Gods

I saw the movie Princess Mononoke last night - one of the few anime films my husband has convinced me to see. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! Being unfamiliar with Japanese plot structures, I kept predicting the plot in an American way, only to be surprised when my assumptions went unfulfilled. The role of the "downtrodden" in the film was especially fun: The women of Iron Town are ex-prostitutes who "don't let the men touch them unless they want them to," as one woman puts it. They work the bellows, make the weapons for the men, and even use the weapons with greater skill than the men. The lepers, befriended by the town's female leader, make exquisite rifles.

Of course, there is a god in the film. Several creatures are referred to as "gods" or "demons" or both before they are killed. As the town leader puts it, "It takes more than one shot to kill a god."

I couldn't help feeling disappointed as each "demon/god" was killed. In the face of something so powerful it requires the name "god," I expect that no mere human could kill it. In my mind, if a human kills a god, then the god was never actually powerful. I lose my respect for the dead god.

The film also has an overall god of life and death, who can give or take life- the Forest Spirit. Legend has it that whoever can cut off the Forest Spirit's head will be granted immortality. Eventually they do cut off the Forest Spirit's head, but the Spirit kills every living plant and person in its path until he gets his head back.

Though fascinated by the plot, I couldn't help being disappointed. If this powerful god had power of life and death, how could anyone kill him? In my mind, he can only be killed if he allows himself to be killed - and this obviously isn't the case here, because he devastates the entire land in order to get his life back. So who has power over his life and death?



I'm reminded of the Greek gods of Olympus, which I most readily imagine in the context of Disney's version of Hercules. They party on Mount Olympus, drinking and laughing and enjoying the company of beautiful women.

This image disappoints me too. Should the beings responsible for human life be partying? Why don't they take more interest in the happenings on earth? "With great power comes great responsibility," but the gods don't seem to care. I lose my respect for them, and I am not surprised when Icarus stupidly flies too close to the sun and plunges into the sea. And don't get me started on how gods fight each other - really? Shouldn't they be above that?

Why does all this fake god stuff bother me? Because I have experienced a God that fulfills all my expectations. No one can kill him unless he lets them - this happened with Jesus. And Yahweh doesn't sit up in heaven and party! Every minute he is actively with each person on earth. And unlike any gods in stories, he actually craves personal, intimate relationships with us. Fake gods merely imitate aspects of Yahweh's character, which is why I lose respect for them so easily.

I've grown up hearing that Yahweh is all powerful, and he is with us, and immortal, and none can kill him unless he gives them permission. But when I see how other gods are portrayed, I've come to realize the importance of these cliches for Yahweh. He's not just a god; he is the only one who deserves all of my allegiance.

Confession: Despite his proven faithfulness, I give Yahweh my allegiance about 5% of the time. The other 95% my actions and thoughts are motivated either by my own interests or by pursuing good for the sake of good. You would think that a God so vastly superior that no one has power over his life or death would demand my love if he wanted it; would punish me for my lack of sacrifices. But that's the other weird thing about Yahweh: unlike other gods, he is "slow to anger."

The worst part of my confession is, I don't know how to get to 100%, and I'm kind of scared to try. I'm comfortable living for myself, and going to church on Sundays, and occasionally preparing a meal for an invalid or donating to a charity. But in my heart - I don't want to admit it - God's calling me to do more. My first instinct is to say, "Compared to most people, I'm doing plenty." But God doesn't grade on a curve. He's working with me individually here. He has a plan for me to fulfill, and I'm using just enough God to keep me happy.