The Matrix

The movie The Matrix was released in 1999 and captured many viewers’ eyes.  There were many different perspectives that people have.   This movie is filled with a Religious connection such as Gnostic Christianity, philosophical theories, and relations with Greek mythology.  The main characters such as Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, The Oracle, Agent Smith, and Cypher all play a major part on the above ideas.  Through Christianity imagery Neo is represented as Messiah.

The documentary “Philosophy of The Matrix” talks about the different aspects of The Matrix.  The video clarifies that The Matrix is a “computer generated dream world built to keep us under control in order to change a human being into a battery”(Oreck).  The many philosophers speaking upon the video discuss how Neo is looked upon as “the one” meaning god.  Neo’s responsibility of being the one is for him to save the city of Zion and the Matrix.  According to the documentary “gnostic christianity frames the fundamental human problem and ignorance the solution which is being enlightenments”.  This means people are getting all these great aspects through movies not understanding where it truly comes from.

The movie The Matrix at first is a bit hard to understand.  Many have said it takes a couple of watches on the movie to really capture the message  the Wachowski brothers is sending.  The movie shows many animated stunts and character specialties.  Based on the movie, Neo being “the one” he has the most amazing abilities to fight off Agent Smith in a never losing fight.  Jesus is believed to be the most powerful man in the world.  In every fight Neo has with Agent Smith , he never loses even after agent smith duplicates. This being said brings us to Jesus being in relation to Neo.  “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,  The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all” (1 Chron 29:11).   Agent Smith is looked at as Saint through christian imagery.  “And He said to them, x "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”(Luke 10:18).  Agent Smith is considered evil because he is trying to kill Neo to get into the city of Zion to destroy it.  In the movie, there's a scene in which Neo is giving something like a disc to a guy name Choi.  Choi referees to Neo as his own personal “Jesus Christ”.  This phrase alone gives the christian viewers the possibility to relate to their religion.      

The script gives a clarity of dialogue.  It shows accuracy in Trinity telling Cypher that Morpheus believes Neo is the one.  “Cypher: We’re going to kill him, do you understand that? Trinity: Morpheus believes he is the one” (Staley 1).  Along this same part of the script,  Cypher is portrayed at Judas through christian imagery .  “Cypher: We’re going to kill him, do you understand that? Trinity: Morpheus believes he is the one Cypher: Do you? Trinity: It doesn’t matter what I believe”(Staley 2).   These quote reveal how Cypher is betraying in believing that Neo is the one.  In christian religion  Judas betrays god and what he believes.  “47 And while He was still speaking,  behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”(Luke 22:47-48).

The scholarly article called “Neo-Christ: Jesus, The Matrix, and Secondary Allegory as a Rhetorical Form” adds to the message the producers of The Matrix is trying to convey.  “The Matrix films have been praised as prime examples of this rhetorical form, with a diversity of symbols and images referencing multiple ideological, philosophical, and religious viewpoints”(Milford 19).   This quote emphasizes that the movie is filled with christian symbols.  Followed by “Christian audience centered on the films as religious allegory, finding them to be a retelling of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Milford 19).  Christian basically view the movie as a reenactment or play of Jesus Christ.

In another scholarly article called “Wake up! Gnosticism and Buddhism in the Matrix” also add to the Wachowski brother’s message.  The authors of the article give us a breakdown of the meanings of the characters in the movie names.  It gives us a better understanding of how the movie is considered similar to christian imagery.  “Neo’s given name of Mr. Ander/son (from the greek andras for man, thus producing “Son of Man”), the ship named the Nebuchadnezzar (the babylonian king who, in the book of Daniel, has puzzling symbolic dreams that must be interpreted)...” (Flannery-Dailey, Wagner 2).  Neo, Trinity, and all the other cast of the film have names that relate to the bible.  Along the Matrix Morpheus obviously prophesying that Neo is the one.  “Neo is overtly constructed as a Jesus figure: he is “the One” who was prophesied to return again to The Matrix, who has the power to change the Matrix within... ” (Flannery-Dailey, Wagner 2).    

       In the bible, it examples how Jesus was born.  After he was born he was able to fulfill the prophecy.  This was name revelation.  This relates to Neo accepting his calling when they kidnapped Morpheus.  “41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah"(John 1:41).   The bible also lets us understand the woman that's compared to Trinity.  “25 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah  is coming" (who is called Christ)"When He comes,  He will tell us all things" (John 4:25)  This is used to compare Trinity because throughout the movie Trinity is a big believer in Neo, however through christian imagery Neo is viewed as Messiah.   All the characters from the movie that are on the ship including Trinity are compared to the 12 disciples.  Everyone on the ship in the Matrix helps Neo whenever he’s is in need of help and wants to be removed from The Matrix.  They follow Him or Morpheus every command.  This is similar to the 12 disciples and how they carried out god’s message after he died.   “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Matt 10:1).

Overall,  The Matrix captured a worldview of christians.  I couldn’t have thought of any other religion that may have related to this film then Christianity.  Even the settings of the movie is somewhat related to christianity.  Morpheus being god and Neo being Messiah is what reinforces the message of the movie that the Wachowski brother is sending.  Every aspect of the movie brings christians more and more in tune with The Matrix.  The film gives them a sense of entertainment to watch what they believe in in a well played drama.