Ah. The Hunger Games. That three book phenomenon that has captured the imaginations and dollars of millions. To be more exact, thirty million people have read the books worldwide and over $200 million was spent on tickets when the movie version debuted this past weekend.
This series is having a major impact on our culture, and that influence is likely to trickle in to our individual lives. I can’t seem to go anywhere lately without eavesdropping or being invited into a conversation about the story. Yet, I largely feel unsettled. As a Christian and a parent, how am I supposed to feel about The Hunger Games?
In case you’re not a Hunger Games fan, here is a brief synopsis.
The story takes place in post-apocalyptic North America. The region has been divided into districts and re-named Panem. The title of the book comes from an annual event where one boy and one girl from each district are chosen to fight children from other districts in order to supply food for the starving people of their region (hence the name Hunger Games).
The protagonist, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to participate in the games, a mash-up of gladiator-style fight to the death and reality TV as the games are broadcast throughout the land. Books two and three cover a revolution following the games and a return to the arena where Katniss must fight again.
If it sounds macabre, it is, and yet many argue that the series has redeeming qualities. It tackles tough questions about economics, freedom, and government control.
As adults, we may be able to read the books or watch the movies and think critically about their messages, but as parents, we need to be asking if our children can do the same.
My kids are two and four. I’m still trying to decide if too much Thomas the Train is a bad thing, but as someone who works with teenagers, I am interested in thinking through the ramifications of this popular series on young hearts and minds. I also think the series can act as a springboard by giving us a chance to talk with our children about how to filter our media choices through the grid of God’s Word.
With those goals in mind, I’ve gathered some articles on the series and assembled them for you all in one place. For parents and non-parents alike, these writers provide good insight on the merit and potential pitfalls of the series.
Focus on the Family gives an easy-to-understand synopsis, as well as clear warnings for parents, in this book review. If you are wanting to understand the nuts and bolts of the series in a format that won’t take long to read or digest, this post will help. Lifeway offers a similar summary here. Both posts offer discussion questions that are family-friendly.
We are not just thinkers, but Christian thinkers. There is much in this series that great minds will love to discuss, but how should a Christian think about it? What are the ethical dilemmas of this movie from a Christian worldview? Douglas Wilson scratches the surface of these questions in this review. He writes,
“. . . In terms of helping Christian young people set their minds and hearts on that which is noble and right, we can’t even give it one star. We would have to assign, in this last category, one burnt out asteroid.”
For a summary-style review that points out moral red flags to Christians, check out this movie review from www.MovieGuide.org.
A great go-to-guide for questions about popular entertainment is www.PluggedIn.com. Here is their specific review of The Hunger Games, which outlines positive elements, spiritual content, and other potential trouble spots.
And for my thoughts on using the series as a springboard to consider making wise media choices now and in the future, here is a link to a post I wrote for LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 gives us this charge: “Test everything; hold fast what is good.”
These are wise words as we seek to raise media-savvy and wisdom-hungry kids, and seek to keep our own hearts and minds pure in an impure world. The Hunger Games is just another reminder that what we put into our minds matters, and we are wise to continually seek wisdom and guidance from God’s Word about responding to our culture.
Ultimately, this series will eventually drop off the bestseller list and patrons will soon enough be lining up to watch another plot altogether. In the meantime, I’d love to hear how your family is responding to The Hunger Games, and what lessons you will seek to teach your children when “the next big thing” comes along.
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Comments
Great article! Like you I have younger children (one of which is a boy and I do ask myself "is too much Thomas Train bad?") so the Hunger Games isn't an issue for us. You are absolutely right in your ending comments- this book will eventually disappear and it will be on to the next "big thing." So what will it be when our children are older- who knows! Although our children are not currently old enough to be into the fads that are facing the older kids, I know the importance of thinking ahead to when they are (as you are as well). My base question I ask myself when evaluating forms of entertainment is "is this edifying?" Very few things that the culture offers are. I have been a Christian eight years and it still surprises me that many Christians I know seem to give little thought to the media choices they make. In my twenty eight years on this earth I had given too many years to the junk that the culture feeds us. Why would I want to spend anymore time than I already have feasting on that junk?! As best as I can I try to communicate that vision to my children. Not as list of do's and dont's and you'll be a "good Christian" but rather "hey guys we could watch this, read this but you know what I bet Jesus has even better things in store for us that we could be doing." Disclaimer: not claiming to be perfect in this area! My prayer for myself, my children, Christian parents, and their children is that we would filter our entertainment choices through the lens of Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 9:50 am
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 9:56 am
Ed
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 10:57 am
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 11:47 am
I think that there are a lot of literary themes in these books, ones we have read before...and quite frankly ones we have seen in real life before. I work with the youth group at church as well, but i have had great conversations with kids (even freshman) who understand the underlying themes and concerns. Not one kid has thought the games of kids killing kids is a cool or neat idea. Making it kids in the book gives these teens something to connect to and see how bad violence really is. If we don't think teenage kids (I'm not advocating for younger kids) can't read these books and get the message, then there are many other books throughout history that we should ban as well.
My final thought is that books and movies are very different ways to obtain information. One is active and one is passive. Reading is intimate and intellectual self-exploration. reading a book you can sit and ponder what was just written. You can take some time to decide how you feel and if you agree with what just took place. However movies are very passive. we sit back and just consume information very quickly with not a lot of time for reflection throughout. So my suggestion is that if your kids are mature enough to read the books, have them read the books before going to see the movie! Make them think and aconsider, not just consume.
So should you let your kids see/read this? that's a parenting question, are they mature enough for the themes? But don't dis the book/movie without first seeing/reading it and understanding the literary themes throughout.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 11:55 am
I also find it interesting that you don't link to any articles affirming the truth and goodness that are inside these books. Just because the premise of the series is violence does not mean that it endorses violence. On the contrary, these books are an excellent treatise on pacifism. These books explore fundamental issues of what it means to be human, to view others as humans, and to examine what violence does to us and to others...and yes, government control, power, oppression, hope, courage, and sacrifice.
If anyone is interested in hearing from the other side to actually make an informed decision, here are some other articles.
http://www.redletterchristians.org/indicting-violence-a-pacifist-review-of-the-hunger-games/
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2012/03/hungry_for_the_hunger_games_wh.html
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/commentaries/2012/hungergames.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-clawson/hunger-games-allegory-of-christian-love_b_1365594.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HG1H0W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=racheleva-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007HG1H0W - The Hunger Games and the Gospel: Bread, Circuses, and the Kingdom of God
Sally
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 11:56 am
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:01 pm
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:08 pm
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:12 pm
And how can anyone make any comment about something they have not even read? I think its so much easier to just follow what everyone else says as opposed to reading something ourselves, weighing it against the powerful truth of Gods Word which guides us, and deciding for ourselves what is and is not good.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:12 pm
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I'm not sure if your comment was directed at me or other commenters, either way I wanted to jump in with a response.
The purpose of this article is not to support or bash The Hunger Games. On the whole, these articles are just summaries with some warnings about themes and elements to watch out for. I don't think that being upfront about the fact that this series has some troubling elements qualifies as accusing readers of "mindlessness."
In a more general sense, I am troubled by a line of logic I've heard often lately and that is that we must read the books, watch the movies, etc. in order to make take a position. A great thing about the web is that it gives us access to lots of information which we can use to line up against God's Word to make a choice.
It also troubles me how quickly media can cause tempers to flare and division to escalate. What does that really say about the depth of the impact of our media choices?
I appreciate you offering other links to more information. Lets keep talking. Keep thinking and keep using God's Word as our guide.
Grace and Peace!
Erin
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I sincerely believe that it is critical that we guard our hearts and minds from those things that would damage them and we need to dwell much more on God. But there are a couple of other issues that have become critical as my kids have gotten older.
It is not enough to simply avoid or gravitate away from anything popular in our society because it appears to be ungodly or unholy. We must also teach our children how to discern the subtle differences in what the world holds to as truth and what God teaches as true. Satan didn't tempt Jesus by spouting off the opposite of truth but a subtle twisting of truth. When we teach our chiildren how to discern this by sharing the journey of what we watch/read we are preparing them to do this once they leave the home. This does not mean we expose them to everything because it is a "teachable moment" because some things are obviously bad. But we need to prepare them to be in the world (out of the home) without being of the world.
Another critical issue is teaching our children how to understand where people in the world are coming from or what drives them so that we can better offer a bridge for them to want to explore getting to know God and Jesus. What is it that draws people to certain books/movies and is that a core desire that can only be fully met in God?
You mention that Katniss volunteers to participate in the games but fail to mention that she does so because her younger sister has been picked and Katniss volunteers in order to spare the life of her sister. That one little detail completely changes the context of volunteering and reflects Jesus' sacrifice for all of mankind.
I believe one of the reasons that The Hunger Games is so popular is that the storyline depicts people who feel helplessly lost and stuck in a deadend life. People today feel that way but will only find true hope in Jesus. Can this be a bridge toward God in our conversations with such people?
Most of the unwilling participants in the arena are fighting to survive and live; something all humanity can relate to. Several of them demonstrate loyalty, teamwork and self-sacrifice to help others; something that models how we who follow Jesus are called to live.
The main antagonist in the arena fully embraced the horror of all that was taking place until the very end when he realizes that it was all for nothing. That models Proverbs 14:12 about there being a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death.
If Jesus took the approach that many Christians take, I doubt He would have sullied Himself by entering into the ugliness of humanity in the first place. But He came to be the light of the world and he has called us to likewise be salt and light. Salt and light can only be effective when they actually encounter those within our fallen society. And one of the ways we can do that is through venues such as The Hunger Games.
The actual line of what we do or don't watch/read is something that each of us must discern based on our relationship wtih God.
I suppose it's like jumping in the water to rescue someone drowning. Each person must know what they are capable of before they jump in the water.
It would be foolish to jump in and be lost in the process. But it would be even more tragic to stay safe on the shore, avoiding all risk, and watch people die.
This issue is more than just keeping ourselves safe from the world, it is about how we participate with God's unfolding story of working everywhere, always to redeem lost souls.
Thanks for caring enough to share in the process.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Here is part of the problem - we are getting comments and reviews from people that have never read the books. ( I have read all three and watched the movie - my kids have not)
The books are not about children killing each other for entertainment. They are about standing up for what is right no matter the cost. They are about making hard choices against corrupt government. They ask "How much are you willing to give up to make a change?" "Would you risk your family? your life?"
The books do not glamorize killing (even though killing is done in self defense) and I feel your description of "gladiator style" is incorrect.
And I am troubled by reviews that are not truthful. If you basing your opinions on what others are saying than you may be mislead. The review http://www.movieguide.org/reviews/movie/the-hunger-games.ht
says their is light sex and nudity - there is none. The same review is saying their is homosexual reference - again, that is false.
That being said, these are not Christian books so, parents, don't let your kids read them without reading them for yourself. Should you go ahead and read them I think you will be surprised and I hope the content will spur on great discussions with your teens that you may not have had otherwise.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 1:02 pm
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 1:32 pm
You're absolutely right. If we are truly believers then we would take Phil 4:8 and 2 Cor 6:14-18 seriously and apply them to our lives. Remember verse 17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing [ie dirty ourselves with the things of this world]; and I will receive you." We are to be separate from the world and not participate in its stuff (books, movies, songs, etc), especially those things that do not edify the body of Christ. We don't need to read a best seller, or see a movie to know that it may not/won't be good for us. If it's a best seller or great movie by the world's standard then it probably isn't what God would have us to read. Remember, too, we are to have the mind of Christ so it behooves us to be careful what we put into our minds. We must hold all things up to the standard of the Bible.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 2:14 pm
I hope I didn't come off too defensive Erin....This is probably the 10th time I've defended the series, haha, so I probably do come off a tad over-eager by now. I just love the themes in the book so much. I don't think I've ever been this enthusiastic about a series, and that's saying a lot!
Speaking of movies and faith....not to be a spam-bot, but I'm equally as excited over this movie as HG, and this one happens to be christian, so win-win, LOL. Blue Like Jazz comes out April 13th!!! http://youtu.be/GOglQgyxYkI
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Some are also assuming that because we are reading secular books that we dont spend time in the Word or somehow cannot be one in Christ. Thats simply not true. As believers of Christ and because we live in a lost world I agree that we need to be very mindful of what our children are reading/watching. But guess what? Someday our kids are going to grow up. Sheltering them from the world is not going to accomplish anything except shock them into reality when they get out into the "real world." We need to be realistic. Our kids will face some ugly stuff when they go out on their own. It is our responsibility to set a firm foundation in Christ for our children and trust that the LORD will protect them and direct their path. Another thing to consider when getting your information from the web about a book or movie...where is this info coming from? Its just another persons opinion. We live in a fast food nation where we want what we want now. We've become lazy. Like I said, its just easier to follow what someone else is saying then to actually investigate for ourselves. This includes reading the bible! There are many people who claim to be followers of Christ and dont even read their Bible! Even Gods Word tells us to test the spirits. 1 John 4.1 Test everything and weigh it against Gods Word. He will never fail you.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 4:40 pm
It left me most of the time with a sick, pit in my stomach. I dislike the entire concept and premise of children forced to fight each other to the death for the entertainment of the masses and as a mechanism to keep a society under control.
We will not be watching this. There are countless excellent entertainment options to choose from--why intentionally choose something disturbing and desensitizing?
I see no redeeming value for this. Absolutely do not read or watch it without also seeing it yourself.
on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 5:53 pm
on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 6:15 am
With that being said, I feel that the first 2 books tastefully addressed what could have been much gorier. I don't anticipate that this could be done in a movie where it will be much more graphic and not allow any denial of the mind as to exactly what it looked like. When I read, I can skim over the parts that I find not agreeable--not easy to do in a theater.
Additionally, I worry what exactly my witness is saying should I go and "rub elbows" with the world to watch a movie marked for it's violence.
As for attributing the analogy of Christ to this book, I am hesitant to go there. In order for it to be of God, it should test of God throughout. There should be no question. The world, we are told in the Bible, should hate it on whole if it is truly of God. Just because there is self-sacrifice, this doesn't make it a Christian concept. Just because there is good vs. evil, there isn't necessarily God involved. I appreciate the analogies provided in aforementioned concepts, and felt that they were very thought provoking. Even so, we must be cautious that we do not allow the world to permeate our belief system and be willing to take the stand that God would have us to take. My 4-year-old came home from Sunday school with vampire teeth b/c the line was not well defined.
I am curious as to what others think about the idea that Katniss carries on with Peta so that they can acquire things that they need to survive. To me this is prostitution and this is the concept that is keeping me from allowing my children to read the book.
Finally, I feel most strongly that all things work together for the Glory of God and the good for those who love Him. If you truly love God, your heart will not be swayed by the world. Be in the world and not of it.
Maybe I won't be borrowing that 3rd book after all...
on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Thank you for this post. I had been wondering what in the world Hunger Games was. Your post has helped me to think. The reactions to the Hunger Games mirror that of the Twilight series.
Again, thank you. God bless you!
on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Christ. To walk in the light daily.
One day we will give an account of all the precious
hours our God has given us. Did we use them for
His Kingdom and His honor??? Life is a vapor, lets
spend it wisely. Would Jesus find this movie fun and
entertaining?? Or would it grief Him to the core, of
what His creation has become....
on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I would encourage you to read the third book. It truly is an incomplete story without knowing how it ends. The important thing is going to be not to fear movies such as this, but to evaluate its potential teaching opportunities with not only real world events but also what God teaches us.
Christian parents and leaders need to learn how to take events, popular books, popular movies, and life situations and make each of them teaching opportunities to spread Gods word and strengthening our children's christian morals.
One last thought. Since humans do not have the powers that Jesus had while on earth, it would be impossible for these characters to survive the sacrificial games without defending their life by taking another life. Even during the games in book 1 and 2, and the war of book 3, Jesus' commandment to love one another is center stage in the story.
on Monday, April 2, 2012 at 10:23 am
My time and money is better spent elsewhere and as far as children are concern: If one has to spend more than a few minutes pondering whether or not children should participate in an activity, then the answer is simple: No.
God is not a confusing God...
If we have to debate something as simple (or stupid) as a movie....then why in the world would we even waste a child's mind on such dribble?
It's almost summer....let them play outside and eat a Popsicle!
on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 6:32 pm
What surprises me most about this post? How few comments there are compared to the 50 Shades of Filth post!!
on Monday, June 25, 2012 at 6:11 pm