tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post1211491186042136775..comments2023-03-25T07:14:00.630-04:00Comments on CrucifiedConDios: A Theological Critique of The Hunger GamesChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09662091424923136638noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-8802811993809791672012-02-20T09:47:05.720-05:002012-02-20T09:47:05.720-05:00I really appreciate your words. It's not every...I really appreciate your words. It's not everyday that one reads a well thought out critique of a meme. Not of the books, not of the movies, but the meme.<br /><br />Memes have an insidious way of creeping into culture and, when repeated often enoug...h, of becoming tolerated and, in some cases, of becoming accepted as truth. You partly address this as the "...yes but..." game.<br /><br />It's appalling to me that so many have lost the function of discernment. "Everybody likes it, so it must be good/true/beautiful" is the criteria by which these memes are judged rather than, "how does my ethic interpret this meme?" More often than not the unexamined life prevails because it's more convenient and assures me of being "in" and more popular. This is in large part why, in my opinion, Christians seldom move from "milk" to "solid food" and live frustrated lives.<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughtful analysis. Keep up the good work.Carlosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-66111314331137247502012-02-12T10:42:02.953-05:002012-02-12T10:42:02.953-05:00I understand what you mean about Collins not being...I understand what you mean about Collins not being a Christian. Of course she won't share the same kinds of values that we do. Yet, I still think that it is our responsibility as Christians, to whom God has revealed himself, to correct her. Everyone does theology, even if they don't believe in God. Too often we seem to think that only Christians do theology, or that only pastors/theologians do theology. Collins is making some very powerful theological claims, regardless of whether she even realizes it (!). <br /><br />I think of the OT prophets and how time after time they critiqued the rulers of foreign nations who didn't even know Yahweh. My personal favorite is Ezekiel. Even though they do not worship Yahweh, Ezekiel holds them to Yahweh's standards. In the same way, if people are making theological claims that stand in opposition to God's character and his plan for the world/humankind, then it is our duty to point out their flaws and hold them to Yahweh's standard.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09662091424923136638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-57894389464668106932012-02-12T10:35:38.862-05:002012-02-12T10:35:38.862-05:00So good to hear your thoughts! I completely see wh...So good to hear your thoughts! I completely see what you mean about the book's critique of violence. I think that it definitely had some good points, many of which you list. Yet, I cannot agree with Collins' solution to the violence - more violence, particularly against others who are victims in the game too. She makes it seem like the tributes had no choice but to kill others to survive, when in fact they still had the choice and control of their own actions. Complying with the game is in no ways defiant. I don't think that characters that kill others in order to keep their own lives should be portrayed as heroes at all.Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09662091424923136638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-43361947506473238292012-02-12T10:31:21.182-05:002012-02-12T10:31:21.182-05:00Thanks, Daniel, for sharing your thoughts. It'...Thanks, Daniel, for sharing your thoughts. It's good to "see" you on here. :)Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09662091424923136638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-18640933384483842632012-02-11T20:05:53.994-05:002012-02-11T20:05:53.994-05:00these are just some thoughts I had. But, overall I...these are just some thoughts I had. But, overall I agree- they are horrifying, i just believe their horror to be the point. <br /><br />lastly, what DOES scare me about the books is TEENS are not analyzing them as you or I just did. They are perfect examples of the kids from the capital loving the atrocity of the other children dying in the "games". So, if anything...yes, the books are terrible for teens and pre-teens, or the mere uneducated. If you can't analyze the points behind them, they are in fact what you posed them in your post to be. Since my post is going on forever, i will end it there. But, I think these things should be discussed and that is, in fact, the point.Shattering Statisticshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316666578042338115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-15681538592256638652012-02-11T20:05:12.542-05:002012-02-11T20:05:12.542-05:00Along those lines, I don't think we can fairly...Along those lines, I don't think we can fairly critique the story from a complete Biblical perspective...it wasn't written by a believer. She, as an author, does not hold the same standards that we do. So her having the two main characters live to continue on their tale of a story is not shocking. Ironically her doing that does play into the whole point she is trying to make, although people in the flesh, with out Christ- are not perfect. If I were Katniss, I don't know that I wouldn't bow down the boy who killed Rue or put the last boy out of misery. If I had a family to get home too, no Jesus in my life, surviving the games would make sense. Honestly, from a Jesus-less perspective, I think the books are a pretty good exploitation of the horrifying reality as to which our society continually heads towards. Brutality. Murder. <br /><br /><br />...obviously, as believers, it is important to always consider Christ and how He applies to everything. I think that is not only obvious, but completely necessary and not enough people do so. I also, however, believe we can't totally discredit the point seemingly driven behind the books- recognizing it wasn't intended to be written from a Christian perspective.Shattering Statisticshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316666578042338115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-68299816264168452522012-02-11T20:04:34.469-05:002012-02-11T20:04:34.469-05:00beautifully written as always. i love your educate...beautifully written as always. i love your educated analysis and Biblical perspective. sadly it wouldn't let me comment on the page itself, oddly, but i suppose i can give opinion here. I whole heartedly agree that the point of Jesus is peace. The hunger games uses the play of its own title to show how the Capital feeds/preys on the other districts. I finished the book exactly a week ago, and haven't gotten into the second due to school, but am interested to see what angles the author takes, because I honestly expected the entire trilogy to be katniss in the games, developing all game players. honestly, i saw much of the sadistic themes as a great parallel to the Roman coliseum Games. I slightly related it back to Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion Series (which is great and u should read the 1st two if u get the chance- and actually Jesus based which is redeeming in comparison). The Hunger Games to me is supposed to portray a "higher" civilization exploitation of the smaller ethnic and district run societies. In an essence, I think it is an honest portrayal of what our society is climaxing too. The kids in your youth group, as sick and twisted as they came off, were coming from a world view they have observed. If anything, they are a perfect example of what this series is conveying about the reality of our world views. Are children, much like Gale/Peeta/Katniss/Rue....the innocent, are being raised in cultures that not only exploit one another (the districts are a good example of forever indentured servants..basically slaves) but also praise the idea of death! Anything from singing along to Eminem setting the house on fire with Rihanna tied to the bed to the new version of Call of Duty (where if you don't take the guy out the first time, you are forced to shoot him in the head). We live, here, in a safe-abundantly blessed culture, that much like the capital paints ourselves and praises murder. Let alone praising murder, but subjecting kids from an early age to not only find it appropriate but entertaining. A wise thing for me to do, which i admit having not done yet, is to read the authors commentary (i would assume must be out there) to see her exact pinpointing thoughts. My perspective i currently hold could be not what she was aiming for at all, however, this was the T*r* interpretation. Katniss is a teen who has grown up numb to the idea of the games, regardless of hating it for all it is worth. Peeta is the one redeeming character, and I know exactly what you mean- i wanted them to eat the daggon berries, yet I hope to see why the author did not have them do that in the next couple stories and have them not eating them be redeemed. Suicide isn't of the Lord either, so I can't really condone the idea regardless of wanting them to do it.Shattering Statisticshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316666578042338115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467696868874406521.post-36762891432207965822012-02-11T15:07:08.139-05:002012-02-11T15:07:08.139-05:00I haven't read the books but I've been tem...I haven't read the books but I've been tempted to because I thought the premise sounded interesting. Your post is convicting. I kept wanting to argue with you, but I knew deep down you were right. I find myself agreeing with the students in your youth group more often than I'd like to admit. <br /><br />I like your ending to the story and I would buy a book like that. I got chills reading it. May "We not shrink from death" if it comes to us. Let us follow the example of our Lamb.Daniel Coutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06985633675360095852noreply@blogger.com