More on The Hunger Games

I'm reading some reviews of The Hunger 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 can fill our minds with such dark fiction. I can't speak for everybody, but I can answer why this follower of Jesus read it and considered it a decent read: The point of dystopian stories  (e.g., The Road, Left Behind, 1984, Brave New World and even A Wrinkle in Time and That Hideous Strength) is to serve as a commentary on our times and issue a warning.

The Hunger Games is much like Left Behind in that it shows the 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 to show 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 assuming the Frank L. Baum version, not the "Wicked" one). But for those who have eyes to see, it's obvious. Jesus' stories didn't have God in them either--that was part of what made him such a Master storyteller. Prodigals and seed and nagging widows made their point. 

Much of The Hunger Games’s appeal to those in the technology-driven, raised-on Survivor generation is in its use of the genre they understand to show them a mirror of their world. 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 us that love and community are more powerful than hatred and standing alone. That life is precious. That true love drives us to lay down our lives, especially for those who are more vulnerable.

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

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

Instead of a thumb's up or thumb's down approach, why not ask 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 where humanity's headed?’”Where do you think humanity is headed?” “Do you think it's possible that the end of time will be even more violent than the Hunger Games?” “Why?” It's not a far step from there to, “For all have sinned.”