1. bainespal says:

    The first is a sentence like this, from a Christian review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. “Soon after Gandalf comes to Bilbo, 13 dwarves show up, a biblical number.” If we don’t understand movie-watching Biblically, we’ll lapse into silliness like that.

    That’s not a particularly inspired review, but I don’t think we should never look for significance or draw connections that way. I see what you mean. The fact that 13 might be a “biblical number” is irrelevant. (In fact, I don’t think the number 13 is extremely relevant in interpreting the Bible, either. ;)) But sometimes connections that we might make may be relevant, even if the author might not have intended them. If they are visible to us, they affect our interpretation and enjoyment of the story.

    • Agreed that in general, numeric connections may be intentional or unintentional Biblical tributes/echoes/ripoffs. But yes, I recall little significant about the number “13,” and even if there were, do we really mean that makes The Hobbit even more of a Christian story (yay! it’s a Christian story!) than it already was?

      • If I recall correctly, the number thirteen is considered unlucky by Thorin & Co., which superstition serves as one of their primary motivations for assenting to Gandalf’s nomination of Bilbo as company burglar. Hard to see how that source of significance meshes with the whole “biblical symbology” interpretation.

      • Hard to see how that source of significance meshes with the whole “biblical symbology” interpretation.

        Yes. And notice how the review unfortunately says “a Biblical number” and then moves on. Doesn’t even try to make numerological associations that could have sounded really, really profound, even with minimal effort.

        E.g.: “Look, 13 is 6, the number of man, plus 7, the number of God, which is a clear connection between the Dwarves’ origin as described in The Silmarillion, when one of the Valar also wanted to create something living (like men) and please Ilúvatar (like God).”

  2. Hergot says:

    Well, I’ve decided that all works of fiction are testimonial, pointing to Christ. How can one write the hero’s journey over and over again without realizing what you’re doing? Or romance genre tropes?

    Pagan authors who do realize this are careful to consciously deconstruct their work (anything by Gaiman or Grossman). But even their wicked characters in their wickedness point to God. Doesn’t the pessimism of Martin reflect the inability and sinfullness of man and the need for a savior?

    One word of caution though. It seems problematic to draw analogies between God breathed scripture and our human efforts in terms of what certain Scriptures are trying to accomplish versus what we are trying to do.

    Then again I’ve been fascinated by the theory re. the book of Job as a work of fiction, an ancient story that God put his impremature upon.

    Forgive the grammar. I’m on my phone…

  3. Galadriel says:

    The Princess Bride does show how ridiculous “twu luv” can be sometimes.

  4. jodiwoody says:

    So glad to have found you! I so hate wading through fantasy, sci fi and fiction that is offensive to my faith. What a good source.

  5. […] the Speculative Faith Movie Missions series introduction, posted a long time ago in a galaxy far […]

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