NEW AGE PROPAGANDA - The Last Mimzy (2007) Discussion

[–] jmschuetter 17 years ago

What a bunch of arrogant closed minded fools. Didn't you know that the 'universe' expands to accomodate our ever evolving minds. Remember, the earth is no longer flat, it is no longer the center of the universe, the 'gods' aren't out there in that dark unknown tossing shining dots of light about...blah blah blah blah blah (etc.). Believe what you want. Maybe everyone is right. Maybe every possibility is possible. What a true tragedy to close off a mind to the amazing potential of the human mind and imagination. Seems like believing in an absolute closes off the rest of the world. Hasn't that led to suffering, bloodshed, separation, hatred, etc. through the millenia? Maybe it has been caused by a pissed off god or a devil of some sort. I can only hope that some 'new age' belief system will overtake this world to guide the not so free thinking mass to a better place. WOW! the possibilities...That is the world in which I want my children to live.

Thank Muhammed, Buddha, Jesus, whoever, whatever, I live in a 'free' country, where I can 'freely' believe what I want without being condemned and ostracised. (ha ha)

I really can't understand how a pathetic closed off mind could ever exist in any 'eternity' offering a reality much better than the one you currently perceive. For your sake hopefully your god will be able to transform your mind into one that can exist in such a world. Then again you might not be you anymore. Or worse yet, your mind will become closed in your new world.

By the way, concerning the movie...it is just a movie, relax.

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[–] alecwest 17 years ago

originaltbyrd wrote:

This movie is pure new-age movement propaganda and nothing else. Garbage.

What you say reminds of a scene from "Dr. Strangelove." In the War Room, a General asks the Soviet ambassador if he wants a Jamaican cigar ... to which the ambassador replied, "No, I don't support the work of capitalist stooges." The General replied, "Oh, so you only support the work of commie stooges, eh?"

Don't get me wrong. I honestly believe new-age philosophy is a bunch of hoo-hah. But, it's no less hoo-hah than other philosophies that champion praying to a black rock in Mecca, prostrating oneself in front of crosses, or bobbing one's torso back and forth in front of the wailing wall. When it comes to religion, there's plenty of hoo-hah to go around.

I could be wrong ... but honestly believe you wouldn't have liked this film unless the kids in it were banging tambourines and thumping Bibles while they prance about with brainwashed euphoric smiles, singing:

Gimme that old-time religion,
Gimme that old-time religion,
Gimme that old-time religion,
It's good enough for me.
(Hallelujah and repeat verse)

P.S. True story. A former coworker of mine was a born-again Christian who was constantly preaching at work. One day, he was bugging a fellow coworker about the "end times." I interjected myself into their conversation and related an end times story I'd heard on an Australian travel show. Some (but not all) aborigines believe there's a giant frog named Tidlee who sleeps beneath the sand somewhere in the outback. One day, a great rainstorm will flood the outback and wake Tidlee from his long sleep. Then, Tidlee will rise from the Earth and devour it.

My born-again co-worker laughed and said, "It never ceases to amaze me what crazy stuff some people are willing to believe." I laughed with him and replied, "Yeah, I know what you mean. Believe it or not, there's another group of people out there who seriously believe that 2000 years ago, Earth was visited by an omnipotent superbeing who impregnated a woman without benefit of sex!"

He stopped laughing (snicker).

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[–] chilone 7 years ago

My born-again co-worker laughed and said, "It never ceases to amaze me what crazy stuff some people are willing to believe." I laughed with him and replied, "Yeah, I know what you mean. Believe it or not, there's another group of people out there who seriously believe that 2000 years ago, Earth was visited by an omnipotent superbeing who impregnated a woman without benefit of sex!"

Oooooo! Weren't you clever!!! There's been countless "miraculous", inexplicable occurrences since the dawn of time. Do you know how everything happened?

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

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[–] Teeny_Weeny_Martini 17 years ago

The science teacher reminded me vaguely of my civics/careers teacher. He was a 'New Ager' or whatever you call it. He made an obscure reference about all of us being 'Crystal Children' and I looked into it. Perhaps it was wrong of me to ask him what color his aura was in the middle of class... but compared to him, the science teacher didn't actually say much about it. I don't think a person should be fired for a way of thinking though, or expressing their views. They just have to make sure that if it is strictly their opinion, they make a point of mentioning that and don't present it as fact.

(He's an Indigo Child by the way, his aura used to be red and has recently been turning gold. I haven't a clue what that means, but the discussion was funny. Not that I'm closed minded or anything... but the sceptics in class went to town on him.)

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[–] alecwest 17 years ago

As I alluded to in an earlier post, the claptrap associated with New Age philosophy is no better or worse than the claptrap associated with "Old Age" philosophy (ie., established religions). And some of that claptrap is downright scary, hehe. Consider this.

Part of the traditional Catholic mass involves a process of transsubstantiation - "making believe" that one thing is really another thing. Catholics are taught to make believe that the wafer they eat during mass represents the "body" of Christ ... and that the wine they drink during mass represents the "blood" of Christ. Think about that for a second (grin). If you believe that Jesus is dead, then participating in this ritual makes you a ghoul. But if you believe that Jesus is alive, you're a cannibal. Somehow, making believe that crystals harness energy seems a bit more comforting than making believe you're a ghoul or a cannibal. And in the same context, making believe you're an "Indigo Child" is no more sillier than making believe you're "Born Again."

The ability of human beings to believe in silly things knows no bounds. Whether or not a given thing is silly to you depends on your indoctrination. And in most cases, indoctrination can start at a very early age. Jesus himself said, "Suffer thy children to come unto me." This was later revised by a Jesuit monk who said, "Give me a boy by the time he is seven and I'll give you a Christian forever." In both cases, they're saying the same thing. Children are more easily impressed and startled by fanciful stories. And if you symbolically beat these stories into a child - week after week - month after month - year after year (and if the symbolic beating is done with sincerity), you'll end up with a child who'll believe almost anything in which they've been indoctrinated to believe. More importantly, when those children reach adulthood, they'd be more inclined to continue the brainwashing practices with their OWN children - and on, and on, and on, for generations. Couple that belief with the belief in some sects that "witnessing to others" is a Christian "duty" - and pretty soon, you have a bunch of people knocking on a bunch of doors - expanding the brainwashing outwardly to make the success of that faith a self-fulfilling prophecy.

New Agers are something else altogether. I suspect most of them have reached a point in their lives where their traditional teachings have been exposed as claptrap. This is discomforting since people like to believe in some sort of philosphy. So, they glom onto whatever other silliness seems more comforting than their prior silliness.

The real bugger? One of these silly theories might hold water. And everyone who believes strongly in a particular theory is certain that THEIR theory is the one that does ... at the expense of other theories which are, of course, silly (grin).

But what the heck. Everyone is entitled to solace and peace of mind. Some of our more ancient ancestors howled at the moon for it. But over the years, the art of moon-howling has become more sophisticated. And at age 57 (me), I can honestly say that no single group of moon-howlers has impressed me enough to join them of my own free will. I choose to howl at the moon in my own unique way (grin). But, I certainly don't think my moon-howling is any more righteous than anyone else's moon-howling ... nor do I think it's any more ludicrous.

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[–] Teeny_Weeny_Martini 17 years ago

Wow... well said.

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[–] alecwest 17 years ago

Thanks. It's a shame, really. In most Western households, parents eventually fess up to the truth behind Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the good fairy ... or rather, remain subdued when their kids wise up. Too bad that can't happen with religion. Problem is, kids are never given a "chance" to wise up - assuming their parents are firm in their own devotion to a given belief system.

I'm not a believer in totalitarianism. But if there was one totalitarian thing I'd like to see, it would be to (ulp) take children from their parents at birth and raise them in schools where religious philosophy of any kind NEVER comes up. Then, in their senior year of high school, give them copies of every "holy" text written and let them make up their own minds about such things. I suspect that in such a school, and in the senior year, mentions of a celestial king sitting on a golden throne, a serpent who tempts a woman in a garden, a virgin birth, someone walking on water, etc., etc., would fill the classrooms with uncontrollable laughter.

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[–] pasojabber 17 years ago

I could not have put that better. Perhaps someday, what you've envisioned will come to pass (and it can't come soon enough!) but for now... I'm not going to hold my breath. I think this world would be a lot better off, if humanity as a whole would finally reach maturity, and give up these childish fantasies.

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[–] chilone 7 years ago

Not as laughable as absolutely everything creating it's self out of absolutely nothing, all by it's self for absolutely no reason....

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

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[–] pasojabber 17 years ago

Thank you! Very, very well said! At last, someone who can really take an objective view of what we've done to ourselves, all in the name of religion. We tell ourselves we live in a modern world, but when I look around me, I can't see much difference between ourselves and our ancestors - sitting around a fire, telling stories to keep the darkness away. As a dilettante who enjoys watching the parade of humanity around himself, I've done a fair amount of comparative study of world religions, and it always amazes me the ways in which we've invented to explain the unexplainable (unexplainable, at least to early world populations.)

You hit the nail right on the head!

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[–] pasojabber 17 years ago

Why is it that whenever some people run across something that tests their 'beliefs' it's labeled 'propaganda' and 'garbage?' You mean there's another way of looking at something? Horrors! Why... that's gotta be some kinda commie propaganda!

Folks, as with the knob on the TV that's called 'Power' or 'Volume' (and it's an easy thing to turn off,) the same holds true for movies you go to see in a theater. Hey, if you don't like a movie's message, either don't go see it - or turn the other cheek, and wait for one that does agree with your small-minded world-set. By the way, if a movie's message is such a blow to your reality, you still have the choice to get up and leave.

It is the broader spectrum of literature and popular entertainment (movies, TV, et al,) that really shakes the ground for people of fundamental 'beliefs.' It forces them to say to themselves,"You mean, there are actually people out there that disagree with what I believe in?" This is a real shock for some people, living in their small isolated worlds - with a cultural horizon that extends about 20 feet from where they live. It forces them to admit to themselves that what they believe might just not be the real 'truth,' and a lot of people just can't handle that.

Well, I hate to break it to you people... in sheer numbers alone - according to my dated 1993 encyclopedia - in the whole world, there are roughly 2.1 billion christians in the world, while there are somewhere around (when you include judaism) 7 billion people who have either Eastern or indigenous beliefs. Christians are outnumbered by other religions 3 to 1, and yet they still seem to not know that there are other paths to enlightenment.

Give me a break! J-junkies... get over yourselves!

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[–] alecwest 17 years ago

One more thought on this propaganda/indoctrination thing and I'll go back into my hole (grin). Several years ago, there was a made-for-TV movie dealing with indoctrination into (and deprogramming from) a cult. I can't remember the title of this film ... but if anyone does, please post.

Anyhow, a teenage guy makes friends with another teenage guy and, after a bit, the 2nd teenage guy offers to take him to this weeklong meditational retreat (all expenses paid). His parents give their permission and off he goes.

However, what the guy doesn't know is that his new friend is a member of a cult ... and that the "retreat" was a pretense to a weeklong indoctrination into the cult for new followers. Starting on the first day, the food given to new recruits is specially prepared to omit the nutrients necessary for rational thought and decision making. By the end of the third day, new recruits are feeling kind of "rummy" ... but still OK. But then, the followers add a new ingredient to the experience - sleep deprivation. With smiles on their faces, they wake up new recruits in the middle of the night to go to these "fun" surprise meditation sessions by campfire. At these sessions, followers speak endlessly (and glowingly) of their leader and the beauty of his beliefs.

This combination of nutritional and sleep deprivation goes on for the rest of the week. And, by week's end, new recruits are forced to go through all-day all-night sessions with followers to get them to join - and pledge allegiance to their leader and his religion. And apparently, in many cases, it works.

When I first saw that film, my first thought was that the tactics used by the cult aren't all that different than tactics used by missionaries in 3rd world countries. Imagine a man and his family, forced to walk across a dry Kenyan desert in search of food and water. And, they arrive in a camp set up by Christian missionaries who offer good food, good water, and pepper it with preaching. After a few days on the desert, deprived of nutrition and likely sleep as well, it seems to me that most people would be willing to believe that the Jolly Green Giant was God if there was a hot meal and a place to sleep in it for them. Really ... does the preaching start "after" their recovery period or "during" their recovery period? Something to think about.

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[–] knight0748 17 years ago

To all those who's thinking this is some new age stuff, check again: it's based on a scifi short story from the 1940's named: 'Mimsy Were the Borogoves'. (I read it in highschool, great short.)

The logic of the future is what they refer to as X logic, logic beyond the understanding of our natural state of mind. The children, who are less influenced by our tradition sense of logic, took to it much quicker than the adults would have. The movie version took out some of the original characters, the original was to the point and much more interesting in thoughts long after you read it.

Again, this isn't based on eastern philosophy.

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[–] alecwest 17 years ago

knight0748 wrote:

To all those who's thinking this is some new age stuff, check again: it's based on a scifi short story from the 1940's named: 'Mimsy Were the Borogoves'.

Yup, the story was in the February 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction Magazine:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimsy_were_the_Borogoves

But the key-phrase in all this is based on. The work of the story's original writers was "interpreted" by screen-story writers James V. Hart and Carol Skilken ... which was later "reinterpreted" by screenplay writers Bruce Joel Rubin and Toby Emmerich. And, what this committee of screen writers came up with only slightly resembles the original story. These more modern interpretations of it seem to have a lot of New Age baggage attached ... which is neither good nor bad, depending upon what someone looks for in the story.

There is one story I'd love to see dramatized for film ... but it would probably garner lines of Christian protestors like the Da Vinci Code did (grin). Someone told me the title years ago but I've forgotten it. But I do know that the author of the story was Michael Moorcock. If anyone knows the title, please refresh my memory.

Like Mimzy, the story starts in a future time and involves a time machine. But this time, the scientist is also a physician and a religious scholar - a scholar who knows all about the times in which Jesus lived and can even speak the dialect spoken during the time. As a religious scholar, the one thing he'd always wondered about were the so-called "missing years" of Jesus. So, he decides to go back in time (merely as an observer), follow Jesus around during those missing years, and take notes.

When the scientist first sees Jesus, he's awestruck by how much he and Jesus look alike. But, he decides to keep to the shadows as a good observer should. Then, something happens. Jesus is involved in an horrific accident (a fall from a great height, I believe). Jesus survives the accident but is left both mentally and physically disabled. The scientist knows that no medicine of that time can help ... and that eventually, possibly soon, Jesus would die from his injuries. But he also knows that medical science is so advanced in his own time that the disabilities Jesus suffers from could be easily reversed and cured.

So, the scientist makes an irreversible decision. He sends Jesus back to his own time in the time machine, along with notes regarding his medical condition and recommended course of treatment. And then, the scientist becomes Jesus - continuing his travels, preaching his sermons, performing his miracles, and ultimately dying on the cross in his place.

But as he dies, he realizes he and his time machine were all part of God's plan for Jesus ... that the accident was meant to happen ... and that he was meant to send Jesus into the future not only to cure him, but to fulfill Biblical prophecy - the Second Coming of Christ!

Woo woo (grin).

P.S. (the Devil made me do this, hehehe) - But, when Jesus arrived in the medical clinic of the future, they discovered he had no medical insurance - and assigned him to an HMO. The HMO physician gave him a few bandaids and a Vicodin prescription, telling him to come back in a week if he still had problems. And after Jesus limped out of the HMO clinic, the HMO doctor got on the phone and reported him to Homeland Security because he had no ID, spoke in a middle-eastern dialect they couldn't understand, and might be an illegal alien, a potential terrorist, or both.

P.P.S. - BTW, comedian Lenny Bruce once said that if Jesus did have a second coming, he'd better bring some fancy magic along with him because he'd soon find himself in a mental institution. Bruce also said that Jesus would be refused entrance into New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral because he didn't conform to their dress code (grin).

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[–] manny_el_portu 17 years ago

Could it be the book "Behold the Man"
The story is not quite as you recall it but there are some common points and the writter is Michael Moorcock.

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[–] filmseye 17 years ago

Boy, you all should go out and have a good old fashion book burning.
Its called creative thinking and imagination. Without it we'd still be stuck in the dark ages burning 'witches'...oh wait, sounds like you all would enjoy that, too. It really shouldn't surprise me on how the masses are scared to think outside the box they were taught. Open your mind and grow. Don't be scared. Its okay. Really. Besides, you know this movie is fiction, right?

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] sisyphusbob 17 years ago

Oh! and don't forget intel! The movie implied that intel would still be banging away, millenia from now, building nano-tech Pentium MMCCXXIIs or whatever.

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