A Theological Thought

A few weeks ago I compared Anonymous to Jesus in the post Anonymous the Catalyst. So I was thinking “What they hey”, let’s talk about it some more. I am a man of faith. Is it possible for someone to be religious, and take part in Anonymous? Is it right from a theological stand point?

It seems to me that. from what I’ve seen of Anonymous, not many of them care much for God or religion. I’m not making a judgment upon them, and I don’t want to they are all the same person (though that’s the point of Anonymous is it not?), but rather an observation that I have made based on the way they conduct their actions and so forth.

Was the American Revolution a violation of religion? They were religious people; and they went against their government in the name of God. The Declaration of Independence begins with “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Romans 13:1-4 says “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

How do we know when an issue gives us the right entitled by God to declare ourselves against the government. Or is there really a point where we can do that?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are a good example from the Bible of going against the government. They were essentially protesters of their government. They would not submit to the terms of Nebuchadnezzar, and yet in the end God saved them in the end.

We are to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and Jesus’ life would live true to Romans 13. Jesus spoke out against false religious leaders, but he never once spoke out about the injustices of the Roman government. He died for us under a that corrupt system.

There are examples on both sides of the spectrum here. There must be some sort of line where if crossed you are sanctioned to go against the governmental authority, but where that line may be I have no clue. As for Anonymous, it is kind of different because of the way they go about doing things. They don’t always do “good” in a sense of social morality to say the least.

A lot of questions here, not a lot of answers. I’m no theologian, just curious.

Oh! …and Batman becomes a Jesus figure in The Dark Knight Rises because he takes away the bomb, and sacrifices himself for Gotham. (Just had to connect this to the Dark Knight some how.)

Anonymous the Catalyst

I found this blog post recently by Damon Garcia called The Dark Knight Rises, He Is Risen Indeed: Thoughts On A Better Resurrection. This post is about how the Dark Knight Rises compares with the resurrection of Jesus. I strongly encourage you to go and read it.
I would like to talk about how what he says relates to Anonymous. Damon says:

“In the middle of the film Officer Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt; swoon ladies, swoon) asks Bruce Wayne about why he would wear a mask as Batman. Bruce tells him it’s to protect the people closest to him but then he hits on something that stuck with me more than anything in the film.

Bruce Wayne: The idea was to be a symbol. Batman could be anybody. That was the point.
Blake: Well, it’s damn good to see him back.
Bruce Wayne: Not everybody agrees.
Blake: They’ll figure that out in the end.

The idea of the Batman was never supposed to be idolatry of Batman. The Batman was supposed to only serve as a catalyst to spur everyone else into actually making a difference.”
I couldn’t say that last line better in any way, and the same concept applies to Anonymous. Anonymous is not a hero, not an idol, but rather a call to action; a catalyst for revolution. If they became a hero, or were idolized they would get in the way of their own purpose.

…Yet society is always out to idolize things; to make idols of things. We want the hero; the clean cut, white knight, that can do no evil. But that’s not how it works. Idolizing things doesn’t do the world any good. Taking action is what gets things done in the world.

The idea is to be a symbol. Anonymous can be anybody. That is the point.
Hopefully they’ll figure that out in the end.