So far, the worst--most ridiculous and far-fetched--Christian killer I've seen is Jake Busey's
revivalist-terrorist in Robert Zemeckis' Contact. The whole movie is pretty ridiculous, some outstanding cinematic effects aside. Every character is a caricature, and the point of the movie seems to be that whatever we're exploring--whether science or religion--in the end we're really just exploring (say it with me) ourselves. If only MST3K were still around to give this movie the proper treatment.
Busey's Christian revivalist hates Jodie Foster's scientist, though we're never told why; the fact that he's a fundamentalist is apparently explanation enough. Eventually, he straps a bomb to his chest and blows himself, a few scientists, and an expensive alien communication machine to kingdom come.
Which raises a question: What's the precedent for characterizing a Christian extremist as a suicide bomber? Timothy McVeigh might count, or maybe abortion clinic protestors of earlier days, but is this mostly an example of Hollywood's general tone-deaf-ness when it comes to religion? I'm not saying representations of, say, Arab Americans are any better, but still--why this conflation of Christian extremism and suicide bombing? What do you make of a characterization like this?
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I suppose if you look hard enough you could find logic for killing ( as we have seen in "terrorist bombers".) But I have been taught that killing is wrong and no matter how you rationalize it is still murder.
If we are to follow the example set by Jesus, we go to extremes in order to avoid taking of life.
If we begin taking life as lightly as some seem too, aren't we losing our morality or is that considered passe as well.
it is not in me to murder, but I wonder what I would do if faced with the option of killing in order to save a life, whether mine, my family or a total stranger. Hesitation then becomes an enemy as well.
Not an easy thing to consider especially for a Christian, yet some claim to have been told by God to kill! How sad, the state we find ourselves in! I pray that I never have to answer this question.
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