why i am not reading/watching the hunger games

Originally published at Klarabelle Candy on March 28, 2012

*takes deep breath*

I've planned to post this for a while for several reasons...

- to dispell the myth that I am a Hunger Games hater

- to explain why I stand where I stand

- to share my opinions

If you are a Hunger Games fan and think you will be offended with what I am going to say, I do not want this to become in any way a separation in our friendship!  You may choose not to read on and that is your choice.  :)  I'm cool with that.

I try not to attack other people's books and I try to respect my friend's opinions.  However I'm getting a lot of questions about why I am not reading / "don't like" the Hunger Games, so it's only polite for me to explain.

First of all, I'm not allowed to read them.  A bunch of my friends told me it was a good series, and one said it wasn't graphic.  So I showed the book to my mom.  She did a LOT of research and decided that I shouldn't read it.  Here are her reasons:

1. It is graphic and violent.  Although violence has become part of our world as a result of sin, that doesn't mean we need to surround ourselves with it or read about it.  There's enough violence in history, if you want to read violence!  I know some people say the author portrays war as evil, but there are plenty of books that will do that for you, in a Christian and less violent manner.  A lot of people tried to justify reading Twilight because Bella doesn't have sex with Edward but there are plenty of other books that are Christian, pro-life, and support abstinence.  Also, seeing a lot of violence will de-sensitize us to violence.  That means in the future, to give you the same thrill of violence later, it will have to be worse.  It will have to be gorier.  It will have to be bloodier.  It could be a challenge to make it PG-13.

2. This is probably the weirdest point of all, but, this book / movie is VERY popular.  I'm sorry to say this, but it's the next Harry Potter or the next Twilight.  Now I know there's some of you who decided to read those books, but I did not read those books either.  Books that are immensely popular are not necessarily bad, but it's something to look out for.  Often, books that people become obsessed with, are not Christian.  Obsessions are never good, since we're supposed to have no other gods except our God.  I'm not saying that just because you like the Hunger Games that it is your idol, but it's with anything we "like", it's something to look out for.

3. Book series / movie series don't get happier.  They get darker and darker as it progresses.  There are people who tried to justify reading Twilight, but I know at least one person who is not so enamored with it anymore.  The Hunger Games movies will only get darker.  If you have any problem with the amount of violence in them now, it will only get worse.

4.  I have not read the books but have heard they do not have the redeeming ending, like Lord of the Rings.  In other words, I watch Lord of the Rings despite the violence, because it overall has good truths and good points to it...and to me, it ends beautifully (although sadly!).  I'm not saying every book should have a happy ending (Don't worry, I've watched plenty of depressing WWII movies...) but honestly, our lives can have happy endings, because instead of being punished for our sins and getting what we deserve, we are offered eternal life in heaven with Jesus.  Just a thought there, moving on...

6. You write what you read.  What I read / watch deeply influences my writing, and I don't really want my writing to become violent (I'm already having enough trouble with that as it is) or disturbing.  

7. Once images are in your mind, they won't leave!  I am disturbed enough by orcs eating orcs in Lord of the Rings.  I don't need to see more people killing other people.  

8. The worldview isn't Christian.  There are some non-Christian books that still have good points, or good morals and make them worthy to read.  But if the worldview isn't Christian, then the book series really won't help me in my spiritual life or my life in general.

I've chosen not to watch this movie or read this book.  Do any of you remember The Golden Compass?  Christians and Catholics decided to boycott the movie, because the author was definitely not attempting to promote God and was in fact doing the complete opposite (saying, "My books are all about killing God" in an interview).  Guess what?  There has been no sequel for The Golden Compass.  I lived in England at the time, and I'm not even sure if the movie came to the American theater there.  I remember hearing a lady on the news doing a short report on the movie and saying how Christians were choosing to boycott it.  Showing, or not showing our support, is a huge witness, or not a witness, to the world.  Just something to think about.

Anyway, I'm sorry if I stated everything bluntly and offended you.  I hope our friendship is stronger than a difference of opinions concerning a book / movie.  I love my friends and am not trying to hit them on the head for liking these books.  But before I go, there's just one question I'd like to ask you...

Does it pass the Philippians 4:8 test?

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.