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The Hunger Games and the Gospel (Study Guide Edition)
Bread, Circuses, and the Kingdom of God
In a globalized world full of uncertainty and injustice, Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series has captured the imaginations of readers looking for glimmers of hope. The tale of Katniss Everdeen's journey of survival in the post-apocalyptic country of Panem, where bread and circuses distract the privileged and allow a totalitarian regime to oppress the masses, parallels situations in our world today. At the same time, the series' themes of resistance to oppression and hope for a better world, portrayed honestly as messy and difficult endeavors, echo the transformative way of life Jesus offered his followers.
The Hunger Games and the Gospel explores these themes in The Hunger Games series that have resonated so deeply with readers by examining their similarity to the good news found in Jesus' message about living in the ways of God's Kingdom. Taking the rich statements of the Beatitudes, which serve as mini-pictures of God's dreams realized on earth as in heaven, each chapter reflects on how those pictures are exhibited both in the narrative of The Hunger Games, and in Jesus' time, and then explores their significance for our own world. Thought-provoking questions provide direction for personal reflection and group discussion. Readers are invited to allow the inspiration of The Hunger Games help them live in the ways of the Kingdom of God by discovering how they too can work toward the possibility of a better world.
About the Author
Julie Clawson is the author of Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices and a frequent speaker on the topics of Christianity, culture, and justice. She holds degrees in English and History and a Master's degree in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College, and is currently studying theology at the Seminary of the Southwest. Julie is a complete sci-fi/fantasy geek who enjoys exploring the ways great stories like The Hunger Games can help Christians understand their faith. She also just loves really good stories. Julie can be found writing about faith, justice, culture, and whatever else interests her at www.julieclawson.com.
