The Book of Eli: A Proudly Christian Movie
Cross I Am Legend with The Ten Commandments and you’ve got The Book of Eli, a genuinely religious parable that inherently rebukes pointless end-of-the-world movies like The Road. This time there’s a purpose to the post-apocalypse: Eli (Denzel Washington), one of humanity’s survivors, is heeding the word of the Lord to protect the world’s only remaining Bible and bring its teachings to the West.
The Book of Eli works just fine as an action blockbuster, but it’s much more than that. Eli, who can smell lurking “highjackers” determined to rob and kill him long before they get close, is fierce with a machete — the movie is as bloody as any other contemporary R-rated kill-or-be-killed flick — and his fearless strides across the wasted scapes of a broken and infected world are reminiscent of great cowboy movies. He even walks into a small town that looks like the set of one of those backlot Westerns like High Noon.
The chief of this evil place is Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who is seen reading a book on Mussolini, and not because he’s bored. He already wields absolute authority over his little village, but using Il Duce as a model he hopes to become ruler of what remains of the planet. He has sent his illiterate henchmen out into the world with orders to bring back every book they can find. But there’s only one book (besides the Mussolin biography) that matters to Carnegie: The Book. Eli’s Book. Carnegie has heard that this volume can change the world because of its persuasive effects on people, which Carnegie hopes to harness to his own ends. But Eli isn’t giving it up.
Here the movie springs a major plot leak — Carnegie captures Eli, who surrenders to gunmen and spends a night in Carnegie’s jail cell. Carnegie sends first his girlfriend (Jennifer Beals), who is blind, and then the girlfriend’s sexy daughter (Mila Kunis of Forgetting Sarah Marshall) to Eli’s cell to find out who he is. But wouldn’t Carnegie have ordered his men to search Eli’s belongings? The wanderer carries a single backpack. It wouldn’t be hard to discover that he has the world’s only known copy of the Bible.
Yet Eli escapes and in a searing shootout scene proves to be a better shot than Carnegie’s henchmen. A much better shot: there is something about Eli that makes bullets miss.
I’d already intended to see The Book of Eli. Having read this review, I can’t wait.
The war on Christianity is entering a critical phase. A backlash of belief has begun and is swelling steadily. The anti-theists of our time, most of whom are really anti-Christian, sense that they must win quickly or lose their chance, perhaps for the next century. Movies, novels, and anecdotes of faith at work in the lives of men, told to young Americans by their parents and grandparents, will all play a part in preserving and securing this most precious component of our American heritage.
Pray.
It is heartening to hear that this movie is quite inspirational from a religous point of view. The plotline shares something else in common with Mel Gibson. The Book of Eli clearly falls into the Mad Max Genre
everyone needs an imaginary friend
I will probably see it when it hits video or cable, but…
the last Bible on Earth? Talk about suspended disbelief. It’s the most published book in the world. Hundreds in every church and hotel. At least one in probably 80% of American homes.
Hello Dark Ages. When mysticism and irrationality rule our decisions and culture, belief in anything is possible. Hello Algore and AGW, hello Social Security lockboxes, hello affordable healthcare for everybody. Without a rational philosophy and with a belief in the supernatural, how as a culture/nation can we ever expect to defeat radical Jihadists whose religious beliefs are to kill “infidels” in the name of Alah. What makes “our” religion any better than Islam? Are they both not just belief in the supernatural. On what philosophical basis can our culture believe in one supernatural being and yet condemn another? How can the religion of Environmentalism be defeated without a rational mind? We as a country have no philosophical basis for morality other than supernatural beliefs in what “our” particlular god(s) demands. Sacrifice to the state or sacrifice to a god. Mind-body split. Neither is rational, neither will bring us freedom….only slavery.
Yeah, but there’s a “boy” in the lead role!
Nothing is quite as terrifying as ignorance in action. Mr. Fitzsimmons (#5) is our latest example.
Concerning “belief in the supernatural,” each and every one of us is asked to believe in things we cannot prove. Some of the things that some of us accept on that basis pertain to a Creator…but others pertain to such “rational” fields as cosmology, quantum physics, and evolution science. That the contentions of cosmologists, a field of which I have some knowledge, are neither provable nor disprovable does not mean they cannot be true.
Then we have this:
That might be the most inane sentence I’ve ever read or heard. Cultures don’t believe anything. Individuals adopt beliefs, sometimes on the basis of persuasive but not conclusive evidence, and sometimes with assistance from completely private events. We have some written evidence of the life, teachings, and works of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God. Those records are not conclusive, but nothing in them has ever been shown to be fallacious.
As for condemning one faith but accepting another, it’s not the supernatural character of faith that matters to such a decision, but the doctrines of the faiths in question. In simpler words — and an anti-theist such as Mr. Fitzsimmons probably needs simpler words — what do the two faiths teach?
If the scriptural records are correct, this is what Jesus of Nazareth actually said and did:
1. He preached a message of Divine love and forgiveness, and a greatly reduced set of Divine requirements for human conduct;
2. He offered hope to the downtrodden of Judea for their perseverance in faith and humility;
3. He counseled those who followed Him to love, charity, forbearance in the face of insult and oppression, and trust in the goodness of God;
4. He performed miracle after miracle, healing the sick and raising the dead;
5. At the last, He accepted a horrible death, in testimony to the truth of His message and to redeem Mankind from its sins;
6. He rose from the dead and commissioned His Apostles to “Go and teach all nations” of His message of Divine love and redemption.
Not one of Jesus’s teachings conflicts with the dictates of secular justice as Americans understand them. By contrast, this is what Muhammad, the Prophet and Founder of Islam, actually said and did:
1. He claimed to have been granted a revelation of the Immutable Word of God, whose prescriptions and proscriptions apply to everyone but him;
2. He dismissed all other faiths and their adherents as “infidels,” inherently inferior to Muslims, and to be subjugated by Muslims as it became possible;
3. He advocated conversion by the sword;
4. He personally led several bloody campaigns of conquest and loot, including against communities with which he had negotiated truces;
5. He commanded the killing of prisoners of war and the enslavement of the women and children of conquered districts;
6. He counseled the use of deceit and dissimulation in the advancement of Islam.
Anyone who still can’t see which of these creeds is superior is not quite anchored in reality.
Concerning “rational minds:” There is no essential conflict between the teachings of Christ and the dictates of rationality. Jesus asked nothing of us that requires us to reject either the evidence of our senses or the conclusions dictated by reason from that evidence. While it’s true that persons who claimed to speak in Jesus’s name have demanded such things, they never had authority to do so, as any good Christian cleric would tell you.
Apropos of this subject, the world-girdling conflict between the West and Islam is a religious war. We’re losing that contest, precisely because we’ve forsaken the animating energy of Christian faith, which literally gave rise to the Enlightenment culture of the West. We will continue to lose for so long as we confront Islamic militancy with a non-denominational “tolerance” that insists that all faiths are equally acceptable…even if that means treating them all as equally silly. In other words:
M. Stanton Evans expands on Christianity’s importance to Western civilization in his blockbuster The Theme Is Freedom.
skeeziks:
“Yeah, but there’s a “boy” in the lead role!”
What are you taking about? Denzel hasn’t been a ‘boy’ for decades – since he was born in 1954 one could assume he became a ‘man’ around the time that Nixon was in office.
Are you still a boy or have you moved out of your folks house yet?
Well said, Mr. Porretto! It boils down to free will: We all have a choice to accept Jesus as THE Son of God, or reject Him. We must each make our own choice, no can do it for us.We can not and should not attempt to force anyone to accept Him. It is their choice.I will try to check out Mr. Washington’s newest offering. . . the old “vote with my pocketbook thing”
I liked the review but don’t understand the cheap shot at Kirk Cameron. He’s a man who actually lives his beliefs, for instance in the movie ‘Fireproof’, he brought in his real wife to double the actress for the kissing scene.
“The wanderer carries a single backpack. It wouldn’t be hard to discover that he has the world’s only known copy of the Bible.”
I’d recommend reading the book “God’s Smugler” for rational on this so called leak in the plot.
Seems it is not without precedent.
jd
Avidly studying the fascist playbook?
Sending out an army of illiterate henchmen to make exceptionally stupid mischief?
Sound like anybody we know?
Thank-you, Francis #6, for that summary of “the difference”…
I have a feeling this movie will cause “difficulty” for most non-Christians, secularists, humanists, atheists, etc, etc. Yes, it will be visually stunning, violent, and the combination of Denzel and the Hughes Brother’s “comeback movie” will be a big draw, but I think it will have a backlash of “disturbing” reviews that come from those who just don’t “get it”, or more precisely, don’t WANT to get it.
Putting aside the “suspended disbelief” of there being only one Bible left on earth, the question will arise for many…”Who cares?”…as one less book of “fables” and “fairytales” should only serve to better mankind as it faces the post-apocolyptic world. Ya’d think, right?
Well, regardless of how well the movie does, it serves a purpose in making Christians and non-Christians think about WHY they believe what they do…even atheists, who’s “belief” in a NO-GOD requires them to dismiss evidence right before their eyes, or dismiss the faith of others as “mysticism and irrationality”. But then, even the Bible said it would be so…
The timing of this movie couldn’t be better. People are searching, asking “WHY”…and those who would question the BELIEF or even the BELIEVER are getting answers, sometimes even on TV News! Not that I would recommend Ann Coulter for being an authority on anything “theological”, but her recent column was very much to the point, and VERY “THEO” (from the Greek for god) LOGICAL. I recommend reading it for those who are asking “WHY”:
If You Can Find a Better Deal, Take It!
http://townhall.com/columnists/AnnCoulter/2010/01/06/if_you_can_find_a_better_deal,_take_it!?page=full
” Old Soldier:
I will probably see it when it hits video or cable, but…
the last Bible on Earth? Talk about suspended disbelief. It’s the most published book in the world. Hundreds in every church and hotel. At least one in probably 80% of American homes.”
Why do you think they call it “fiction”?
Our very civilization was founded on Judaeo-Christian principles. Even atheists should be able to watch this movie and see the importance that the Bible (the Book of Eli) would have in recreating civilization. It isn’t only about the worship of God, but also about the conduct of man.
john Boot: it is about time Hollywood came out with a movie for all you god loving people!!! I was wondering do you all agree with Pat Robertson remarks on Haiti?
God is really great!!!!
Thank you Mr. Porretto for your insightful comments. Your words and, therefore, your thought processes exclaim exactly what I was referring to. I do not doubt your faith, and I have no intentions of ever trying to change your mind. In fact, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. You do have free will to choose your path, and thanks to a historically secular government (i.e. separation of church and state) you have that freedom.
I take issue, however, with the most inane partial sentence I have ever heard: “the animating energy of Christian faith, which literally gave rise to the Enlightenment culture of the West”. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, rejection of mysticism and embracement of logic, science, and rationality lead to the Enlightenment culture of the West. You just don’t want to look at facts.
But you will believe only what you choose to believe-facts do not matter to you-reality doesn’t matter to you. Faith only in the supernatural just like all the other religious zealots you are at war with. How many millions of people have died or were persecuted by Christians and their religion of Christianity? Does the Inquisition have any impact at all on your belief in your peaceful, all-loving religion. Christianity is peaceful as long as everyone believes in your GOD; if not, you are at war with them. Your words: “the world-girdling conflict between the West and Islam is a religious war. We’re losing that contest……We will continue to lose for so long as we confront Islamic militancy with a non-denominational “tolerance” that insists that all faiths are equally acceptable…even if that means treating them all as equally silly. In other words:
Never go to a religious war without your religion. — John Ringo and Tom Kratman, Afterword to The Tuloriad”
I can think of no better example of irrationality. Fight a war based on a belief in the supernatural. A my god is better than your god attitude. I fail to see a difference between your beloved Christianity and Islam.
Nevertheless, go forth and sacrifice to your god, you do have free will and every right to give it up to a nonexistent being.
I have to agree with Old Soldier. Last bible on Earth? WTF? Some fiction is harder to swallow than others. Does the director somehow account for this oddity? Renter.
7. Morally superior…perhaps. Intelluctally superior…perhaps not. Flying to heaven on a horse…or, just flying to heaven…?
9. To “accept”…??? On what basis? Really?
Not Mad Max. More like Fallout 3. Rock On!
michael fitzsimmons:
Do we speak of the “historically” secular government that to this day opens each session of Congress with a prayer, used the Congressional building to congregate as the biggest place of worship during our founding years, a government where almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence had formal education in theology? A government that provides religious counselors of virtually all religious persuasions for our military at taxpayer expense, and whose constituency built thousands of Protestant churches on street corners across early America? That secular “historical” government? Are you intending for me to believe that our leaders, elected by a religious people, were secular in nature and that their core beliefs were diametrically opposed to the people who put them in positions of authority?
I’m afraid you will be making a tough sell to anyone with eyes and ears and who wishes to believe in the learning the historical truth.
However, your post makes a textbook case of the shallow thought that now pervades America I’m afraid, from a lack of depth, to a lack of historical context in both government, science and accomplishment. No need to confuse you more as I’m sure you steeped deeply in current academic dogma. Carry on…
But you really do need to learn to frame your charges correctly when addressing the fallibility of Christians and its many egregious sins. The question isn’t why Christians fail as the Word of God makes that abundantly clear. As a Christian, I can make no more claim of goodness than you, though I believe I could make a very persuasive argument that Christians have managed better and accomplished for benefit than anyone else.
The real question you ought to be asking is why our perfect God allows imperfect men like you and me to exist.
Religious morality is highly subjective…and depends on your religion. A civilization based on individual rights is the only moral system. Individual rights is earth-bound, rational, and applies to all Americans (because our forefathers died for it) regardless of their individual beliefs or faith.
The morality of individual rights is the right to live your life as you see fit without coercion from or impact on others.
“I swear by life and my love for it, I shall never live for another man NOR ask another man to live for me.” -Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged.
No religion upholds individual rights-none. Just the opposite-all religions demand that you give up your life.
How hard is it to beleive that there is one bible left in the entire world? No harder than it is to believe apes rule the world, an all powerful ring, time travel, sensient robots, aliens from space, ghosts, vampires,…etc. Besides, we get this information from the characters so it is only as reliable as their knowledge. If they beleive it is the only Bible then we must accpet their belief or assume they are mistaken. We are not being asked to believe it but only accept that they beleive it. The symbolism is fantastic one Bible, one believing man, and one evil ruler (who, by the way, must also believe). Is the story beleiveable could it really come down to this? Cant wait to see it. Couldnt they have gotten Sandra Bullock in it?
and so it goes….the good, the bad and the ugly! Civilization is littered with this history that continues to take beliefs and use them as weapons for selfish desires that keep humanity from ever succeeding in rational hope for peace!
Now that Denzel’s coming out as a Christian he’ll probably never find work in Hollywood again.
tex taylor #21: look sonny god is just a great fantasy!!!
You got me pegged Tex. Thank you for informing me that I live a THEOCRACY. I thought, apparently incorrectly because I am a pagan who is steeped in academic dogma and who doesn’t just believe in the one true Lord Jesus Christ, that our country was founded as a REPUBLIC and that we had a separation of church and state for a very specific reason. Apparently, all our laws come directly from Gods mouth to the select blessed-ones, such as Tex and Francis, who have a direct link to the Almighty Jesus Christ. Our founding fathers obviously wrote: “…life, liberty, and the pursuit of God’s happiness..” My sinseer and unedubucat’d erperlogys, Tex.
I’ll go see the movies and I will most likely enjoy it. If the biblical references are clever and thought provoking, I will love it more. I am not a traditional Christian by any stretch of the imagination. I am a Unitarian universalist who left my conservative Lutheran faith for a place where I felt more comfortable, but I am a christian none the less and any story that deals with how the good confront evil is an appealing story. I imagine I will enjoy this movies like I enjoyed “the seventh sign,” and “the prince of Egypt.”.
I am curious if my “liberal bretheren” will object to this movies. Thus I will go to huffington and see. I hope they are more open minded than to reject this movie based on a peceived conservative agenda, but just as several readers here were ready to reject “the blind side”, and “avatar”, and gran Torino on charges of a too overtly liberal message, liberal will reject this movie for the opposite reason.
Salesguy@23: I take your point but the director must create a world where it makes sense that these things happen. That is the main difference between intelligent movies about some of the things you descibe and just plain stupid. So I’m asking. If there is only one bible left, does it make sense within the the eternal logic of the story? Otherwise it’s just a stupid McGuffin. Which doesn’t mean it can’t be entertaining. Renter.
I was pretty sure Mr. Fitzsimmons was a hard-core Randian. His self-disclosure above sets my mind at rest. The Randians’ First Commandment is “I am Ayn Rand, thy Goddess; thou shalt have no other gods, period!”
Rand was dead on target about a score of things, but her blanket condemnation of religious faith is perverse and wrongheaded. Worse from the perspective of those who’d like to see her political ideas succeed, her militant anti-theism makes her philosophy unacceptable to at least three-quarters of the country.
Ayn Rand is yet another example of a penetrating thinker, capable of doing much good, whose influence has been blunted by extreme self-aggrandizement and encystment in a cult. She wasn’t the first; she won’t be the last.
Oh crap! Internal logic, that is. I type faster than I think.
Francis W. Porretto.
I’m interested in what your take on the Old Testament is.
Our country was founded by deeply religious men but they did not establish this country as a theocracy becasue they knew that no nation should be based on Religion. However, laws based on Morality have their basis in religion since morality exists becasue of religion.
sounds like “A Canticle for Liebowitz”, except with sex and violence…
oophs: In CL they make copies of the Bible and other books so that civilization (not just one book) will survive…
The apparent atheist, michael fitzsimmons, writes: “You do have free will to choose your path”…
You do know, of course, Mr. Fitzsimmons, that if there is no soul, then there is no free will. All you are without a soul is an extremely complex set of chemical reactions that cannot be changed. For free will to exist, you must have a soul that can alter in some manner all the biochemical actions that make up you. And it follows, that if there is such a thing as a soul, it is, by definition, supernatural.
It has always been a wonder to me why are atheists so proud of their supposed reason. Reason is an illusion, if the world comports to their view.
Very interesting review. Thanks.
Plus you use the N word, “nihilism”.
I thought I was the last one to call nihilism nihilism.
Good.
Michael fitzsimmons,
I know.
No, you don’t live in theocracy for exactly the reasons God doesn’t believe in a theocracy, and I will be the first to tell you to believe as you must with liberties afforded to do so – enjoy your academia for as long as it lasts. If our Founders were sure of one thing, it was something called free will.
I was simply pointing out the obvious fallacies of your original statement, that you were clueless with respect to American history, that you were attempting to rewrite the historical record along with the rest of the lost sheep, and that the vast majority of our original constituents would think you the fool.
No problem!
Dear mr.
How ironic. Did you know mr. that God thinks you the atheist but a great fantasy too? Consider what God says about atheists:
Romans 1:19-20
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
I wonder whose “opinion” will carry more weight?
Mr. Fitzsimmons, (#17)
Our rights do not come from government; we are endowed with them from our Creator.
Look it up.
8. Curtis M:
Let me make you feel better . . . man-child.
While we’re talking about good Christian morals and personalities, let’s revisit the queen of our bodies as temples, Carrie Prejean. It’s been awhile since you’ve had a fix. Here you go:
http://www.wwtdd.com/2010/01/carrie-prejean-needs-a-tighter-bikini/
She just keeps coming!
Mr. Tex Taylor,
I can’t help but wonder, do you have a direct line to God’s mind? You seem to know what god thinks and believes….how extraordinary! Did God himself write the Good Book? Maybe Soldier_X can weigh in on this one, since he seems to know too. He even knows where I can look it up. Can you ask God for me why our founding fathers, despite their knowing God’s mind and beliefs too and being faithful servants and all, didn’t create this country as a theocracy? What is it about religion that our founding fathers didn’t trust? If they were so God loving, why not create heaven here on Earth. And you could get to burn a few witches at the stake too.
Frankly, the only point I was making was that morality doesn’t need to be dictated by any religion on the threat of eternal damnation or by any dictator at the point of a gun. How about being good for good. How about honoring each individuals right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness simply as a human. The proper purpose of government it to protect individual rights as humans…not grant them as ole Soldier_X wants to think I believe. Religion is not needed for morality and is, in fact, primarily against a human’s right to the pursuit of happiness.
You all want to believe in the supernatural, go ahead. Continue your religious war, which is, frankly, an oxymoron. Frances believes that Christianity is all about loving your enemy and sacrificing for the least of our brethen; yet he has no problem with killing in the name of god. And you all call this rational? And why aren’t you all in Haiti or some other less fortunate part of the world sacrificing yourselves for those less fortunate than you, as your God demands? Instead you all sit back with your fancy laptop computers and your arrogant holier than thou attitudes and condemn anybody who doesn’t believe as you. So much for living the Good Word.
Denzel for president in 2010!
What, did you think America would never elect another man who happened to be black?
Mr. Washington is a respectable man.
dh
38. Tex Taylor:
Dear mr.
tex taylor #21: look sonny god is just a great fantasy!!!
How ironic. Did you know mr. that God thinks you the atheist but a great fantasy too? Consider what God says about atheists:
Romans 1:19-20
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
I wonder whose “opinion” will carry more weight?
WHO WROTE THAT ? why do you all say ..God said this …God said that.
God didn’t write the bible. a bunch of unrelated people wrote it years after this God Jesus was to have lived.
please when you quote the good book please acknowledge that God didn’t write it or say it. but that some other person said he said it and then wrote it.
there is a difference.
(37) Tex Taylor
“God doesn’t believe in a theocracy.”
God has beliefs?
I thought God was pure certainty. The singularity. The one truth.
Forget the movie. This is much more interesting.
God can believe. Wow.
Spindok
WELL I BELIEVE I’LL
go see this movie
#3 cabeza de empty, excuse me vaca.
Let me introduce you to #5 MF
#5 let me me introduce you to #3, ca ca head
The compulsively rational and the compulsively without are a match made in heaven. Pardon the mention of a deities address, and also the lack of an email or facebook page. The framers of the American Constitution in the age of enlightenment, (rational times indeed), sought biblical & spiritual language to compose and place policy and procedures in place to insure a more perfect union. Imperfect undoubtedly in that it neither included women or white indentured slave and forever after the black African slave and their progeny. Let us for whimsies sake contemplate in awe “that which we have wrought”. Hollywood has chosen the woolly headed son of that black progeny to depict the last man on earth to nurture the last mustard seed of a Bible from the avaricious maw of ignorance (which is regrettably depicted as a PC white Mau Mau gang of hooligans: Truth be told this would be more accurately depicted as super multiculturally diverse (the UN) gang of hooligans. My threadbaring friends. America evolves, Deities stay the same and our Constitution stays a precious document of hope (not change, Obamanists. The compulsively rational and the compulsively without oh yes and the poor we will always be with us. The poor are always deeply interesting, and deserving our compassion. The others tend to bore. Don’t you think so?
I love hearing all the dolts talk about how wars are all due to some faith or religion.
Tell me what religion do the communist have? Oh, that’s right they don’t practice any religion. Funny how these people forget about leaders like Mao Ze-Dong, Joseph Stalin, Leopold II, Pol Pot, Kim Il Sung, Benitto Mussolini, Fidel Castro, and Vladimir Lenin all of which had no religious beliefs as they were antitheist and murdered millions.
Yeah, Leopold II was Catholic. Not exactly a communist either, but then neither was Mussolini by the end.
Just for those who are curious about the ‘last Bible on Earth’, it’s explained in the movie that they were all burned before and during a particular war of some kind that reduced almost the entirety of Earth to ruin.
Denzel’s character Eli said he was led by the voice to a pile of rubble, under which he found the Last Bible.
So yeah, it’s explained. I’ll not spoil anymore though.
Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. Two of the best character actors Hollywood has right now, and neither one has gone into loopy la-la land politically. That’s enough reason for me to go see it.
to #7 Francis W. Porretto:
Who the hell do you think you are to summarize prophets Mohammed and Jesus be peace upon them?? people should know the real truth about pophet Mohammed and how he spent his life sucrificing just to spread peace and lighten our lives to save it from hell, he never used a sword unless defending his people and stop his enemies from trying to eliminate his mission of god, so next time open books and read official sites about religious history before spreading your stinky words and lies in here,
,
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will sent him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. … I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.. and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:7-14)
This prophecy clearly lays down that:
The Comforter will come after the departure of Jesus.
When the Comforter comes, he will reprove the world of sin, truth and justice.
He will guide the world into all truth.
The book revealed to him will contain no human word.
He will foretell things to come.
He will glorify Jesus and clear him of all charges.
Now when we take this prophecy point by point, it is unmistakably proven that it applies to none else but the Holy Prophet Muhammad. He came after Jesus. The Comforter was supposed to reprove the followers of Jesus. Obviously, he could not be a Christian or a Jew .The prophecy must relate to one who would belong to another people but should respect Jesus and promote reverence for him. The Holy Prophet was neither Jew nor a Christian. He was an Ishmaelite. But he defended the honor of Jesus. Thus says the Quran:
[The Jews] slew him not, nor crucified him, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified, and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it: they have no definite knowledge thereof, but only follow a conjecture; and they did not convert this: conjecture into a certainty; on the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself (The Holy Quran 4: 158)
Here the Holy Quran specifically says that Jesus was saved from that accursed death designed for him by his enemies. However, they only suspected that they had succeeded in crucifying him. But Allah had not only saved him but admitted him to the circle of His favored ones.
Of the promise, “He will show you things to come”, we need only say that no prophet has told the world of things to come as much as has the prophet of Islam.
The prophecy said that “he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that he shall speak”. This description can only apply to the Prophet Muhammad. The New and Old Testaments do not contain a single book in which man’s word has not been mixed with God’s. The Quran is nothing but the word of God from beginning to end. Not a word even of the Prophet is to be found in it.
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that, whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)
It is evident from these verses that Moses foretold a Law-giving Prophet who was to appear after him, and who was to be from among the brethren of Israel.That he was to be a Law-giver and not an ordinary Prophet is obvious from the words “like unto Moses”, since Moses was also a Law-giver. The promulgation of “a new Law” means the initiation of a new movement, a new nation. A prophet with a new Law is obviously no ordinary teacher or reformer. He has to present a comprehensive teaching, incorporating fundamental principles as well as detailed rules.
Was Jesus such a prophet? Was he a Law-giver? Did he bring a new Law into the world to replace an old one? The answer, in his own words:
Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto You, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18)
And the followers of Jesus went so far as to declare:
And the Law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:12-13)
Jesus laid no claim to a new Law; his disciples regarded the Law as a curse. It was the Holy Quran which announced from the very outset that:
This is the (complete and perfect) Book, there is nothing of doubt in it. It is a guidance for the righteous. (The Holy Quran 2:3)
The prophecy also said that the Promised One was to be raised not from among Israel but from their brethren. Muhammad was from the brethren of the Israelites, the Ishmaelites.
It also told that God would put his words in his mouth. The New Testament gospels do not consist of words which God put in Jesus’s mouth. They only tell us his story and what he himself and his disciples said and did.
The Holy Quran, on the other hand, says:
Say,O Muhammad, I am a man like unto you: Only the word of God come unto me. (The Holy Quran 18: 111)
The prophecy spoke of “words which he shall speak in my name.” Strange as it may seem, there is not a single example of words which Jesus may be said to have received from God with the command to pass them on. The Holy Quran, on the other hand, specifically claimed to be the word from God.
The words of the Lord had announced that the Promised One would be a prophet. Jesus, according to the Christian evangelists, did not claim to be a prophet. Matthew reports that he asked his disciples:
“Whom do men say that I the son of man ..?”
Peter replied that he was the Christ. the Son of the living God.
(Matthew 16:13-16)
i think this is good enough to know the truth if you really go peice of brain
Muhammad was going to be, in the words of Solomon, “altogether lovely” which in Hebrew is expressed as Mahmaddim. (Song of Solomon 5: 10-16) He was the fulfillment of the “stone” of Daniel’s dream. (Daniel 2:34-35) He was the coming of the lord of the vineyard himself as foretold by Jesus.
True, there are some prophecies about Jesus as well in the Old Testament but it is also a fact that there are many which cannot rightly be applied to him. These could be fulfilled in the person of the one who was coming with a Law and whose mission was to be not just to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” but to the whole world, one who was spoken of by Jesus as the Comforter and Spirit of Truth. The predictions about Muhammad in the Bible are clear and precise.
The door to the Kingdom of Heaven has been opened by the fulfillment of these prophecies. Blessed are those who accept the call of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to enter His Kingdom and receive His communion
John,
You, Michael and this character Spindok need to get together and discuss Christian theology, or your lack thereof concerning theology. Between the collective, I’m not exactly sure you have made it to “In the beginning…” yet. As to knowing what God believes, only what it says my friend, only what it says. Got a problem that, you’ll get your chance to take it up with Him.
Since inane retort bores me and the lack of breadth in discussion at hand between the three of you is like discussing with a child why fire burns your hand, I’ll simply give you a homework assignment. Each of you should take a peek at Timothy II 3:16 (if you can locate it) and start and learn something before speaking – or worse providing the written record of biblical ignorance.
Well, well. It appears we have a seething Muslim in the thread. Inasmuch as I regard Islam as a totalitarian ideology of world conquest and subjugation with a few quasi-theological trimmings, I can’t take anything a Muslim says seriously, or grant him the slightest credence on any subject of importance. Nor does it help “Abraham’s” cause that he writes with the skill of a fourth-grader and the respect for facts of a liberal Democrat.
But then, as I’m the “seething Christian” in this thread, rabidly going back and forth preaching love of God and adherence to the Golden Rule, perhaps persons of…other faiths would apply the same standard to me. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Abraham..in the last days the prophesy will be that Jesus Christ died for the whole world sins. He was not a prophet, but the one and only son of god. Gods word and spirit in the flesh. Believing in him is the only way to salvation.The comfortor is the Holy Sprit giving freely to those who believe. Jesus Christ turned the world upside down. You can read and memorize all the scriptures you want, but you gain nothing. Ishmael was the bastard son, and I’ve got your number and its 666
“Our very civilization was founded on Judaeo-Christian principles. Even atheists should be able to watch this movie and see the importance that the Bible (the Book of Eli) would have in recreating civilization”
Our Civilization was founded on Greek-Roman-Egyptian-Sumerian-Assyrian-Insert ancient cultures here- principals.
The Constitution is a mixed salad of the best of many of these. Christ did not walk the earth when most of the cultures we borrowed from had already passed, as far as the belief that our founding fathers were somehow devout fundamentalists…sorry to burst anyones bubble but that is far from the truth. They had seen what fundies do when allowed to run rampant; the witch hunts in Europe and America were recent news, as well as wars fought between Spain and England because the Church stated it was required.
The Bible is a Book, nothing more. A collection of stories handed down from Sumerian and Phoenician legends, stories and history absorbed by many groups including Jews. In a few thousand years the popular Bible will take its place along with other ancient texts we study to understand how people lived as they did.
As far as the spiritual, the Bible is a starting place, not the destination. That seems to be the real obstacle for most religions in the world, they do not understand the very teachings contained in their own parchments.
Sounds like a nifty movie. Washington is a superb actor. We all need to follow the advise of Benjamin Franklin in his auto-biogrophy. Never waste your breath or time arguing with anyone who doesn’t agree with you. Not worth the effort. Only engage in discussion with someone who has an open mind and is thoughtful. Atheist folk have a real basic problem and one can only pray for them.
thousands of years of religion gives people time to come up with all kinds of rational but no proof.
open your mind. apply some critical thinking.
personally I don’t really care what people believe in but find it curious that people can be so willfully ignorant.
I know I will not change anyones mind and that is not my intent. I prefer arguments that aren’t emotions and “blind faith” …they are the opposite of rational.
I see a lot of love for Denzel in this thread. Just wondering what you all thought when he play Malcolm X?
@cabeza
I find it irrational to assume we know everything.
Who are we to dismiss out of hand an understanding of a spiritual side of life? The tools of science have no application to realms of the spirit, given that it is something we cannot tangibly see, hear, or fully claim to understand one iota…and yet you have billions of people all over the world who are involved in one religion or another, many of whom do so for spiritually-fulfilling reasons. Are they irrational for believing that there is a spiritual component to existence?
Science has neither proven nor disproven the spirit. With regards to that, “blind faith” is the best we can get with regards to proof with most religions (some differ, given various historical artifacts and records that add to the veracity of some religions), for we are believing that which we cannot verify independently. We know of such things, but cannot claim to truly understand.
In a similar way, I have “blind faith” that New York City exists because people, maps, and various media say it is there, even though I have never been there or witnessed it myself.
62. Redley
I have seen New York it exists. this is the folly I refer to.
There are somethings that there is proof of and can be proven.
You can go to New York if you have doubts. there is a much different thing to believe what would be in a book written by Obama and what is real. I am sure many people believe the things in Al Gore’s book …even the things that have been proven false. It is just a bad argument.
I do not believe there is a God but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.
But absent any evidence why make sh!t up.
The “plot leak” is not. Evil has long known that Christianity must be abandoned voluntarily. It’s where we get the word “traitor,” from the “traditores” who “handed” the scrolls to their persecutors. (Also the same root as the word “tradition.”)
Book of eli was made by two atheist directors. The book centers around a bible because it makes a good story. It has no true religious message. If you dont belive me they did an interview with the directors that discussed this very subject
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/the-hughes-brothers-on-the-book-of-eli-dethroning-avatar-and-tiger-woods.html
Saw the movie last night. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a movie on opening night but I wasn’t disappointed. While there were some points that I felt needed cleaning up, the story was good and the message even better.
The ending had a twist that I doubt many will predict.
Michael Medved, who liked the movie well enough, remarked that it was a shame the Bible being saved wasn’t in the original Hebrew. I wish I read Hebrew just so I could read the Bible in its original voice (hand?). There are so many shades of meaning that get lost in translation.
Francis, you still out there?
Thought we could make a comparison. Ayn Rand versus Jesus Christ, or Jesus Christ versus Ayn Rand if you prefer, and discover a major difference in our thinking.
I know Ayn Rand was a fallible human being. Her message was actually very simple: all humans are equal and possess inherent individual rights regardless of race, gender, nationality, etc…. a human-respecting morality that doesn’t require self-sacrificing to a presumed god.
Let’s look at your unthinking blind faith: Jesus Christ was a man who passed himself off as the Son of God and whom you selected as your infallible god. Moreover, this human being Jesus Christ, was so arrogant as to believe that getting himself nailed to a tree would save humanity.
Self-aggrandizement??? Cult??? Pretty easy to see who was grounded in reality….and it wasn’t your man-god. Your religion isn’t the first, and surely won’t be the last.
And by the way, where did you pull the 3/4 of the population nonsense from?….just make that up too like your religion?
Also, you and Abraham are making my initial point exactly. Thank you. My understanding of the idiocy of religion is confirmed.
Is this a Christian movie?
Well, there is a cross, but most of the quotes were from the Tanakh.
Is this an atheist movie that only “accidentally” refers to religious themes?
Not unless major scenes and dialogue were dubbed in accidentally as well.
There are heavy layers of subtext and symbolism throughout the movie. I think it would be a major error to get lost in certain surface perceptions without looking at the other layers, and one of them is thinking that just because a King James Bible is involved automatically makes this “just” a Christian movie.
John Boot is right about one thing:
“Secular viewers may cringe — can’t we have more wisecracks and nihilism, please? . . .”
Indeed.
I would say if there is one thing this movie is not about, that would be wallowing in wisecracks and nihilism.
On that account, projections of evangelism aside, the movie is incredible. Denzel delivers as always, and The Hughes Brothers take a massive leap up to a whole new level of artistic expression that I would love to see them continue.
…except it’s not a Christian movie at all…Screenwriter’s primary genres are gaming and sci-fi. Filmmakers are not theists.
Did I enjoy the film? Sure, it was highly entertaining. But the “twist” was kind of obvious and is kind of negated when you think of the size of the Bible. Because either it should have been really big, or contained multiple volumes (sorry OldFart @66).
I would say that because John Boot (and others) didn’t determine whether this film had a purposeful “Christian” message, it is the conservatives appropriating this as a Christian film and not the other way around.
Peace out.
Mr. Fitzsimmons, it’s amazing how defensive your stance here is.
First of all, how has the faith of anybody on this board caused you injury? What cost has it incurred to you, against your will? Nobody has forced you to read, let alone endorse, anything, anywhere on the Internet, including PJ Media. Or have you become the disproof of Thomas Jefferson’s statement that “it neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg”?
Second, what do you hope to accomplish with your deliberate choice of harsh language? Do you hope to provoke an over-the-top reaction, so you can then claim “see, I told you so”? Or do you simply derive satisfaction from spreading misery and ill-will?
If you’re trying to engage in rational discussion, I propose that you’re taking the entirely wrong approach.
Save your energy, Mr. Fitzsimmons. You haven’t got what it takes.
michael fitzsimmons,
I don’t know how. You haven’t yet recognized the idiocy of your own brash statements made in utter ignorance. Without an understanding of what you and your purpose, I don’t how you could recognize much of anything besides the innate.
We who believe understand that yes Christ did go to the cross for our sake voluntarily and know that you are looking for a reaction by the mocking of Christ. You certainly aren’t the first and won’t be the last, and I actually believe it better for you to be freezing cold than lukewarm. I encourage you to “live it up.”
to Francis W. Porretto:
As a muslim i can’t make fun back at you cause Islam and Prophet Mohammed taught me how to keep my heart & mouth pure, and about evaluating my English as a 4th grade level, at least im proud i can write in your language while i bet you can write one sentence in Arabic but i won’t blame an ignorant person you are free to say what ever relief your racist heart
any way, as my beliefe, i’d love to share my faith with my brothers and sisters in here that Jesus is still alive, he was not killed and he’s coming soon to save this sick racist planet who got alot of enemies of god, enemies of the real holy books of god, Torah, Bible and Quran, not the adjusted books you read
“In these last days has spoken to us in Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:2-3
One of the very common disputes between Islam and Christianity is that the Islamic belief and the Holy Quran states that Jesus (PBUH) gave the glad tidings of one last prophet that will come after him as the seal of all prophets and messengers and his name will be Ahmad which is another name for prophet Muhammad PBUH
However Christians argue that Jesus (PBUH) never mentioned the name Ahmad or Muhammad and never told anyone that there will be one last prophet that will come after him and will be the seal of all prophets and messengers and their argument lies in
“There is no verse in the bible where what you mentioned about this last prophet can be found”
But we Muslims believe that our mighty Prophet Muhammad PBUH is mentioned by Jesus Christ (PBUH) where he tells his disciples about this last mighty Prophet of Allah
So let us examine some verses in the Bible
John 16:12-15 King James Version
12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself;
but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come
14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you
15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you
End of verses
As we read we understood that Jesus (PBUH) told his disciples that he has a lot of things to tell them but they cannot bear what he wish to tell them and the word “bear” here means spiritually not physically as they won’t be able to understand it
Because if we examine the mentality of children of Israel at the time of Moses (PBUH) we will find that they gave him a lot of trouble because of their very materialistic mentality and how he put a great effort to make them understand the will of Allah almighty and the spiritual world that they can not see or touch
They had a long way to go so they can grow spiritually because at that time they were like a little kid that if you told him
I made you a bank account and put in it 1 million for you
What his reaction will be? He won’t care about what you said because he has first to grow up to understand the value of money and the procedures of banks
BUT
If you told that kid
I got you a toy
His reaction will be excitement and happiness because he does not understand anything not materialistic because he is still a little one
That what the children of Israel suffered from as they were materialistic people and this disease that Moses (PBUH) struggled to cure and he made an advancement with them but the disease carried on after the passing of Moses (PBUH) and the coming of Jesus PBUH
And that is why Jesus told them that he will not be able to tell them what he wishes but there is someone who will come and tell them those things when they grow spiritually but Jesus must go first so this person can be sent
Here Jesus made a condition, if he goes this person will come and other than that he won’t come
Here I ask my Christian brothers and sisters who is the HE that Jesus mentioned 9 times? which is the only time where HE is mentioned 9 times in one verse in the bible
The only answer I have gotten from any Christian to this question is
Jesus means the Holy Ghost not Muhammad PBUH
I consider this a very illogical and wrong answer, why? Because Jesus made a condition that this person does not exist and will not come until Jesus goes away
So
The Holy Spirit already existed long before Jesus’s birth
Luke 1:15 King James Version
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb
Here it mentioned the Holy Ghost with John (PBUH) in his mother’s womb and in the same chapter the Holy Ghost was with Elizabeth and Zachariah too
But wait
Wasn’t the holy ghost with Jesus too? I believe so
Luke 11:20 King James Version
20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you
So it does not make sense to say it is the Holy Ghost who Jesus was telling about and if Christians still argue that it is the Holy Ghost then I have a question
If it really was the Holy Ghost that Jesus was talking about then where is it until today after 2010 years and what are the new things that it taught you as Jesus said he has a lot of thing to tell you? Isn’t the Holy Spirit with you priests and born again Christians? I do not know why it did not show up until now
But what I know and believe is Jesus was talking about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and here is why
First Jesus says
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth
is Muhammad a spirit? Yes he is and not every spirit mentioned in the bible means Holy Spirit
Revelation 1:4 King James Version
4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
So does Christians believe in 7 holy ghosts? I don’t think so
And in
John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Here we conclude from this verse
False spirit = False Prophet
True spirit = True Prophet
So do you still think Jesus was talking about the Holy Ghost
Thirdly, Jesus said
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth
And Allah told Prophet Muhammad in the Holy Quran
O Prophet! Lo! We have sent thee as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And as a summoner unto Allah by His permission, and as a lamp that giveth light
Holy Quran 33:45-46
And
Lo! We have sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner
Holy Quran 35:24
And
He it is Who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religion, however much the idolaters may be averse
Holy Quran 9:33
Fourthly Jesus said
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak
And Allah says about Prophet Muhammad
Your companion (Muhammad SAW) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed
Holy Quran 53: 2-4
I leave my question to all my Christian brothers and sister to answer within themselves
After examining and explaining the verses is it logical to say the Holy Spirit is the one that Jesus was talking about? Or is it logical to say it was Prophet Muhammad PBUH who Jesus mentioned 9 times in that verse
?
Prophet Jesus Christ told the children of Israel
And (remember) when ‘Īsā (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allâh unto you confirming the Taurât [(Torah) which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed
Holy Quran 61:6
How can Jesus be GOD Almighty in the light of the following verses?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Mark 12:29 Jesus said “Here, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” The words “our God” indicate that Jesus had a higher God over him, a stronger God than him. Jesus didn’t say “Your God”. He said “our God” which includes Jesus as the creation of GOD.
If Jesus was GOD, then why did he ask for GOD’s Forgiveness in Luke 23:34?
If Jesus was GOD, then why Mark 15:34 says “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
If Jesus was GOD, then did Paul say in 1 Corinthians 8:6 “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 20:17 Jesus said “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 8:28 Jesus said “I do nothing of myself”? Can’t GOD do anything he wills?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 14:28 Jesus said “My Father (GOD) is greater than I”?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Luke 23:46 Jesus said “Father (GOD), into thy hands I commend my spirit”?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Mark 10:18 Jesus said “And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.”?
Also in Luke 18:19 Jesus said only GOD Almighty is Good: “”Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Matthew 26:39 Jesus begged his GOD to have mercy on him and to pass the cup to death (kill Jesus in another words) before Jesus goes through the pain of crucifixion? Also see: Jesus’ crucifixion in Islam
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 18:38 he didn’t reply when he was asked about the truth?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Matthew 24:36 Jesus said “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Jesus told his followers that no one (including Jesus) knows when the judgment day will come, only GOD knows?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Isaiah 11:2-3 GOD had put the spirit of fearing GOD in Jesus? Also see GOD’s Spirit in the many others beside Jesus.
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 5:31 Jesus told his followers that if he (Jesus) bears witness of himself, then his record is not true?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 5:30 Jesus told his followers that he can’t do a single thing of his own initiative?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 5:36-38 Jesus said that GOD had assigned him (Jesus) work and GOD is a witness on Jesus?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in John 5:32 Jesus told his followers that they have never seen GOD at anytime nor ever heard his voice?
If Jesus was GOD, then why did he pray to his GOD in Luke 5:16?
If Jesus was GOD, then why in Matthew 26:39 Jesus fell on his face and prayed to his GOD?
If Jesus was GOD, then how come in Hebrew 5:7 he prayed and cried for GOD to hear him and give him mercy by saving him from death?
If Jesus was GOD, then how come in John 1:18 he said “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the FATHER’S side, has made HIM known.” Where do you see Trinity in this Verse?
If Jesus was GOD, then how come in John 5:37 he said “And the FATHER who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard HIS voice nor seen HIS form,” Jesus and the GOD are different. People heard Jesus, but never heard GOD.
Jesus may Peace upon him was and still is the Prophet of God, he is alive in Heaven waiting the permission of Allah to land on the this planet again, he is coming back soon to save us all as God and Prophet Mohammed promised …
And they serve besides Allah that for which He has not sent any authority, and that of which they have no knowledge; and for the unjust there shall be no helper
And those who disbelieve shall not cease to be in doubt concerning it until the hour overtakes them suddenly, or there comes on them the chastisement of a destructive day. – Holy Quran
Whereby almost the heavens are torn, and the earth is split asunder and the mountains fall in ruins,
Shakir: The heavens may almost be rent thereat, and the earth cleave asunder, and the mountains fall down in pieces,
Yusuf Ali: At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin,
Ayah: 91
Arabic: أَن دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمَنِ وَلَدًا
That ye ascribe unto the Beneficent a son,
Ayah: 92
Arabic: وَمَا يَنبَغِي لِلرَّحْمَنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا
And it is not worthy of the Beneficent Allah that He should take (to Himself) a son.
Ayah: 93
Arabic: إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدًا
Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to (Allah) Most Gracious as a servant.
Ayah: 94
Arabic: لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا
He does take an account of them (all), and hath numbered them (all) exactly.
Ayah: 95
Arabic: وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا
And each one of them will come unto Him on the Day of Resurrection, alone.
Abraham,
Here is what you need to know about the one true God called Christ, and what He says of the foundations of your religion:
The angel of the LORD also said to Hagar: “You are now with child
and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Emphasis on the obvious there Abraham, as I believe this prophecy has fulfilled and should be apparent to anyone honest.
About Jesus? Paul did call it a mystery. There is not a theologian on earth who can fully understand the relationship between physical and spiritual but Jesus’ own name means God is with us. So Let me make this simple so there is no misunderstand about who God Almighty believes Jesus is. I can’t believe Abraham it would get more simple and descriptive than this (from Hebrews 1) even for an unbeliever like you to understand.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the septer of your kingdom.
Clearly Abraham, Christ is God.
Abraham,
Jesus applied the Divine Name to Himself several times. He even boldly asserted His divine nature to the stultifying authorities when He claimed, “Before Abraham was, I am.”
well, i proved to you that he’s not God by your own bible not only the Holy Quran and it’s your choice to choose Hell or Heaven, good luck brothers
Abraham,
You proved nothing but your own biblical shallowness. Like I said, the very name Immanuel means “God with Us.” If I were to ask an unbeliever to read one chapter of one book from the Bible, I would ask them to read The Gospel of John, Chapter 1. You will get this one confused too, but it might help somebody else reading this dialogue if they are confused by your deception.
But Abraham, the smiley face was a nice touch.
~ Tex the “infidel”
Abraham,
You were trying to use Jesus’ own words to “prove” that He never made any claim to being eternal and uncreated. But you have to (1) ignore His claims to being “I Am”, and (2) assume that not claiming one thing automatically means claiming the opposite (typical liberal tactic in debating conservatives).
Take for example your quote of Jesus’ response: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” Notice that He didn’t go on to say, “You shouldn’t be calling Me ‘good’.” But you are assuming that is what He meant.
You must also consider this possibility: Jesus was pointing out, if the temple worker was calling Him “good,” then he was admitting implicitly that he was talking to God incarnate, the Giver of the law which was the topic at hand. It was simultaneously a theological point, and a tweak at His challenger.
See, every verse you quoted can be answered similarly. I don’t wish to overwhelm the board with laborious theological discussion, but I will request that, even if you don’t agree with my conclusions, you at least make an effort to understand *why* I would see things differently, given the evidence at hand.
سَلاَمٌ
The end has a few weird twists. One is near the end, the next is during the end, and the final one is at the final scene. It was creepy and sad at the same time. It was good all the way until those scenes. Kind of deflating. And I still like Denzel’s acting. Great, great actor. The story was good and the journey was gripping, but those few twisted scenes kind of undid all the good that the story was achieving up to that point. Go if you like Denzel and you like your heroes squeaky clean and epically heroic. It is worth it just to see Denzel Washington.
All what i wish is that we find the light that leads us to heaven, if i was wrong may god forgive me and if i was right i wish to see us all in heaven and i can’t afford to imagine any one of us in hell, love you all
Best wishes brothers and sisters
salam
This is why Jesus wrote in sand and then wiped it clean…pretty symbolic gesture.
humanity will twist, corrupt, manipulate and tweak anything in its hand to generate more power for itself, or justify the killing of another human being.
Personally i think its time the earth was wiped clean of all fundamentalists and remove the thorns from our sides.
Stinky words?
On topic, my wife and I will watch the movie, tomorrow. I’m very glad to hear about Denzel Washington’s belief-system. He’s one of the finest actors in the world, today.
I liked the movie. Yeah the plot needed some thickening. I didn’t even realize he was blind till the end. Its not as gritty as The Road, and I was hoping for some more action. All in all its not a bad movie. Is this a Christian movie? I think not.
Fitzsimmons you are just as bad(wrong)as any religious nut out there. Your basically on the opposite side of the same coin.
Abraham you remind me of Mormons. They said very similar things to me(don’t know why I listened to them for 30 minutes, maybe I’m too nice). To use the Christian Bible to reference their own. I took a copy and read it. And then I threw it away seeing as it doesn’t make any sense. I suspect I may do the same with the Quran…except I would simply return it since I value my life. Don’t want to see my guts flying all over the place.
Fitzsimmons and Abraham. You two are the same. You both eschew logic with parts of truth. In layman terms, a half truth is a whole lie.
But I am not trying to call you guys liars. If a person truly believes he/she is sick, when he/she is physically fine, then he/she will eventually become sick.
adios, sayonara, Auf Wiedersehen
Thanks for ruining the end for me whatever man. My feelings are hurt. That’s what I get for reading.
This movie will e worth the money to see. Most people think too logically about other religions and dont do thier researh on other religions like myself in some cases, but I do believe in god and lucifer and hell and the demons that dwell in it, and I think this is just another wake up call for those who may still think that it is just some new random movie about the end of the world in the book of revelations which to me is the coolest book of the bible because we will finally in the end be rid of all this choas and such. So go Eli your movie is awesome just like Mel Gibsons Passion of Christ which is awesome too, im still stoked at the fact that they detailed it so perfectly to where children could not even see that movie. So go guys who are putting the word of God out there, oh and by the way I am a pothead, stoner, mary jane smoker and I know I will make it to heaven.
Let us all discern. Repent for being deceived.
We must be careful in all we do to influence people.
Be careful even in titles of movies.
Read Revelation 22:18-20 (KJV)
Just be careful. In JESUS CHRIST name, amen.
love
mag
daughter of the LORD
Isn’t the premise of Christianity, Judaism and Islam…..
‘compassion and love?’
Lets make Jesus, Abe and Mohamed proud!!!
p.s.
the movie rocks!!!
Mr. Fitzsimmons . I dare you to go and find out what is so much better about The God of Abraham ,Iasaac and Jacob. The ancestors of Jesus Christ. Really search and study and see what you find out.
A great Christian movie – unapologetically so. But the reviewer’s comment about The Road makes no sense–that film’s (and the book as well) message is just as Christian but is more subtly done.
Greetings to all,
I have read some of the comments and there are interesting but conflicting views on the topic of the movie, the movie itself, God, the Bible and the supernatural in general. These are things that can not be taken or discussed lightly. What I have observed in general is that most people form their opinions based on either general impressions, cultural indoctrination, sources of variable reliability or simple first impressions. Each thing needs to be taken apart, studied and scrutinized separately. In any discussion context is at the core. When attacking any form of religion, culture or philosophical system lets be responsible. Freedom of speech is a privilege so we must be responsible with our comments.
As for the movie, I saw it and I am certain that is something that anyone from every walk of life can walk away with something positive from it. Concepts like faith, honor, commitment, resilience, perseverance, courage, compassion, failing, sin,good and evil are all in this film. How is this not rational? How is this not positive? There is a direct critique against fanatism, using God and religion to control people, mass destruction weapons, the destruction of nature, life and culture in general. How about the critique on exploitation, abuse of power, resources and decadence? My point is that anyone can learn something from all of this regardless you are christian,jewish, muslim or not, regardless you are exploring issues of faith or that you want to see Denzel in good ol’ action movie.
I know that everyone won’t agree with the film or enjoy it. My personal suggestion is that if you are willing to take time to critique someone else’s work do in a positive and constructive way. Let’s do things in a way we all can learn something from this discussion. Specifically state what you dislike and how you think it should have been done.
I just saw this movie and it is good. According to the character Eli, after the war, people start burning the bible because they thought it was the reason the war started. The movie then proceeds to shows people reduced to their baser instincts such as looting, robbing, rapes, cannibalism etc …
In the end, Eli gave up the Bible to save the life of a girl and he realized that it’s not the bible that is important but how you live your life according to what the bible teaches that is important. A very good movie that is not heavy on preaching, highly recommended.
There is a truth that God puts his ways, his truths into people’s hearts, even when they themselves do not seem to realize it. But at times those things can blead out into their lives. I have seen this happening over and over with stories in books, movies, etc. where themes of stories bleed into their work. The Book of Eli is another one. I won’t get into the usual Christian parallels, but one I see hardly anyone realizing – there is something very special about the woman who carries on Eli’s journey, with his sword and the word. I hope that some will have seen this too. It is connected both to the image of God, and to the reason Jesus had to leave, and the promise he left us with. In the words of a popular song, “does anybody hear her?”.
“Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you” is the message of the Bible? Are you kidding me? Not the Bible that matters? How else would you know God other than the book HE gave us to know him by.
The message of the Bible is we are all sinners and will go to hell, eternally in torment and separated from God if we don’t follow Jesus Christ. The only Lord and Saviour. The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ. This movie is technically heresy. What is heresy you ask? A denial or deviation of true doctrine. This movie is all about that.
And putting the Bible on equal footing with books of other, false, religions? What is that saying? All religions are equal? All religions lead to the same God? All religions lead to the same place? Come on…
This is another example of Hollywood dictating what Christianity is about and warping the message that Jesus brings. Twisting the message and leading people astray, onto the wide path rather than the narrow path. Sad part is that people believe Hollywood even knows what Christianity is about. Or if they did they would want you to know… They don’t on either front.
If you are wanting a post-apocalyptic, action, movie then you will enjoy this. If you are wanting a movie that will change peoples lives with the true message of Christianity, you will be sorely disappointed. Even so called Christian movies have a hard time doing that, and typically do a poor job.
Don’t be fooled by the message of this movie. It is not Christian. If you want Christ, go find a church that teaches the Bible. Read the Bible. You will not find Christ in the movies.
As an action movie it is fine, as anything Christian it is utter drivel.
This movie is part of the war on Christianity. And is is on the enemies side.
There is one underlining thing about Christianity that always seems to be lost when discussions like this occur. I will be entirely honest and say that I have not read all the posts so I am not sure if this has been hit on or not.
Mr. Fitzsimmons
I understand how some people (I’m not labeling you in this category!) feel as though Christianity seems like a do this and you’ll be saved, so I’m not going to throw scripture at you. I am simply going to explain what I believe in my heart is the real reason for Christianity, which is LOVE. One thing that is important to realize about choosing to be a Christian is that you are just basically stating that you believe that Christ died for our sins. That is really the only “do this” part. Other then that there are life choices or personal convictions that you may decide you don’t want to be a part of your life. When I chose to be a Christian I chose it because my love for Christ and what he did for me on the cross made it important to me to adhere to what I believe he wants for my life.
So you know, I’m not a closet Christian, I still go out to the bars and lead a more “pro curious” lifestyle then what most Christians think is right. My faith is my own and I know what I believe because I feel as I have been lead by the Holy Spirit. I too get very frustrated with close-minded Christians that think being a “believer” is about adhering to certain rules. Being a Christian is nothing more then accepting Christ as your personal saviour and loving him for that and living your life as how you personally interpret Christ would want you to.
Ok everyone here is wrong. This movie is not about christianity its about all the religions. Did noone notice, that at the end of the movie, there was a bible, quoran, torah, and EVERY religious book? The plot just followed eli and his bible, but the real messsage is not for christians, its for all religious people. Its called the book of eli for: The Book of rELIgion. Eli is in religion, didnt you watch the trailers?
So the message is to just have faith in anything, not just christianity…
christians are slefish cuz they think they have the best religion. Who cares, you dont need religion, just faith.
Oh and also, even Denzel washington doesnt describe it as a religious movie. He calls it a spiritual movie.
I started liking the movie, then after a while went a bit ‘iffy’, and almost liked it again when Denzel got shot, I thought that about sums up God, and the movie should have finished right then, but oh no, it had to redeem the “right wing fascist” christian tripe.
One of the first reviewers hit the nail on the head with comments about “the time is nigh to go to war for chritianity against the non-believers”
I pity those of such bizarre and disturbing faith
Have people purposely forgetting that a) there was a koran at the end of the film, so this might suggest that there was a muslim ‘eli’ before christian ‘eli’ and that there is also a talumnd/torah in the end too sugesting that there may also have been a jewish ‘eli’
anybody else whinging about islam and what not, please, study christianity…….
I will immediately grasp your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me recognize so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.