"Legend of Korra", Eastern Views, T.V & Ethics: What Can Christians learn from Anime?

[Gxg (G²)]

I'm not sure what that first link was trying to prove; all it said was that animistic cultures are Satanic and that good Christians need to eliminate them to plant the seed of the church.

Not certain where that came from - unless, of course, it was the wrong link. Animistic cultures are not all Satanic somehow.

I don't know anyone who would describe Christianity as animistic. The closest denomination that comes might be Pentecostals or Charismatics with their strong emphasis on the holy spirit and they definitely would not use the term animistic to imply that nature has any value under God. Plus they wouldn't want the pagan connotations.

Not according to what others have actually said, Bruh.

As said in On Christian Animism - Jesus Radicals":

One theologian who has been exploring the shape of a new “Christian animism” is Mark Wallace. In two recent books Finding God in the Singing River: Christianity, Spirit, Nature (2005) and Green Christianity (2010), Wallace has begun to outline the biblical and theological ligaments of this perspective. Wallace is trying to rethink the Christian faith as an earth-based religion. Our Christian faith should celebrate the bodily, material world as the place of God’s indwelling and care.

Christian animism is the belief that all of creation is filled with and animated by God’s presence. The animist worldviews of first world peoples may not be fundamentally opposed to classical Christianity. Christian animism affirms God incarnate in human flesh in a “green Jesus” and incarnate in creation by a “carnal Spirit” who indwells both human and more-than-human. Wallace points out that the Bible and the Christian tradition possess rich images and stories about God as an “earthen” being (God in the wind, the water, the fire). And perhaps when the Psalmist proclaims creation as declaring God’s glory and singing God’s praises it is not being metaphorical!

Some of this was discussed earlier in the thread (as it concerns St. Patrick and the context he lived in) - but the concept of Christian Animism is not a new concept. And we see this to a good degree with others such as the Thai Christians. This has also been seen within African American religious experience in Christianity when examining what occurred with Caribbean Slavery - one excellent book I'd recommend being one I'm going through right now entitled Plantation Church: How African American Religion Was Born in Caribbean Slavery - Noel Leo Erskine - Google Books. Not many consider, for example, why there was such an emphasis on getting baptized in rivers rather than in a pool in the Church when it came to Black Christianity (as it concerns the mindset that rivers/streams were sacred spaces and had a healing quality with regards to the spirit world).

With Christian Animism, there are variations of it - some of it good (as it concerns respecting nature, sacred space, etc). It's something many have already been exposed to - some without really realizing it. We talk about God, about spirits, demons, angels, curses, healing, and power. We’re familiar with spirit beings, and believe in their existence and power. We believe in a Creator God. Moreover, We believe that curses can be real, and that spirit beings can heal, or at least do a pretty good job of faking a cure. Christians respect animists when it comes to the spiritual world on much - there really is an unseen world that affects the seen world. There really are malevolent spirits whose desire is to control and harm humans. And
There really is a Creator God.

In animism—as in real estate— location is a big deal. For when an animist is crossing the river, he’s afraid of the river spirit, not the mountain spirit whose location is miles away. When he enters the deep forest, he doesn’t care about the river spirit anymore, but now he’s looking out for the forest spirit. It is this territorial feature of animism that actually has its basis in truth, since demonic spirits can’t be in more than one place at a time - and in that sense evil spirits are definitely territorial. ...so it should come as no surprise that scripture tells us that demonic spirits have jurisdiction over certain areas or “live in” certain idols or possess certain people (I Corinthians 10 and much of the OT, for example....the importance of location is illustrated in the story of Balaam in Numbers 22-24 where. Balaak hired Balaam to come from a
couple hundred miles away to curse Israel and Balaam is to do so from a certain height).

The animist has it more right than secular westerners, and even more right than some of us Christians in the west who are blind to many spiritual realities. But the part that animists have wrong is the solution to their problems. For the solution is not animistic manipulation of spirits, but loving allegiance to the “Father of spirits” made possible by the atonement
of Christ. Since animists live in constant fear of numberless spirit beings and ancestors, a faith that promises complete release from that fear is quite attractive.

In summary, I think our differences are much more cultural than anything. You've had a lot more experience with Eastern Christianity where I've had none. I was never raised around any immigrant communities who brought it to town (like anyone really wants to immigrate to central Illinois LOL) and anything remotely 'Catholic' was viewed with suspicion. These things are only becoming apparently to me now as I realize many forms of Christianity exist.

I get where you're coming from - although I'd not say that it's really cultural since I am aware of (and grew up around the same) what you experienced in the version of Christianity you encountered. Even before I was aware of Eastern Christianity.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

The Fearsome Five is probably my favorite of the bad guy team up. Anyone who watched the series was very much familiar with the characters and their back stories, and their grudge against Darkwing. We don't really have that yet in Korra; they don't have any prior contact with Korra yet and only 10 episodes to fill in their stories.

If the villans are bland by the end of the season, I'm going to be very upset

 

[gord44]

In summary, I think our differences are much more cultural than anything. You've had a lot more experience with Eastern Christianity where I've had none. I was never raised around any immigrant communities who brought it to town (like anyone really wants to immigrate to central Illinois LOL) and anything remotely 'Catholic' was viewed with suspicion. These things are only becoming apparently to me now as I realize many forms of Christianity exist.

Eastern Christianity is very interesting. I spent some time there in my 20's. A bit more open minded if anything. If eastern spirituality interests you I recommend Eknath Easwaran. His translations and commentary on 3 of the best Hindu and Buddhist works are superb. Especially the Bhagavad Gita, perhaps the finest spiritual treatise ever written in my opinion.

 

[Zoness]

Not certain where that came from - unless, of course, it was the wrong link. Animistic cultures are not all Satanic somehow.
Not according to what others have actually said, Bruh.

As said in On Christian Animism - Jesus Radicals":

​

Some of this was discussed earlier in the thread (as it concerns St. Patrick and the context he lived in) - but the concept of Christian Animism is not a new concept. And we see this to a good degree with others such as the Thai Christians. This has also been seen within African American religious experience in Christianity when examining what occurred with Caribbean Slavery - one excellent book I'd recommend being one I'm going through right now entitled Plantation Church: How African American Religion Was Born in Caribbean Slavery - Noel Leo Erskine - Google Books. Not many consider, for example, why there was such an emphasis on getting baptized in rivers rather than in a pool in the Church when it came to Black Christianity (as it concerns the mindset that rivers/streams were sacred spaces and had a healing quality with regards to the spirit world).

With Christian Animism, there are variations of it - some of it good (as it concerns respecting nature, sacred space, etc). It's something many have already been exposed to - some without really realizing it. We talk about God, about spirits, demons, angels, curses, healing, and power. We’re familiar with spirit beings, and believe in their existence and power. We believe in a Creator God. Moreover, We believe that curses can be real, and that spirit beings can heal, or at least do a pretty good job of faking a cure. Christians respect animists when it comes to the spiritual world on much - there really is an unseen world that affects the seen world. There really are malevolent spirits whose desire is to control and harm humans. And
There really is a Creator God.

In animism—as in real estate— location is a big deal. For when an animist is crossing the river, he’s afraid of the river spirit, not the mountain spirit whose location is miles away. When he enters the deep forest, he doesn’t care about the river spirit anymore, but now he’s looking out for the forest spirit. It is this territorial feature of animism that actually has its basis in truth, since demonic spirits can’t be in more than one place at a time - and in that sense evil spirits are definitely territorial. ...so it should come as no surprise that scripture tells us that demonic spirits have jurisdiction over certain areas or “live in” certain idols or possess certain people (I Corinthians 10 and much of the OT, for example....the importance of location is illustrated in the story of Balaam in Numbers 22-24 where. Balaak hired Balaam to come from a
couple hundred miles away to curse Israel and Balaam is to do so from a certain height).

The animist has it more right than secular westerners, and even more right than some of us Christians in the west who are blind to many spiritual realities. But the part that animists have wrong is the solution to their problems. For the solution is not animistic manipulation of spirits, but loving allegiance to the “Father of spirits” made possible by the atonement
of Christ. Since animists live in constant fear of numberless spirit beings and ancestors, a faith that promises complete release from that fear is quite attractive.


I get where you're coming from - although I'd not say that it's really cultural since I am aware of (and grew up around the same) what you experienced in the version of Christianity you encountered. Even before I was aware of Eastern Christianity.

Interesting reading for sure, its kind of refreshing to know these opinions exist.

But you ARE affiliated with Eastern Christianity and I am not, you are clearly very well read on the subject and I am not. I know only the Christianity I have dealt with and some factions of it on this board.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Interesting reading for sure, its kind of refreshing to know these opinions exist.

Knowing they exist, they should always be kept in mind whenever one does any type of general contrast.

But you ARE affiliated with Eastern Christianity. and I am not, and I am not, you are clearly very well read on the subject and I am not. I know only the Christianity I have dealt with and some factions of it on this board

To be clear, being affiliated with Eastern Christianity is not connected with the issue. Most of the things noted are in regards to things I experienced within Christianity even BEFORE becoming connected with Eastern Christianity (i.e. Black Church, Evangelical, Charismatic, Catholic, etc.) - and I have advocated for Christianity as a whole rather than just Eastern Christianity. As said before, if speaking on Christianity, it is a vast experience.

Knowing the Christianity one has dealt with is never an issue - but when exposed to it, it comes down to whether one actually wishes to go further and address it for what it is. One cannot say " I know only the Christianity I have dealt with and some factions" since they have now been EXPOSED to things outside of that - and it's an intentional choice whether they go further in addressing that or not. It's not as if others who lived without access to certain things could not have investigated - done email dialogues with others out of their area or other things. If one chooses intentionally to stick with what they have been exposed to (in one sample) or on a forum, they really can't say they were trying to deal with Christianity.

 

[Zoness]

Knowing they exist, they should always be kept in mind whenever one does any type of general contrast.



To be clear, being affiliated with Eastern Christianity is not connected with the issue. Most of the things noted are in regards to things I experienced within Christianity even BEFORE becoming connected with Eastern Christianity (i.e. Black Church, Evangelical, Charismatic, Catholic, etc.) - and I have advocated for Christianity as a whole rather than just Eastern Christianity. As said before, if speaking on Christianity, it is a vast experience.

Knowing the Christianity one has dealt with is never an issue - but when exposed to it, it comes down to whether one actually wishes to go further and address it for what it is. One cannot say " I know only the Christianity I have dealt with and some factions" since they have now been EXPOSED to things outside of that - and it's an intentional choice whether they go further in addressing that or not. It's not as if others who lived without access to certain things could not have investigated - done email dialogues with others out of their area or other things. If one chooses intentionally to stick with what they have been exposed to (in one sample) or on a forum, they really can't say they were trying to deal with Christianity.

Fair enough.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

We don't really have that yet in Korra; they don't have any prior contact with Korra yet and only 10 episodes to fill in their stories.

So far, the enemies are truly having their game in place...and it's amazing..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwolL2uVYnw







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[Gxg (G²)]

Yay!!!

Just saw the first three eps (already up on watchcartoononline.com)​

The Metal Kingdom is especially fascinating......and I do enjoy the conflict they're exploring with Bei-Fong and her sister...and the Metal Bending City and culture was amazing, in addition to the ways that airbenders are now being found all over the world - especially the Earth Kingdom. The politics behind what's going on really do stand out:​

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[awitch]

The Metal Kingdom is especially fascinating......and I do enjoy the conflict they're exploring with Bei-Fong and her sister...and the Metal Bending City and culture was amazing, in addition to the ways that airbenders are now being found all over the world - especially the Earth Kingdom. The politics behind what's going on really do stand out:
​

Just finished episode 5. I'm surprised that the family dysfunction stories are so interesting; not corny or soap-opera-y at all.

I don't know...are we doing spoilers while the season is in progress?

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Just finished episode 5. I'm surprised that the family dysfunction stories are so interesting; not corny or soap-opera-y at all.

They are very interesting and believable. It really is challenging..

I don't know...are we doing spoilers while the season is in progress?

I didn't think any spoilers were occurring - it was simply discussing what has happened thus far.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Fair enough.

Cool...

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Legend Of Korra Season 3 Q&A - Avatar Aang and Zaheer - YouTube

 

[awitch]

Just watched 6 and 7.

Halfway through the season and it seems like Korra's story arc rather minimal. We still know so little about her new pursuers and with no substantial back story, I don't really think they're all that interesting...yet.

At the same time, I loved Lin's story with her sister and seeing Bumi leading the airbender recruits.

 

[MehGuy]

Is Avatar on Netflix? I'm a interested in watching the show..

 

[awitch]

Is Avatar on Netflix? I'm a interested in watching the show..

Try watchcartoononline.com. Click cartoons and search the page for Korra. All episodes so far are there in excellent quality and no commercials

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Just watched 6 and 7.

Halfway through the season and it seems like Korra's story arc rather minimal. We still know so little about her new pursuers and with no substantial back story, I don't really think they're all that interesting...yet.

At the same time, I loved Lin's story with her sister and seeing Bumi leading the airbender recruits.

I think the most ideal situation would be to have more episodes included into the season since it seems some of the themes are a bit too much to squeeze in and do justice - Korra does not seem to be the focus for a reason.....and with her new pursuers, it doesn't seem to be the case that we have to know fully all that's going on with them since we already know they are trying to kidnap Korra and are exceptionally gifted more so than other benders. Zaheer is the main one who stands out - and he is very intriguing...

I do think he is intimately connected to Aang - some speculating that he was actually trained by Aang and killed him later on (Or that perhaps he saw the side of Airbending history that not even Aang realized - the side for more aggression) and thus in conflict harmed Aang.


[/URL]
The Legend Of Korra: Zaheer's Origin - YouTube

What others have noted is that Zaheer seems to quote A LOT from ONE of the ancient airbenders - with the issue of weightlessness seeming to be a big issue for him. I wonder if perhaps it'll be a new sub-skill of airbending that will develop since it's the perfect way to introduce a sub skill for Airbending. It may even be the sub skill of levitiation like the Guru Laghima' that Zaheer quoted? Others have discussed it more in-depth elsewhere, as seen in Weightlessness - Airbending Sub Skill? - Avatar Wiki, the Avatar: The Last Airbender resource


Zaheer is QUITE dangerous when considering that he was locked up in a high security prison even BEFORE he had airbending abilities. And in the past his crew only had access to the deadliest potential of 3 elements.

However, now that he has air, Zaheer could very easily invent new and deadly airbending moves along with a specialized bending form that's never been seen before. Some have noted that Zaheer was locked up before he had airbending powers because of how smart he was - for what if it was Zaheer who taught the other three benders to use their respective unique abilities? For example, it's possible that his tactical mind devised that increasing heat and liquefying minerals could lead to magmabending.....

On a side note, the gang were officially seen to be called the Red Lotus recently and it came together when realizing the background for Season Three - an inversion of the White Lotus symbol

And the Red Lotus gang (As they are officially called) stand out in the sense that they have a specific issue with the White Lotus and what it stands for. There is clearly a dynamic of having philosophical differences with what the Red Lotus is about - and, for that matter, what Avatar Aang was about when it came to supporting them.

As another noted best:

I have read an article that speculates them to be anarchists who wanted freedom from all the rulers (firelord,earth king, etc.). Bad monarchy as seen on the Ba Sing Se lead Zaheer to form his group and recruit other members.

1. Remember the bandits who said Korra was on the wrong side of fight after failing to get the tax Shipments. (Episode 3)

2.Suyin Beifong who express her dislike to the Earth Queen, thinking that monarchy is an outdated institution.(Episode 5)​

Their motives wasn't bad after all. But their against the system so they have to face the consequences. They didnt want to harm the Avatar, they just want to kidnap her hoping she can be taught of the righteous path Zaheer was talking, freedom. And powerful people were afraid of this movement so they have to take actions to stop it. Remember who thrown them in their prisons? Fire Lord Zuko, Tonraq and Unalaq, all heads of the state.

Red Lotus&#8217;s are actually a really important symbol! Where as white lotus is all about the purity of mind and spirit the red lotus is about the human capacity for love and kindness.​

&#8230;okay, now that&#8217;s interesting. o_0 I guess it explains why Zaheer/P&#8217;li is getting the focus that it&#8217;s getting and why the Red Lotus crew have so many friendship moments, but&#8230; if they&#8217;re for love and kindness, what exactly do they have against the Avatar?

Maybe they think that the White Lotus&#8217; pursuit of mental purity and spiritual perfection distances them from humanity as a whole, and the Avatar takes that to its highest level? But Zaheer seems to be all about spiritual perfection himself, what with the &#8220;become empty&#8221; and &#8220;secret of weightlessness&#8221; stuff, so&#8230; who knows? =/

It&#8217;s certainly an interesting distinction because of how relevant it is to Korra. I mean, she was raised by the White Lotus in a way that kind of detached her from the world, and she needed to learn how to love properly because of it. At the very least, the White Lotus seemed to devalue those &#8220;red&#8221; traits in ways that caused issues down the line.
That raises a very interesting issue, especially concerning that the Red Lotus, at least to me, seem to parallel current Team Avatar in many ways, in friendship and in their relationships to each other.

My theory is that perhaps that Zaheer thought that the White Lotus was wrong in keeping and elevating the Avatar&#8217;s pure of mind and spirit as being counter-productive to the whole role of being an Avatar, and secluding the Avatar from the world would make the Avatar one who would not be a loving, kind Avatar. This seems to be countered by the fact that Korra was only secluded from the outside world on the basis that Zaheer and his gang where trying to kidnap her, but maybe there&#8217;s something we are not being told (like with the whole Harmonic Convergence in the middle of Book 2), maybe Zaheer was supposed to be her guardian and travel with her all over the world but something happened and he ended up (with his other companions) locked up in prison? Again, I think we&#8217;re not being told the whole story.

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More on the issue can be seen in http://the-next-storybender.tumblr.com/post/91900810871/the-red-lotus-potential-influences(as they do a lot of good review - especially on noting the ways that Zaheer may be deeply connected to Book 2 with instructing Unalaq on Harmonic Convergence).

Outside of that, with Zaheer's Group wanting to destroy the Order of the White Lotus, it should be considered that the Order of the White Lotus is primarily concerned with maintaining the balance between the 4 Great nations......and thus, it seems reasonable to believe that Zaheer wants to tear down these boundaries and unify the nations. Also, seeing the episode hinting at class battles (as was the case with the Earth Queen and neglecting her kingdom), I think they may be intending for Zaheer to truly be a revolutionary - more discussed in Team Zaheer's goal? - Naruto Forums

 

[Gxg (G²)]

At the same time, I loved Lin's story with her sister

Lin's story with her sister and the way it impacted their mother (as well as the development of the Metal Clan) really spoke on differing levels.

Her mother seems willing to invest in people with a rough past (as she had) and Lin seems to have softened up after coming to terms with the fact that she has been seeking her mother's approval and very hurt over it....

And I am glad that they made up over it. Nonetheless, I have been getting an odd vibe on the matter - for although they are working things out, part of me couldn't help but take seriously what Su noted when saying the Earth Queen was "outdated" and (with her hiring Varrick to head up her technology department) was seeking to make more advancement. I can't help but suspect she's more of the same as she used to be growing up than people are willing to note...


It'd be wild if you find out that Toph left to seek enlightenment and Su was preparing to rebel against the Earth Queen - with Toph actually condoning it when she arrives.

On a side note, it turns out that Zaofu was built on the place where Toph discovered metalbending - more in PlatinumBender â&#8364;&#8221; Iâ&#8364;&#8482;ve been trying to map out the United Republicâ&#8364;&#8482;s... ....THE Things you never notice

and seeing Bumi leading the airbender recruits.

Bumi really shined....

With the new airbending recruits, it was truly amazing to see airbending and how others came to use it in unique ways and yet creatively. And with the relationship between Jinora an Kai, I'm sorry - but that is going to be an amazing couple in the future....even though it seems he has potential to be HIGHLY aggressive as an airbender - and Jinora has amazing potential to be a powerful air bender leader when her father is gone (and I suspect he may not be present for the entire series at some point).

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[awitch]

I can see the ties to Aang, but the video doesn't really explain why he's after Korra. Wouldn't Tenzin be his primary target if he's out for revenge? He had an opportunity to go after Tenzin's kids at the air temple and didn't. Why would he think he could train the Avatar if he only just developed air bending?

 

[awitch]

And I am glad that they made up over it. Nonetheless, I have been getting an odd vibe on the matter - for although they are working things out, part of me couldn't help but take seriously what Su noted when saying the Earth Queen was "outdated" and (with her hiring Varrick to head up her technology department) was seeking to make more advancement. I can't help but suspect she's more of the same as she used to be growing up than people are willing to note...


It'd be wild if you find out that Toph left to seek enlightenment and Su was preparing to rebel against the Earth Queen - with Toph actually condoning it when she arrives.

I can see that happening. They already established the Queen is a corrupt tyrant. Then they introduce Su with a history of rebellion who now has access to power and resources. Making up with Lin means the "law" is sympathetic which would help justify a revolution. Toph returns and is finally pleased that her daughters are working together.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I can see the ties to Aang, but the video doesn't really explain why he's after Korra. Wouldn't Tenzin be his primary target if he's out for revenge? He had an opportunity to go after Tenzin's kids at the air temple and didn't. Why would he think he could train the Avatar if he only just developed air bending?

Tenzin was never the Avatar - and if/when there's a difference of ideologies, then you split to do your thing. It seems you'd either end the Avatar by killing him (which I don't think is really the case for Zaheer/gang) or by choosing to train the Avatar and get the Avatar to no longer think like the Avatar - taking a non traditional stance of saying "Who said it was my job to bring balance to the world all the time?" and let the nations work things out for themselves.

Zaheer was focused solely on Korra - he is not out to take out Tenzin, even though he may be at odds with him. He was and is still respectful of airbending culture - but he's against the system Tenzin is for.....and you don't accomplish that by being petty going for the kids - even in the temple, it's evident he appreciates airbending culture and even bows to the youngest son in respect.

His focus in the temple was getting the locket that Tenzin had - the one on his favorite guru (Laghima) - as well as hoping to find Korra there since he had been expecting her to show up at the temple with Tenzin but found out she was gone.


And you need to understand that training the Avatar was never about powers alone - it was about mentality. He is more than able to train others in their abilities and be knowledgeable about it (just as it was with AIR Bending) BEFORE HE had powers - there's nothing saying he cannot teach others. And his focus is pyschological - it's an issue of ideologies.

This video does a good job of discussing the matter..

Legend Of Korra Season 3 Q&A - Avatar Aang and Zaheer - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrmUjSQDBY4