen through the eyes of the movie producer and author of the story. I noted from the movie and as well in some on line articals computer focused termology like hackers, cyberpunk, cypernetic implants, etc.

I was also able to see two distinct mindsets going on. That of the Matrix and that of the Resistance. It became clear that the Matrix was over powering and was controlling people to think and live one way. People who were entrapped by the Matrix, believed that their lives were real and functional, yet, they became the reverse of the computer. The computer was using them and they were being programmed by the computer to be limited and dysfuctional. Another way of saying this is In the Matrix the computer is "us/ing" us not the opposite.

There were distinct spiritual undertones that were evident. Good verses evil. In the artical I read online, the author explained it well by sharing his connection of the Matrix to Christianity. Neo, served the role as Jesus despite the fact that he wasn't born without sin, he did like Jesus die and after taking the Red Pill was born again, or was raised from the dead in 72 hours-on the 3rd day, just like Jesus. The author of the artical even broke it all down by correlating each character or entity to Bibical characters and life. Depicting the spiritual warfare. He went as far as saying Neo represented Jesus. One of the characters told him he was his savior man. The Matrix was the devil, the one who misled the people, sucking the very essence out of them, causing them to be walking dead. The resistance were compared to Christians and heavenly angels. The Red Pill representing salvation, true life. I was thrilled to see these noticings expanded upon. Like the author most movies today have very little signifigance to the importance and betterment of life, let alone salvation and spiritual growth. Not to belabor this issue but, one of the most powerful connections I made in agreement with the article is the points in the movie where evidence of new birth and Jesus life were mirrored. For example , when Neo asked why his eyes hurt. and the reply was thet he never used them. How deep is that? He was born again and seeing life through new eyes. Just like me learning and approaching computers with a new perspective, whic leads to the final phase of my discussion, how the Matrix could serve as an illustration between the 1.0 mindset and 2.0 mind set.

The Matrix, embellished what having a set, and conditioned mind could do. It could be very limiting, limiting progress and discernment and true interaction with the world and it people. Whereas, you don't grow. Growth is one of the characteristics of a living thing. On the other hand, having a hypercyber focused mind set or a 2.0 mind set allows the insividual to exist and not be conformed to the world old unproductive ways to live in an ever changing new world. With eyes opened, renewed frequently with new red pills of life. Us us/ing the computer, and not the computer us/ing us.

All in all I trully enjoyed the movie and I not only developed a better understanding of computer usage, my faith was further strenghtened. Jesus is my "red pill" and I shall no longer fear reaching the 2.0 level mindset.