.
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with comments by David Bruce

THE OTHERS
Subject: the others
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: heidi

Nicole Kidman did a great job in this show. The little girl who played in the show was good too- she seemed like such a little prankster!- One of my favorite movies of all time was far and away- but she did a movie a long time ago (I can't remember the name) where her husband was dying of cancer and she was awful. I was hoping that she would do well in this movie and that it wouldn't be anything like that movie. She really does well in movies where strong women are. I think so anyway. She really did a wonderful job in this movie, and what an ending!!! It has always seemed to me that the line between the living and the dead is a very thin line, and this show seemed to portray that.You never even see the end coming- It reminds me of the sixth sense, in the way it ended anyway.good show!
heidi

X-MEN ARE GOD'S MEN, THE YAHWEH-MEN, AND THE CHRIST'S MEN
Subject: X-Men
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: "Samuel Ewing"

Hello, I watched the X-MEN when it came out on video. This movie is symbol rich and spiritually rich. The X-MEN are literally heirs to HERCULES, individually as well as a team. They are American versions of Hercules. Furthermore when one examines the literal meaning of what the X represents, then one can appropriately call the X-Men the Yahweh-Men, the God's-Men, the Christ's-Men, and this is the most ancient meaning of the word SUPERMAN:

1. The X-Men are men and women who have been "crossed out" by the dominant culture that rules American society. These X-Men stand out because of their creativity, talents, abilities, skills, and gifts that they have been given by the Supreme Being. People can split hairs over the word evolution but whether one agrees with the use or meaning of the word or not, the real point here is that a Supreme Being has created them to defeat evil, to enrich humanity, to bring truth and illumination to dispel ignorance, therefore they have the ultimate and legitimate right to be here.

In a broad, appropriate sense the X-Men are in reality people of color ( people of African descent, Asians, Native Americans, Aboringes, and all indigenous people across the planet who have color), those who have a multi-racial/ ethnic heritage, women, children, artists, social activists, whistleblowers, truth-tellers, truth-scouts, truth-soldiers, innocent people who are wrongfully accused ending up in prison, with their lives damaged, or who are executed, the wise elders who aren't respected, the talented who are cheated out of their own creative achievements by others or who aren't given a chance to manifest them. ****These people are the X-Men, the unsung heroes who help this country even though this country is often cruel to them. They are America's greatest resource and the United States would fall into utter ruin without them. There is much food for thought here!!

2. X is the monogram for Jesus and the Christs (plural). X=10, the number of divinity, perfection, completeness, and of the deity called Yahweh. In ancient African cultures like Cush and Egypt, the Africans developed what is known as the Chi-Rho (handled or sword cross). This cross is X. One of the bars of this cross has a loop on it to represent a sword with a handle. This is the symbol of the African Deity known as Harpocrates and Chr-Amon (Heru). This god of light was crucified, rose from the dead, and destroyed the forces of evil.

In the second century B.C. the Greeks borrowed this cross from the Africans, calling Harpocrates (Heru)= Hero-Horus-Heracles (Hercules). Shortly thereafter the same Deity was named by the Greeks Xpnc (Chres) or Lord, Chrestos, and Christ. Many European scholars (including Christian scholars) have identified Heracles/Hercules as none other than an emblem of Jesus Christ. This reveals the African origin of the word, Christ. Bear in mind that the names Heracles, Hercules, Hero, Christ, and Messiah are also titles directly derived from the word HERU which is of African origin. The Greek title Christ, is derived frm the Egypto-African word KARAST. KRISTOS or CHRISTOS is the KRST (KARAST). Karast is a person who is anointed as a Heru (Hero) during their lifetime,when they are deceased they receive a great honor as a KRST or AUSAR (Osiris). Their bodies are anointed with spices, oils, and resins to preserve the body. The body is wrapped in bandages, placed in a coffin, the coffin is placed upright to symbolize resurrection. African people believed that the Herus (Heroes) or Krsts (Christs) would rise again to save the world as fully divine beings. "He has risen." The Afro-Asians (Hebrews, Jews, Black Semites) brought this tradition out of Egypt. Jesus has the title of a Christ.

The X-MEN are individually and collectively Christs (plural). They are beings of the Living Word, the Sword (sacred word) that slays all forms of evil, and the powers that each one of them displays is a form of the power of the Word. Again the X-Men are literally HERUS, HEROES, CHRISTS, HERACLESES/HERCULESES, MESSIAHS, the YAHWEH-MEN. *When using these words this includes women as well because ancient cultures also had records and stories about Female Herus too. ***Yes! Storm, Jean Grey, and Rogue are Herus, Herculeses, and Christs.

3. The X-MEN are MESSIAHS. The word MESSIAH is from the Egypto-African words MESSU and MES-IAH. MES=child and to be born. This is one of the epithets or names of Heru (Krst, Christ) the Son. MESSU also means the anointed one. MES-IAH literally means "the Son of Yah (God). YAH is the Egyptian YAHWEH who was worshipped by the Egyptians (they new who He was). The Hebrews were those Nubians, Egyptians, Afro-Asians, and nomadic Semites who broke away from Egypt, separating from their own people, and they are the ancestors of the Jews.

4. X is the number in ancient Greek culture that symbolizes the number 600 which is the numerical type for the Heroes or Demigods, in India it was one of the emblems for the Avatars of God, in ancient Rome it was the emblem that represented the 12 Caesars, in Hebrew, the Messiahs and so on.

5. The historical X-MEN of American culture are numerous= Paul Robeson, Geronimo, Tecumseh, Hiawatha, Muhammed Ali, Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, General Benjamin O'Davis, Tuskegee Airmen, General George Patton, General Douglas MacArthur, Shirley Chisholm, Josephine Baker etc. There are others such as Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Shaka Zulu, Queen Boudicea, and Emperor Haile Selassie to name a few in other countries. *Also there is one whose name belongs here as well and his name fits with the theme of X. That person is Malcolm X.

***From what I found out I must point out that Jesus Christ was an X-MAN too.
All X-Men are crucified (in one fashion or another) saviors.

Senator Robert Kelly is an American extreme right-wing version of Adolph Hitler, he is a blatant fascist and racist in the Nazi tradition. It is no accident that he appears to have blonde hair and blue eyes. An Aryan demagogue who represents the same ideological madness of the predominant culture, who represents that culture's ignorance and envy of those who are diverse and more talented than they are. Racism is always about hostility , fear of those who racists feel are different, talented, creative, more successful, and possibly more beautiful than they are. This envy and fear called racism needs support by a false sense of superiority. Yet when one measures the exploits and achievements of the racist they are either non-existent or morally questionable. Senator Kelly needs some one to beat up and to beat down to feel like he has a purpose and reason for existing. He implied this when he was on the plane with Mystique.

Which group do you belong to? Are you a Senator Kelly, part of the problem? Or are you one of the X-MEN, the solution? These are the questions we must ask ourselves.
Sincerely, Sam Ewing
SARASWATI@prodigy.net
http://pages.prodigy.net/saraswati/

2 THINGS
Subject: Newsletter 27
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: "owen"

1. The site is a blessing. Be encouraged. Thank God for the fools who speak so ignorantly and arrogantly toward you about the work you are doing. What Jesus do you serve? Ha ha ha ha. Your reply was very gracious. (Thank you)

2. Can you give me the name of the software or whatever that you are using to manage your mailing list? Thanks. ok (It's handled by Gospelcom.net)

3. It's your fault I stayed up to 1am..reading the site.

o w e n
~nothing without Christ~ windsor ontario canada

AN HISTORIC MOMENT, A TELLING METAPHOR
Subject: Final_Fantasy
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: Paul

I have just returned from seeing Final Fantasy for the first time, here in Barcelona (and in Catalan!). And I must admit that, as Jase wrote below, I, too, left the theatre with very strange, mixed emotions.

First off, I loved the movie for all the reasons already cited. But beyond that, I feel it safe to say that the movie should be, and will be, regarded as a defining moment in cinematic history. Perhaps as important as the moment sound entered Hollywood and the "talkies" displaced so many silent-film stars... If I were Tom Cruise, I'd be seriously worried: the digital actors have arrived, and boy are they GOOD!

The mixed emotions come from the awareness that the movie represents an historic moment, as well as from my own attempts to understand the ramifications of it all. As Jase so correctly says in his post, these characters were not "acting" - they WERE in their reality.

And in closing, this visually rich film also led me to think about the fact that the existence of SIN on Planet Earth could be readily likened to the "infestation" of the phantoms portrayed in the movie. As we later see in the film, the Earth is finally "cleansed" and renewed (I won't reveal too much, don't worry!). This led me, as a Christian, to remember the promise of God in Revelation where He says "Behold, I make all things new" as He creates a new Heaven and a new Earth.

This "final cleansing" of SIN from the Planet is also possible due to a miraculous "cure", as in the movie: the shed and holy blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary. We need it more that ever: to cleanse ourselves and to renew the Planet. I appreciate this site immensely, by the way. Thank you David for your vision, and for all the interesting people who contribute to the forums! I hope you'll have room to post this message.
Paul Fleming
Barcelona, Spain

INTERPRETATIONS
Subject: Jurassic_Park_III
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: Eldon

Whether or not the author intended it to be mainly about the horrors of family breakups, there is nothing wrong interpreting it that way. Often our interpretations can go beyond what is intended and adds to the art.
Eldon

POKEMON GRANDMOTHER
Subject: Pokemon
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: Rose

I am from Bermuda and my grandson loves to watch Pokemon movies. His mother and I just rededicated our lives and one of our neighbours said she did not allow her children to watch Pokemon because it was satanic. However she has not been able to satisfy us by backing this statement up spiritually. Could you please provide some insight for me. Thank you

Response: I do not know what to tell you. Pokemon is not satanic. It will do no harm. Pokemon is like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. No difference.-David

DVD
Subject: Brimstone
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: "Ryan Smotherman"

Hi, like a lot of people out there, I'm a huge Brimstone fan and feel that the show should never have been cancelled. Anyway, I'm just wondering what the chances are for a Brimstone DVD collection? A collection full of all 13 episodes and a butch of extras and out takes would absolutely rule! Thanks for your help.
Ryan Smotherman

I know you probbablly forgot about what you wrote or will never see this. But i really got pissed of at your mentallity towards the movie i realize its your opnion but when you said that god forgave judas that i beleave is to be untrue.Granted judas did ask for forgiveness before he died but the manner of his death is a controdiction in its self since he commited suicide he committed a sin right after asking for forgiveness.I beleave this movie had a very interesting theory.
Ken S.

THE AGE OLD QUESTION
Subject: Joan_of_Arc_Messenger
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: C. S. Nakkas

...: did the audience get "it"?! Reading many audience reviews about The Messenger, I was genuinely distressed and even a bit irritated. I simply couldn't comprehend why so many (esp. American) viewers disliked the latter half of the movie on the basis of Jeanne not "continuing on with the great victory", as one viewer expressed it. First of all: Jeanne d'Arc was burnt on the stake. Allthough many parts of her legend are either fabricated or dubious (according to French historian Roger Caratini), this part is historical fact. It happened. Sorry!

I know, many Americans would have liked to see her being rescued by Gilles de Rais or Aulon, just like in Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves, slaying half of England's army as in Braveheart, defeating the King of England mano a mano and finally living happily ever after with a love interest. But then again, this isn't a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Sorry for being so sarcastic, but this mentality truly annoys me.

I gather most of those who disliked the ending did so, because it reminded them that their own beliefs (and I'm not simply talking of religious beliefs!) aren't as infallible as they wish they were. The Messenger wasn't about the question: "Is there is a God who is personal? Are our prayers nothing more than self talk? Are we so hungry for spiritual experience that we...make it seem as though there is a God that cares and loves us?". It's not about God being personal, but God being the strawman for our own sinful desires, e.g. hatred. It's not about Jeanne talking to God, but whether God was talking to her, telling her to do what she did.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." What if Jeanne misused God's name for her own sinful desires such as hatred, vengeance and selfishness? If God hates the English and loves the French, why did He let King Henry V defeat his French enemies (who outnumbered his severely weakened army more than 3 to 1) only three years after Jeanne was born? The question never was whether God exists, but whether God was on her side or on the side of any temporal and earthly power.

The most telling scene was after the the fall of Orléans. Soaked in blood with hundreds of corpses behind her, Jeanne has a beautiful vision of Christ, which suddenly turns into a "horror trip", as Christ (bleeding from his crown of thorns) asks her full of pain, "Jeanne, what have you done to me?". So which part of this vision was true? The part she would have liked to see and that made her feel comfortable with herself, or the one which made her feel guilty and would have made her question her motives?

After all, the Crusaders were constantly summing "If God is on our side, who can be against us" while slaughtering hundreds of innocent Jews, Muslims and even fellow Christians. So maybe it was time people watched this movie with a open mind. It's neither Braveheart nor The Patriot. It never was intended to be. Sure, the film has some flaws. But it really scares me to hear Christians saying stuff like "the audience is led to believe that her actions may have been revenge for the death of her sister. How is this Faith Affirming?" Hitler believed he was doing God's will, too. Mind if I question his motives? Oh dear, but that wouldn't be very "faith affirming", wouldn't it?! Does your faith has to be constantly affirmed? Is it so weak?
Truly saddened,
C. S. Nakkas

YEAH RIGHT!
Subject: Lord of the Rings
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: Randy

Man, your essay is a bunch of rubbish. You need to do your homework. First of all, Tolkien was a devout Christian, and I don't think he saw a need to replace Christianity with anything. His works were written for one reason, and that was to give his country a myth. He felt that his country was lacking in that it had no mythological stories to enrich its history. Also, he has no religious elements relating to Christianity in his works. He tried very hard not to copy Christianity in his works. In fact, when asked if Gandalf's revival from the dead was a imitation of Christ's resurrection, he vehemently denied the fact. He did not want Christianity paralleled in his works. He said that it he would try to copy something of that magnitude. Before you go spouting off on the internet make sure you got your info right man. You really made yourself look stupid when you put that up.

-"Do not interfere in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."- Gandalf

RESPONSE TO YOUR ESSAY
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001
From: Erica

Mr. Wright,
I don´t know if you haven´t read it, but there´s an introduction at the beginning of The Lord of the Rings where the author clearly says that his book is NOT allegorical at all. Further, I read an interview where he said he hated allegory; he didn´t mean to represent anything with his characters. His only purpose was to inculcate moral truths in a world which seemed to have lost them.

Tolkien clearly said it´s just a tale and nothing else, which he devised just for amusement, and where he couldn´t avoid exalting his own high moral values of friendship, self-sacrifice, responsibility, wisdom, etc. I´ve been a follower of Christ since childhood, and I have read the Bible several times, and I have read many a Christian book and I can tell you, that as far as my acquired understanding permits it, I see no moral error in Tolkien´s work. There´s an awful mistake in your essay, and you should have taken more care: It was because of his long conversations with Tolkien that Lewis gave up atheism and began to believe in God. If you have anything to add to my comment I invite you to e-mail me: taleadmirer@hotmail.com I´m from Argentina (Spanish speaker) but I can speak English as you see. I look forward to hearing your answer.

TOLKIEN QUOTE
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: "Michael Buttrey"

Oddly enough, I rediscovered a Tolkien quote on the same day I found your analysis. I read it in a biography of C.S. Lewis. 'We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Indeed only by myth-making, only by becoming a "sub-creator" and inventing stories, can Man aspire to the state of perfection that he knew before the Fall. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbor, while materialistic "progress" leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil.' - J.R.R. Tolkien Interesting, anyway. Paganism, or false myths, are superior to materialism, since while all myths assume the existence of good and evil, modern thought is vilely bent towards relativism.
Michael Buttrey

REGARDING TOLKIEN
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: 24 Aug 2001
From: aelwyn

I disagree with many of your conclusions of Tolkein's work. Have you read his theory on subcreation? I think it would be illuminating. He never meant to write an allegory. He was simply being creative when he invented Middle Earth. His Christianity is seen by many of his fans in the themes of good vs. evil, self-sacrifice, healing, and, indeed, in a spiritual hierarchy of beings.

By the way, it is my understanding that it was not Lewis who influenced Tolkein's Christianity, but vice-versa. It was through Tolkein's witness that Lewis eventually was lead to Christ.

Sometimes, I think it would be more profitable for Christians to stop worrying about whether or not some of us enjoy reading fantasy and focus more on winning others to Christ.

Download the Lord of the Rings Desktop at http://www.lordoftherings.net

YOUR AWFUL ESSAY
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: "Kenneth"

you obviously know nothing about Tolkien or his walk with Christ. Im a Christian and an avid reader of Tolkien and youve done an incredibly inaccurate job of portraying the Christian in Tolkien and Middle Earth. And another thing, please come off this modernist thing. This is horrible. What a waste.

DO SOME RESEARCH
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: Adam Barnard

Before you go writing about Tolkien's level of Christianity I suggest you do some research. Such as, you talk about the possibility of C.S. Lew;s friendship with Tolkien rubbing some Christianity off on him. You have that completely backwards. If you knew your stuff you would know that it was TOLKIEN who converted LEWIS (a former atheist) into Christianity. Also, you have a whole essay about whether or not Tolkien's work was Christian or not, where if you had just read some of the author's own words you would have seen that he has outright said that The Lord of the Rings is an expressly Christian work. Nothing more, nothing less. So basically next time you choose to do an essay like this try and do some more research, especially over the life of the author. Although I do commend you for your level of knowledge for the texts of the actual works this is still an issue that extends beyond the texts and into the life of Tolkien.
Thank you, Adam Barnard

TOLKIEN'S VIEW: OLDER IS BETTER THAN NEW
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: Zepmlon

Pastor Wright has made a good arguement, but it under plays Tolkien's own belief system. Tolkien was devoutly Roman Catholic. This is seen in his view of a dying world (older is better than newer), and his distrust of the human spirit. Tolkien does borrow from the conventions of myth, but a great deal of it is still centered upon the Judeo-Christian paradigms. For the Lord of the Rings itself, I believe that Tolkien reveils his faith in the Return of the King through the character and importance of Aragorn. An allegorical connection can be made between his signifigance and Christ's. Now, Aragorn is not an exact copy of Christ, it has its holes; I don't think Tolkien is going for blasphemy. The resemblence still stands: A lost and awaited king returns to his throne; he goes through the "Paths of the Dead;" frees the people who are cursed at Erech; gives those who follow salvation; calls Faramir and Eowyn from death. This all resembles the death, resurrection, and redemtion of Christ. I think Tolkien quietly planted this in his story.
But, that is just my opinion.
Zepmlon

TOLKIEN'S MOTIVATION
Subject: Tolkien's Motivation Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: Dixie

I go back to Tolkien's OWN statement of his motivation in writing the stories: he said he wrote them FOR HIS OWN CHILDREN---fiction to entertain them. The fact that they were published commercially for the rest of us to enjoy as 20th century literature, is a delightful, serendipitous thing.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
From: CT Blake

Honestly, guys, do your homework. Tolkien was a Professor of Medieval Languages, specifically the languages of northern Europe. His main focus of study was the legends, folklore and bits of spoken history that is all we have of these sometimes dead and sometimes precursor languages of modern Finnish, Swedish, Danish and others, including Gaelic.

Guess what? LotR has NOTHING to do with Christianity. Tolkien himself was a devout Catholic, but as the saying goes, just because you go into a garage doesn't make you a car-- Tolkien was writing stories for entertainment, not for some deep insight into the spiritual nature of Man. According to his own papers, "The Hobbit" was written to entertain his kids, and LotR was written as an exercise to incorporate the fictional languages he had created in his researches, as well as adding some depth to the story he had already created. The big fun of reading Tolkien and his languages is getting all the puns and inside jokes in the translations, if you happen to KNOW the translations.

Don't try and read Christian meaning into these stories, because they aren't based on Christian mythology. that doesn't make them any less a ripping yarn-- I read Tolkien in my sub-teens, and it inspired me to continue my readings for the rest of my life. (Prior to that, all my fiction reading was drab & dull.)

Frankly, it sounds to me like it wouldn't hurt a few folk to read legends and myths NOT associated with the Bible. There is an incredible wealth of beautiful and vastly different folktales out there, if you choose to read them. Once you have a few of them under your bely, you can begin to see how Tolkien blended on Finnish, Norse, Celt and Gaelic mythology into the building of LotR.
CT Blake
Nacogdoches, Texas
FirstConsul@Earthdome.com

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