Feb 01, 2010 i am surprised the book of eli wasnt on christians radar. But, in the midst of the chaos walks a man in possession of a. I think its more of a bible story than you think, eli being a prophet who can literally spoiler get shot and stand back up and keep going on his quest while hearing the voice of god leading him. In other words, the world operates on a different set of ethics than christians do, and so when we deal with christians, we must use. Well i think if you applied it to nowadays, even misguided people. Then the lord called samuel, and he said, here i am. But to understand this perspective you have to abandon the way most read the bible, as a constitution of laws, and read it from a perspective of story. I was a christian, and i had what i still consider to be a relatively good reason for believing that this long dead palestinian primate was in any sense a god. And then imagine that he goes through all the same things but differently because he is here. You dont know if the rapture happened, never happened, is about to happen, or never will happen. Described as a warrior by necessity, eli seeks peace. A christian principle is not eli blowing people to kingdom come, no matter how they add biblical language to it. With scandal after scandal breaking in hollywood, i think its time we, as christians, had a talk about tinseltown.
The book of eli can obviously be a very meaningful piece of cinema for. I dont think youll walk out with that feeling at all. Why is the religious themes of this movie bringing it so. It is the best christian movie i have ever seen despite the fact that im sure the writers werent really looking for it to be christian. When he feeds the 5000 it is not with fish and bread because we dont have that at our gatherings how about hamburgers and fries. Taking place in a postapocalyptic world, the movie soon makes very clear to the viewer that life has become extremely. All the years ive been carrying the bible and reading it every dayi got so caught up with keeping it safe i forgot to live by what i learned from it. When he feeds the 5000 it is not with fish and bread because we dont have that at.
But when you hear this other character say that, i thought, this is. Christianity and the book of eli believe it or not. Claude hobbs feb 17, 20 cwv101 christian worldview bob greene the book f eli the book of eli is a post apocalyptic film in which eli played by denzel washington is traveling across the wasteland that was once america that has been devastated by a nuclear war that happened 30 years earlier. Taking place in a postapocalyptic world, the movie soon makes very clear to the viewer that life has become extremely difficult for those who have survived the last war. Jan 20, 2010 it has to do with the whole spirit behind making the movie. God spoke to eli to find the book,bible, and transport it to a safe haven. It also, rather startlingly, has an overt, fairly profound christian theme. Plausibly christian, but can evangelicals stomach it. And denzel washington isnt exactly kirk cameron, either. People in general, but christians in particular, face some extremely serious, complicated, and complex issues. Cross i am legend with the ten commandments and youve got the book of eli, a genuinely religious parable that inherently rebukes pointless endofthe. The book of eli is a story about a post nuclear fallout america where anarchy is the norm and survival is hardearned. That question and the film illustrates the ambiguity.
The book of eli is truly a story about the struggle between good and bad, the light and the darkness. How hollywood begat yet another insult to christianity. Although the book of eli, seemingly has a litany of christian themes and motifs there are tons of subtle motifs that can be traced to any of the monotheistic religions. Perhaps the most famous in our culture is the book of revelations in the christian bible, but muslims and other faiths have them, too. I think that parts of the movie portray certain christian values like when we see denzels character praying and reading the bible. Eli believe himself to be charged with a holy quest to deliver a copy of the. So to anybody who, like me, wants to honor the lord in all they do but may be reluctant to view this movie i would say, i did not feel like i was compromising my. Eli i guess this is the christian part wants the book because he knows it can be used for good. The book of eli is a strong story about a godfearing man determined to obey the will of the lord.
For me, this is the start of something much bigger. The book of eli s depiction of the depravity and chaos that reigns supreme in this godless society that knows virtually nothing of christ s teachings, serves as a warning to those who wish to eradicate christian principles from our modern culture. In other words, the world operates on a different set of ethics than christians do, and so when we deal with christians, we must use their set of ethics. Loving your neighbors is only the second greatest commandmentthe first is to love the lord your god with all your heart, soul, and mind. Though the bible is in the movie, its not about the bible. Warner brothers pictures, 2010main point of discussion. Carnegie doesnt believe it and, when he captures both eli and solara. In the book of eli he had the opportunity to channel his christian beliefs and behavior into an intriguing character. I dont think a movie has to be made by christians to do so, but i think a lot of christians need to be honest that they are reading things into stuff they like. A really old high priest and civil judge in israel, eli is best known as his role as a fatherfigure and helped raise samuel, the first of the major prophets.
If christ has set us free, why do we often still feel stuck in captivity. Mar 31, 2020 nonetheless, christians are called to live lives that are holy and pleasing to god romans 12. Book of eli movie quotes meet your next favorite book. Jun 27, 2012 the rated r hollywood movie, the book of eli was release in january 2010 as a american postapocalyptic action film directed by the hughes brothers not christians, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson and jennifer beals. Actually, most of the time i dont think about christianity. However, the violence and language is too much for families. The book of eli the book of eli is a fascinating movie about a man named eli, played by denzel washington, who has the only remaining copy of the bible in a postapocalyptic world. We specifically directed a movie to pitch you the way a book like the bible, or the koran or the torah, or any sacred words that. In the shack when mackenzie, the main character, sees the same crucifixion scars on the wrists of papa god the father, as a woman that are supposed to be on jesus, papa responds, dont ever think that what my son chose to do didnt cost us dearly. Why do you think godjesus threw down fiery stones from heaven. With the bible, carnegie tells eli, he can help bring light and hope to the people. At first glance, the book of eli appears to be just another violent.
I think one area that makes me and my brother different from most filmmakers is we only do the projects that speak to us. Christians died by the thousands and were martyred for their faith. These codes warn of dire events in the near future that could affect the whole world. Eli is a hebrew name and at the end of the movie eli is shown fully shaven and in a white robe this process actually completely mirrored an islamic. The book of eli is a great movie with many clips that provoke.
Eli is determined to take this sole copy of the bible to the west coast where a group of survivors is working to rescue, restore, and preserve any remaining. The book of eli is great in that it never tells you too much so as to introduce dogmatic thinking. Jan 15, 2010 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 with its ashladen wastelands and crazed cannibals. The book of eli is not so much about the book he carries but about restoration of the soul.
This list isnt exhaustive by any means, and there are many others that should be on the list, but this should get you started. Denzel washington protects the book of eli christian cinema. They played with it for months to try to figure out what they wanted to do with that revelation. We tend to take gods word for granted because its so available everywhere, even online or on our handheld devices. Discover the best christan books below, powerful and inspiring works of literature. Jan 15, 2010 the hughes brothers on the book of eli, dethroning avatar. As recounted by carnegie and eli, bibles are scarce due to a largescale book burning after the falloutmany irrationally blamed christianity as a cause of the war. Books are scarce since apparently many people believed religion was the cause of the desolation, and so all religious books were destroyed.
Why does he believe this will help him, what leads him to believe that. The book of eli is rated r for adult content, profanity, images of rape. Hannahs eventual child, samuel, was raised by eli in the tabernacle. Christians, we need to talk about hollywood youtube. Eli is a wanderer, with a mandate from god to go west with the book, which is the last king james bible on.
It is common to think of prophecy as predictions, but to an israelite mind prophecy is primarily a proclamation of previously known truth, a call. 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. In the movie the book of eli why was the bible so important. The book of eli is rated r for adult content, profanity, images of rape, and excessive violence. Read the book of revelations and see the honor given to the martyrs that are killed during the end times. The antagonist said that the book was a weapon that could control the weak minded people. Those outside the family of god can be slandered, abused, and swindled. Jan 15, 2010 eli completely missed the most important lesson to be learned from his precious book. The book of eli claude hobbs cwv101 christian worldview. Jul 16, 2010 warner brothers pictures, 2010main point of discussion. This is a post ive actually wanted to make for quite awhile as the book of eli has been on my five greatest movies ever made list ever since i saw it it currently stands at number three. But yeah, i think some merely give the film a 1 because the bible was the book at the end.
Besides the whole thebiblewillsavehumanityagain main story plot, the movie wasnt bad. On his journey west he happens upon a town run by a crime boss gary oldman who finds out that eli has a book in his possession the book of eli, 2010. The book is a wellrounded versebyverse illustrated rethinking of the fourth gospel. Washington plays eli, a laconic man journeying westward across america to carry a sacred book to safety, hoping that it will restore mankind and bring a. Book of eli trailer i think that it was calculated by both warner brothers and alcon at first to see what they wanted to do with it, said albert hughes. Albert hughes recently sat down with relevant to share his thoughts on the book of eli, which may very well be the most unique christian film ever to be released by a major studio the clint eastwood western a fistful of dollars seemed to influence the action of the plot theres some uncanny turns the film takes that the audience might say this is not normal. Eli was, according to the books of samuel, a high priest of shiloh.
But we all like stories and i think that this particular one was ingenious. 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. Sometimes christians will say, when in rome, do as the romans. Hes a biblical character, but his story is tucked in 1 samuel. The biblical book of jude quotes from the book of enoch in verses 1415, enoch, the seventh from adam, prophesied about these men. Nonetheless, christians are called to live lives that are holy and pleasing to god romans 12. The need to know how to think from a christian perspective has never been more urgent. Hughes brothers talk religious controversy in the book of eli. Its about one mans faith and his purpose, and it happens to be that it is the bible, and now that were talking about the bible, the whole crux of the movie is how one man can take those words and do harm by. So you can see that at some point, he became aware of it his sins. When i do, its mostly when theists ask questions about atheism here on quora, or when i pass the jehovas witnesses in brunnsparken, gothenburg. What is the book of enoch and should it be in the bible.
Mar 03, 2010 the book of eli is truly a story about the struggle between good and bad, the light and the darkness. By its own witness, this apocalyptic letter also contains prophecy rev. If there was a sequel to the book of eli, it would be the story of what god did next with his word. This scene was probably convicting to all christians. Nevertheless they asked, will christian audiences embrace denzels book of eli. The book of eli continues hollywoods obsession with postapocalyptic. Do you think the book of eli was a christian propaganda. I am surprised the book of eli wasnt on christians radar. Part two of the book identifies six characteristics. In order to help you, i compiled a list of books i think that every christian should read. In the book of eli why did denzel washingtons character let a woman get raped and her father or husband get murdered.
Therefore, he has seen and knows the power of religion and wanted to use it to minipulate the people for his personal gain. Dec 18, 2011 god spoke to eli to find the book,bible, and transport it to a safe haven. But then he meets another girl and keeps her from getting raped mila kunis character. Water and food are scarce and can be traded for with whatever you are carrying at the time. Michael drosnins book, the bible code, describes the discovery by eli rips and others, of messages they claim are coded into the text of the hebrew old testament, and only discoverable in our own time by using computers. But it is only one of the four following reasons that christians generally have for wo.
You dont know where you are in revelation, yet you get the feeling you might be. America has suffered a catastrophic destruction and civilization and law have disappeared. However, the book of judges always mentions the years of oppression in contrast to the period of a judges dispensation. The secular faith of book of eli film school rejects. The rated r hollywood movie, the book of eli was release in january 2010 as a american postapocalyptic action film directed by the hughes brothers not christians, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson and jennifer beals. The lamp of god had not yet gone out, and samuel was lying down in the temple of the lord, where the ark of god was.
Whether you believe it or not, said whitta, the bible is who we are. When eli failed to rein in the abusive behavior of his sons, yahweh promised to punish his family, resulting. The book of eli stars denzel washington in a postapocalyptic thriller set 30 years after a final war has turned much of earth into an ashy wasteland. Eli had read the book so much that he had memorized it from cover to cover. Imdb scores for religious films are usually rather low, and this has a higher score than most of those. In the postapocalyptic biblical thriller the book of eli, denzel. As a postapocalyptic tale, its excellent, even if the number of tomes for the braille bible were a bit short of 26 or so. I will have a go at that after the jump, as there will be massive spoilers the gist of the movies story is this. The movie was surprisingly good for an apocalyptic tale. I think the message behind it was scriptures are neither good nor bad. Yes, i have the book with me, but its a little beat up. Washington plays eli, a laconic man journeying westward across america to carry a sacred book to safety, hoping that it will restore mankind and bring a better future. Dec 05, 2011 for me, this is the start of something much bigger.
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