The Matrix Inspired A Real-Life Religion: Matrixism Explained

[AKH]

Not content with simply inspiring an entire generation of similar cyberpunk action movies in the same vein, the iconic science-fiction blockbuster The Matrix also inspired a small religious following. The release of the first film was met with widespread critical acclaim, with critics and audiences specifically latching onto the film's intricate sci-fi worldbuilding as well as its complex and innovative fight choreography. The Matrix went on to gross over $460 million worldwide on a budget of $63 million and led to two sequels, countless spin-off materials, and another film installment slated for release in 2021 (although this is subject to change due to coronavirus).

The story of the first film follows a computer programmer named Thomas Anderson who moonlights as an amateur hacker named Neo. After a series of strange encounters (including being apprehended by a team of police and aptly-named Agents), Anderson discovers that the reality he knows is a lie, perpetrated by a species of artificial intelligence that enslaved humanity in a hyper-realistic simulation known as the Matrix. After finding out he's capable of manipulating the internal logic of the Matrix, Neo leads the resistance in a fight against the machines, all the while grappling with the possibility that he may be The One, a messianic figure foretold through prophecy.

Steeped in quantum physics theory and religious iconography, The Matrix, as well as its sequels, are chock-full of symbolism that is ripe for speculation. However, in the early 2000's, a group of fans may have taken that rampant speculation to new heights with the introduction of the world to Matrixism, conversely The Path of the One, a religion based entirely on the film franchise.


The religion made its debut in 2004 on the now-defunct web hosting service Yahoo! Geocities, courtesy of an anonymous group. The official symbol for the religion is the Japanese kanji symbol for "red," a reference to Neo choosing the red pill to start his adventure. While the major tenets of The Path of the One are based on the film franchise as well as its related spin-off material (such as the animated prequel The Animatrix), the religion also honors the teachings of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, one of the religious leaders of the Baháʼí Faith, which teaches the inherent value in all world religions as well as the unity of all people. Followers of the Baháʼí Faith believe that there is one monotheistic God, but that he chooses to make his word known through "Manifestations of God," otherwise known as the founders of major world religions. These include Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha.

ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's connection to The Matrix comes through his book The Promulgation of Universal Peace, in which he references the concept of a matrix several times, including a quote that says "in the beginning of his human life, man was embryonic in the world of the matrix." This eerie reference to the film's dystopian vision of humanity's future, coupled with the idea that the Prophecy of The One from the franchise can be seen as merely another "Manifestation of God," makes ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's teachings integral to Matrixism.

While the faith itself may seem outlandish, there are only four major rules to the religion, and they're all fairly simple. The first is simply that any followers must believe in the Prophecy of The One, aka the prophetic teaching that inspires Morpheus to go on the search for Neo in the first place. The second rule is that followers must accept the usage of psychedelic drugs as sacrament, a reference to the iconic red pill/blue pill scene and the usage of the red pill as a path to expansion of the mind. The third rule states that followers must recognize the semi-subjective nature of reality. Similar to the reveal of The Matrix as a faux-reality simulation, Matrixists believe that our reality may not be entirely truthful. Finally, the last rule is that followers must adhere to the rules of one or more world religions, falling back on the Baháʼí Faith belief that all religions are valid and truthful in their own way.

While Matrixism may be a belief founded on a fictional film franchise, it's one that's surprisingly inclusive, with a message of universal world harmony. And if nothing else, it's a testament to the long-standing pop-culture impact of The Matrix.

The Matrix 4 (2021)
Release Date: May 21, 2021