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. Eli used it to spread hope, i suppose painting his faith closer to that of the earliest of any faith, like with jesus and his disciples. Jan 11, 2010 denzel washingtons latest role in the book of eli has him playing a wanderer in a nuclear warravaged america who leans on his bible for guidance, and the actor says if he was in that situation. Its why he laments taking part in violence, regrets not sharing the book with the world, and is saddened that he didnt live the way the book instructed him to. As far as the road is concerned, it is filled with spiritual themes. The bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic. In the book of eli he had the opportunity to channel his christian beliefs and behavior into an intriguing character. I loved the part when gary said he needed the words of the book to rule over the other towns. Jan 11, 2010 the hughes brothers are happy to tell you that the book in the book of eli is the bible. We see elis faith remain steadfast as he faces many trials and. There are a number of clear biblical or moral themes in this movie, and this is the first. Cross i am legend with the ten commandments and youve got the book of eli, a genuinely religious parable that inherently rebukes pointless endofthe.
Books are scarce since apparently many people believed religion was the cause of the desolation, and so all religious books were destroyed. List two reasons why the church in the end of the age is likened unto eli. Shop church banners, candles, communion, bulletins, clergy robes, vbs, curriculum with everyday free shipping. Sep 26, 2018 no wonder the nonpartisan fact tank pew research center reported in june that more and more young people are neither religious. 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. Too intense, i whispered when the book of eli crossed the screen, although he had already read my mind. I like the religious and philosophical questions and ideas but they are. The best church wordpress themes follow standards and best practices. It is a wellresearched and balanced approach to the theology of religions that is acutely relevant for the religious pluralistic world in which we are living. In the morning, carnegie overhears solara repeat the prayer to her mother, and realizes eli has the book. 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.
However, the book of judges always mentions the years of oppression in contrast to the period of a judges dispensation. But, in the midst of the chaos walks a man in possession of a. The book of eli was intense, and the plot was awesome. It shows the theme of gods supernatural power and divine providence all the much more. Julie and i went to see the book of eli yesterday evening. Jan 15, 2020 the best church wordpress themes follow standards and best practices. His dangerous and often selfsacrificial mission, inspired by god and rooted in a deepseated personal faith, is certainly inspiring. Why are you reject one persons opportunity to be saved only to choose another. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. Book of eli is a wake up call for originality in both secular and christian movies. The book of elis postapocalyptic theology is a little. And that eye is exactly the one jesuseli wanted to expose as being shifty. Christian themes abound in book of eli the tufts daily. The hugheses fourth film, the book of eli, centers on the christianity that was at the margins of their.
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 or settings. Christianity and the book of eli believe it or not. Described as a warrior by necessity, eli seeks peace. The secret garden, by frances hodgson burnett plenty of kids, having read this classic book for the first time, will be happy to tell you the titular garden is supposed to be the garden of edenbut while there is a link, thats not the main religious theme hidden in the book. But beyond the bloody scenes and foul language, audiences will discover a compelling story filled with more biblical references and christian. It is an absolute must for serious students in theology, missions and church history. 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.
A eli shows the condition of the church in the end of the age b eli also shows how god is going to deal with the organized religious system in the end of the age 4. The book of eli is a story about a post nuclear fallout america where anarchy is the norm and survival is hardearned. Hughes brothers talk religious controversy in the book of eli. Eli may be short for elijah who was also taken up in a tornado or whirlwind. Ive seen several people assert that the book of eli is a christian film. Carnegie the leader reveals his purpose to the gang. T heres been a distinct whiff of the good book at the cinema of late literally so in the case of denzel washingtons latest, the book of eli. The book of eli is truly a story about the struggle between good and bad, the light and the darkness. I see no indication that gary whitta who wrote the original storyscript has an lds background or any lds influence. Theme lockin is a common problem that most church wordpress theme buyers are unaware of.
Concordia supply offers a full selection of christian church supplies for your ministry needs. The movies blatant support of christianity and the notsosubtle references to the bible are greatly encouraging and very surprising for a major theatrical release. America has suffered a catastrophic destruction and civilization and law have disappeared. The book of eli is not so much about the book he carries but about restoration of the soul. Eli and solara stumble upon these two in their travels, and both actors play their characters with energy and humor. Though in the vein of recent films like 2012, a blockbuster about the end of the world as predicted by the mayan calendar, evangelical movie buffs are touting the book of eli as a rare major studio release where the protagonist is unabashedly a christian. That background might render the book of eli controversial for some religious literalists.
Perhaps that plot is fuel for controversy, but the hughes brothers dont mind letting that one slip. Unequivocally christian, writes the new york posts kyle smith. Update lds themes in eli im getting search hits from people wondering about mormon connections with the book of eli much as i did for the movie knowing. But then he meets another girl and keeps her from getting raped mila kunis character. Jul 16, 2015 the secret garden, by frances hodgson burnett plenty of kids, having read this classic book for the first time, will be happy to tell you the titular garden is supposed to be the garden of edenbut while there is a link, thats not the main religious theme hidden in the book. Anyway, we see the bible placed on a shelf with numerous other religious books. It was an ordinary run of the mill b action movie except for two major things. Something more than a message between the lines 27 jul i dont think its risky to say, if we confine ourselves to the most recent events, that the catholic church, the principle institution within the christian doctrine, is now living through one of the greatest crises it has experienced since its beginnings.
Eli is protecting a bible so that postapocalyptic dictators cant use it to control their people. The book of eli apocalypse christianity religion ask metafilter. Were all a work in progress, he said in the trailer. The book of eli christian ethics today article archives. The book of eli was scripted by gary whitta, a comic book writer and. But myers effectively shows how in our era the disciples jesuseli chooses seem like the compadres of a bad person to the churchy eye.
The lion, the witch and the wardrobe is filled with christian themes. I noticed the movie play around several other supernatural themes. 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. The book of enoch is quoted in the book of james and other epistles though. 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. In the early days of the church a man named simon wanted to use. The book of eli provokes thoughtful debate about the religious themes in the film, but the oldminus. I was very conscious of the fact that, given some of the themes in the movie. Yes, there were a half of a dozen redeemable kernels in the bag, but that did not make us feel any better about being mislead and rippedoff because wed like our money back. Carnegie was the one who seemed more interested in beginning a church and using religion as a tool and power. Now look, i get that the book of eli is a work of fiction. On friday, i ran part one of this twopart look at how superhero movies have helped hollywood revive the biblical film genre. The book of eli is a great religious film for religious people.
Jan 14, 2010 eli is hebrew for my god, and the bibles eli was the teacher of samuel, a great prophet. Religion and language in contemporary film wikiversity. True spirit filled christians will leave the theater filling empty and disappointed. Reading suggestions for religious fiction the new york times. No wonder the nonpartisan fact tank pew research center reported in june that more and more young people are neither religious. With such a background, it would be difficult not to have feelings about the church. 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.
Feb 16, 2010 the book of enoch is quoted in the book of james and other epistles though. Eli is the man with one name who ambles into a backwater burg in search of water and comes face to face with evil in the form of carnegie gary oldman, who is involved with the blind claudia jennifer beals while he pursues claudias nubile daughter solara mila kunis. Denzel washington protects the book of eli christian cinema. He is taking the book to a place where it will be safe where its message can be finally be shared with the world. Eli came out in 2010, just a year after the road starring vigo mortensen. Many will reject it for its religious themes, and others will reject it because it challenges their religion. They do this by supporting a wordpress plugin like church content to avoid themelock in. Denzel washingtons latest role in the book of eli has him playing a wanderer in a nuclear warravaged america who leans on his bible for guidance, and. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. For decades, christians in jordan have celebrated what pope francis pines for.
If you have wondered whether you should see the book of eli it or not, you should. Jan 11, 2010 though in the vein of recent films like 2012, a blockbuster about the end of the world as predicted by the mayan calendar, evangelical movie buffs are touting the book of eli as a rare major studio release where the protagonist is unabashedly a christian. Popular religious themes books goodreads share book. For that matter, eli is something of a modernday elijah. The book of eli is very compelling and aweinspiring, with excellent production standards as well as absorbing character portrayals by denzel washington and gary oldman. Enoch was a real man in the early chapters of genisis and described as being taken into heaven by god.
The book of eli is an oldfashioned western dressed up in postapocalyptic rags. Elis primary motivation is faith, which is why he protects the book at all costs, believes his journey is a pilgrimage order by god, and is immune to all harm while he carries the book. Feb 22, 2014 jesus and the book of eli part 1 remember the book of eli. But there are so many themes in it that just excite me as a christianespecially the fact that the story seems impossible. The book of eli is a postapocalyptic vision of ametica somewhere. Eli is hebrew for my god, and the bibles eli was the teacher of samuel, a great prophet. Jesus and the book of eli part 1 remember the book of eli. Worldview elements of film implications questions biblical parallels the priest eli solara as samuel catholic parallels modern day parallels westward movement american dream what is the place of religion in the life of the common person. The book of eli, purpose of bible the book youtube.
Washington ranked by beliefnet as the second most powerful christian in hollywood behind mel gibson described the book of eli as both a story about faith and a story about good and evil with parallels to real life. The hughes brothers are happy to tell you that the book in the book of eli is the bible. The odyssey by homer, the babycatcher gate by wendy jo cerna, how to be good by nick hornby, lilah by ma. But beyond the bloody scenes and foul language, audiences will discover a compelling story filled with more biblical references and christian thought than any other major motion picture in recent years. Jan 16, 2010 update lds themes in eli im getting search hits from people wondering about mormon connections with the book of eli much as i did for the movie knowing. Aslan the lion represents christ and jadis, the wicked witch, represents satan.
Jan 14, 2010 with such a background, it would be difficult not to have feelings about the church. Why is the religious themes of this movie bringing it so. Psalms and bible verses are quoted throughout the movie, and christian imagery and symbolism are present in many scenes. And denzel washington isnt exactly kirk cameron, either. 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 hughes brothers book of eli isnt all postapocalyptic samurai sword action and ipods.
Jan 27, 2010 if you have wondered whether you should see the book of eli it or not, you should. Mar 03, 2010 in the book of eli he had the opportunity to channel his christian beliefs and behavior into an intriguing character. Concordia supply church supplies, church bulletins, vbs. Dec 05, 2011 now look, i get that the book of eli is a work of fiction. That same industry also recognizes him as a family man of faith, who does not hide. But carnegie gary oldman, the powerhungry dictator of a decrepit survivors colony, is also interested in elis book for very different reasons. The book of eli casts bible as a major theme baptist standard. This book sets a standard for all future work in this area. Eli, the end time church new foundations ministries. Jesus and the book of eli part 1 worldviews, worship. In the book of eli why did denzel washingtons character let a woman get raped and her father or husband get murdered.
For church unity, these evangelicals gave up their easter. And that eye is exactly the one jesus eli wanted to expose as being shifty. At first glance, the book of eli appears to be just another violent postapocalyptic film from hollywood. For a product of hollywood, im surprised that it had some great christian themes to it. But myers effectively shows how in our era the disciples jesus eli chooses seem like the compadres of a bad person to the church y eye. Jan 17, 2010 julie and i went to see the book of eli yesterday evening. The book of eli is not only a welldone action picture but an overtly, unabashedly christian one. Some scholars, like kessler, and nowack have argued that there is likely to have been some overlap between the time of samuel and that of eli. And even if you are a christian and wondering if it being rated r means you should avoid it, dont. The book of eli has an incredible biblical message, which tells the story of elis.