The Hunger Games and Christianity: Are They Incompatible?
(Note: If you haven't read The Hunger Games or seen the movie, you should know that this post contains spoilers. I can't think of any way to discuss it without giving away certain critical plot points.)
I read The Hunger Games trilogy a few months ago, and I saw the movie this week. Several people have asked me to comment on the story from a biblical perspective -- are there moral problems or ideas in it that contradict a Christian worldview?
For those who aren't familiar with the story, I'll provide a brief summary. The books are set in a post-apocalyptic North America, known as Panem. The country is divided into 12 separate districts and all of them are ruled with an iron fist by the authoritarian government in The Capitol. To demonstrate its power, The Capitol requires each district to participate every year in a brutal contest called The Hunger Games. Each district must choose one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18. The 24 contestants are released into a large outdoor arena and forced to fight to the death. The last contestant alive is declared the winner and receives a hero's welcome and a lifetime of financial provision for his or her family. The story primarily revolves around Katniss Everdeen, one contestant from District 12, who enters the Games in place of her younger sister. Katniss is a courageous (yet often morally ambiguous) character who has to make some tough decisions about the value of life and the consequences of violence.
The books are filled with dark themes, even though they're marketed to a "young adult" audience (presumably pre-teens and teenagers). But how does the book stack up to a Christian understanding of the world?
Here are a few themes in the book that relate to Christianity, along with my assessment of the book's strengths and weaknesses in those areas:
1. Violence and war are never ideal. If you haven't read the books you might be inclined to think that Collins is glorifying violence. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Her clear goal is to raise serious questions about our culture's obsession with violence and what that obsession does to the hearts and minds of our youth. As I read the books, some uncomfortable thoughts kept coming to my mind. In my younger years I watched dozens of movies that truly did glorify violence. For example, I'll never forget watching a Tarantino film that included a brutal killing. The killing was timed and executed in such a way that it made the theater audience laugh. What sort of culture uses violence as a form of amusement? Collins raises that question masterfully. A quick scan of the Scripture tells us that God doesn't like violence: "His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence" (Psalm 11:5b). The Hunger Games ought to make you reevaluate how you view violence -- not only as a form of entertainment, but also as a means of settling conflict. Collins is probably more strictly pacifistic than the Scripture, but she raises some excellent questions.
2. Even the most innocent and noble among us are capable of terrible sin. Katniss has some wonderful character qualities. She's resourceful, courageous, and even selfless when it comes to protecting her family. On the other hand, she has a vicious streak and readily kills other Tributes once she enters the arena. Her rationalizations for killing are reasonable and atrocious at the same time. Every reader probably asks himself, "How would I respond in a situation like this? Would I be the brutal killer or the meek victim?" By juxtaposing Katniss with the mild-mannered Peeta, we see the true dilemma of the book in black and white. Peeta is noble and refuses to allow his character to be sullied by the Capitol's manipulation. Unfortunately, though, that requires him to depend on stronger and less scrupulous players like Katniss. In a dog-eat-dog world, are you the eater or the eaten? Is there a third alternative? If so, Collins doesn't tell us what it is. Whether she intends to or not, Collins affirms the biblical doctrine of human depravity. Nobody is innocent and all of us need redemption (Romans 3:9-18).
3. Redemption is difficult, complex, and costly. Here's where I think The Hunger Games falls short of a Christian worldview. Redemption from the cycle of violence and destruction is never complete for Katniss or her fellow Tributes. In fact, at the end of the third book (spoiler warning), Collins gives us the impression that Katniss ends the violence and war by killing President Coin, another act of violence. Her slow journey out of the madness is assisted by the love of Peeta and the healing properties of time. Unfortunately, the book provides no permanent hope or promise of redemption. This obviously contrasts sharply with a Christian understanding of the world. Redemption from all sin, violence included, has been accomplished by Christ's work on the cross (Colossians 1:19-22; Romans 5:18-19). The answer to violence and death is not more violence and death. The wounds of sin won't be healed through time or good romance. They'll be healed on the day our Savior returns, bringing heaven to earth. The only way to find true redemption is to trust in Him and await the day He makes everything right again. While we wait, we live in such a way to reflect His grace and the redemption that He offers. The Hunger Games sets up the problem well, but doesn't provide us with a good solution.
One other note: I really don't think these books are kids' books. Obviously, each parent needs to decide what his or her child or teenager is able to absorb. Some teenagers are probably mature enough for the themes and challenges the book poses, but some are not. And I certainly wouldn't let a teenager read them without following them up with a serious conversation about the story's violence and where redemption is truly found.
If you've read the books or seen the movie, what would you add to my assessment here?
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March 27th, 2012 - 07:33
Thanks for this. Now I know what the books are about from a Christian standpoint. My son and I have no desire to read them. Just too weird and disturbing for us.
March 27th, 2012 - 08:27
Nice review, I think that it might be healthy to approach violence with the same mindset as pornography. More than likely children will be exposed to it without their searching it out… and parents need to be the one’s (at least initially) teaching a healthy world view rather than the media.
This movie/book was based on a Korean film that I saw in college. Same theme and concepts throughout but unlike now; I was highly offended when first exposed to it. It seems pretty clear to me that violence doesn’t bother me in the same way that it used to. (Saw IV anyone?) While I do think that we as a people are becoming more desensitized, Is this book significantly different than “the most dangerous game?” (1924).
thanks for your post Matt!
March 27th, 2012 - 08:46
Hey Yates,
I haven’t read “the most dangerous game,” but you’re right that many of the themes in The Hunger Games aren’t new — they’re just packaged a bit differently. The challenge for parents is to determine whether their kids are mature enough to handle this particular book, and if so to walk with them through reading it. The book raises some good questions and issues, but it’s really not for young kids.
March 27th, 2012 - 19:38
Yates,
First, although they are very similar, Hunger Games is not based on the (Japanese) film Battle Royale; Collins was asked this specifically and said that she had not heard of it before writing. In addition to that film and The Most Dangerous Game (which is really much more of a Predator story than anything like The Hunger Games), there are several other very similar stories, such as Death Race, Gladiator, and “Playing The Game.” As Solomon said, “there is nothing new under the sun.” The story is not new, and the themes are not new, but they are combined together in a fresh package.
Now, unlike those stories above and because of the way in which it is told, The Hunger Games communicates that violence, even for survival, is abhorrent and permanently scarring. It also makes it very clear, although Katniss has trouble understanding for a while, that the enemies are not the other children in the ring but the oppressive government and the people in control of the game.
That brings me to a very important Christian theme not mentioned in this article: Ephesians 6:12 says that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Although we are forced into situations of conflict with those around us, other religious groups, and other nations, we must remember that they are not our enemies, but merely more children forced into the arena of life with us.
March 27th, 2012 - 08:30
As I was reading the books, I couldn’t help but be struck with the hopelessness that surrounded the characters. It was as if they didn’t know where to turn, so they turned to violence. In a way, it was all many of them had known their whole lives since the Capitol was not inclined to show mercy. It made me so thankful to know we serve a God who gives us hope in the midst of darkness and purpose when everything seems lost.
March 27th, 2012 - 08:47
Absolutely, Kalyn! These stories made me grateful for the hope of eternal redemption. Thanks for your thoughts.
March 27th, 2012 - 09:15
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT MATT! VERY FULL-INFORMATIVE-AND ASKS THE GOOD QUESTIONS! THANKS MATT!
March 27th, 2012 - 09:56
I skimmed your post, because while I’m familiar with the basic concepts I haven’t read the books, and plan to at some point. That said, I think it’s an interesting question you pose. And I would turn it around and ask you, when IS a work of fiction incompatible with Christianity? Is such a thing possible?
Obviously the Hunger Games aren’t prescriptive, and don’t advocate the world they are set in as being in any way a good thing. As you point out they reveal our depravity and inability to save ourselves. I could make the argument that any work of fiction, being created by humans, has the potential to reveal important truths about the human condition. When I read about men hunting each other (The Most Dangerous Game) it’s a little disturbing, and points out the dangers of excess and wealth and unchecked power. When it’s kids killing each other it’s more uncomfortable, but fiction can be a great mirror for our lives. If we don’t dismiss it as mere entertainment, will we take a look at our passion for violence (MMA, football, torture-porn movies, etc), our disregard for the poor, our handling of the environment? Those are all issues that are totally compatible with Christianity, and important ones to think about.
I can look at the architecture of a mosque and admire its craftsmanship and beauty, and appreciate that we have been created with the capacity for such skills, even if I disagree with the reason it was built. I can enjoy a Zen garden for the beauty of it and the heartfelt desire for peace and rest, even if I don’t agree on the means of achieving it. I would say there are very few things that are truly off-limits for Christians in the artistic realm (I’m excluding pornography from that realm as non-art), and I think it’s a shame that so many Christians limit themselves to “Christian” music, safe works of art, unchallenging films, etc.
March 27th, 2012 - 10:14
Thanks, Rob. My post does basically go in the direction you’re suggesting. The books raise some great questions that press up against a Christian understanding of the world. In some ways it’s consistent with the Scripture’s view of things and in others it’s not.
I wouldn’t say the books are off-limits or shouldn’t be read, especially by adults who are able to process these issues well. For younger audiences I would urge parental discretion. There’s obviously a time for everything — pre-teens might be too young to really get the deeper messages of the book and are likely to internalize the violence in an unhealthy way. Older students might be able to think about it critically with the help of parents and other mentors.
March 27th, 2012 - 10:21
I think it’s a different matter entirely if you’re talking about age-appropriateness. I guess I was thinking more about adults and self-censorship because something conflicts with a Christian worldview. I think avoiding things that you disagree with is ultimately harmful to interacting effectively with the world, and leads to isolation and a warped worldview whether that’s works of fiction or only reading the news you want to hear.
March 27th, 2012 - 11:50
I also want to thank you for this post! I haven’t read the books, nor seen the movie and have no plans to, but the hype is everywhere. It’s wonderful to see how you used our Christian values to explain and discuss it. Thanks!
March 27th, 2012 - 23:19
Howdy All,
I just wanted to briefly respond to some of the comments about not wanting to read the books; having read the books and seen the movie, I have to say that this is a great piece of fiction literature and cinematic art. Susanne Collins does a tremendous job engaging your imagination. I understand that from a Christian standpoint if something is causing you to sin then you shouldn’t be engaged with it, but to completely reject a great piece of literature because of violence is slightly unfair and from an outsider looking in (ie an unbeliever talking to a believer) it may seem like judgement. As a christian I’ve been judged for liking this book (and another very popular secular book series), by people who haven’t even read them. The Bible has stories of killing, and violence. We were just teaching the story of Ehud the other day, which in my opinion was pretty graphic.
Again, I don’t write this to judge, just to say that if it does cause you to sin then don’t read it and be honest with people when they ask why; otherwise they may feel judged, like I have when I admit I’ve read them.
Thanks!
I’d love to read any comments.
March 29th, 2012 - 23:57
I’ve only read the first book so far, and generally enjoyed it (although my primary issue with it was that it was too predictable for someone who has read a lot of young adult books). I would say that one of the great strengths of this book (as has been touched on by others) is that it takes a careful and critical look at some of the excesses in our society and tries to imagine where they might take us. It’s certainly something we need to think about.
March 30th, 2012 - 10:11
Thanks, Jackie! I appreciate your thoughts.
March 30th, 2012 - 19:08
I agree that it’s not for young minds. A few 8 and 9-year-olds in my class are currently reading the series, or have watched the movie. As they tell me of their thoughts and opinions their eyes widen in shock of the brutality, yet they go about their day, and I realize that I’ve witnessed part of their innocence be taken from them by the casualty of their parents’ supervision. I’m saddened by this.
April 8th, 2012 - 23:34
After further reflection, I think this related well to your previous post about the interview with the young man who had been kidnapped and forced to be a child soldier. Part of her point is that when a society is so broken and twisted that it forces children to be warriors (whether in a war like the real life situation you shared or for entertainment like in the books), it warps future generations in all sorts of ways. I agree 100% that God can come in and bring healing and fix things. However, as we all know, even God’s healing work doesn’t erase the trauma that someone went through, and that child victim (or former child) will still have to carry that to some extent. While Jesus can bring wholeness out of brokenness and light out of darkness, I think we all agree that in such a society the adults in particular need to take a good long look at what they are allowing and how they can fix it. It is part of our job to protect children and keep them alive and healthy as best as possible.
A response to Valerie: I understand what you are saying. This book may be too old for an 8 or 9 year old (depending on the child). It does have some hard stuff in it (although those who have gone through hard times may find hope there). I would say, however, that I would rather that someone lose their innocence through a book like this where the author is trying to teach us something and make a moral point about the world rather than something like pornography, which is using people and their bodies with no purpose other than making money and satisfying someone’s hormones. Some of the Hunger Games lessons are important things that we all have to learn at some age, although it doesn’t have to be through the medium of this series. I don’t know that that is true with porn. (I hope that makes sense.)