Matrixism
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Matrixism or The path of the One is a new religious movement inspired by the motion picture trilogy The Matrix. Conceived by an anonymous group in the summer of 2004 it has attracted over 16,000 adherents.
Matrixism is described as a syncretic or ecumenical religion. Though Matrixists cite references to "the matrix" from an obscure text of the Bahá'í Faith, called "The Promulgation of Universal Peace", to make a connection with broader world religious history, The Matrix trilogy, along with related mass media products such as video games, is generally considered to be the "sacred text" of the movement.
Matrixism carries with it four main beliefs that are described as "The Four Tenets of Matrixism". Briefly these are: belief in a messianic prophecy, use of psychedelics as sacrament, a perception of reality as multi-layered and semi-subjective, and adherence to the principles of at least one of the world's major religions.
The Matrixism website indicates April 19th as a holiday known as Bicycle Day. This day marks the anniversary of Albert Hofmann's 1943 experiment with LSD. Matrixism also observes the anniversary of the passing of Aldous Huxley, John F. Kennedy and C.S. Lewis, November 22nd 1963, as a holy day called the Day of Remembrance and Reflection.
Religious laws specific to Matrixism include; The abrogation of the use of the human image in advertising, the legalization of file sharing, the abrogation of pornography, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the abrogation of professional sports and the legalization of both polygyny and polyandry.
The adopted symbol for Matrixism is, 赤, the Japanese Kanji symbol for "red". This symbol was used in the video game Enter the Matrix. The color is a reference to the redpill, which represents an acceptance of and ability to see truth, as established early in the first Matrix film.
[edit] Sources
- Bouma, Gary (2007). Australian Soul, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521673891
- Morris, Linda (18 May 2005) They're All God Movies: In Mysterious Ways, The Sydney Morning Herald [1]
- Moscaritolo, Maria (12 June 2006). "Matter of Faith", News Limited Australia
- J. Gordon Melton (2007). Perspective New New Religions: Revisiting a Concept, Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, The Regents of the University of California[2]
- Possamai, Adam (2005). "Religion and Popular Culture: A Hyper-Real Testament", Peter Lang Publishing Group. ISBN 90-5201-272-5 / US-ISBN 0-8204-6634-4 pb.
- Jordison, Sam (8 April 2006). Everything you always wanted to know about sects, The Scotsman [3]
- Kasriel, Alex (2006). The joy of sects, The Sun (newspaper)[4]
- Kazan, Casey (19 April 2007). Matrixism -"The Path of the One" Religious Movement, Daily Planet[5]
- (24 May 2007) "Nieuw geloof"[6]. Esquire Magazine Netherlands English translation: Because there is nothing more fun than discussing a film, 1400 fans of the film have set up a new religion, Matrixism (not to be confused with Marxism). Just like their hero Neo from The Matrix, they release themselves from The Matrix with a red pill.
- (19 January 2007) Matrixism -"The Path of the One"[7], Esquire Magazine UK The 1,400 worldwide "Matrixists", or "Pathists", cite the three Matrix films as their religious texts. Like Matrix hero Neo, they choose to free themselves from the Matrix
- Kohn, Rachael. The Spirit of Things, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio National, 20 August 2006.
- Whibley, Amanda (18 November 2005). God.com: Preaching the Word in a consumer-driven world, University of Western Sydney [8]
- Johnson, Phil (10 April 2005). Matrixism, Circle of Pneuma [9]
- Jordison, Sam (2005). The Joy of Sects: An A-Z of Cults, Cranks and Religious Eccentrics: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sects But Were Afraid to Ask, pp 127-9, Robson Books. ISBN 1861059051
- Kotelawala, Himal (14 June 2008). Behind Matrixism.[10] The Sunday Times Sri Lanka.
