Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah | Themes

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah Themes

Illusion

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah is, above all, about how the entire physical universe in time and space is an illusion. Reality exists, but is divinely indifferent. "The Is" (i.e., God) cares nothing about human illusions and games, views humans as his/her perfect, finished likeness. When modern-day "Reluctant Messiah," Donald W. Shimoda, attracts a disciple, the narrator Richard, Richard begins with simple tricks such as floating tools in the air. Richard recalls being told as a child that magic tricks are illusions. Shimoda explains how any so-called "miracle" becomes possible once one realizes all is illusion. If this is so, Richard initially wonders, why live?

Shimoda uses a movie to explain. The story exists in toto in the film canister but there is no sense of time and space until the film is projected through a lens. The viewer then chooses to suspend reality to enter the story...
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