Let's explore the theme of harmony through the Na'vi connection to Eywa and nature. Eywa, the deity of Pandora from the blockbuster film Avatar, carries a subtle message that relates her to Christ, the God of Earth. Throughout this post, I will reference the Avatar Wiki, a fan-made, collaborative encyclopedia offering detailed insights into the Avatar franchise, including characters, fictional science, creatures, and the beliefs of the Na'vi people.
In the film, Eywa embodies the Pandoran neural network, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all living beings. This emphasizes the importance of harmony between nature and its inhabitants, a concept that parallels the biblical teachings of Christ. In both narratives, we see a divine figure urging followers to live in unity with their surroundings and care for others, underscoring a belief in a greater purpose that transcends individual existence. It suggests that all living beings, from humanity to nature, are interconnected through Christ, the sustaining force of life.
John 1:3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.
Eywa, also known as the All-Mother or the Great Mother, is the globally distributed consciousness of Pandora and the balancing and guiding force behind all its ecosystems, allowing all species to live in harmony and balance with their environment. She is the only known deity of the Na'vi.
In the Christian society, Christ is seen as both the Creator and Sustainer of life, a guiding force maintaining balance and harmony within creation. Colossians 1:17 illustrates this role: "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." This reflects the concept of "Mother Nature, a personification of the earth and its nurturing, life-giving qualities, embodying the balance of ecosystems and the interconnectedness of all living things. In various cultures, she is revered as a deity or spirit that protects and nurtures, emphasizing a sacred relationship with the environment.
Psalm 91:1-2 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.
This life-giving force saturates all creation, akin to a "global consciousness" like Eywa. Christ's wish for Earth is a balance of ecosystems and harmony among species, caring for all His creation. This is reflected in the "Cosmic Christ" concept, where His presence spans the cosmos, guiding and balancing creation. His role as the "balancing and guiding force behind all ecosystems" aligns with Christian stewardship, emphasizing humanity's duty to maintain the balance God established in nature.
Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being.
Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
Genesis 1:26-28 entrusts humans with dominion, a responsibility to uphold harmony with the environment. This connection with "Mother Earth" signifies a blend of spirituality and environmental consciousness, highlighting life's interconnectedness, suggesting the planet's health reflects spiritual balance. This perspective presents Christ as a living force within the planet, guiding souls for the well-being of all life. However, as Jake Sully prayed to Eywa at the Tree of Souls, the humans killed their mother. We have not cared for our God.
Scientific discoveries of Eywa
In the science fiction film, the rainforest of Pandora is revealed by the human scientists who invaded the planet to have a system or network with more connections than the human brain. The roots of individual trees engage in electrochemical communication with each other, functioning like synapses between neurons. This indicates that the entire biosphere of Pandora possesses intelligence or at least an 'awareness,' capable of cognitive reactions.[1]
In Christianity, God's creation is seen as a reflection of divine order and intelligence. The idea that the Earth has its own form of intelligence or awareness highlights the intricate design of creation. Just as ecosystems' complex interconnections suggest a higher organization, Christians view this as evidence of God's wisdom. This perspective emphasizes the Christian call for environmental stewardship. Understanding the complexity and interconnectedness of nature inspires a deeper responsibility to care for creation, aligning with the Biblical mandate to be Earth's stewards. The concept of "awareness" in the biosphere, beyond traditional consciousness, invites spiritual reflection on God's presence in the natural world, showing how all creation can testify to His glory. Ultimately, the interconnectedness and intelligence of natural systems reflect divine order and inspire ecological responsibility, inviting us to perceive God's presence in creation.
A system or network with numerous connections, engaging in communication like synapses and showing intelligence or awareness, also relates to AI in several ways:
- Artificial Neural Networks: These networks mimic the brain by having interconnected nodes that process information through weighted connections, exhibiting "intelligence" by learning patterns and improving over time.
- Complexity and Scale: AI systems, especially large models, can be more complex than the human brain, with deep learning models handling vast data and complex tasks, reflecting sophisticated interconnections.
- Cognitive Reactions: AI aims to simulate human cognition, with advanced models exhibiting behaviors like understanding natural language and making decisions.
- Emergent Intelligence: As AI becomes more complex, it may display unexpected capabilities or behaviors, reflecting intelligence.
Overall, systems with extensive connections and cognitive reactions highlight AI's capabilities and raise considerations about intelligence and consciousness.
Na'vi culture and mythology
The Na'vi all share certain key values even across clans, including their reverence for Eywa, the Great Mother, made up of all living things. They view life as a network of flowing energy, understanding that all energy is merely borrowed by living things, and one day, it must be returned. All creatures are understood to have two forms: a body, and a spiritual counterpart or soul or spirit (vitra). At the end of one's life, their energy subsides into Eywa, giving birth to a new life form.
Psalm 104:24-25 How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small.
Job 12:10In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 3:20-21 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?
As the Na'vi believe, Eywa is made up of all living things; they live in Eywa, and Eywa lives in them. However, this does not imply that individual life forms are identical to Eywa, who encompasses and transcends them all. Similarly, while all cells are part of the organism they form and derive their life from it, they are not identical to the unity they create.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all
Colossians 1:16-17 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The Na'vi pray to Eywa in times of need at the Tree of Souls and express gratitude to her for escape from danger.[2] This is something we too do with our Mother, we pray to Him. The Na'vi view all living things as a single connected system to be respected and cared for. However, they revere certain trees and plants as especially sacred - as places where it's possible to connect and communicate with Eywa herself, such as the Tree of Souls of the Omatikaya and the Spirit Tree of the Metkayina. The tsahìk, the spiritual leader of the Na'vi's different clans interpret the will of Eywa, making meaning of the signs she is understood to send, usually through the seeds of the Tree of Souls.[3] Essentially, the tsahik, are prophets that receive their enlightenment from the "many members" that make up Ewya's body.
Psalm 34:4-7 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
The Na'vi seek to live in perpetual harmony with their world, free of "dissention." Their oneness with Eywa provides them with a sense of certainty, selfless values, and pure motives. This is often interpreted as childish naiveté to the humans in the narrative/ Some of whom hope to prey on the Na'vi's perceived innocence. However, faith and optimism have proved strong enough to lead the Na'vi through many hard times throughout their history.
The Na'vi interact with the biosphere according to three principles known as the Three Laws of Eywa, reflecting their commitment to a low-impact lifestyle. They gather and hunt only what they need, refraining from altering ecosystems to enhance their own comfort.
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
John 3:24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual practices
The Na'vi respect, celebrate, pray to, and give thanks to Eywa in many of their cultural practices. They have a deep spiritual connection with the entire biosphere of Pandora, seeing other living beings as brothers and sisters, as they're all children of the Great Mother. Thus, they put an emphasis on giving thanks to the animals they kill for their meat, wishing for their spirit to be reversed into Eywa.[3][2]
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Deuteronomy 12:15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer. According to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you, both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it.
In times of great need, Na'vi clan members gather at the Tree of Souls and all unanimously connect their queues to the tree; through this, they all experience a simultaneous connection to each other, a condition of profound emotional power. According to the tsahìk, this connection enables clan members to better "see" each other and amplifies any message they have to Eywa. This is the strongest statement of purpose the Na'vi can make, and is vital to important processes such as the consciousness transfer.
Matthew 18:19-20 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
In conclusion, the Na'vi's profound relationship with Eywa and their environment underscores the importance of living in harmony with nature. Their spiritual practices and community connections are a testament to their values of respect, gratitude, and interconnectedness with all living beings. As we reflect on their way of life, we are reminded of our responsibility to protect our own ecosystems and seek a balance that fosters sustainability and peace. The wisdom of the Na'vi invites us to explore deeper connections between humanity and the world around us, urging us to embrace a path of stewardship and reverence for all forms of life. Just as Christ inspires us to love and care for creation, Eywa serves as a symbol of unity and respect for life for the Na'vi', both guiding their people toward a harmonious existence.
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Email me at suzanne@christthetruelight.com
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