When I got a “For Your Consideration” feeler for an anime film with the title The Laws of the Universe: The Age of Elohim, “I thought how can I resist this one?” I had to see how another culture would look at the God of the Jewish and Christian traditions. As expected, this is a religiously syncretic story that brings together Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism—and creates a sort of cosmological Star Wars. (Much of the visual imagery is very much evocative of the Star Wars films.)
This film takes place 150 million years ago, during the second time Lord Elohim came to earth. (The first was 330 million years ago, and is related in another film in this anime series). During this time humans and aliens lived together peacefully on earth. But when a meteor (actually a bomb) is heading toward earth, Yaizael, a female soldier from the planet Vega, arrives to save the planet. It turns out the bomb was part of a plan by the reptilians of Centaurus Beta to destroy the earth. When the reptilians invade, Yaizael leads an army of humans and angels (including Michael and Lucifer) to defeat the invaders and save earth. Also involved is a healer named Amor, who looks like the traditional depictions of Jesus.
It is interesting to see how these various religious threads are woven together. Lord Elohim is said to be an “incarnation of the primordial Buddha of the Universe.” The concept of reincarnation also plays a part in the story because earth is seen as a spiritual training ground, where souls receive the teaching of Lord Elohim about good and evil. The central part of Elohim’s teaching is justice as it plays out within a diverse world. It is caring for others. It is standing for what is right. It is about self-sacrifice.
The underlying message of the film is that if we are to survive as a planet, and if we are to prove ourselves worthy of rebirth, we need to stand for justice for all people. That is a message that is as important today as it was 150 million years ago.
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