Well, seems like everyone always focuses on the bad aspects of Christianity and how some pastors and priests have dubbed it "demonic", "evil", "scary", and sometimes even "faith-straying".

Well, here's an article I came across, written back in March.

Next-Wave Ezine > church & culture

You don't have to read it (pretty long); it takes the message of Avatar and (strangely) Lady in the Water and puts both movies into perspective of what mankind has really become these days. It's a sermon, in other words, surrounding both these movies. This is the kind of preaching we ought to see coming from the Christian community, considering how the only major religion that's ever given any trouble about "Avatar" so publicly has been the Christian community.

This is a mistake, IMO. I just thought I'd post this to show another take on, what can be to many, a beautiful film that wakes us up to certain realities. This minister's take on the film is one of the most positive approaches I've ever seen from any grounded Christian source; some of it may be reaching (talking about things the film never really intended), but let it be, I say. We should consider this a reflection of what positive opinions faith-based people can have, rather than the fearful, mindless rants of someone who never really took the time to see what the movie had to offer.

Thank you for posting something positve in this thread. While the church does have a bad rap as of late, its good to see people that still are optimistic and see life in an upbeat manner without condemning everything around them.

Its all about perspective when it comes to subjects such as these. It saddens me that many of the religious community are quick to judge that which they dont understand. And arent we supposed to FORGIVE THE FAULTS OF OTHERS as long as they make an attempt to redeem themselves? I thought that was the whole point of the religion, to create a new beginnning when old ways become harmful and hopeless.

Woodsprite, thank you for posting this . This minister sees the connections that I saw in Avatar. The need to reconnect with each other, our environment, and ultimately God. I also like how he compares Avatar and Lady in the Water, especially concerning the fact that both of the movies dealt with two different worlds and how the humans lost their connections and how some of the characters regain their connection.

I really don't see the religious connection... There really isn't any 'god' in Avatar.

I know. My point is even if the article may draw a few conclusions that probably weren't intended at all (though not all are faulty, just a few), at least it isn't regarded as "evil", but rather a film with a message that all creeds, including Christianity (as illustrated by this article), can take to heart.

Bottom line, if the writer sees something in Avatar that he regards as uplifting to Christianity, then he should speak on it by all means.

Not religious or 'God' in a Christian sense but look at their connections.
Eywa is all around them, it's not just the planet, as both Grace and Neytiri and even Norm pointed out. Eywa is their deity and she is real. They are closer to their planet and the life on it and through that to their deity than 90% of the people on this planet.
This film showed a spiritual connection and a devotion as well as 'praying' but it had a deeper meaning to the characters.
Jake didn't believe it even when he was talking to the Tree of Souls. "I'm probably just talking to a tree right now..." but even he understood that tree was a direct line to Eywa, he had heard the voices before and understood what tsahaylu was meant for.
So, as for 'religious' not really, spiritual... definitely.
(But so help me if Cameron takes this the way of the Matrix trilogy I am going to be so damn upset!)

Eywa is still a real organism, no supernatural powers and a physical structure. That's the difference, I don't even see the 'spiritual' thing in it.

The physical presence of Eywa makes it better, to me. There are still mysterious aspects (how did She summon all those animals?). That she has a physical body makes her more tangible, more real. You have a brain and if it gets damaged you'll suffer things like memory loss, personality change, and death. Yet you believe that you have a soul, too, that you are more than your brain, yes? Eywa is the same, only She is the mind of a whole planet (er, moon). She is the Lifestream, that which sustains and nurtures life. That said she's a small goddess in the scheme of things, strong only in her domain.

Eywa is a very mysterious entity, you're correct. Hopefully Cameron will really expound on it in the prequel novel he's working on. Until then, we just have theories... Speaking of which, you might have fun reading this.