More on The Hunger Games

I'm reading some reviews of TheHunger Games by Christians. And a few folks (not most, I might add)who have not read the book(s) or seen the movie wonder how Christ-followers canfill our minds with such dark fiction. I can't speak for everybody, but Ican answer why this follower of Jesus read it and considered it adecent read: The point of dystopian stories  (e.g., The Road, LeftBehind, 1984, Brave New World and even A Wrinkle in Time and ThatHideous Strength) is to serve as a commentary on our times and issue awarning.

The Hunger Games is much like Left Behind in that it showsthe logical outcome of where our insane disregard for human life is taking us.No, it doesn't mention God. But a story doesn't have to mention God by name toshow us the difference between good and evil. We don't need a "God"character in The Wizard of Oz to get which witch is bad (I'm assumingthe Frank L. Baum version, not the "Wicked" one). But for thosewho have eyes to see, it's obvious. Jesus' stories didn't have God in themeither--that was part of what made him such a Master storyteller. Prodigals andseed and nagging widows made their point. 

Much of The Hunger Games’s appealto those in the technology-driven, raised-on Survivor generationis in its use of the genre they understand to show them a mirror of theirworld. It makes readers take stock of where our celebrity-driven,abortion-on-demand, I-can-survive-on-my-own mentality is taking us. It shows usthat love and community are more powerful than hatred and standing alone. Thatlife is precious. That true love drives us to lay down our lives, especiallyfor those who are more vulnerable.

Left Behind was full of violence and horror, too. But neither thatstory nor this was intended to make us hunger for more violence. It's to showwhere violence unchecked as entertainment is taking us. 

The first book is Act I. That's likea story about Genesis 3. But those who have read all threebooks seem to hint that Sunday's coming.

Instead of a thumb's up or thumb's down approach, why notask questions. If you have friends who have read the book(s) or seen the movie,strike up a conversation. Ask “Do you think this accurately reflects wherehumanity's headed?’”Where do you think humanity is headed?” “Do youthink it's possible that the end of time will be even more violent thanthe Hunger Games?” “Why?” It's not a far step from there to, “Forall have sinned.”