So I am still thinking about Kingdom of Heaven. I have been reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's letters from prison this week in preparation for next week, when I will be off in DC working on my doctor of ministry. Bonhoeffer is one of my favorite theologians. He was a Protestant pastor in Germany during the time of the Nazis, and actively plotted against Hitler - even to the point of being involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer was not one lightly to undertake murder, because of his Christian beliefs - but he finally came to the conclusion it must be done to stop a very great evil.
I keep thinking about that from the perspective of this movie. At one point, the princess of Jerusalem asks the main hero, "Are you not willing to do a little evil for a much greater good, to save many people?" What a question to ask...
Anyone else read T.H. White's The Once and Future King? One of the main themes is that the end does not justify the means. I have always believed that to be the case. But yet - if I were asked to put my own soul in jeopardy, to commit some evil, to save many other innocents - would that justify my actions? Bonhoeffer has always been a hero for me - he was murdered in prison (after being there 2 years) just before the Allied Liberation - and he was my age. But we have seen so many people take this kind of justification and manipulate and warp it for their own ends - not for the greater good.
Back to the movie - How are we to be people of integrity? How does our faith inform the decisions we make?
Think I need to see the movie again and think some more on this...
1 comment:
You're a natural writer, Amy. Too deep for me this morning. I've heard mixed reviews on Kingdom of Heaven, but will take your recommendation. Wonder if it will come to the Brew Pub?
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