I found it most striking how the story of Eli so closely extracts a reoccurring theme throughout the Old Testament: God will take the lowly, use them for His purpose, and preserve them until their duty is complete. Only then, will He take them from this world to reward them. Along the way, however, those mighty men who would challenge or attempt to threaten His ways are humiliated and undone. Just as Egypt was plagued, and injury was salted with insult and mockery, (the sacred Nile turned to blood, the Sun- manifestation of Ra- darkened, etc) so too was Carnegie systematically ruined and scorned, his own wretched ways being turned against him.
Carnegie actually betrayed the book (the bible) he killed and sacrificed people for it though Eli killed people he was only doing what he must to protect the book also he did ask forgiveness...
at Anthony 101 - at least the nuclear war of 30 years ago has not happened yet.. hopefully we never have a nuclear war. but in the movie it happened in 2023 and the year was 2053 and Eli was born in 2008 and was about 45 years old and was about 2 years old in 2010 when this movie was released. The nuclear war of 2023 is going off of what Baba Vanga said that in the year 2025 Europe population was almost empty and also that in the 2020s chemical weapons were used in Europe by radical Muslims. so it was always though that sometime just before 2025 a world war III destroyed the world. So the makers of this movie knew this and figured well the world does not end in 2010 or not anytime relatively soon, biblically soon, and so they figured what if the nuclear war and world war iii was taking place much closer to 2025 when the world was hit by and so the big rumored war was 2023 and then 30 years later its 2053. for this movie to show that so many people were still around 30 years later is impressive, iv got alot of hope for humanity i think we will live on for generations even after doomsday of our era and times. If you dont want the book of Eli to come true then just hope Baba Vanga is wrong about world war III, we are all co-creator, if all the people on earth all think the world war is not happening then it wont. but if Baba Vanga was riht and WW3 got us be spiritually prepared like Eli was. hope Baba Vanga was wrong and Put on your spiritual armor do battle with your enteral demons and put on your spiritual night garments and sleep in the spiritual bed you made of your life just in case Baba Vanga and this movie was right about WW3 getting us.
@paraisoat Eli admits to this at the end, he says he was so obsessed with protecting "the word" that he forgot to follow it. The movie isn't meant to portray Eli as a saint.
What I learnt from this movie is : in the beginning there was the word.... The word of God and it'll be so until forever, the word which is powerful. Generations of people will be born and gone but the word will still be there. We live our everyday lives slowly forgetting the purpose of why we are here... To worship God, instead we are after the possessions of this world forgetting that one day we might loose everything we have and only then we will remember our creator. It also teaches me that in the assignment we were sent on this world to do we will come across many challenges and enemies but God will always protect and fight for us. Listen to the last paragraph of Denzel at the end. It moved me spiritually
Always found myself not really believing in god , and still have my doubts . However when I crash my car and lay alone in pain and dazed . Found myself saying oh god oh god . Without a figure of god , we are rudderless and alone in the darkest moments .
He walks beside you, at all moments, not just tragic ones, or the most joyous ones...all..times, let him lead you, your moment was meant to awaken you to him, God bless you.
Proverbs 1:27-28 King James Version 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Similar to real life. Movie book of eli happy ending, eli brings a book of words from God, there are gang are targeting that book because the book is full of words that move the soul that can be used to conquer people's hearts. Then the gang wanted to kill eli and wanted to take the book to be exploited according to their gang desire. But it failed and the gang were defeated. Meanwhile, if in real life the gang / Roman Empire succeeded in killing the prophet Isa. After killing the prophet Isa they seemed to be the most entitled and understand the teachings of the prophet Isa even to change the content of God's word in the book. Is the position of human higher than God so that he has the right to revise God's word?
I found the movie compelling. The video clarified the message of the film, that we as people, must never lose sight of what is important in life,i.e knowledge, belief, spirituality, faith and moral centeredness.
This is actually a really good video I really liked how the bishop connected the Middle Ages to this movie and how monks actually preserved history. It’s very neat
Wow Mr. Robert Barron. we in 2022 and i just finish watching The Book Of Eli to understand why it was made and what story line i was looking for. It clearly shows that the bible truth is very important and a need for us all to fix our own being and characteristics not to be perfect but to be better to ourselves and others where ever we go. I respect and appreciate your sentiments regarding the need for the bible.
When he cuts his beard and goes fully bald is very interesting. Also the fact he is on an island similar to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos is very interesting...
Oh it's a weapon alright. It controls idiots who can't see that the entire book is nothing more than 1 big lie. Sadly you are too stupid to know that. Pity.
@dmitriymazur Friend, I'm sorry, but that is such a simplistic account! Where do you think Galileo and Copernicus learned their astronomy and mathematics? In church-sponsored universities. And to reduce Thomas Aquinas and Augustine--two of the most profound intellectuals in western history--to the Inquisition! Come on. Thomas dialogued with Jews, Muslims, pagans, Christian heretics, etc, etc. And don't forget that modernity gave us the Holocaust, Hiroshima, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao.
Blafonovision can you please cite at least one official document or reliable source which states the Holocaust was an explicitly Lutheran program? Also the same for Mussolini’s regime being Catholic? While Mussolini signed a generous treaty with the Holy See, he merely tolerated and utilised Catholicism to bolster public support whilst unofficially loathing it. I’ve yet to see any evidence that his Fascist Party was actually a Christian political entity.
@NAKH Well, you just said thing that are wrong or you talked and invented stuff out of thin air just because.. well, reasons. The " religious" ( how you call them" don't see that science make God this or that, they funded science in the first place, the first universities, etc. End , in the beginning, God created the Universe, or as we say, everything, not just the planet and the stars. And were the hell did you got the stuff that when Jesus born God created just the Earth and the stars ? What the hell are you reading , man ? Religion and science not only combine but one gave impulse to the other, but science "people" ( i hate this term but i will use it anyway ) do hate everyone that don't conform to their view, wich is a radicalism that is not very healthy in the first place, wich in turns creates scientism and the new more radical and million times more intolerant and acid, cold priests: intellectual, snobish scientists . And yes, againd as Bishop said, modernity in is atheist anty religious and utopian intolerant glory gave us the most killings, gore, mayhem, massacres, deaths, destruction, intolerance, hate, indiference, decadence, decaying, imoral attitudes, cold societies that we ever saw and it is just the beggining. Happu times, hu ? ;)
it strikes you how much very different the world would have been, without Christianity in the world, Barbaric/ dark,..... Praise God for His faithfulness throughout all the ages
james bondero shoot for happiness. it matters not if you belive in a diety, but live every moment of life like its your last, live with golden rule, treat others the same way you want them to treat you. the past is history, the future is mistery, but today is a gift. thats why its called the present.
Good insights, Fr Barron. Yes, you are correct, we do need to return to a concentrated reflection and reverence of the inerrant Word of God. Our country is promised dissaster unless we heed the warnings we have received....unless we receive the lesson presented to us in the Old Test of the devastation the Jews suffered when they did not return to the Lord. Our country is no different and while God is patient, He will not withhold judgment indefinitely. Bless you, my brother in Christ.
4) Finally, while I am a great proponent of reading the Bible on one's own and interpreting it for one's self, I also believe that, for people serious about keeping on track with their spiritual journey towards God, reflections on the Bible should be shared in an interpretive community. That's where religion comes in, and that's also where, for Catholics, church authority comes in.
Even the Apostles on their own did not understand Christs parables, the Holy Spirit was needed to enlighten them. Understanding the Bible on your own intellect is Hubris, vanity and folly. Pax Vobiscum.
"It's a weapon." I always imagined that if they made a sequel it would be about Mila Kunis' character going home to find that her mother took over and used to Bible, because she was blind and - for this to work - lied to Carnegie about not being able to read it, and they "battle" it out.
Yes it is a weapon but not for everyone only for the israelites the most high Elohim choosing children that been through Thousands of years in captivity.but not the fake white Jews though
been waiting on this one since the day i saw the movie-thanks for listening to requests---now the earth was without form and void (as the whole of humanity is without God) and the spirit of God moved upon the waters-- the waters being the whole of humanity-- The Book of Eli reminded me to take seriously my lack of gratitude for all that I had- and to always give thanks- remember my Creator in the days of my youth-before calamity comes- man shall not live by bread alone...
These kinds of analyses and commentary by our clergy could SINGLEHANDEDLY bring millions of wayward Catholics back to church. Where the heck have you been Your Eminance? We really needed that.
@paraisoat I agree with you: it was no "Godfather." And it certainly doesn't present the fullness of truth in regard to the Apocalypse. But during a depressingly secularist period, don't you think we should emphasize whatever good we can find?
@OMGITSDRJESUS So let me get this straight: you're writing for a public forum and you didn't mean to be articulate. Well, congratulations; you succeeded!
@jaumesisa100 So a tiny handful of Catholics behave badly and suddenly the "church" has no moral credibility. Because some Americans do wicked things, American values have lost their luster?
We are lazy. We will pay that you can believe. Every generation we slid back further and further . Even next generation lazier than the last. And people having kids that they could care less about teaching or raising right . Sad thing is we all know it but yet nothing gets done. Spare the rod spoil the child.
These reviews are so informative, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about Catholicism just by listening. If only there was a Buddhist, Hindu and Islam interpretation. I would fill up my mind with this stuff.
Idk I thought the message was people get so jaded on gluttonizing and protecting their religious beliefs that they forget to live by them. Almost all religions of the world teach u to do more for others than u do for yourself. And I believe in that message even though I’m an atheist.
Like the Movie illustrated, even if you got the Bible in your hand. You won't be able to code and understand what God want. Since your faith need to be so strong blind to understand what God wants you to do. And most of the time people think they found it, but only found out later, that they where misleading them self into to the wrong side, and even then God is so mighty that he will forgive you as long you fell remorse, as he do in the Movie, after getting stabbed, and getting out of the vehicle, and look up for salvation.
Yes, I think Fr Barron's comments on the movie are generous and inclusive. But the Sola Scriptura (Latin from Rome if you please) premise of the movie never washed with me. I felt as if this movie were tit for tat for Muslim persecution of Christians globally and was meant to speak at that level unequivocally. Just another example when we divorce ourselves from the Magisterium of the true Church how Christ's commandment to love our enemies and bless those who curse us is disobeyed!
on most points, we are splitting hairs in our differences. but on the point of the magisterium, Tradition and scripture, the catechism states: paragraph 82: Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence. paragraph 95: It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others.
I really love some of your videos, I was baptized catholic and went to catholic schools for the majority of my life. Although I'm falling into that new Age bull crap, (which is eating away at my soul slowly) a person with no beliefs has no passion, what it is for me is I MISS GOD!! Where did he go? How do I find him again? It's painful, it's like a void. I really don't care about the politics of the church, what I miss more than anything is inspiration and a feeling that goodness is REAL!
The most important part of this movie which is overlooked is that Eli recites the Bible from memory, which is then written down by another person listening to him, which no doubt will introduce error into the text, reminiscent of how the Bible originally came about. Furthermore, upon its completion, the Bible is then placed on the bookshelf next to the Torah and the Koran, suggesting mankind is to repeat the same fate of religious misunderstanding and strife that everyone thinks is over.
I find it sad how we (as "Christians") IDEALIZE the bible (which was translated,written,and then revised by man.),when God's words were written on our hearts (not stone and paper). We were all given the word of God,yet we look to the words of man as a sort of proof to God's word. Using the lack of religion (because even those who are without religion can and are good people) as an excuse for a thriving villainous society is faulty,it is OUR FAILURE by not emphasizing the moral values that God wrote on our hearts to the community. Churches fail because they essentially hold "the word of God" hostage from the community,in that more than half of all those who claim to be Christian ONLY APPLY GOD WHEN IN A CHURCH SETTING OR IN PRAYER. We are failing because we aren't working as hard to emphasize good moral standards (on the community level) as Satan is to emphasize the wrong ones. That's only my opinion though.
Anytime I read my bible, I always have a commentary book open as well so that I can get a different perspective on what I am reading compared to somebody elses. I love this movie, and it's interesting to hear my interpretation of it with where God has me in my life versus where he has the man who made this video. I respect your opinion, and it does have some value, but there is nothing bad about seeking outside perspectives as long as you are seeking in your own :) God bless!
During the dark ages the church was used as a means to control these smaller territories similar to what Carnegie wanted to do with the book. This is what made the church a proto-government which not only helped the development of civilization but also contributed to the dark age. Even with the sole intention of protecting enlightenment, there were groups of people like Carnegie who wanted to use this organization as a means to manipulate the people. The movie's ending gives a slightly different approach with the foreknowledge of the catastrophic effects of corruption of the message. To rebuild civilization as it was intended with the modern enlighten of what was learned before the Fall. The Solara character chose to carry this message back home with the intention to spread the word untainted.
Very few people realize how important the Bible is. Most of our laws and our principals for living are based on the Bible. Both Eli and Carnegie knew how important the Bible is. People call it a book of Fairy Tales. The Bible is much more than that. It is history.
I would like whoever makes these videos to turn the volume up a lot higher I cannot hear the video I have the volume of my device as high as it will go and I cannot hear the video. On my phone I do not have closed captions
I have to say that I'm a bit surprised at the lack of mention of the Bible being placed side-by-side on the same shelf as the Quran and other holy books, at the end of the film.
Why should they? The mental barriers of what we can and cannot believe are created by humans. It makes sense that people in this movie would have no knowledge of religious differences and therefore see no reason why the information can't coexist, as it should.
at Christian Wallace - i just seen the movie for the first time on Netflix on July 8th 2019. .. Netflix brought me here. This was a great movie, im going to watch it again one of these times. Also today on October 17th , 2019 i bought a copy of the NKJV bible from Goodwill industries , it was in pristine shape did not even have a name wrote into it it on who owned it..not wrote on at all nothing was highlighted no life in it, was not used, i bought at a used was the damn thing was brand new, looked like it was just donated to Goodwill straight from a church. not a scratch on it and the copyright even said it was made in 1982 but it had new book smell too it i cant explain it completely pristine for being such a old used book. there were billions of this bible made so a perfect copy here and there is possible though but just a remarkable well kept bible book i bought it to add to my Bibliotecha (Bible library and collation) which now has 3 bible translations. it was 5 dollars but i had a 20% off coupon so only cost me 4 dollars.. people were dieing in this movie for this mass produced free bible thats only worth a couple of bucks.. i stuck this NKJV in my attic im never going to touch it unless i can find a braille bible i can use to translate the bible.. cause as a roman catholic its against my religion to try to translate or interpret the bible unless i got all of it, only a eruditic priest scholar can do this. but if i had the braille bible i could try to learn the tongue of Holy bible braille. so im only going to just leave this mass produced free bible up in my attic to be discovered after my bibles are destroyed the Public domain KJV made in 1972 and my CEB made in 2011.. then long after the nuclear war Eli will come into the ruins of my house and get into the attic and find this NJKV and take it some where to be mass produced again. except in my version Eli wont be blind though, im not going to bother the NKJV its too common and conformist to be a true bible. those poor people in the movie they were just killing them selves over this blasphemy of a bible such as NKJV Bible . from necropolis20 the stock market oracle of ohio
Correction, it was the many factions/Islamic Caliphates which preserved the majority of ancient literature, i.e. everything the "Church" considered heretical. And let's be honest, anything with regards to mathematics, the sciences or astronomy was bunched up with witchcraft, divining or some form of idolatry. Just after the fall of the Roman Empire, Muhammad unexpectedly died and was impeccable timing, because the Islamic caliphate picked up where Rome fell short and took everything that wasn't nailed to the floor, so to speak. That's how they managed to rule from the Southern European continent i.e. the Iberian peninsula; all the way towards the Indus Valley and up into Mesopotamia. Yet quite similarly like the early Christian aristocracy, religion had little if any effect on their appetite for the forbidden. I mean the library with the largest cache of books and ancient manuscripts was undoubtedly the Alexandrian Library, despite Alexandria being a majority Christian city like much of the Islamic territory; it was stilled ruled with an Islamic fist. Hence why after Latin, Arabic had the largest influence on what would become the Modern Castilian and/or Spanish and Portuguese languages. Same goes for our modern numerical alphabet, not to mention the multiple mathematical text along with authors like Plato and Aristotle to Homer and Diocletian. I mean there are countless stories of monks or intellectuals whom would petition the Church to have them sent on missions to churches or monasteries where Islam ruled the land, due to the fact that these libraries in Islamic territories wouldn't have been affected by any of their local mullah's or imam's or any clerical rhetoric. Somewhat ironic, being that sharia law seems to favor a more draconian ideology.
Awesome review Father Barron. Please speak more on how the church rebuilt western civilisation. If we christians do not tell our story, islam will eventually rewrite history and claim it for themselves.
I think Billhawk74 is correct. What's more, I believe the Koran which is visible near the Bible at the end of the film can be interpreted as giving credit to those elements in the Muslim world which have, at one time or another, worked to preserve those elements. In other words, although the Bible is the centerpiece, as the movie holds, there are others who deserve credit to some extent.
2) However, it seems to me that our tradition is an elaboration of scripture. Despite what protestants may say, Catholic teaching never contradicts, only clarifies, scripture. Jesus established the church in the Bible - "on this rock I will build my church." There's a basis for every sacrament in the Bible, even if they are found in tradition and the magisterium first. To me, Papal Encyclicals and the Cathechism are an aid to living the 2000 year old Bible in the year 2013.
@paraisoat Actually Eli realizes that was the biggest mistake he made when he was in the car with Solara. It shows a good example of how christiansget so tied with protecting their views, they forget a very big command Jesus gave us which is to do good for others. I think Eli was meant to be an example of this to warn other christian not to make the same mistake he did.
1) I'm not sure if I agree about the magisterium and tradition being equal to the Bible, although I do think Catholics should act based upon those texts as well, however I completely agree with you about sacraments. What I meant was scripture above other texts. Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, seem to me to be closest we can get to Christ, and I admit I should have specified this in my comment. This means that the mass is the focus of our spiritual life.
I go to church every week and holy day, yet I'm confused over many of what I perceive are negative sermons. Often, we are advised that secularism and intellectualism are evil or at least bad for us. I disagree with that premise because we live in a secular word that was created by God, why would God create an evil place for us to live. We need to apply our religious teaching to help us improve our secular world. As for as intellectualism goes, I have discussions with other Catholics all the time and they seem to disdain any thinking. Why would God give us a brain if he/she didn't want us to use it. Before we criticize our world maybe we should apply the adage "ye without sin, cast the first stone."
I'm watching bishop Barrons review of the movie now, 9 or so years after it was released. And now looking back on it, it is almost like a prophecy. I mean the West is currently on a decline. Leftist "liberalism" and their thirst for freedom from Christ, has lead to: ... the discrimination of Christians right here right now in the West. ... an indifference and disinterest of Western Christians regarding their Christian Brothers and sisters that are being persecuted in the middle East, North Africa, Asia. ... Western Christians to pay more attention to current social and political trends than to the scripture. ... church leaders have become mere civil servants. ... The left poisoning all levels of society, destroying social cohesion. ... The West accepting the deception from Islam. The West will continue to decline. It will be desolate, maybe it will even be ravaged by Islam. But in the end, I hope, a new and strong, a muscular and stable and honest and good Christianity will rise again. ... I hope. Obviously, I don't want the West to collapse but so far it looks like that way to me right now.....
Muslims and the Catholics both got their classical text copies fro. the Byzantine empire, they were the true preservers of the west and were perhaps more theologically attuned than the western church.
Bisop Baron has forgotten that the Eastern Roman Empire lasted until 1453--hence the understandable statement made by Easter Orthodox Christians that theirs is the original church. The Dark Ages should be thought of as the Dark Age of the West. The Eastern Empire continued to include making Christianity the official religion of "the Roman Empire". The roots of the RCC came about from the support and protection of the Caroligian Empire.
@paraisoat In Eli's defense, I can see his decision not to help the woman in one of two ways. First, it could be logically entertained that, since Eli was high up on a broken overpass, he couldn't have gotten to them in time to do anything. It looked like it would have taken a couple minutes just to run down there carefully enough not to get hurt. Another explanation could just be that he's...well, a fallen human-being. I think Eli still demonstrates enough virtue to be considered a hero.
In the words of Nitzche itself, "God is dead..." Usually when folks mention Nitzche to christians, most people, even those saying this sentence have no idea what Nitzche was really talking about. Either the christians who are usually scared of Nitzche, neither the idiots (atheists) who relentless attack religious people, don't properly understand what Nitzche said, because the sentence ("God is dead") is missing the sequece wich follows: "God is dead... and he wouldn't ever wash away the blood from our hands" Nitzche never say this as if was a triumphant sentece, in fact quite the opposite, is filled with guilty and sorrow. God isn't dead of course, but our fear of him, or in some cases respect is! We kill God in our hearts, and so theres a wasteland where supposed to be a paradise, by killing God in our hearts, we didn't become Gods as Nitzche tought it would happen/, we revert back to be animals guided by instinct. The book of Eli is brilliant by showing this metaphore of the wasteland in our hearts, where the wolf runs free without anything to stop him, where men are nothing more than a primate with boomsticks.
Interesting video. I think it goes beyond that in such that Eli in the movie, was a man of faith and would not have been able to memorize or remember the entire Bible without the help of God. He is, or becomes similar to that of a member of the tribe of Levi, a Levite. The Levites were those who kept the Temple.
3) When reading the Bible, we have to be aware that it is a series of books written over thousands of years of Jewish history, and yet, all the promises that God made were fulfilled in time, even though, if you consider the long time the Jews had to wait for the Messiah, it seemed as if God never would fulfill them.
I wonder how Bishop Baron would associate rhe movie to todays times, in comparison to his thoughts here from 13 years ago, and these now striking "calamitous times"
@paraisoat I will have to disagree with you about one thing: it was not the CATHOLIC monks who preserved the Bible (among countless other writings), but Christian monks in general. When Western Europe was in the grip of the Dark Ages following the end of Roman rule there, it was Constantinople; seat of the remaining Roman Empire and Christianity in the East, that played a central role in preserving knowledge. Our knowledge of the Bible would be very different without Constantinople.
As a Lutheran, I found your analysis excellent, Father. I'm aware that some of these people are using trite arguments to hassle you in the comments, but allow me to give you a pat on the back. Also, the views you are expressing here are very close to Sola Scriptura. Not expecting you to convert on a dime or any crap like that, but I thought that might interest you. :) Keep the faith, pax vobiscum.
There's nothing more accurate to early Christian history than the story of Christ being transmitted orally, subject to change by fallible memory, only to be noted down as the truth.
Unfortunately, the part about the Church as the sole force for perpetuating knowledge is not entirely accurate. Many texts, notably Aristotle’s were initially censored as heretical by the Archdiocese of Paris in the 1200’s. These texts were either a banned or inaccessible until the efforts and teachings of Thomas Aquinas made them available to Christendom much later on. By translating and spreading the knowledge in these texts, Thomas damaged his reputation and was not vindicated until about 200 years later.
Gotta wonder if those monks knew exactly how important they were, really. I’m sure they knew they were preserving stuff, and I’m glad they did, but I wonder if they knew they were literally saving civilization as we know it.
At the same time that it preserved books, the church did have organised libricide and did maintain the Index Librorum Prohibitorum that banned books, and States enforced the bans, limited who could print and even had "illegal" printers executed... This is pure speculation but seeing how rich the classical period was in some scientific aspects, like mathematics, one could wonder what those monasteries elected not to preserve... like why do we see so little in the field of biology from that era
It's unfortunate that you cannot see the moral quality to the movie, "Book of Eli", as this is truly the underlying premise of the entire movie. Evil knows the power of the Word and seeks to utilize or cheaply imitate its power; basically, the devil is a cheap imitator of the real deal (God). Hence, do we have "psychics" imitating the prophets of the bible among other things. But the cath church is not evil; R U aware that there is no organization that does more for charity? Be well...
And hide God's name for multiple years. Shun those who revealed truth. That holidays were inherently pagan. That Constatine was a worshipper of the sun. The Vatican Archives that have troves of information they will never reveal. That churches never existed and extravagant buildings were never places the apostles met in? That you worship a cross despite God forbidding idolatry. I can go on and on. I have opened the KJV, American Standard, Byington, Septuagint (I know a little Koine Greek.) I am agnostic because, there are simply too many sects nowadays. However, you need to re-evaluate your own religion.
Though not of the 'religious' sort myself, a good review from a 'Catholic' perspective.... thx! And agreed, moral and cultural 'relativism' ain't turning out that swell, but dunno that organized 'religion', let alone fundie authoritarianism, is the answer. Maybe it's time for a more 'contemporary' view of Spirituality as well.
The Bible is not an oracle for civil living. In fact, it is quite contrary, showing that nothing we do in the flesh is profitable. Moreover, it compels us to hate our own natural lives so that we might gain Christ. The point of the gospel was not to say "if you follow the laws contained within this book, you will have prosperous life on earth." No. Anyone who has knowledge of the law knows that no man can keep the commandments and are in the need of a savior. Enter Christ. He fulfilled the law, being the very act of God's love for the world. But the gospel has been twisted by those who love this world, turning the word into a self-help book and social survival guide rather than conveying the truth that all mankind's righteousness is an unclean thing.
I found it most striking how the story of Eli so closely extracts a reoccurring theme throughout the Old Testament: God will take the lowly, use them for His purpose, and preserve them until their duty is complete. Only then, will He take them from this world to reward them. Along the way, however, those mighty men who would challenge or attempt to threaten His ways are humiliated and undone. Just as Egypt was plagued, and injury was salted with insult and mockery, (the sacred Nile turned to blood, the Sun- manifestation of Ra- darkened, etc) so too was Carnegie systematically ruined and scorned, his own wretched ways being turned against him.
Never looked it like that thanks for seeing it a different way I never thought about
Carnegie actually betrayed the book (the bible) he killed and sacrificed people for it though Eli killed people he was only doing what he must to protect the book also he did ask forgiveness...
at Anthony 101 - at least the nuclear war of 30 years ago has not happened yet.. hopefully we never have a nuclear war. but in the movie it happened in 2023 and the year was 2053 and Eli was born in 2008 and was about 45 years old and was about 2 years old in 2010 when this movie was released. The nuclear war of 2023 is going off of what Baba Vanga said that in the year 2025 Europe population was almost empty and also that in the 2020s chemical weapons were used in Europe by radical Muslims. so it was always though that sometime just before 2025 a world war III destroyed the world.
So the makers of this movie knew this and figured well the world does not end in 2010 or not anytime relatively soon, biblically soon, and so they figured what if the nuclear war and world war iii was taking place much closer to 2025 when the world was hit by and so the big rumored war was 2023 and then 30 years later its 2053. for this movie to show that so many people were still around 30 years later is impressive, iv got alot of hope for humanity i think we will live on for generations even after doomsday of our era and times.
If you dont want the book of Eli to come true then just hope Baba Vanga is wrong about world war III, we are all co-creator, if all the people on earth all think the world war is not happening then it wont. but if Baba Vanga was riht and WW3 got us be spiritually prepared like Eli was. hope Baba Vanga was wrong and Put on your spiritual armor do battle with your enteral demons and put on your spiritual night garments and sleep in the spiritual bed you made of your life just in case Baba Vanga and this movie was right about WW3 getting us.
He was given a chance for salvation and he took it.
This not paying someone because god dose means you disrespect those he loves
@paraisoat
Eli admits to this at the end, he says he was so obsessed with protecting "the word" that he forgot to follow it. The movie isn't meant to portray Eli as a saint.
That's the danger to all men of faith!
God has many workers.. messengers.. craftsmans.. etc
What I learnt from this movie is : in the beginning there was the word.... The word of God and it'll be so until forever, the word which is powerful. Generations of people will be born and gone but the word will still be there. We live our everyday lives slowly forgetting the purpose of why we are here... To worship God, instead we are after the possessions of this world forgetting that one day we might loose everything we have and only then we will remember our creator. It also teaches me that in the assignment we were sent on this world to do we will come across many challenges and enemies but God will always protect and fight for us. Listen to the last paragraph of Denzel at the end. It moved me spiritually
God bless you sir( or ma'am). You speak a truth needed in our darkened time.
@@colleenm5760 you have time..... English teacher
@@colleenm5760 Learnt is very much a word.
Always found myself not really believing in god , and still have my doubts . However when I crash my car and lay alone in pain and dazed . Found myself saying oh god oh god . Without a figure of god , we are rudderless and alone in the darkest moments .
He walks beside you, at all moments, not just tragic ones, or the most joyous ones...all..times, let him lead you, your moment was meant to awaken you to him, God bless you.
What you say is true. We do call out to Him in times of trouble - almost as if it's embedded in our DNA.
We are weak beings we have no strength. It is in god we find strength.
Proverbs 1:27-28
King James Version
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Awesome movie about THE WORD OF GOD! 📚 👑
Similar to real life. Movie book of eli happy ending, eli brings a book of words from God, there are gang are targeting that book because the book is full of words that move the soul that can be used to conquer people's hearts. Then the gang wanted to kill eli and wanted to take the book to be exploited according to their gang desire. But it failed and the gang were defeated.
Meanwhile, if in real life the gang / Roman Empire succeeded in killing the prophet Isa. After killing the prophet Isa they seemed to be the most entitled and understand the teachings of the prophet Isa even to change the content of God's word in the book. Is the position of human higher than God so that he has the right to revise God's word?
YEA!!!
Just wanted to thank you Father for relaying what the Holy Spirit knows what I need to hear , I really have a desire to return to my faith.
I found the movie compelling. The video clarified the message of the film, that we as people, must never lose sight of what is important in life,i.e knowledge, belief, spirituality, faith and moral centeredness.
This is actually a really good video I really liked how the bishop connected the Middle Ages to this movie and how monks actually preserved history. It’s very neat
Wow Mr. Robert Barron. we in 2022 and i just finish watching The Book Of Eli to understand why it was made and what story line i was looking for. It clearly shows that the bible truth is very important and a need for us all to fix our own being and characteristics not to be perfect but to be better to ourselves and others where ever we go. I respect and appreciate your sentiments regarding the need for the bible.
I remember long ago and far away on Sunday night (I think) my parents used to watch on TV Bishop Fulton J Sheen. Great man & intellect.
Good words. Excellent description on the loss of vitality. The forces of secularism lead to spiritual drought and chaos.
When he cuts his beard and goes fully bald is very interesting. Also the fact he is on an island similar to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos is very interesting...
"That book is a weapon."
Carnegie was right! No other book has quite the destructive potential as the inspired Word of God among sinful mankind.
Theo Fane so profound. The devil uses God’s Word all throughout the Bible to manipulate God’s people. From Eve, to Jesus, to even Paul.
Oh it's a weapon alright.
It controls idiots who can't see that the entire book is nothing more than 1 big lie.
Sadly you are too stupid to know that. Pity.
Darth Grumpy every knee shall bow
🐇
Darth Grumpy oh look it’s the attention seeking atheist 🤦🏻♂️pity
@dmitriymazur Friend, I'm sorry, but that is such a simplistic account! Where do you think Galileo and Copernicus learned their astronomy and mathematics? In church-sponsored universities. And to reduce Thomas Aquinas and Augustine--two of the most profound intellectuals in western history--to the Inquisition! Come on. Thomas dialogued with Jews, Muslims, pagans, Christian heretics, etc, etc. And don't forget that modernity gave us the Holocaust, Hiroshima, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao.
The Holocaust was an explicitly Christian (Lutheran) programme. Mussolini’s fascist Italy was a Catholic regime.
Blafonovision can you please cite at least one official document or reliable source which states the Holocaust was an explicitly Lutheran program? Also the same for Mussolini’s regime being Catholic? While Mussolini signed a generous treaty with the Holy See, he merely tolerated and utilised Catholicism to bolster public support whilst unofficially loathing it. I’ve yet to see any evidence that his Fascist Party was actually a Christian political entity.
And Italy hid most of its Jews.
@@blafonovision4342 lol dumbest thing I've heard in years. Do yourself a favor research Madam Blavatski(sp), and Occult and the third reich.
@NAKH Well, you just said thing that are wrong or you talked and invented stuff out of thin air just because.. well, reasons. The " religious" ( how you call them" don't see that science make God this or that, they funded science in the first place, the first universities, etc. End , in the beginning, God created the Universe, or as we say, everything, not just the planet and the stars. And were the hell did you got the stuff that when Jesus born God created just the Earth and the stars ? What the hell are you reading , man ?
Religion and science not only combine but one gave impulse to the other, but science "people" ( i hate this term but i will use it anyway ) do hate everyone that don't conform to their view, wich is a radicalism that is not very healthy in the first place, wich in turns creates scientism and the new more radical and million times more intolerant and acid, cold priests: intellectual, snobish scientists .
And yes, againd as Bishop said, modernity in is atheist anty religious and utopian intolerant glory gave us the most killings, gore, mayhem, massacres, deaths, destruction, intolerance, hate, indiference, decadence, decaying, imoral attitudes, cold societies that we ever saw and it is just the beggining.
Happu times, hu ? ;)
it strikes you how much very different the world would have been, without Christianity in the world, Barbaric/ dark,..... Praise God for His faithfulness throughout all the ages
All you have to do is look around now... they have taken God out of everything and it shows
The movie help me get through my homeless status
Just shoot for the norm and try not to impress others
james bondero
shoot for happiness. it matters not if you belive in a diety, but live every moment of life like its your last, live with golden rule, treat others the same way you want them to treat you. the past is history, the future is mistery, but today is a gift. thats why its called the present.
@@abelardocruz5946 true joy and peace can only come from God.
A man on a mission to spread the word of god by any means necessary. And he gives his last breath to complete that mission.
I’m not particularly religious, however this is undoubtedly one of my favorite movies
I am Cringeman there is never a bad time to start getting religious though
@@swingmanseth4287 what?
Well done beautifully put.
Good insights, Fr Barron. Yes, you are correct, we do need to return to a concentrated reflection and reverence of the inerrant Word of God. Our country is promised dissaster unless we heed the warnings we have received....unless we receive the lesson presented to us in the Old Test of the devastation the Jews suffered when they did not return to the Lord. Our country is no different and while God is patient, He will not withhold judgment indefinitely. Bless you, my brother in Christ.
I loved the movie and I love this commentary.
4) Finally, while I am a great proponent of reading the Bible on one's own and interpreting it for one's self, I also believe that, for people serious about keeping on track with their spiritual journey towards God, reflections on the Bible should be shared in an interpretive community. That's where religion comes in, and that's also where, for Catholics, church authority comes in.
I agreed, IT s really Up to Dach individual 🎯👍
Even the Apostles on their own did not understand Christs parables, the Holy Spirit was needed to enlighten them. Understanding the Bible on your own intellect is Hubris, vanity and folly. Pax Vobiscum.
"It's a weapon."
I always imagined that if they made a sequel it would be about Mila Kunis' character going home to find that her mother took over and used to Bible, because she was blind and - for this to work - lied to Carnegie about not being able to read it, and they "battle" it out.
Yes it is a weapon but not for everyone only for the israelites the most high Elohim choosing children that been through Thousands of years in captivity.but not the fake white Jews though
@@emanuelllebron3178 yes we know niggaz waz kangz in shyt
@@parmesanchesse4585 yes👌🏾😂Nigguh are still 🤴🏾kangs
been waiting on this one since the day i saw the movie-thanks for listening to requests---now the earth was without form and void (as the whole of humanity is without God) and the spirit of God moved upon the waters-- the waters being the whole of humanity-- The Book of Eli reminded me to take seriously my lack of gratitude for all that I had- and to always give thanks- remember my Creator in the days of my youth-before calamity comes- man shall not live by bread alone...
These kinds of analyses and commentary by our clergy could SINGLEHANDEDLY bring millions of wayward Catholics back to church. Where the heck have you been Your Eminance? We really needed that.
The very breath of God,
Is in you.
Job 33:4
With every breath you take.
It’s amazing that nobody realizes that he did not go to Alcatraz . He went to Angel Island directly next to Alcatraz. .
@paraisoat I agree with you: it was no "Godfather." And it certainly doesn't present the fullness of truth in regard to the Apocalypse. But during a depressingly secularist period, don't you think we should emphasize whatever good we can find?
@OMGITSDRJESUS So let me get this straight: you're writing for a public forum and you didn't mean to be articulate. Well, congratulations; you succeeded!
Lo que los Bernal😈😇✋
Thank you Father, again you have brought the culture home. Thank you and God Bless.
I doubt Eli knew how to fight, but I'm sure an angel or God told him how. He heard the voice clearly and that it will protect him on his journey.
@jaumesisa100 So a tiny handful of Catholics behave badly and suddenly the "church" has no moral credibility. Because some Americans do wicked things, American values have lost their luster?
We are lazy. We will pay that you can believe. Every generation we slid back further and further . Even next generation lazier than the last. And people having kids that they could care less about teaching or raising right . Sad thing is we all know it but yet nothing gets done. Spare the rod spoil the child.
Great analysis as usual Fr. Barron. Looking forward to hearing others.
These reviews are so informative, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about Catholicism just by listening. If only there was a Buddhist, Hindu and Islam interpretation. I would fill up my mind with this stuff.
Make them.
I loved the premise of the movie
I always wanted to know why catholic priest go by father when in the Bible Jesus said call no man father because we have one father that is in heaven
Christ was talking about people pursuing titles like Father, or Rabbi, for their own vain sakes.
Idk I thought the message was people get so jaded on gluttonizing and protecting their religious beliefs that they forget to live by them. Almost all religions of the world teach u to do more for others than u do for yourself. And I believe in that message even though I’m an atheist.
wow, I thought this movie sounded really interesting but now I'll have to find a way to see it-- wonderful review, Father! Thanks.
Like the Movie illustrated, even if you got the Bible in your hand. You won't be able to code and understand what God want. Since your faith need to be so strong blind to understand what God wants you to do. And most of the time people think they found it, but only found out later, that they where misleading them self into to the wrong side, and even then God is so mighty that he will forgive you as long you fell remorse, as he do in the Movie, after getting stabbed, and getting out of the vehicle, and look up for salvation.
I really like the movie, I am personally not religious, but that didn't stop me from enjoying ur view on book of eli.
This is a remarkable catholic praise of scripture!
Yes, I think Fr Barron's comments on the movie are generous and inclusive. But the Sola Scriptura (Latin from Rome if you please) premise of the movie never washed with me. I felt as if this movie were tit for tat for Muslim persecution of Christians globally and was meant to speak at that level unequivocally. Just another example when we divorce ourselves from the Magisterium of the true Church how Christ's commandment to love our enemies and bless those who curse us is disobeyed!
on most points, we are splitting hairs in our differences. but on the point of the magisterium, Tradition and scripture, the catechism states: paragraph 82: Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence. paragraph 95: It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others.
I really love some of your videos, I was baptized catholic and went to catholic schools for the majority of my life. Although I'm falling into that new Age bull crap, (which is eating away at my soul slowly) a person with no beliefs has no passion, what it is for me is I MISS GOD!! Where did he go? How do I find him again? It's painful, it's like a void. I really don't care about the politics of the church, what I miss more than anything is inspiration and a feeling that goodness is REAL!
Be baptized in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Ghost!
The most important part of this movie which is overlooked is that Eli recites the Bible from memory, which is then written down by another person listening to him, which no doubt will introduce error into the text, reminiscent of how the Bible originally came about. Furthermore, upon its completion, the Bible is then placed on the bookshelf next to the Torah and the Koran, suggesting mankind is to repeat the same fate of religious misunderstanding and strife that everyone thinks is over.
The point is the world is entirely dependent on Eli to remember to bible correctly.
I find it sad how we (as "Christians") IDEALIZE the bible (which was translated,written,and then revised by man.),when God's words were written on our hearts (not stone and paper). We were all given the word of God,yet we look to the words of man as a sort of proof to God's word. Using the lack of religion (because even those who are without religion can and are good people) as an excuse for a thriving villainous society is faulty,it is OUR FAILURE by not emphasizing the moral values that God wrote on our hearts to the community. Churches fail because they essentially hold "the word of God" hostage from the community,in that more than half of all those who claim to be Christian ONLY APPLY GOD WHEN IN A CHURCH SETTING OR IN PRAYER. We are failing because we aren't working as hard to emphasize good moral standards (on the community level) as Satan is to emphasize the wrong ones. That's only my opinion though.
Anytime I read my bible, I always have a commentary book open as well so that I can get a different perspective on what I am reading compared to somebody elses. I love this movie, and it's interesting to hear my interpretation of it with where God has me in my life versus where he has the man who made this video. I respect your opinion, and it does have some value, but there is nothing bad about seeking outside perspectives as long as you are seeking in your own :) God bless!
If the bible isn't pure due to handling by man, how do you know what's in your heart is the word of God?
During the dark ages the church was used as a means to control these smaller territories similar to what Carnegie wanted to do with the book. This is what made the church a proto-government which not only helped the development of civilization but also contributed to the dark age. Even with the sole intention of protecting enlightenment, there were groups of people like Carnegie who wanted to use this organization as a means to manipulate the people. The movie's ending gives a slightly different approach with the foreknowledge of the catastrophic effects of corruption of the message. To rebuild civilization as it was intended with the modern enlighten of what was learned before the Fall. The Solara character chose to carry this message back home with the intention to spread the word untainted.
Very few people realize how important the Bible is. Most of our laws and our principals for living are based on the Bible. Both Eli and Carnegie knew how important the Bible is. People call it a book of Fairy Tales. The Bible is much more than that. It is history.
Carnegie also had a hall - how do you get to Carnegie’s Hall? Practice. But not the good kind.
Yes!! "Concentrate on the.... word of God"
The Book of Eli, although fictional, planted a lot of seeds.
I would like whoever makes these videos to turn the volume up a lot higher I cannot hear the video I have the volume of my device as high as it will go and I cannot hear the video. On my phone I do not have closed captions
Great analogy of the term “The Living Bible”. In the end Eli didn’t need the physical book....
I have to say that I'm a bit surprised at the lack of mention of the Bible being placed side-by-side on the same shelf as the Quran and other holy books, at the end of the film.
+Woodthorn Why are you surprised?
I can't recall.
Woodthorn I think it's a way of saying that there is several ways to do things! Means you can believe in god in many ways.
Why should they? The mental barriers of what we can and cannot believe are created by humans. It makes sense that people in this movie would have no knowledge of religious differences and therefore see no reason why the information can't coexist, as it should.
If you know anything about the Quran you will know it is anything but a 'holy" book.
Great movie
Just saw the movie for the first time. Realized I hadn't attended service in months.
at Christian Wallace - i just seen the movie for the first time on Netflix on July 8th 2019. .. Netflix brought me here.
This was a great movie, im going to watch it again one of these times.
Also today on October 17th , 2019 i bought a copy of the NKJV bible from Goodwill industries , it was in pristine shape did not even have a name wrote into it it on who owned it..not wrote on at all nothing was highlighted no life in it, was not used, i bought at a used was the damn thing was brand new, looked like it was just donated to Goodwill straight from a church. not a scratch on it and the copyright even said it was made in 1982 but it had new book smell too it i cant explain it completely pristine for being such a old used book. there were billions of this bible made so a perfect copy here and there is possible though but just a remarkable well kept bible book i bought it to add to my Bibliotecha (Bible library and collation) which now has 3 bible translations.
it was 5 dollars but i had a 20% off coupon so only cost me 4 dollars.. people were dieing in this movie for this mass produced free bible thats only worth a couple of bucks.. i stuck this NKJV in my attic im never going to touch it unless i can find a braille bible i can use to translate the bible.. cause as a roman catholic its against my religion to try to translate or interpret the bible unless i got all of it, only a eruditic priest scholar can do this. but if i had the braille bible i could try to learn the tongue of Holy bible braille. so im only going to just leave this mass produced free bible up in my attic to be discovered after my bibles are destroyed the Public domain KJV made in 1972 and my CEB made in 2011.. then long after the nuclear war Eli will come into the ruins of my house and get into the attic and find this NJKV and take it some where to be mass produced again. except in my version Eli wont be blind though, im not going to bother the NKJV its too common and conformist to be a true bible. those poor people in the movie they were just killing them selves over this blasphemy of a bible such as NKJV Bible .
from necropolis20 the stock market oracle of ohio
Correction, it was the many factions/Islamic Caliphates which preserved the majority of ancient literature, i.e. everything the "Church" considered heretical. And let's be honest, anything with regards to mathematics, the sciences or astronomy was bunched up with witchcraft, divining or some form of idolatry. Just after the fall of the Roman Empire, Muhammad unexpectedly died and was impeccable timing, because the Islamic caliphate picked up where Rome fell short and took everything that wasn't nailed to the floor, so to speak. That's how they managed to rule from the Southern European continent i.e. the Iberian peninsula; all the way towards the Indus Valley and up into Mesopotamia. Yet quite similarly like the early Christian aristocracy, religion had little if any effect on their appetite for the forbidden. I mean the library with the largest cache of books and ancient manuscripts was undoubtedly the Alexandrian Library, despite Alexandria being a majority Christian city like much of the Islamic territory; it was stilled ruled with an Islamic fist. Hence why after Latin, Arabic had the largest influence on what would become the Modern Castilian and/or Spanish and Portuguese languages. Same goes for our modern numerical alphabet, not to mention the multiple mathematical text along with authors like Plato and Aristotle to Homer and Diocletian. I mean there are countless stories of monks or intellectuals whom would petition the Church to have them sent on missions to churches or monasteries where Islam ruled the land, due to the fact that these libraries in Islamic territories wouldn't have been affected by any of their local mullah's or imam's or any clerical rhetoric. Somewhat ironic, being that sharia law seems to favor a more draconian ideology.
Awesome review Father Barron. Please speak more on how the church rebuilt western civilisation. If we christians do not tell our story, islam will eventually rewrite history and claim it for themselves.
It’s 2019 and if this movie were made today it would have villanized Christianity.
As bad Catholic who sincerely wants to be a good Catholic someday, I can really say I totally enjoyed this movie.
I think Billhawk74 is correct.
What's more, I believe the Koran which is visible near the Bible at the end of the film can be interpreted as giving credit to those elements in the Muslim world which have, at one time or another, worked to preserve those elements. In other words, although the Bible is the centerpiece, as the movie holds, there are others who deserve credit to some extent.
2) However, it seems to me that our tradition is an elaboration of scripture. Despite what protestants may say, Catholic teaching never contradicts, only clarifies, scripture. Jesus established the church in the Bible - "on this rock I will build my church." There's a basis for every sacrament in the Bible, even if they are found in tradition and the magisterium first. To me, Papal Encyclicals and the Cathechism are an aid to living the 2000 year old Bible in the year 2013.
@paraisoat Actually Eli realizes that was the biggest mistake he made when he was in the car with Solara. It shows a good example of how christiansget so tied with protecting their views, they forget a very big command Jesus gave us which is to do good for others. I think Eli was meant to be an example of this to warn other christian not to make the same mistake he did.
1) I'm not sure if I agree about the magisterium and tradition being equal to the Bible, although I do think Catholics should act based upon those texts as well, however I completely agree with you about sacraments. What I meant was scripture above other texts. Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, seem to me to be closest we can get to Christ, and I admit I should have specified this in my comment. This means that the mass is the focus of our spiritual life.
I go to church every week and holy day, yet I'm confused over many of what I perceive are negative sermons. Often, we are advised that secularism and intellectualism are evil or at least bad for us. I disagree with that premise because we live in a secular word that was created by God, why would God create an evil place for us to live. We need to apply our religious teaching to help us improve our secular world. As for as intellectualism goes, I have discussions with other Catholics all the time and they seem to disdain any thinking. Why would God give us a brain if he/she didn't want us to use it. Before we criticize our world maybe we should apply the adage "ye without sin, cast the first stone."
good
I'm watching bishop Barrons review of the movie now, 9 or so years after it was released. And now looking back on it, it is almost like a prophecy. I mean the West is currently on a decline. Leftist "liberalism" and their thirst for freedom from Christ, has lead to:
... the discrimination of Christians right here right now in the West.
... an indifference and disinterest of Western Christians regarding their Christian Brothers and sisters that are being persecuted in the middle East, North Africa, Asia.
... Western Christians to pay more attention to current social and political trends than to the scripture.
... church leaders have become mere civil servants.
... The left poisoning all levels of society, destroying social cohesion.
... The West accepting the deception from Islam.
The West will continue to decline. It will be desolate, maybe it will even be ravaged by Islam. But in the end, I hope, a new and strong, a muscular and stable and honest and good Christianity will rise again. ... I hope. Obviously, I don't want the West to collapse but so far it looks like that way to me right now.....
Muslims and the Catholics both got their classical text copies fro. the Byzantine empire, they were the true preservers of the west and were perhaps more theologically attuned than the western church.
Faith in Abba almighty and Filipino Martial Arts
Bisop Baron has forgotten that the Eastern Roman Empire lasted until 1453--hence the understandable statement made by Easter Orthodox Christians that theirs is the original church. The Dark Ages should be thought of as the Dark Age of the West. The Eastern Empire continued to include making Christianity the official religion of "the Roman Empire". The roots of the RCC came about from the support and protection of the Caroligian Empire.
@paraisoat In Eli's defense, I can see his decision not to help the woman in one of two ways. First, it could be logically entertained that, since Eli was high up on a broken overpass, he couldn't have gotten to them in time to do anything. It looked like it would have taken a couple minutes just to run down there carefully enough not to get hurt. Another explanation could just be that he's...well, a fallen human-being. I think Eli still demonstrates enough virtue to be considered a hero.
AND he avenged then INDIRECTLY by killing them while he was at the bar which they all hung out
Book of Eli is the best Christian movie ever made. You can watch it has a religious person or has a atheist and can find enjoyment in this great film.
In the words of Nitzche itself, "God is dead..."
Usually when folks mention Nitzche to christians, most people, even those saying this sentence have no idea what Nitzche was really talking about.
Either the christians who are usually scared of Nitzche, neither the idiots (atheists) who relentless attack religious people, don't properly understand what Nitzche said, because the sentence ("God is dead") is missing the sequece wich follows: "God is dead... and he wouldn't ever wash away the blood from our hands" Nitzche never say this as if was a triumphant sentece, in fact quite the opposite, is filled with guilty and sorrow.
God isn't dead of course, but our fear of him, or in some cases respect is!
We kill God in our hearts, and so theres a wasteland where supposed to be a paradise, by killing God in our hearts, we didn't become Gods as Nitzche tought it would happen/, we revert back to be animals guided by instinct.
The book of Eli is brilliant by showing this metaphore of the wasteland in our hearts, where the wolf runs free without anything to stop him, where men are nothing more than a primate with boomsticks.
Awesome I like this movie I watch it every time it’s on tv. God Bless
AMEN
Interesting video. I think it goes beyond that in such that Eli in the movie, was a man of faith and would not have been able to memorize or remember the entire Bible without the help of God. He is, or becomes similar to that of a member of the tribe of Levi, a Levite. The Levites were those who kept the Temple.
Read the Bible every day. Yes
Thanks for the info, did not realize that. However, it still seems to me that the church gives a biblical reference for all its teaching.
Very very nice. I enjoyed this review. Thank you.
Eli was his son and Denzel had no name and was not blind
3) When reading the Bible, we have to be aware that it is a series of books written over thousands of years of Jewish history, and yet, all the promises that God made were fulfilled in time, even though, if you consider the long time the Jews had to wait for the Messiah, it seemed as if God never would fulfill them.
I wonder how Bishop Baron would associate rhe movie to todays times, in comparison to his thoughts here from 13 years ago, and these now striking "calamitous times"
I finally came around to see the movie and was not disappointed, it was a great movie.
@paraisoat I will have to disagree with you about one thing: it was not the CATHOLIC monks who preserved the Bible (among countless other writings), but Christian monks in general. When Western Europe was in the grip of the Dark Ages following the end of Roman rule there, it was Constantinople; seat of the remaining Roman Empire and Christianity in the East, that played a central role in preserving knowledge. Our knowledge of the Bible would be very different without Constantinople.
awesome explanation of a movie !
When priest don’t believe the devil exist they can’t believe god exist.
As a Lutheran, I found your analysis excellent, Father. I'm aware that some of these people are using trite arguments to hassle you in the comments, but allow me to give you a pat on the back. Also, the views you are expressing here are very close to Sola Scriptura. Not expecting you to convert on a dime or any crap like that, but I thought that might interest you. :) Keep the faith, pax vobiscum.
There's nothing more accurate to early Christian history than the story of Christ being transmitted orally, subject to change by fallible memory, only to be noted down as the truth.
Unfortunately, the part about the Church as the sole force for perpetuating knowledge is not entirely accurate. Many texts, notably Aristotle’s were initially censored as heretical by the Archdiocese of Paris in the 1200’s. These texts were either a banned or inaccessible until the efforts and teachings of Thomas Aquinas made them available to Christendom much later on. By translating and spreading the knowledge in these texts, Thomas damaged his reputation and was not vindicated until about 200 years later.
Gotta wonder if those monks knew exactly how important they were, really. I’m sure they knew they were preserving stuff, and I’m glad they did, but I wonder if they knew they were literally saving civilization as we know it.
Eli could read Braille, but he was not blind. Claudia (Jennifer Beals) was blind.
Eli couldn't possibly have been blind maybe that guy didn't see him shooting people from all over the place!!
well he was blind man... just because hes blind doesnt mean he cant shoot. I believe God had helped with defending the bible with Eli.
Interesting thoughts particularly during this sad Corona times.2020..has the world moved away from the real word of God?
At the same time that it preserved books, the church did have organised libricide and did maintain the Index Librorum Prohibitorum that banned books, and States enforced the bans, limited who could print and even had "illegal" printers executed...
This is pure speculation but seeing how rich the classical period was in some scientific aspects, like mathematics, one could wonder what those monasteries elected not to preserve... like why do we see so little in the field of biology from that era
He was partially blind, not blind he would never would know the cat was there to shot at it
Could not have said it better
It's unfortunate that you cannot see the moral quality to the movie, "Book of Eli", as this is truly the underlying premise of the entire movie. Evil knows the power of the Word and seeks to utilize or cheaply imitate its power; basically, the devil is a cheap imitator of the real deal (God). Hence, do we have "psychics" imitating the prophets of the bible among other things. But the cath church is not evil; R U aware that there is no organization that does more for charity? Be well...
And hide God's name for multiple years. Shun those who revealed truth. That holidays were inherently pagan. That Constatine was a worshipper of the sun. The Vatican Archives that have troves of information they will never reveal. That churches never existed and extravagant buildings were never places the apostles met in? That you worship a cross despite God forbidding idolatry. I can go on and on. I have opened the KJV, American Standard, Byington, Septuagint (I know a little Koine Greek.)
I am agnostic because, there are simply too many sects nowadays. However, you need to re-evaluate your own religion.
"Our time is not quite as calamatous as the dark ages"
14 years later
"I revoke that comment."
Though not of the 'religious' sort myself, a good review from a 'Catholic' perspective.... thx! And agreed, moral and cultural 'relativism' ain't turning out that swell, but dunno that organized 'religion', let alone fundie authoritarianism, is the answer. Maybe it's time for a more 'contemporary' view of Spirituality as well.
The Bible is not an oracle for civil living. In fact, it is quite contrary, showing that nothing we do in the flesh is profitable. Moreover, it compels us to hate our own natural lives so that we might gain Christ. The point of the gospel was not to say "if you follow the laws contained within this book, you will have prosperous life on earth." No. Anyone who has knowledge of the law knows that no man can keep the commandments and are in the need of a savior. Enter Christ. He fulfilled the law, being the very act of God's love for the world. But the gospel has been twisted by those who love this world, turning the word into a self-help book and social survival guide rather than conveying the truth that all mankind's righteousness is an unclean thing.