Na'vi spirituality/religion

[last shadow]

Here are some interesting speculations I made about the spirituality/religion of the Na'vi and their connection with Eywa (not sure if that can be called a religion)

But it seems to me that James Cameron just took some interesting ideas from several earth religions/philosophies and integrated it to form the Na'vi (religion)? Heres why I believe that, some analogies


> Eywa has been suggested to be the planet itself, the Native Americans had similar religious views

> The idea of nature being a deity seems to resemble Pantheism

> The philosophy behind the spirituality of the Na'vi resembles that of Taoism and there has been a thread which explores this idea in this forum. The view of the Na'vi on 'energy' is similar to that of Taoists

> The idea of Interdependence has buddhist connotations, There has been a thread on Avatar and Buddhism aswell. On Pandora interdependence is biological, while it is a spiritual idea in Buddhism as far as Im aware

> Mating before 'Eywa' and mated for life, notice mating not sex so it seems like a ceremony. Doesnt this seem like marriage in Christianity?

> Pandora is described by James Cameron as the 'garden of eden with teeth and claws', I wonder if James Cameron elaborated as much as he needed to on that

> Jake says this prayer to Eywa before killing an animal and all Na'vi do. In the muslim religion a prayer must be said when slaughtering an animal, this is what makes meat 'Halal'. I think Jewish people also have a prayer when slaughtering animals hence 'kosher' meat

> The Tree of Souls, this is the most sacred place for the Na'vi and according to Neytiri a place for prayers, this is also seen as a connection to Eywa. In the muslim religion a similar thing exists called 'The Kaaba', which is that giant black cube and it is the most sacred place for prayers for the muslim people and muslims visit it to improve their connection with 'Allah'



Feel free to add or post your own speculations

[_dollface]

those are really interesting points you have i can't really think of any right now, except for the obvious aboriginal/native-type religions...

[Chelda]

Ah yes, I got really into this Na'Vi "religion" because it connected to my own religious beliefs of pantheism.

[Walas00]

Naah I don't think comparing Na'vi culture to our world is a good idea.

I don't think dividing people into groups (religious, lifestyle, etc.) is a good idea... that only divides people.

Na'vi present a lifestyle which many people find fulfiling. I'd definately like to change mine to something like that.
I wouldn't care if someone would compare me to something, but that's not the point isn't it?

[HufweMakto]

The prayer part actually seems closer to me of this prayer scene over a deer in a part of a movie I saw years ago (forgot the name, darn it), with Native American hunters praying to the Great Spirit over a deer they just killed.

I also noted that the scriptment and the script both give some rather interesting mentions to the Tree of Souls as an "altar".

I also have to point out one last bit about Eywa: the "Mother-Goddess" part reminded me of an old theory that human religions were once matriarchial (something on that level) with a female diety rulling over the world as an "Earth-mother". The number of "Venus" figurines from the paleolithic were often presented as proof. This theory has long been discredited due to lack of evidence.

[Coui]

actually Native american have this tradition to pray over the killed animal and to thank him for his death

[_tsmuke]

The prayer part actually seems closer to me of this prayer scene over a deer in a part of a movie I saw years ago (forgot the name, darn it), with Native American hunters praying to the Great Spirit over a deer they just killed.

I also noted that the scriptment and the script both give some rather interesting mentions to the Tree of Souls as an "altar".

I also have to point out one last bit about Eywa: the "Mother-Goddess" part reminded me of an old theory that human religions were once matriarchial (something on that level) with a female diety rulling over the world as an "Earth-mother". The number of "Venus" figurines from the paleolithic were often presented as proof. This theory has long been discredited due to lack of evidence.

As far as I know it's generally accepted that agrarian cultures tended to worship a pantheon where a female fertility goddess is at the head, and non-agrarian nomadic peoples worshiped pantheons led by male weather gods.

I think the Na'vi way of life (it doesn't strike me as "religion" as such) is drawn from all of those things, and possibly others. When I was watching the film, it struck me that these people seemed like they weren't fallen (in the Christian sense). They seem to have that ideal sort of life, with their god present in their lives in a visceral way.

[MikaElle]

Here are some interesting speculations I made about the spirituality/religion of the Na'vi and their connection with Eywa (not sure if that can be called a religion)

But it seems to me that James Cameron just took some interesting ideas from several earth religions/philosophies and integrated it to form the Na'vi (religion)? Heres why I believe that, some analogies


> Eywa has been suggested to be the planet itself, the Native Americans had similar religious views

> The idea of nature being a deity seems to resemble Pantheism

> The philosophy behind the spirituality of the Na'vi resembles that of Taoism and there has been a thread which explores this idea in this forum. The view of the Na'vi on 'energy' is similar to that of Taoists

> The idea of Interdependence has buddhist connotations, There has been a thread on Avatar and Buddhism aswell. On Pandora interdependence is biological, while it is a spiritual idea in Buddhism as far as Im aware

> Mating before 'Eywa' and mated for life, notice mating not sex so it seems like a ceremony. Doesnt this seem like marriage in Christianity?

> Pandora is described by James Cameron as the 'garden of eden with teeth and claws', I wonder if James Cameron elaborated as much as he needed to on that

> Jake says this prayer to Eywa before killing an animal and all Na'vi do. In the muslim religion a prayer must be said when slaughtering an animal, this is what makes meat 'Halal'. I think Jewish people also have a prayer when slaughtering animals hence 'kosher' meat

> The Tree of Souls, this is the most sacred place for the Na'vi and according to Neytiri a place for prayers, this is also seen as a connection to Eywa. In the muslim religion a similar thing exists called 'The Kaaba', which is that giant black cube and it is the most sacred place for prayers for the muslim people and muslims visit it to improve their connection with 'Allah'

WoW, Last Shadow, very insightful, and yes thank you for those insights. I sensed some of what you have gleaned, but hadn't thought that deep about it, so I am very grateful for you making the connections.

Again,much Appreciated

[last shadow]

Thanks HufweMakto and Coui for the information, I wasnt aware the Native Americans also practiced rituals for killing animals, I guess the connection between the Na'vi killing ritual would seem closer to that of the Native Americans rather then the muslims/jews practices

On the 'Earth mother godess' that an interesting mention thanks

Also Eywa has been compared to Gaia Theory but it seems that Eywa is a conscious entity. Personally I think the idea of Eywa is closer to pantheism where nature is a conscious deity

And yeah I guess religion is not an accurate term for this, the connection the Na'vi have with Eywa and their spirituality seems more like ' a way of life '

[AppleSauce17]

I believe the reason that the Na'vi's culture and belief systems are so similiar to that of the planet earth's is that because most world religions are based on the same principles and moral concepts. Unfortunately, we may not take these to the extent that the Na'vi have. I noticed many Native, Pagan and Buddhist rituals and beliefs that seemed to appear within' the film. I have always believed that most religions are based on the same concepts which is why I find wars over religion ridiculous when we are all merely trying to work towards a common goal. If everyone made an effort to live as a community as the Na'vi people do - I think our earth could be similar to Pandora with magnificent and unique beauty's of it's own. I love others who are able to appreciate the brilliance of nature, earth and it's creatures just as the Na'vi do to Pandora. Unfortunately, on earth, we are called 'tree huggers'. Hahaha. I really liked your imput though, Last Shadow.