Partly inspired by a recent interview with ross douthat, who argues in his new book, bad religion, that great art inspired by religion is vital to the culture, i asked times staffers and contributors to describe their favorite works of fiction that have prominent religious themes. Eli biblical figure beware the book of eli list of black films of the 2010s. Washington, a twotime academy award winner widely known in hollywood for his christian beliefs, portrays a lone warrior making his way. The movie displays the resurrection of christ and the fall of satan. Bishop barron comments on the book of eli spoilers. Ben mcadoo, eli manning, jacksonville jaguars, new york giants, nfc east, tom coughlin tweet in the film the book of eli, eli was led to a book by a voice in his head and he made it his mission to protect that book with his life. Anyway, i thought book of eli would be less scary so i went into the theater expecting something good. Jesus and the book of eli part 1 worldviews, worship. The fact that eli is our hero, and sterling example of humanity, and his story arc is so steeped in christianity put off a lot of viewers who believed.
The visual composer lets you take full control of your website. Denzel washington, mila kunis, ray stevenson, gary oldman. The book of eli casts bible as a major theme baptist standard. After having just caught the ending of the book of eli, which. Psalms and bible verses are quoted throughout the movie, and christian imagery and symbolism are present in many scenes. The three women together make up the three daughters of eve, or, as shafak puts. The book of eli kindle edition by moffie, sam, bastiens. The book of eli was intense, and the plot was awesome.
In this convincing exploration, crane, a british philosopher and professor at central european university who focuses on philosophy of the mind and metaphysics, tries to bridge the gap between atheists and religious communities by explaining the human religious impulse. These night themes will help you discuss the novel intelligently. Aslan the lion represents christ and jadis, the wicked witch, represents satan. Eli came out in 2010, just a year after the road starring vigo mortensen. Our community welcomes everyone from around the world to discuss world history, historical periods, and themes in history military history, archaeology, arts and culture, and history in books and movies. Lewis, the da vinci code by dan brown, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe by c. A postapocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across america in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. The making of eli, on the other hand, saw plenty of washington flourishes.
The story revolves around eli, a nomad in a postapocalyptic world, who is told by a voice to deliver his copy of a mysterious book to a safe location on the west coast of. Some of the themes in night by elie wiesel include the struggle to maintain faith through suffering, the evil of humanity, the dangers of silence, and the importance of fatherson relationships. Reading suggestions for religious fiction the new york times. Gyasi herself has the experience of being a black, ghanaian woman living in 21st century united states society, a society that still. The book of eli continues hollywoods obsession with postapocalyptic tales, and in many ways feels like it belongs in the same world as the road. The role of denzel washington brings a positive message about obdedience, faith and perseverance.
The state of the bible 2017 report contains the findings from a nationwide study commissioned by american bible society and conducted by barna research a division of barna group. On violence and language in the book of eli by angela walker. As far as the road is concerned, it is filled with spiritual themes. Abp the bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic action film starring denzel washington that opens in theaters jan. And denzel washington isnt exactly kirk cameron, either. What the hell was the theme of the movie book of eli. Titles announced as best of the year in 11 categories. America has suffered a catastrophic destruction and civilization and law have disappeared. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of eli. Denzel washington, one of hollywoods most successful and highly respected figures, stars in the book of eli, the story of a man of faith on a mission to protect the last copy of the bible. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals. Eli is protecting a bible so that postapocalyptic dictators cant use it to control their people. The hughes brothers are happy to tell you that the book in the book of eli is the bible. Religion from an atheists point of view tim crane harvard univ.
But there are so many themes in it that just excite me as a christianespecially the fact that the story seems impossible. Religion and language in contemporary film wikiversity. Like all other religious themes, it also has an event manager and a salmon manager. With gripping immediacy, bill myers weaves a story whose truth will refresh your faith. I recommend this book for those living in darkness and those needing encouragement to continue praying for others. Two research methodologies were used for the study. The film presents some religious subthemes, which might find differing interpretations by different viewers. Mixed in with the violence and sepiatones is one giant religious symbol that we just had to quiz the brothers about in our exclusive interview. Many have taken explicity prochristian themes from the film, but is it that. So i went out with my bf last friday to watch book of eli. I found the ending a little disappointing, but i think.
The book of eli examing the religious undertones in the film book of eli. Jesus and the book of eli part 1 remember the book of eli. When hannah came to shiloh to pray for a son, eli initially accused her of drunkenness, but when she protested her innocence, eli wished her well. Hughes brothers talk religious controversy in the book of eli. Even better, through several memorable scenes, eli begins to show solara the power of the bible not as a tool for conquest, but as a handbook for living. The contemporary film, the book of eli directed by albert and allen hughes, the internet movie database focuses on the protagonist and a violent thirty year quest through desert like wastelands of a cataclysmic war ravaged earth. Likewise, the religious themes in avatar come across as rather goofy feelgood new ageism compared to the themes of faith, sacrifice, and suffering in eli. October 2, 2017 october 2, 2017 0 comments analysis, atheism, christianity, denzel washington, feature, film, movie, opinion, religion, sikhism, the book of eli the ageold debate of god and religion is something i tend to think about a lot. What the book of eli tells us about religion youtube. Rowling at first the christian motifs in the harry potter books seemed fairly obvious and common, the sort that pop up everywhere by a kind of cultural osmosis. Lewis work, it may come as no surprise that the chronicles of narnia.
Christian themes abound in book of eli the tufts daily. The book of eli is a flick that is rich with themes that are just begging for the popcorn theology treatment. Ecpa announces the winners of the 2017 christian book. That background might render the book of eli controversial for some religious literalists.
The movie does have a significant amount of violence however, the violence is analogous to situations in the bible where the israelites were commanded to annihilate their enemies on the way to the promised land. Eli and solara stumble upon these two in their travels, and both actors play their characters with energy and humor. The nay book is a document rarely found outside bundys inner circle, and it appears to lay a religious foundation for the ranchers strong and consistent views that the federal government has. Perhaps that plot is fuel for controversy, but the hughes brothers dont mind letting that one slip. The book of eli can obviously be a very meaningful piece of cinema for christians, and there is no reason to rob that group of that meaning, but that does not preclude people of all faiths or no. Washington, a twotime academy award winner widely known in hollywood for his christian beliefs, portrays a lone warrior making his way across a desolate american landscape defending the worlds last remaining copy of.
The secular faith of book of eli film school rejects. The lion, the witch and the wardrobe is filled with christian themes. Founded in 2006, historum is a history forum dedicated to history discussions and historical events. Svaki mjesec posjeti nas vise od 4 500 000 surfera. Hannahs eventual child, samuel, was raised by eli in the tabernacle. When eli failed to rein in the abusive behavior of his sons, yahweh promised to punish his family, resulting. Google image 473 growing up with my grandparents, i would often go to church on sundays. The book of eli is screenwriter, gary whittas, take on a western samurai film. Bishop barron comments on the death of billy graham duration. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the. It was one of a spat of post apocalyptic dramas with washed out color and characters who care more about surviving to the end of the day than dental hygiene. First came the preparation before shooting, he spent four hours a day for two months with the filmmakers playing. It shows the theme of gods supernatural power and divine providence all the much more. The ageold debate of god and religion is something i tend to think about a lot.
A testimony of hope for all who see their lives as hopeless and irreparable, elis story of a sovereign transformation refutes all arguments. The book of eli provokes thoughtful debate about the religious themes in the film, but the oldminus. Eli is hebrew for my god, and the bibles eli was the teacher of samuel, a great prophet. The book of eli kindle edition by moffie, sam, bastiens, devra. The book of eli is a stylish film that is reminiscent of i am legend and other postapocalyptic stories, though it carves out a niche for itself due to its strong characters and its central theme. Not saying that the movie was bad or anything but i left the theater wondering what the hell was the point of the movie. I loved the part when gary said he needed the words of the book to rule over the other towns. While the major inequality gyasi examines in homegoing is racial inequality, gender and gender inequality are also major themes in the text. Author by eli contreras christian publisher xulon press. An intense and thoughtprovoking novel, eli strips away religious tradition to present jesus fresh and unvarnished. Now look, i get that the book of eli is a work of fiction. Christianity and the book of eli believe it or not. Its a southern novel, and has the elements found in traditional southern fiction. The hughes brothers book of eli isnt all postapocalyptic samurai sword action and ipods.
Eli was, according to the books of samuel, a high priest of shiloh. This week, richard and david discuss this film and subjects such as the importance, authority, and power of scripture, the proclivity by some people and groups to use the word of god for their own selfish ends, and. Scenes in which eli defends the book with his life are extremely convicting as a christian, and thoughtprovoking for nonbelievers. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Many have taken explicity prochristian themes from the film, but. An oscar winner accepted among the mainstream elite, he is also. As john notle said over at big hollywood, eli in the end is a genre movie.