Released on Easter weekend in 1999, The
Matrix suggested a parallel between Neo and Christ, both
of whom are resurrected. Neo is referred to throughout the Matrix trilogy
as the One, that is, the chosen one, which also describes Christ—a
messiah, sent to deliver salvation. References to Christianity proliferate
in the films, and the Matrix films are an allegory
for the Christian faith and that Neo is a modern-day Jesus. This
interpretation is only one of the many possible readings of the
films’ symbolism and references. The Matrix trilogy
is remarkable for the breadth and depth of its religious references,
not just its references to Christianity. Though pervasive and often
thorough, none of the religious references build into a cohesive
allegory, and many of them appear and disappear quickly. The trilogy
refers not only to Christianity but also to Judaism, Eastern religions,
Hinduism, and others. Two of the more detailed spiritual frameworks
the Matrix films frequently incorporate are Gnosticism and Buddhism.
Gnosticism
Though Neo is undoubtedly a messiah figure, the messiah
he resembles most is not really a Christian messiah. Christians
believe Christ was a sinless man who, through his death and resurrection,
brought people salvation from sin. Judeo-Christian scripture traces
human sinfulness back to the myth of Eve and the forbidden fruit,
pointing to her disobedience of God as the source of that sinfulness.
The problem for the humans in The Matrix is ignorance,
not sin. They need liberation from their illusions, not necessarily
salvation. Furthermore, Neo doesn’t die for others’ sins, but for
his own: not coming to terms with his identity. After all, Neo is
mostly human, with all the attendant physical needs, and conducts
his affairs with incredible violence. His risky goal for Zion and
all humanity is to reveal the truth at the risk of losing all people,
rather than preserve them in the illusory web of the Matrix. Neo,
a liberator rather than a savior, is a Gnostic Christ.
The Gnostics were a loosely connected set of religious
dissidents who persevered in various sects throughout history. The
Gnostics were originally an offshoot of the Christian church, and
we can see how their fundamental beliefs differ from those of Christians through
the allegories in The Matrix and The Matrix
Reloaded. Gnostics believe that they alone truly understand
Christ’s message, and that they alone are an enlightened few. Their
name derives from the Greek word gnosis, meaning
knowledge. For Gnostics, knowledge is the true basis for spirituality.
Rather than blind faith, knowledge and the perpetual quest for knowledge
liberate individuals and help them break free from their natural
state of bondage to the world. In fact, some early Gnostic sects
worshipped the mythical serpent for bringing knowledge to Adam and
Eve and allowing them to become fully human. Neo becomes a liberator
by coming to understand himself. He discovers faith in himself,
not in an all-powerful, unknowable God. “Know Thyself,” says the
Oracle’s mantelpiece, and Neo eventually does.
The Gnostic God operates on two levels. The Supreme God knows
all but remains remote from human affairs, almost in a state of
irrelevance because it is so impossibly unknowable. A lesser god, the
Creator God, exists, the son of a virgin who was herself created by
the Supreme God. This Creator God sculpted the earth. The Creator
God of the Gnostics is called the Demiurge, a Greek word meaning
“public craftsman,” and is paralleled in the Matrix films
by the Architect. The Demiurge is inherently evil, without compassion or
other human emotions except for pride and strict adherence to laws
and disciplines. His cold logic often results in massive natural disasters
or genocides. He thinks he’s the real creator, and he’s responsible
for the painful condition of the world. The Matrix postulates
that suffering in the real world is preferable to a life of pleasure
in blissful ignorance, and this idea matches the Gnostic life perfectly.
Knowledge prevails over blind faith. This overcoming of blindness
is explicitly rendered in The Matrix Revolutions when Bane/Smith
burns Neo’s eyes, rendering him physically blind.
The Gnostics believe that a select few people have within
their bodies remnants of the divine virgin daughter of the Creator
God. They believe that by learning about one’s self, one’s world,
and one’s spiritual essence one may reveal these divine sparks of
original spirit. At the end of The Matrix, Neo
actually seems to glow, making his image resonate with both the
Christian resurrection story and Gnostic theology. Knowledge of
the self is the true faith.
Buddhism
The Matrix itself parallels samsara,
an illusory state of reality that is not what it appears. Samsara refers
to revolving worlds that develop, reach heights, collapse, are eliminated,
and then ultimately are replaced by other worlds. The goal of some
Buddhists is to escape from this cyclical pattern of doom and eternal
pain, which they believe is possible. Many of the freed humans choose
to accept the Buddhist state of karma, which suggests
that whatever state they are in, it is the result of their own doing.
Their condition is self-created, and this idea emphasizes the importance
of choice. Karma allows people to shape their next
life. If they choose actions that are virtuous in this world, they’ll
be more contented now and in the next life. But if they choose nonvirtuous
acts, they get what they deserve. Buddha’s Four Noble Truths suggest
that life is suffering, an idea The Matrix supports.
Practicing Buddhists of all sects are rigorous meditators, practicing
their faith by disciplining their minds. Morpheus trains Neo with
the programs to free his mind and realize his potential based on
freeing himself from laws. The training is not intended to teach
new skills, since these skills can be easily downloaded, but to
liberate Neo from the bondage of rules and to free him from the
trappings of the world.
