Colliding Worlds (pt 2)

Well, it has been a while since my last post in which I promised a part 2, so I'll try to remember what all I had to say. As a refresher, my experience of watching the new Harry Potter film caused me to explore the theme of parallel worlds in many modern films/shows. I suggested that one possible reason for this is that our materialistic worldview causes us to long for something more (because something more actually does exist). In this post, I want to explore another interesting theme that runs alongside that of parallel worlds.

In all of these films, I find it intriguing that, not only does a parallel world exist, but this other world also poses a threat to our world. It is a world filled with malevolent forces. In The Half Blood Prince the realm of wizards and witches is populated not only by Harry and his friends, but also by numerous forces that are set on conquest and destruction. And, in the pursuit of these goals, evil collides with our world and causes harm to those of us who are powerless in the use of magic (i.e.- the beginning of the film).

Yet, again, not only Harry Potter films exhibit this theme. Most films that feature colliding worlds portray the "other" world as a threat to our own. In The Matrix, computers have created a hostile world set on enslaving humanity. In superhero flicks, the world of the mask is not just for our beloved heroes, it is also the place for the worst kinds of villains as well. No superhero becomes popular by defeating mere bank robbers and murderers. They need a SUPER villain who pulls off super-thefts and commits super-atrocities. 9 times out of 10, alien films portray visitors from another "world" coming to earth a creating chaos and destruction (the recent film District 9 is a rare exception, although there is still great fear of the aliens.) Continued examples from countless other films could back me up here, but it is enough to state that there exists a certain fear of realms that collide with our own.

So, besides the fact that conflict makes for a good plot, why is there always such hostility from the other side? One possible reason could come from the great privileges that we have here in America. We are the most powerful empire in the world. We by and large can control world affairs. We have not actually been invaded by another country since 1812. The few attacks on home soil have been just isolated incidents and few and far between. We are the richest of the world. I could go on and on. However, these few quips illustrate that we are a people who grasp a considerable amount of control within our lives. There is little that seriously threatens us. Thus, one of our greatest fears here in America is the loss of control of the "worlds" in which we live. We dread things coming into our lives that would strip away our power and have the ability to change the worlds that we have erected. We fear helplessness.

Another question that could be asked is: Why is it that the invading forces of evil are always more powerful than those of us from the normal world? A related theme to the threatening parallel world is that we need a "savior" who understands and even participates in that other world as well. Our world needs a Harry Potter who can master magic. Gotham needs a Batman. Those trapped in the Matrix need a Neo. All of these heroes are people who somehow participate in both worlds.

Yet, film often is simply a reflection of our own lives. In an attempt to avoid helplessness, we seek the power of those realms that could threaten us. To defend ourselves from economic recessions and crashes we seek to gain the upper hand through economic knowledge. To avoid military and terrorist attacks we practice preemptive strikes. To maintain our social status, we strive after social savvy and may even search for information that can be used against others. However, the reality is that no matter how hard we try, there still exists circumstances that can bring everything down. Especially when we consider the reality of malevolent powers in this world, as I mentioned in my last post, then the clouds grow even darker. Even though several mortals can learn magic, it still requires a Harry Potter, a chosen one, to defeat the forces of evil.

As we look at the Bible, we realize our helpless situation as mortals. We cannot withstand the onslaught of evil. We need someone "on the inside" who can save us and stop evil. Yet, we desire someone who is one of us as well. Even though movies may pick up on this, they are not the first. In the Gospels we meet a man who was more than just a man. In fact, He originated in that "other world" and existed there from "the beginning." Therein lies one fascinating contrast with these films. Whereas films portray a hero rising from humanity to join the greater powers, Christianity tells the story of One beyond all powers who became a lowly man. And yet, there is where salvation springs forth.

In conclusion, Harry Potter has reminded me that there is a dark reality that surrounds us at times. So often we also become helpless to defend ourselves from these forces. We can try to stop it, but it won't be enough. In the end, we need a savior to hold back destruction. Praise be to God that we have such a Savior, and not just one from among us, but the One who came down to us.

Colliding Worlds

So, about a week ago I went with some friends to see the new Harry Potter film (Half Blood Prince). Before you judge me, no I am not a Harry Potter fan/nerd. I haven't read any of the books and until last week I had not seen any of the films. Needless to say, much of the film's story went over my head in light of the missing back story. However, my choices were spend the evening alone or with friends, so I figured I could at least watch the film for the film's sake.

Although the film was not particularly exciting for me, the opening scene did bring about an intriguing question in my mind. For those who have not seen the movie, the film opens with several evil creatures flying through the city and wreaking havoc. The mere mortals suffer and cannot even see/recognize the evil forces behind the acts. In this sense, two worlds are colliding: the mortal world and the world of witchcraft.

As I thought about that, it came to mind that this theme is actually quite common in films. A few years ago, The Matrix cashed in with a plot that centers around the idea of the imaginary world and the real world that lies behind it. We have countless alien/UFO films that carry this theme of invaders from another WORLD that come down and attack our world. Even superhero flicks have an element of this. There is the world of the helpless citizens, and the costumed world of superheros and villains. Even some TV shows use this theme. I remember being in middle school and watching the anime cartoon Digimon (it was middle school; it was OK then). The entire premise of that show was that there is our world, and there is a digital version of our world that is somehow linked to our own. This is a prominent theme indeed.


But why is there such an obsession with parallel worlds? What does this theme say about us as a culture? There are probably numerous things that could be said, but two come quickly to mind. First, I think these plots expose a longing/awareness of something more than just our material world. Within the U.S., we are incredibly materialistic. Even the best of us can easily go throughout our day in total neglect of anything beyond our physical circumstances. We act as if life is nothing more than health, money, possessions, emotions, and the weather. Yet, one cannot read the Bible without noticing that there is a sort of parallel world to our own. Paul talked about "visible AND invisible" powers and authorities (Col. 1:16). The writer of Hebrews talks about the earthly tabernacle as a "copy and shadow" of the heavenly one (Heb. 8). Revelation is constantly alternating between events on the earth and their equivalent happenings in heaven. We cannot escape this truth that, despite what our physical eyes see, there is an entire other world that envelops us.

Perhaps it is this fact that prompts movies/books like Harry Potter to portray our world colliding with others. We as a materialistic culture realize deep down that there is more than meets the eye. For some, there is a longing for something beyond the ordinary world, but to believe that something else could actually exist is to believe in fantasy-no different from believing in Narnia or Harry Potter. For others of us, we are aware that there is more; that there is another world that exists, but this world still often seems so far away and make believe. We all are held captive by this world's concerns and worries. At this point, let me be clear: I am not advocating gnosticism and claiming that this physical world is evil and worthless (as perhaps some Christians sadly advocate). Instead, I merely want to point out that there is something in addition to the physical, something more that we long for, and indeed very much need.

So, while the reality of our worlds sometimes seems distant and fantasy-like, I know that it is still a reality. So when I see films like Harry Potter, in which evil forces fly in to our world and create chaos, I am reminded that such a picture is very close to the truth. While Christ has defeated the powers of evil, their total end has not yet come. For a little while longer they plague this world. This leads to the 2nd point that came to mind after the film, but I will save that for my next post. Until then, may we pray for God to help open our eyes to the totality of the world so that we may better see His Kingdom and the forces that oppose it.