“Monsters From The Id”

Have Western Societies Released The Mindless Beast?

By Richard Allen – January 23, 2023

One of my favorite Sci-Fi movies has always been the 1956 classic, “Forbidden Planet” starring Walter Pidgeon, Leslie Nielsen and Anne Francis. A starship had been sent on a deep space rescue mission to the planet Altair IV to find out what happened to an earlier expedition, and rescue any survivors if possible. As they arrive. . . . . .

"on Altair IV, they find that Dr. Edward Morbius and his beautiful daughter Altaira are the only survivors from the original expedition that had arrived some 20 years before. Morbius isn't exactly pleased to see them and would have preferred that they not even land their spaceship. He does his best to get them on their way, but Commander Adams and his men soon face an invisible force leading them to believe that Morbius and the girl are in danger. Morbius claims to know nothing of other life on the planet, but does reveal there once existed a far superior race (the Krell), now extinct, that left a huge subterranean industrial and scientific complex." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2BYyeS-fIU

As the story develops, we learn that Dr. Morbius with his wife and daughter, are the sole survivors of a prior expedition in which all of the other crew and their families were murdered by some hideous and unseen beast that roamed the planet. Despite Dr. Morbius’ warnings, Commander Adams lands and makes camp on this earthlike planet, hoping to evacuate Morbius and his beautiful daughter, Altaria. But once again, the mysterious, unseen beast makes his presence known, killing several of Adam’s crew. As the plot unfolds, Adams and his crew learn from Morbius, an expert in languages – that the previous inhabitants – an advanced race called the Krell, vanished in one night some 2000 Centuries earlier, leaving their advanced, self-maintaining machinery still running. This machinery allowed the Krell to create matter, or anything they could imagine, just by their thoughts. Then it’s revealed that Dr. Morbius, the first to learn the Krell language, had spent the past 20 years using a Krell brain-boosting device to access their advanced technology, building a beautiful dwelling and an amazing Robot, named Robbie. As the video clip above shows, Morbius was so smart he missed the obvious reason the Krell had destroyed themselves: Not by their conscious actions, but by their subconscious minds – enabled by the Krell’s matter-creating machinery – had created “Monsters from the Id.” The “Id” as Freud explained, is that Primitive, Narcissistic Beast from within. And by Morbius using the Krell brain-enhancer, the Monster from his Id (that killed the earlier expedition’s crew), feeling threatened, was now on the loose again.

There are several Biblical themes developed in this Sci-Fi classic, but the one I’ll look at this week is “Monsters from the Id.” The Freudian definition below is accurate, and from this definition we can see the Id as those “primitive, Narcissistic (self-love) appetites that are not from our better nature.” They are the baser parts of the fallen human psyche. In the video link above you’ll hear Morbius’ character describe what the “Id” is. Here’s a brief definition from the website, Simply Psychology:

“The id is the primitive and instinctive component of personality. The Id is a part of the unconscious that contains all the urges and impulses, including what is called the libido, a kind of generalized sexual energy that is used for everything from survival instincts to appreciation of art.”

Jesus also speaks about our baser human impulses and then explains the connection between our outward sinful behavior and the “beast” (the Id) we all struggle with within:

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexualimmorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone” (Matthew 15:18-20).

Since we fallen humans have a corrupt heart that produces bad outward behavior, God has given mankind several checks and balances to restrain “the beast within us,” so we don’t completely destroy ourselves – like the race of Krell did in “Forbidden Planet.” Those checks and balances include: Parents, Schools, Government and Church, to name a few. I fear that after two generations of progressive parenting – brought on by falsehoods promoted in our culture by godless influences in Academia, Media and Government, the “beast from within” has once again been loosed. We daily read the News with shock and dismay at the depths to which fallen men and women have sunk in giving their “Monsters from the Id” full rein. Another ironic concept from the movie “Forbidden Planet” is, that at the pinnacle of their advanced development, the Krell wanted to be able to create with just their minds. This refers to Fallen Man’s original desire to “be God” (Genesis 3:5). According to the movie, the Krell had endured for hundreds of thousands of years, and had evolved into a highly intelligent race with advanced technology. Again, this wasn’t enough, they still wanted to be “Creator Gods,” and in the end it spelled their doom.

In Western Cultures, we have fallen into the same two errors. After only 200+ years of affluence and success, we now have more time for recreation and fun than any culture in history. Today’s enlightened masses are taught to aspire to “self-actualization,” that is to reach their own full potential. We’re told that only when we reach that level, will we truly be happy and content. This teaching came from Abraham Maslow, a psychologist and researcher almost a century ago. While there is some truth in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, I can honestly say that modern man is not worried about food, shelter and safety. No, we’re well past that. Mankind today is looking for worldly contentment and the praise of men – just to give their lives meaning. I cannot state it too strongly, Self-Actualization is not the highest level of man’s existence or contentment. The Bible teaches us that we are “not to live by bread alone” (Matthew 4:4), and we are also admonished by the New Testament writers not to “be all we can be” (U.S. Army marketing slogan), but rather, to yield ourselves to God. And by doing His will, we will reach our highest state of satisfaction and contentment:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:6-9).

Our contemporaries in Western Societies have erred greatly making the pleasing of selfthe ultimate purpose in Life! Self-Actualization is just another deception that gives men and women an excuse for thinking that everything is “all about me.” As a result, men seek their own good and comfort above all else, including: Family, Spouse, Children, Friends, Neighbors and ultimately, God! Today we are reaping the bitter fruit of at least two generations of children being told: You’re special, so your happiness is the only thing that matters, your life’s pursuit should be for “you to be happy!” Is it any wonder that all manner of deviancy and degenerate behavior is now celebrated as being chic or cool.

This teaching is contrary to Biblical Truth. In fact, instead of giving full rein to the “Monsters from the Id” we each should be seeking to subdue these baser urges. Our happiness at any cost – is not the supreme purpose for living. Our real goal in life is to “Glorify God and seek His Kingdom and Righteousness:”

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:25-33).

Like the mythical Krell race, what we really want is to “be our own gods,” making decisions for right and wrong, giving our sinful appetites full rein. In the process we also have thrown away all restraints to pursue our self-centered goals. Here’s a sample of our lofty aspirations, often reflected in popular song: “If it feels good, do it.” Or “The most important thing is for me to be happy, that’s all that matters.” Or, “I want to reach my highest potential.” Or, “I got to be me.” Or “I did it my way.” Or my favorite: “If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.” We deny that we’re engaged in deviant or selfish behavior, we’re just “doing our own thing.” Sadly, we have actually encouraged several generations of young adults that their feelings and desires are all that matters, so you must act on them. By doing so, we have released the “Monsters from the Id.” As a culture we parade and celebrate deviant sinful behavior. And what should be our shame – we sadly boast about: “their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).

But the truth is, we will all stand and give an account before God. No matter how brazen our behavior, God will still bring us all to “a day of reckoning.” For those who glory in their sin and boast in their flesh, to those who have given free rein to their “Monsters from the Id,” God will call us to account. On that day, those outside the atoning mercy and forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ, will shrink back in shame at His appearing in judgment:

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:28-29).