Bishop Barron on "The Hunger Games" (SPOILERS)

Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Bishop Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit www.wordonfire.org/

[@BishopBarron]

Girard is a passionate Christian! And he holds that Christianity is absolutely unique among the religions and philosophies of the world in opposing scape-goating violence. When bad Christians violate this principle, they are just that...bad Christians.

[@iohanancarvalho]

Exactly what I thought when I watched The Hunger Games. It is not the future, we are already doing that with abortion. I would go further: as christianity gets smaller in the society, other behavior or ideas of ancient times are returning (prostitution, orgies, gay "marriage", etc). Thanks for the review Father.

[@einsteindarwin8756]

Abortion is not the hunger games. That was the draft in Vietnam and any draft in the future where any man who was not enrolled in college had to go to war. That meant many Black men who had recently endured segregation had to go to war and lose their lives despite not having been permitted full rights in the US.

[@BishopBarron]

Friend, that's just silly. Please read N.T. Wright's Jesus and the Victory of God in order to get a proper sense of how the cross saves us. Trust me: it has nothing to do with Jesus "committing suicide!"

[@Viewable11]

Summary: The victory of Jesus is his resurrection, which means victory over death, facilitated by the love of god which encompasses humanity and leads to eternal life of the soul. This eternal life of the soul causes hope to spring eternal for Christians for they do not have to fear death. In Panem, the population of the districts is *paralyzed by fear* of starvation and / or violent punishment by the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen overcomes her own fear of death when she volunteers at the reaping in place of her little sister. Katniss overcomes her fear from the Capitol when after Rue's death, she deliberately acts to shame the perpetrators of the violence and oppression. She realizes that the injustice that was inflicted upon Rue cannot be condoned any longer. Katniss burying Rue in flowers, visibly and loudly mourning for her and visibly showing solidarity with district 11 via the three finger salute is her demonstrating to the country that she does not obey the tyranny any longer. This disobedience of Katniss towards the Capitol inspires the district's populations to follow her example and overcome their fear. In the second movie, her little sister describes Katniss' effect: "Something is different this year. I can see it: *Hope* ." This is a connection to the hope which Jesus' victory over death gave Christians. Hope frees the soul from fear and makes everything possible. In Panem it makes a successful democratic revolution possible.

[@KYoss68]

The Hunger Games is a cautionary tale. I hope there are enough people left in western civ wise enough to perceive it's message.

[@Goldberry-T]

Thank you, Fr. Barron. I appreciate your commentary, and this definitely gives me something to think about before I read/watch "The Hunger Games."

[@davegaetano7171]

"Something like human sacrifice could re-emerge." Abortion is human sacrifice. One human life is taken to 'benefit' the lives of others. The unborn child is made a scapegoat for the sins of his parents.

[@josieposie9969]

And we've made idols/gods of ourselves so that the killing of our offspring is seen as nothing more than self-determination. The me before you mentality in its most elemental form. .

[@jamesedwards.1069]

@@josieposie9969 "And we've made idols/gods of ourselves so that the killing of our offspring is seen as nothing more than self-determination. " I've told people that I think modern day abortion is worse than the ancient type of human sacrifice such as when parents burned their children on a statue of Moloch because the ancients usually did it because they were told by their high priests and leaders that it was necessary to make the crops grow and to ensure victory over enemies in battle and it would also cause more children to be born that would survive. When they stand before God to give account for themselves their plea of ignorance will ring true. But now people abort their babies because they are inconvenient at the moment. What excuse have we got nowadays? None that I can see. And it makes me very sad.

[@yankee1376]

@@jamesedwards.1069 "because they were told by their high priests and leaders that it was necessary" "because they were told by their celebrities and leaders that it was not even a weighty matter." At least the Ancients were honest about what they were doing. Now we deny the humanity of those whom we destroy. Doublethink.

[@jamesedwards.1069]

@@yankee1376 That's an interesting point, that modern pagans tell themselves and everyone else that the people they kill aren't people, they're just clumps of congealed protoplasm.

[@lproof8472]

Excellent point

[@user-kb8vg3sm7g]

Fr. Barron! I really like your commentary on Hunger Games. Dystopian novels fascinate me and I was wondering if you could do a commentary on George Orwell's novel, 1984. I touches on politics, freewill, morality, etc.. If you could, I'd be thrilled to see it! Thank you! :)

[@sillybella7]

I was a little wary coming into this, I admit. Although I'm a Catholic, and the author of the Hunger Games is as well (she's alluded that the absence of God in her fictional society plays a part in the lack of humanity the people display), I've met with conflicting opinions on it in the Catholic community. The deacon at my parish is a huge fan, while my fiancé refuses to read it, watch it, or hear anything about it. I was very pleased with the intelligent, well-rounded discussion you posed. :)

[@mariesinnecker4450]

I was NOT answering My cuestión: Juan de la Cruz was expressing " Scientificism vs Faith. Do allá Californianas read Juan de la Cruz as B. Barron?

[@joaovictoreuclidesmelo4072]

Suzanne Collins talked about this, didn't she?

[@EDL070207]

another wonderful exposition! thank you father Barron.

[@LittleFlowerluv]

Thank you for doing this commentary, Father. Really, thank you!

[@aliebellule]

I am an agnostist. I don't like the idea of institutionalized beliefs so I am not a Catholic. But I believe Catholic values when you look at its core (the Bible) are very important values to hold on to. I like your analysis on the novel/movie. It's really a story about the hope and want to remain human or to bring back humanity in a decadant world. An important message that we must remember because history has a scary tendency of repeating itself.

[@MRJ12744]

I LOVE Robert Barron! He restored my faith in the Catholic Church! Thank You father!

[@T3vAJT5N]

More great commentary by Fr Barron. God Bless!

[@laelemlin]

Excellent and outstanding commentary. This man has more education and knowledge than 3 lives put together. Thumbs up to this guy.

[@HighFlyActionGuy]

Taking the two children from the districts wasnt a human sacrifice, it was a display of power. It was the capital city saying "we own you, we will always own you, and we never want you to forget it"

[@xuebaiqiang]

Thank you for the clarification, which may be helpful to others as well.

[@ellilichtenberger3292]

I love your thoughts on the movie. "Hunger Games" is both my favorite book and movie. I love Katniss's character and the whole story itself. Thanks to your thoughts, I have been able to see more about what it really means.

[@TheHardout2005]

Thank you, Father. My girlfriend and I are watching the Catholicism series over Lent and it is having a profound effect on us. Thank you for producing it, and thank you for making these videos.

[@jesicajimenez7853]

I think that human sacrifice has already surfaced in our self absorbed society that we are living in. Targeting the sick , elderly and mostly the unborn with abortion justifying theses horrors by saying they're not human just cells ,its humane to let them die or the earth is overpopulated. I pray, We need to pray for our generation and for the ones to come.

[@psylocke42]

All religiousness aside, this is a really thoughtful and eloquent commentary. Fascinating and insightful.

[@BishopBarron]

Sure, we preach Christ crucified, because it is the sign of God's great victory over sin and death. In light of the dying and rising of Jesus, we see that God's love is more powerful than anything that is in the world. That's why we say that the cross saved us from sin and from death.

[@12thmanbraids57]

I read the Hunger Games before I read The Lottery and after I finished the latter, I saw immediately the connection between the two. Glad someone else saw it too.

[@saraboyle3919]

LOLing at the subtitles/closed captions, Bishop Barron. It would be nice if they accurately reflected what you are trying to say. :-)

[@kevinpilon11]

Love the commentary. No matter if people agree or disagree with you, your thoughts and comments are based on logic, your own extensive study, and also human history. If only everyone would use such sound reason....

[@eleanorbreite6500]

Good comments on "Hunger Games". I have always been concerned because those books are offered as Young Adult literature. But your explanation makes it clearer. I think Young Adults need to have guidance though before and as they read these books. The topic still concerns me in this day and age where there are so many kids shooting other kids in schools, etc.

[@shoejohnmaker]

Woh! I was listening to this in the background as you commented on the movie and books, etc. But you blew me away in the last minute or so! That certainly is quite the thought: What if this movie is prophetic?

[@AntonDeWit]

Great video. Your conclusion reminds me of an interesting observation by G.K. Chesterton in 'The Everlasting Man' (1925)... He argues that it is wrong to regard violent practices such as human sacrifice and cannibalism as something 'primitive' or 'uncivilized' - on the contrary, those practices presuppose a certain level of civilisation. "(..) cannibalism is not a primitive or even a bestial habit. It is artificial and even artistic, a sort of art for art's sake." (Part 1, chapter VI)

[@arstropica]

I love the way you explain the origins of sacrifice. In Yom Kippur, two goats were taken - one sacrificed, the other expelled along with the community’s sins (scapegoats). Expiation through sacrifice was standard practice in the ancient world. So it’s amazing that people could then accept a radical idea that there is a better way of righting wrongdoings by reversing and internalizing that very dynamic of sacrifice.

[@thatradperson]

Very interesting video. I was excited to see that you made a video about it. The books really are a good read. I like how the books make a statement about the frivolity of our society. It carries the idea of "panem et circenses" throughout the whole book and the country is named after the phrase and it's even mentioned in the book. It's so easy for us to be distracted by the "circuses" the media gives us that we forget what really matters. Our society isn't very different from the Capitol.

[@OfficerFlatFoot]

These videos are so good.

[@BishopBarron]

It's from Thomas Aquinas.

[@abbyratliff4954]

Sure, The Lottery is an influence, but let's never forget Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.

[@slowflowful]

Thanks bud, i'll check it out!

[@jpweston1943]

Father Barron's commentary brilliantly expressed my feelings about the movie. I watched it on Comcast Demand last night and was deeply disturbed, not by the content so much as by the popularity of the book/movie by young people. I had precisely the same reaction that he did vis-a-vis Christianity. It saddens me deeply that so many young people are turned off to religion. I was reminded of a quote I heard several years ago: "Christianity hasn't failed; it hasn't been tried yet!

[@RomanMissalExegete]

Very insightful commentary, Father Barron. :)

[@2012aquinas]

Father, I think that a commentary on the character relationships and circumstances within "The Descendants" would provide an excellent discussion for the importance of Confession. If you have not seen it already, it is a great film. I highly recommend it.

[@ambevil]

Wow, great video, Father. I loved the books' storyline but never thought of it as being even remotely prophetic.

[@aliebellule]

Quote from the third book: «We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.» (Mockingjay, p.379) (The quotation marks are French, I don't know how to type English ones)

[@nicholasvogt2524]

MORAL KOMBAT

[@metallica04100]

Good commentary! You should definitely read the books. I won't give anything away, but there is some stuff really relevant to the Caiphus quote in the last book.

[@PeetaTheHungerGames]

You do have a point with all the relations of the hunger games to ancient facts and mythology. I too was thinking along those lines with the Aztecs and Greek mythology. Apparently Suzanne Collins (the author) did in some ways base it on mostly that particular story in Greek mythology. In the third book it also has a different little bit of Greek mythology in it too. Personally I think the Hunger Games was written well but with a very simple to pick up message. In my mind it simply said "this c

[@peopl1]

Can you do intake on City of Angels love that movie!

[@jaylifnob3441]

was not only an Image, but a Message, written in Aztec language: "Náhuatl", in codice, with all the simbology that they could read, this Message was well recieved, no tonly by the native people, but for spanishs too. In 1541, just 10 years after the apparition, in this recent country, there were 10 million converts, aprox,, the Image-Message is very rich in the evangelic's details, giving the people a unsurpassable introduction to the Good News, one of these good news where the fact of the

[@slowflowful]

Thanks!

[@MrAngryman69]

Wow! When I saw this movie all I really could make connections to is Fahrenheit 451, with the whole distopian society, but you do a great analysis of this book.

[@Svengalish0000]

many parallels are drawn between these two but they have many differences too..! each one is unique by its own

[@Svengalish0000]

put it in context, the triumph of that being over being sacrificed stole the negative power of that sacrifice and turned it into something more profound and meaningful

[@trishknaut1031]

Bishop you are such a brilliant man of God I learn so much from your perspective! God bless you! But with my perspective I heard that blame comes when the self hate is too great...there is projection, transferance, displacement...etc that occurs in divorce....offering an answer to Theodicy...for we are like sheep being led to the slaughter....like Jesus..to know intimately how He suffers for us....

[@yankee1376]

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity."

[@sphynxalive]

Also I believe that this movie parallels frighteningly a proposed plan introduced at a UN summit a few years ago which suggested a method to "safeguard" the environment from human pollution and war. In so doing the US would be divided into rural townships separated from each other by many miles.

[@ThomastheLess]

I'd never looked at it that way! I'll have to share that with my friends. We're going to see it tomorrow. I don't know if you've read the books but I will say one thing bugs me about Katniss: she has this mindset where everything must depend on her, and while this makes her very selfless towards others, it means that she never looks for anyone to help solve her problems, even when she knows she can't solve them, and I think that keeps her from looking for a divine aid. Any way, great thoughts!

[@lajoiemagnifique]

I heart Fr. Barron.

[@slowflowful]

That is very interesting, I should do more research. Thank you very much for replying, and God Bless!

[@salvae8966]

Could you please do your take on the movie Mother!! Very very interesting.

[@BishopBarron]

Didn't know you had one. My point is that your comment betrayed the fact that if you did watch my video you paid precious little attention to it!

[@_-ANNE-_]

You are correct! I'm surprised Fr. Barron didn't make that point.

[@sbright244]

@87nicoh I am not speaking for Fr. Barron; but the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1766, quotes St. Thomas Aquinas, from his Summa Theologiae I-II, 26, 4, "To love is to will the good of another" - I am aware of this because it caught my attention as it seems to have caught yours. I believe it is true and describes the essence of real love.

[@michaelkindt3288]

@0:15-.-This book cover is hilarious!! The authors name is any of the biggest letters, while the actual book title is only like a third of the size!😂

[@splashenful]

Back when I was in school, I read Shirley Jackson's short story, "Charles."

[@seanflanny]

Yes

[@sep780]

Something you don't get from the movie, but do from the book is that the Districts are required to watch the games & only the Capital sees them as entertainment. Districts 1-4 almost always have the victor & train their tributes which they then see as heroes. The other districts all hate the games, but don't know how to rebel against them.

[@BishopBarron]

Might I suggest that the best way to interpret the Lord's words is that no human being should take the unsurpassably central place that God must have in your life. "You have only one Father in heaven."

[@Rayallday87]

yes.

[@BishopBarron]

Did you watch my video?!

[@caffeineandphilosophy]

Great video Father. One of the points I'd be interested in hearing your response to--from Hitchens' book--is the criticism that Christianity is itself a religion of human sacrifice, of one in particular (Jesus).

[@Naturalhit]

Father Barron have you seen October Baby? You'll love that movie.

[@lindaswindle9398]

Read Gil Bailie's Violence Unveiled (based on Rene Girard's work) for an enlightening expose of the history of sacrificial violence and the challenge it still poses today, when, to avert mass violence we must stand up and choose to support the victim and face the consequences of this iconoclasm.

[@jGazMom]

Fascinating discussion. I find it interesting that the general public agrees that the kind of sacrifice written about in The Hunger Games is intrinsically wrong, while the same public thinks the sacrifice of unborn in the name of "choice" is permissible.

[@merriellegatlin2714]

I feel like these videos end so suddenly.

[@xtrashed]

What episode of star trek?

[@slowflowful]

Hi Father Barron, I'm a big supporter of what you do, and you are also the reason I came back to Catholicism, thanks to a friend of mine who showed me your work. I have a question that i think relates to your other videos, but i have a feeling you check your latest videos most. Was Hitler not a christian?

[@rehfam8]

I'm surprised, Bishop Barren, that you didn't mention the scape-goated human sacrifice through abortion in America today. "All my problems will be solved if I get rid of this inconvenient baby." Thanks for some really great revelation to share with my teenagers!

[@da5idnz]

I remember reading The Lottery in high school - well, actually, the teacher read it out and we all read along in our books; however, my classmate next to me ruined it, when he leaned over and said, "she gets killed at the end"...ugh...

[@Houseplanman]

I found the message of this movie as sort of a warning against using violence for entertainment.

[@itslifeisall]

Seeing as how the OP cited Buddhism, I'd be interested to hear your assessment, Father Barron, of how you see scapegoating is at work in its teachings.

[@Fetrovsky]

Eminence (Fr. Robert back then), don't forget the United States system, which is a very sophisticaded civilization, the most powerful in the world at the moment, and which is also not only compatible with, but even feeding off (one could argue) human sacrifice. The current president's sacred cow is the biggest promoter of human sacrifice, and almost the entirety of society views abortion as a viable option.

[@NaYawkr]

+Daniel Jesús Valencia Sánchez , Do not blame president Obama for abortion, for many are covered with the innocent blood of millions. The republicans for example, who love abortion and are certain to trot it out at each election to help them, but who do nothing when in power to put an end to it. Americans wallow in sin, and are constantly focused on TV and movies as the false gods they worship. We cause unnecessary wars, like Iraq. We devise new ways to kill people, which we ignore as we 'Tune In' to our false Gods that distract us from the truth we never see, much less admit. It was politicians of the 'absurdly named', Religious Right, that gave us the Torture so loved by George W. Bush & Dick Cheney. Was it not fitting these same people opposed Affordable Health Care for millions of our own citizens. How many Americans did they execute by such neglect and assigned poverty ? Far more than the 23 people a year of the 'Hunger Games' story. There are many parallels of how we live like the 'Capitol' in Panem while tr he carnage is encouraged and enjoyed by us.

[@Fetrovsky]

I agree with all of that. And, if I did not mention it, was because my comment was targeted. The United States has *never* been a Christian country, but Republican politicians have always used a subset of Christian morals to advance personal and political agendas.

[@brianrinz5586]

The lottery is set in a town based on a New England village.

[@sundevilification]

Excellent. Heads up.

[@DavidGFalzarano]

Awesome Video! You are well informed. I never new about the Aztec story. I have a question about what you said though.. Are you saying that Human sacrifice and Christianity are related? I may be misunderstanding. Because if your saying that Christianize and total government control are related then that doesnt make sense. Unless you meant the whole "sacrifice yourself for good".

[@BishopBarron]

Friend, did you actually listen to the video?!

[@Dimanto22]

How do you compare gladiator fights with Aztek human sacrifice?

[@tookie36]

Bc they are both forms of human sacrifice

[@thoughtadventure100]

If we were to see our society centering more and more around entertainment, and if we see that entertainment getting more and more violent, that might be a sign that we are moving in the direction of making this a reality.

[@grwescott]

When I finished reading this first book of the Hunger Games trilogy, I had the same reaction and made some of the same associations. I thought, "I sure hope Suzanne Collins fixes this terrible ending in the next installment." I found that she does. I am happy to report that this set of three stories moves beyond the violence and evil that had developed before the human sacrifice "games." I would prefer a perfect outcome, but we live in 'this' world instead. Still - an 'important' set of books.

[@sgal88]

VERY GOOD!

[@clarkbailey1973]

Somehow a bunch of Jack London stories come to mind.

[@slowep6]

I agree with Father Barron

[@TrustInJesusThruMaryWithJoseph]

exactly

[@DannehOG]

For the first 9 minutes I was completely with you, followed your train of thought completely and agreed with everything you're saying. The bit where I start to disagree is where you conclusively link it to Christianity. Not saying you are wrong, clearly you are entitled to your beliefs, but being a sort of agnostic/atheist I find it very hard to view it as useful information. Regardless, The Hunger Games is a great story that really needed to be told.

[@wayupduk]

BISHOP BARRON I LOVE YOU!

[@Halohappy96]

I think Fr. Barron should comment on MLP: FiM. As a Brony, but a Catholic first, it would be nice to see some insight on the matter. Keep up the good work!

[@87nicoh]

Fr. Barron, there's a phrase I've listened in many of your videos here on KZbin that I want you to explain further to me, if you can. That phrase is "to love is to will the good of the other as other." Also, is that a phrase of yours or are you quoting someone else? Thanks.

[@alliefox25]

On a separate note, I think Girard's work is really interesting and have read a fair amount of it. One critique I would make is that I don't think he gives Buddhism its due in terms of how that religion deals with the problem of mimetic desire and scapegoating violence.

[@PeetaTheHungerGames]

Oh god. Continuing first comment. "this could happen" so true. Between the 50-500 yrs there could be similar circumstances. It a frightening prospect. And after all if it happened in ancient times then it'll happen again. History repeats itself. I recommend reading the books. They contain more information than the movies will. And for those crazed fans of the books and movies: Catching Fire released date should be 22nd November 2013 and mocking jay part 1 should be 2014-15

[@jessepinkman8821]

The closing them of Hunger Games is that too much government, no matter who is in charge of it, is bad. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[@discountconsulting]

Christ's miracle of dividing fish and loaves sums up the ultimatum of sacrifice. Either we make sacrifices at the individual level that don't kill us, or we fail to make those sacrifices and the burden is passed on and snowballs until it has to be ultimately shouldered by a scapegoated individual or category. Christians who seek to truly follow Christ try to help shoulder the burden of shared sacrifice for the good of others. We divide the burden the way Jesus divided the burden of hunger by dividing the fish and loaves. The reverse is a culture of rejecting the burden of personal sacrifice in order to shift it to an eventual scapegoat. This culture persists alongside Christianity because nature determines that, "as we sow, so shall we reap." I.e. if everyone would make the adequate sacrifices, no lives would be sacrificed to scarcity and conflict, but because they don't, scarcity and conflict gradually ensue. Confusion regarding sacrifice is common because the various myths and stories about sacrifice, including those of the Bible, don't usually clearly differentiate between killing and forbearance as sacrifices. When Able sacrifices vegetables instead of meat, for example, it is often portrayed as a killing sacrifice, when the story may have originally referred to the sacrifice (forbearance) of meat as a food source in order to spare the lives of the flock.

[@BishopBarron]

So you've never once in your life referred to your father in the third person as "my father." Come on! This teaching of Jesus is not to be taken in a woodenly literal sense.

[@tonymangini4201]

fr. barron: in reading about the life of blessed anne emerich would you say that God permitted a human sacrifice of her suffering to convey a message to mankind. would appreciate your view or commentary on this most blessed of women, who amoung other revelations confirmed pope leo xiii,'s vision of God releasing the devil for the 19th century.

[@igloo54]

The movie Dragon Slayer is another reference to a lottery sacrifice to a blood lusting dragon.

[@gat569]

Ken Wilbur's book "Up from Eden" speaks about blood sacrifice, as in the old feminine-based religious orders where outflow of blood required to return life to the land. Life spilled into the ground to ensure a return of Spring life. Jesus was then, supposed to be the last one. He also writes about the "substitute sacrifice" (like scapegoating) someone else dies to give me a sense of respite from mortality - i.e. take him not me. Watching/knowing others die to help us hold off fears of mortality.

[@ralphbenitz6361]

Though I have never read any of Rene Girard's works, I, too find it interesting that multiple societies engage in Scapegoat sacrifices. I cant help but think that there is something in our "intellect" that tell us to engage in these rituals. I beg to differ on this isnt occurring in our world today especially those are practicing the occult. I dont think any of those sacrifices made one iota of a difference. Only the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb turned this upside world right side up.