Books & Movies: Divergent

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/divergent/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>Christian should be engaging culture</strong></p><ul><li><i>Divergent</i> is the first novel in Veronica Roth's trilogy: <i>Divergent</i> (2011),<i> Insurgent </i>(2012), <i>Allegiant </i>(2013).</li><li>Although it is not an explicitly Christian book, in the acknowledgments Roth writes, "Thank you, God, for your Son, and for blessing me beyond comprehension..." The author is inviting us to think biblically about the important themes treated in her novel.</li><li>Thinking Christians need to engage culture. This means we need to rise above the level of mere entertainment. Processing movies, books, TV series, music etc. theologically will enable us to enter into productive conversations.</li></ul><p><strong>The appeal of </strong><i><strong>Divergent:</strong></i></p><ul><li>The younger generation (especially adolescents). Yet whatever your age category, all of us should strive for youthful vigor.  As the scriptures say, the righteous will continue to bear fruit even in old age (Psalm 92:14).</li><li>Those who fear social rejection.</li><li>All who feel pressure to fit into a niche, a pre-assigned category, a pigeonhole.</li><li>Those who are nervous about the emergence of a totalitarian state.</li></ul><p><strong>A sketch of society in post-apocalypse Chicago:</strong></p><ul><li>Factions<ul><li>Abnegation</li><li>Amity</li><li>Candor</li><li>Dauntless</li><li>Erudite</li></ul></li><li>The factionless</li><li>The divergent</li><li>Slogan: "Faction before blood"</li></ul><p><strong>Spiritual messages in </strong><i><strong>Divergent:</strong></i></p><ol><li>Love is more valuable than mere knowledge (1 Corinthians 8:1).</li><li>Social pressures are real and strong. The world says "conform" (Romans 12:2). Yet pressure can bring out the best in us. Moreover, we are <i>supposed</i> to conform -- to the character of Christ (Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:10).