"Little Boy" is a deeply disturbing "Christian" film

[yog_sothoth]

So, "Little Boy" is one of the new "faith" movies out there. I normally don't care much about the "faith" movie industry. While I may find them amusing as a glimpse into the thought processes used by very religious people, I am not curious enough to sit through one of the movies.

Then I learned what it was about. A little boy wants his father to return home from world war 2, so god in his infinite wisdom and power nukes Japan. I couldn't believe it when i read this at first, but yes, the movie portrays the nuking of Japan as a heartwarming event that reunites a father with his son.

Who in their right minds thought that they should make a feel-good movie about a boy's prayers facilitating the nuking of Japan? That this movie was made and released across the country is a damning indictment of US culture and values. That it is a "christian" film is a damning indictment of the brand of Christianity that would fund and promote such a hideous idea for a movie.

Trying to whitewash one of the most notable and terrible acts of mass murder in history as god rewarding a little boys faith approaches "Birth of a Nation" levels of derangement in my opinion.

 

[Rum]

Quite so. Of course if the kid's dad had been killed in the war that would have been god's will as well.

 

[shemp]

I think I'll make a film on the premise that the 1970 Marshall University Plane Crash happened because their next opponent prayed for a victory.

What a stupid idea!

 

[tsig]

I think I'll make a film on the premise that the 1970 Marshall University Plane Crash happened because their next opponent prayed for a victory.

What a stupid idea!

That's just god's bad aim, he was going for the BYU football team.

 

[BStrong]

So, "Little Boy" is one of the new "faith" movies out there. I normally don't care much about the "faith" movie industry. While I may find them amusing as a glimpse into the thought processes used by very religious people, I am not curious enough to sit through one of the movies.

Then I learned what it was about. A little boy wants his father to return home from world war 2, so god in his infinite wisdom and power nukes Japan. I couldn't believe it when i read this at first, but yes, the movie portrays the nuking of Japan as a heartwarming event that reunites a father with his son.

Who in their right minds thought that they should make a feel-good movie about a boy's prayers facilitating the nuking of Japan? That this movie was made and released across the country is a damning indictment of US culture and values. That it is a "christian" film is a damning indictment of the brand of Christianity that would fund and promote such a hideous idea for a movie.

Trying to whitewash one of the most notable and terrible acts of mass murder in history as god rewarding a little boys faith approaches "Birth of a Nation" levels of derangement in my opinion.

No comment on the movie, but I knew and know some guys that were damn happy the bomb ended the war for them.

The action will be judged in history by people that had no skin in the game, but many Americans were relieved when they heard the news that Japan had surrendered, and how that came about was far less important to them.

 

[fuelair]

No comment on the movie, but I knew and know some guys that were damn happy the bomb ended the war for them.

The action will be judged in history by people that had no skin in the game, but many Americans were relieved when they heard the news that Japan had surrendered, and how that came about was far less important to them.

I rather think that you have misperceived the point - if godiddt for the best of the world, fine and dandy. But if godiddit for one little kid but with no concern priorly for the prayers and cries of torment of millions of other children then god is a flaming mother raping *******. I find atheism much more rational in that respect.

 

[marplots]

Every mushroom cloud has a silver lining.

 

[Aepervius]

The action will be judged in history by people that had no skin in the game,

Who would that be ? If you exclude only US and japan, I can tell you in Germany/France/Swiss/Italy I never heard in any discussion the nuking of japan be put in positive light. Quite the contrary. The basic reasoning is this : thoughtless bombing of civic population on any side, just to force the enemy to surrender instead of having army clashes, is morally bankrupt. Naturally I heard the same criticism on the firebombing of dresden so take that with a grain of salt.

I have a feeling that we would find probably a split between anglo saxon culture and other culture over whether this was a good strategy or an horrible tragedy.

 

[Rum]

On a similar theme I just saw my first mini-poster thingy on Facebook with the words 'Let's pray for everyone in Nepal'.

A tad late I would have thought.

 

[MG1962]

So, "Little Boy" is one of the new "faith" movies out there. I normally don't care much about the "faith" movie industry. While I may find them amusing as a glimpse into the thought processes used by very religious people, I am not curious enough to sit through one of the movies.

Then I learned what it was about. A little boy wants his father to return home from world war 2, so god in his infinite wisdom and power nukes Japan. I couldn't believe it when i read this at first, but yes, the movie portrays the nuking of Japan as a heartwarming event that reunites a father with his son.

Who in their right minds thought that they should make a feel-good movie about a boy's prayers facilitating the nuking of Japan? That this movie was made and released across the country is a damning indictment of US culture and values. That it is a "christian" film is a damning indictment of the brand of Christianity that would fund and promote such a hideous idea for a movie.

Trying to whitewash one of the most notable and terrible acts of mass murder in history as god rewarding a little boys faith approaches "Birth of a Nation" levels of derangement in my opinion.

Good job at completely miss representing the film

 

[fuelair]

Who would that be ? If you exclude only US and japan, I can tell you in Germany/France/Swiss/Italy I never heard in any discussion the nuking of japan be put in positive light. Quite the contrary. The basic reasoning is this : thoughtless bombing of civic population on any side, just to force the enemy to surrender instead of having army clashes, is morally bankrupt. Naturally I heard the same criticism on the firebombing of dresden so take that with a grain of salt.

I have a feeling that we would find probably a split between anglo saxon culture and other culture over whether this was a good strategy or an horrible tragedy.

As much as I just hate to point this out, the good ol' Rules of Warfare state quite clearly that IF there are military facilities/storage/communications/ transport/energy or other supply/personnel in a place - even a city, they are absolutely targets of legitimacy, They also say the WHERE POSSIBLE care should be taken to minimize civilian deaths. If firebombing or nuking is necessary you get to firebomb/nuke, And you are not required to notify the civilians though I seem to recall that leaflet dropping warning of such potential occurences and suggesting ass-hauling was done.

 

[fuelair]

Oh, thinking that the weak west with it's overarching values re:life would never do that to a city just because they had and did military stuff in it forced learning a big and important lesson.

While I am truly sorry there ever had to be wars and would honestly prefer everyone could live and let live, too many humans just can't handle that. Not my fault and since it is that way I prefer the group I am in be the safest and most well supplied. - for when others decide on the silly way as opposed to the just get along way.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Who would that be ? If you exclude only US and japan, I can tell you in Germany/France/Swiss/Italy I never heard in any discussion the nuking of japan be put in positive light. Quite the contrary. The basic reasoning is this : thoughtless bombing of civic population on any side, just to force the enemy to surrender instead of having army clashes, is morally bankrupt. Naturally I heard the same criticism on the firebombing of dresden so take that with a grain of salt.

I have a feeling that we would find probably a split between anglo saxon culture and other culture over whether this was a good strategy or an horrible tragedy.

Maybe the people in Germany/France/Swiss/Italy should think harder?

"anglo saxon culture"? Damn it. I opted out decades ago.

 

[fuelair]

Sooo... I have not and am quite unlikely to ever see it (none of the listed elements are entertaining to me) would you mind noting how it actually went? re:A's mention of misrepresentation......

 

[Craig B]

While I am truly sorry there ever had to be wars and would honestly prefer everyone could live and let live, too many humans just can't handle that. Not my fault and since it is that way I prefer the group I am in be the safest and most well supplied. - for when others decide on the silly way as opposed to the just get along way.

That's not the same thing as presenting this mass destruction as God's answer to a child's personal prayer for the safety of his father, is it?

Also, what is to happen when the safe well supplied group that you prefer to be in is the group that decides on the silly way as opposed to the just get along way? Do you want your group's cities to be vapourised? Or do you think it impossible that your group could ever do anything "silly"?

 

[MG1962]

Sooo... I have not and am quite unlikely to ever see it (none of the listed elements are entertaining to me) would you mind noting how it actually went? re:A's mention of misrepresentation......

The film is more about having faith and belief in yourself, as seen through the eyes of an 8 year old boy. In the town where he grows up the child is a bit of a misfit. Because of his size he is bullied and generally not having the best childhood. Except for the absolute relationship he has with his father.

Anyway, while he is at a magic show he is selected from the audience and in his eyes moves a bottle through the faith in himself the magician instills in him. Later he reads that faith can move mountains. During an encounter with a bully the boy repeats this statement and gets called out by the bully. He decides to prove his faith just an earthquake hits the area. Again the boy believes his absolute faith has caused the mountain to move.

He then talks to the local priest about faith and how to get his father home. The priests sets him a task to prove to himself how strong his faith is (The task is non religious by the way)

The boy completes the task. Japan surrenders and the boy's father comes home. In the eyes of this little boy his unshakable belief and faith were the things that brought his dad home.

 

[Craig B]

The film is more about having faith and belief in yourself, as seen through the eyes of an 8 year old boy. In the town where he grows up the child is a bit of a misfit. Because of his size he is bullied and generally not having the best childhood. Except for the absolute relationship he has with his father.

Anyway, while he is at a magic show he is selected from the audience and in his eyes moves a bottle through the faith in himself the magician instills in him. Later he reads that faith can move mountains. During an encounter with a bully the boy repeats this statement and gets called out by the bully. He decides to prove his faith just an earthquake hits the area. Again the boy believes his absolute faith has caused the mountain to move.

He then talks to the local priest about faith and how to get his father home. The priests sets him a task to prove to himself how strong his faith is (The task is non religious by the way)

The boy completes the task. Japan surrenders and the boy's father comes home. In the eyes of this little boy his unshakable belief and faith were the things that brought his dad home.

But the audience knows what really brought the boy's father home. Was this an act of God in response to a child's prayer? Were the prayers of the children of Hiroshima attended to?

Was "Little Boy" not the name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

 

[yog_sothoth]

The boy completes the task. Japan surrenders and the boy's father comes home. In the eyes of this little boy his unshakable belief and faith were the things that brought his dad home.

They named the movie after one of the two nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. They likely used "Little Boy" as a movie called "Fat Man" would have been harder to write. My impression, based on the title and the plot, is that whitewashing the bombing of Japan was the point of writing the movie.

 

[Tatyana]

But the audience knows what really brought the boy's father home. Was this an act of God in response to a child's prayer? Were the prayers of the children of Hiroshima attended to?

Was "Little Boy" not the name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

Little boy and Fat Man.

The name does seem distasteful.

 

[Leumas]

But the audience knows what really brought the boy's father home. Was this an act of God in response to a child's prayer? Were the prayers of the children of Hiroshima attended to?

Was "Little Boy" not the name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

The War Prayer
by Mark Twain​

....
Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth into battle — be Thou near them! With them — in spirit — we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended in the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames in summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it —

For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimmage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!

We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

Battle Hymn of the Republic
by Mark Twain​

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

...

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom -- and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich --
Our god is marching on.

 

[Tatyana]

The War Prayer
by Mark Twain​

....
Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth into battle — be Thou near them! With them — in spirit — we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended in the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames in summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it —

For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimmage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!

We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

Battle Hymn of the Republic
by Mark Twain​

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

...

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom -- and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich --
Our god is marching on.

He might have been taking the mic.










"'In God We Trust.' I don't believe it would sound any better if it were true."

"It ain't the parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

"Religion consists in a set of things which the average man thinks he believes and wishes he was certain of."

"There is no other life; life itself is only a vision and a dream for nothing exists but space and you. If there was an all-powerful God, he would have made all good, and no bad." Mark Twain in Eruption

"Our Bible reveals to us the character of our god with minute and remorseless exactness... It is perhaps the most damnatory biography that exists in print anywhere. It makes Nero an angel of light and leading by contrast" Reflections on Religion, 1906



"[The Bible is] a mass of fables and traditions, mere mythology." Mark Twain and the Bible

"Man is a marvelous curiosity ... he thinks he is the Creator's pet ... he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea." Letters from the Earth

"If there is a God, he is a malign thug."



"[The Bible] has noble poetry in it... and some good morals and a wealth of obscenity, and upwards of a thousand lies."

 

[Leumas]

He might have been taking the mic.

Yes of course he was... Twain was an atheist.... he was showing how absurd are the people who do go to church to pray for such things without of course considering or comprehending the ludicrous contradictions such prayers entail.

It's like the "Lord is my Shepherd..."

Don't people ever consider the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep?

Why does a shepherd feed the sheep?

Is it out of love for them or is it out of love for their fleeces and their milk and their flesh?

Why does a shepherd protect his sheep?

Is it out of love for them or is it out of protection for his property?

If there were any Lords and they wanted to be my shepherds I would be running as fast and as far away as I could possibly run.

Do you know why they call a priest the Pastor and his parishioners his flock?

Because he keeps fleecing them.​

 

[rjh01]

I would not worry too much about the movie. Rotten tomatoes give it a score of 14% http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/little_boy_2015/?search=Little Boy# .

Edit. Their comment

Well-meaning but manipulative on a horrifically misguided scale, Little Boy is the rare faith-based film that many viewers may find legitimately offensive.

 

[Slowvehicle]

That's just god's bad aim, he was going for the BYU football team.

Wait.

They were gay?

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The Japanese considered their population expendable. "One Hundred Million Dead in Defense of the Homeland" was Gen. Anami's slogan. They moved the munitions industry to the civilian homes, making them targets.

As for Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they were both homes for the Military Headquarters for their prefects. One of the bombs went off almost directly over 5,000 troops lined up for inspection.

The use of the bombs was legit in the context of the war.

 

[Craig B]

The Japanese considered their population expendable. "One Hundred Million Dead in Defense of the Homeland" was Gen. Anami's slogan. They moved the munitions industry to the civilian homes, making them targets.

As for Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they were both homes for the Military Headquarters for their prefects. One of the bombs went off almost directly over 5,000 troops lined up for inspection.

The use of the bombs was legit in the context of the war.

Even if that were so, does it mean we can represent this mass destruction of life as God's answer to a Little Boy's prayer to bring his father home safe? Do you think that's right?

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Even if that were so, does it mean we can represent this mass destruction of life as God's answer to a Little Boy's prayer to bring his father home safe? Do you think that's right?

Well, I think out lord Satan answers all prayers.

 

[fuelair]

Little boy and Fat Man.

The name does seem distasteful.

referred simply to the relative size of the bombs.

 

[Leumas]

Well, I think out lord Satan answers all prayers.

Exactly... in the context of woo, that would be the only explanation for the "logic" of the sky-daddy "reality".

This is what I keep saying is the Reductio Ad Absurdum proof that any mono-sky-daddy concept is a false one.

If a mono-sky-daddy is to be in any form functionally meaningful as a sky-daddy then he cannot help but become a devil for the ones he is not a daddy to... and even to ones who consider themselves his children but who are considered to be of the slave mothers or of illegitimate origins.

Monotheism is absolutely falsifiable due to its auto-contradiction.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

referred simply to the relative size of the bombs.

Yeah, I would gone for Laurel and Hardy.

 

[Craig4]

It seems a bit strong to call this a damning indictment of American culture. The highest critic rating was a 65 on Fandango and that was mostly for the performances by the boy and the actor who played the guy released from an internment camp. The dialogue got panned by the critics for beating the audience over the head with the moralizing. It also doesn't appear to be on very many screens. I live in a major market and the four closest theaters to me aren't showing it. The one that is has it on one of 17 screens.

It's only an indictment of culture if a lot of people see it and like it. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

 

[Craig B]

referred simply to the relative size of the bombs.

The name of the film is distasteful, I think is meant, because the Little Boy praying for his father is described by the same term applied to the bomb, which killed many a little boy in Hiroshima.

 

[yog_sothoth]

It seems a bit strong to call this a damning indictment of American culture. The highest critic rating was a 65 on Fandango and that was mostly for the performances by the boy and the actor who played the guy released from an internment camp. The dialogue got panned by the critics for beating the audience over the head with the moralizing. It also doesn't appear to be on very many screens. I live in a major market and the four closest theaters to me aren't showing it. The one that is has it on one of 17 screens.

It's only an indictment of culture if a lot of people see it and like it. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

It was released in a little over 1000 theaters and made 2.8 million, in 13th place for the weekend. Certainly not in blockbuster territory. The negative reviews and strongly negative "Rotten Tomatoes" critics consensus were heartening.

The name is offensive to me as they are deliberately conflating the name of a nuclear weapon dropped on a city with the nickname of a character they do their best to portray as sympathetic and innocent. Implying that the nuking of Hiroshima as god's answer to a little boy's prayers makes sure that you don't miss their point.

 

[ponderingturtle]

No comment on the movie, but I knew and know some guys that were damn happy the bomb ended the war for them.

The action will be judged in history by people that had no skin in the game, but many Americans were relieved when they heard the news that Japan had surrendered, and how that came about was far less important to them.

Of course, no one should try to question of understand god, otherwise one would have to question why he inspired the holocaust. Never question god. Killing thousands of people means nothing to him after all.

 

[ponderingturtle]

I rather think that you have misperceived the point - if godiddt for the best of the world, fine and dandy. But if godiddit for one little kid but with no concern priorly for the prayers and cries of torment of millions of other children then god is a flaming mother raping *******. I find atheism much more rational in that respect.

But the kids in those cities where neither white nor christian who why would god care about them? Totally worthwhile collateral damage to satisfy one small white christian male child.

 

[catsmate]

The Japanese considered their population expendable. "One Hundred Million Dead in Defense of the Homeland" was Gen. Anami's slogan. They moved the munitions industry to the civilian homes, making them targets.

As for Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they were both homes for the Military Headquarters for their prefects. One of the bombs went off almost directly over 5,000 troops lined up for inspection.

The use of the bombs was legit in the context of the war.

Nitpick; the slogan for Ketsu-Go was "One Hundred Million Will Die for the Emperor and Nation". As I've argued previously the use of the atomic bombs was justified on the basis of lack of better alternatives.

Even if that were so, does it mean we can represent this mass destruction of life as God's answer to a Little Boy's prayer to bring his father home safe? Do you think that's right?

Oh hell no, that's just silly.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Nitpick; the slogan for Ketsu-Go was "One Hundred Million Will Die for the Emperor and Nation".

I've seen at least three posters (actually paper posters) that have other versions of that slogan. I quoted Gen. Anami because he used that one in a broadcast speech on August 4th, 1945.

 

[tsig]

Wait.

They were gay?

Yes but only in a nice way.

 

[tsig]

Of course, no one should try to question of understand god, otherwise one would have to question why he inspired the holocaust. Never question god. Killing thousands of people means nothing to him after all.

We are but playthings to the gods, they kill us for their sport.

 

[Craig B]

But the kids in those cities where neither white nor christian who why would god care about them? Totally worthwhile collateral damage to satisfy one small white christian male child.

I wonder if the makers of the film had that aspect in mind. Surely not. Even by standards of religious bigotry, that would be deplorable.

By the way, if you want to favour Japanese Christians over other Japanese people, there's one city you should leave untouched.

Nagasaki became the center of Japanese Catholicism, and maintained close cultural and religious ties to its Portuguese origins. These ties were severed once Christianity was outlawed; at this point, Catholicism went underground, its rites preserved by the Kakure Kirishitan, or "hidden Christians", who continued practicing their faith in secret private devotion.