Disclaimer: This review contains content and plot information so if you plan on seeing this movie, you may wish to defer reading this review.
The Valley of Elah is a dark, troubling movie. Although I hesitate recommending it to others, I found it to be thought provoking.
So what was the movie about? (continue reading…)
Is there such a thing as a Just War? The debate in John Campea’s movie Prince of Peace – God of War juxtaposed Pacifism (in the absolute sense) and Just War as if those were the only alternatives.
George MacDonald in The Last Castle (the book was originally called Saint George and Saint Michael when MacDonald first published it) presents a very interesting alternative. He neither argues that any war is just nor does he argue that we should never fight. (continue reading…)
I remember reading a Science Fiction short story in which space explorers landed on the ideal planet where nature was in perfect harmony and the plants and animals co-existed without competition. The planet presented a park-like environment and the only animals were herds of cow-like herbivores. Periodically one of these animals, in the bloom of health, would wander up to the space ship stop its own heart and offer itself up for food. After their initial suspicions were allayed, the space travelers found these bovine steaks were the best they had ever eaten. However, after several months, the first crew member disappeared. The others, as they searched for him, found a large cocoon-like object and out of it emerged a replica of the cow-like creature. The planet’s inhabitants won by losing.
Perhaps this is how Pacifism is supposed to work. A Pacifist may say in answer to my last article “sure our gates are open wide; you can conqueror us, take over our country, and even kill many of us, but just like the bovine aliens, we will take you over from within.” (continue reading…)
Last night I watched the movie Prince of Peace God of War directed by John Campea. The movie consisted of a series of interviews with a variety of people, primarily theologians in which they discussed Christian perspectives on Pacifism and the concept of a Just War. I’ve been thinking about the arguments they presented ever since, especially since we see frequent tragic accounts of Canadian casualties in
When I was an undergraduate at the University of Calgary I remember a conversation I had with a fellow undergraduate in the Student Union Building. We were talking about Christianity and being a “Christ Follower” when he said something like this (I’m paraphrasing)
“The trouble with you Christians is that you teach everyone to turn the other cheek. You’re just inviting the bullies, malcontents, and tyrants to abuse you and in encouraging them, you’re also teaching them to bully others. If a bully knew that any slap would be rewarded with a punch to his mouth as a response, he would be much less likely to pick on you in the first place. With your teaching you’re actually helping the bullies.”