Theology in Avatar: The Last Airbender: Essays on Eastern Influences and Western Perspectives

The beloved Uncle Iroh once told Prince Zuko, "It's time to start asking the big questions." This statement is as true for us as viewers of Avatar: The Last Airbender as it is for the banished prince.

This collection invites fans of one of the most popular animated shows in America to contemplate how the Avatar Universe prompts big questions about meaning. Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel series, The Legend of Korra, combine philosophical thoughts from both Eastern and Western perspectives, and this collection of twelve essays helps readers to recognize and consider those influences more deeply, from ideas as grand as the soul's relationship to the universe to the role tea can have in making a Zen master. Contributors consider the show from perspectives such as Buddhism, Taoism, the Hero's Journey, the theory of the elements, and many more.