Episode 7: Horror and Faith (AKA Zombie Jesus)

February 22, 2011

Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono

Christians are usually comfortable with science fiction and fantasy, but less so with horror. In this episode of The Sci-Fi Christian, Ben and Matt debate the merits of the horror genre for people of faith.

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8 comments on “Episode 7: Horror and Faith (AKA Zombie Jesus)

  1. かぎづめ Feb 23, 2011

    I totally agree that horror movies can be good for us.

  2. First of all i just want to say great episode!

    Okay so Matt was trying to make the claim that Jesus was a Zombie (jokingly) and to me i say no. I mean come on be serious, that’s just ridiculous. But Matt brings up a good point with that communion thing, I just wanted to mention before i get taken out and stoned by the people that you just ticked off a lot of Catholics. Now you made them think that they are cannibals. That’s almost just mean.

    Final Score

    Matt 1 Catholics 0

  3. 爪グウィン Feb 23, 2011

    I think that Koby is right but i do not believe that it is possible for Jesus to be a Zombie. When he is resurrected they find his folded clothes sitting on a self. Have you ever seen a movie where Zombies can fold clothes

  4. Talan, I think you just won the argument:) Folded clothes=no way Jesus was a zombie

  5. 爪グウィン Feb 23, 2011

    Defiantly and plus Jesus appears and talks to people and tells them to do stuff. I have read books about Zombies that can talk, but Zombies telling people what to do. No way

  6. Michael Sep 22, 2011

    Where do things stand with that sci-fi Samson-as-superhero show, do you know? I would watch that in a heartbeat, especially because Samson and Delilah was the Scripture I used in my sermon as a candidate for ordination. I’ve got a soft spot for the poor, long-haired lug!

    Back before I was with the site, I wrote a piece on “Zombie Jesus,” which you can find here (shameless plug alert!): http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/article/entry/970/living-not-undead. So I was really interested to hear your conversation (which was a good one, as ever!). Short answer as to why Jesus isn’t a zombie: zombies are resuscitated, but Jesus was raised! Also, not all monster horror is the least believable kind, given what can we do with science these days.

    I’m not personally a fan of much horror, although I do enjoy psychological horror sometimes. I think Psycho is a great film. I loved Buffy, but that’s not hardcore horror, I know (similarly, any time Doctor Who shades toward Twilight Zone-esque horror, I’m okay with that!) I’ve only read one Steven King novel (Needful Things), but I would be open to reading more—too bad I missed The Stand read-along! And, to my surprise, I did enjoy The Walking Dead on TV, but when I tried the comic, found it to be too much. In a fit of enthusiasm, I bought the first massive compendium volume, but abandoned it about half-way through. Maybe I just needed to take it in smaller doses!

    You joked about an interview with angels, but angels might actually make a good topic for a podcast: angels in pop culture (both good and fallen) vs. angels in the Bible and maybe even various church traditions. Just a thought!

  7. I liked the angel show idea proposed by Michael.

  8. Philip Mar 15, 2015

    I’m not a fan of horror as a genre, but if there are horror elements in something else, I’m okay with it. When something is strictly in the genre, it doesn’t scare me, just annoys me mostly. The thoughts I have were covered really well in this episode, y’all did a great job.

    Here’s a horrifying personal story: I saw the original Friday the 13th at the theater- at the age of 8, no that’s not a typo. It was either that or The Shining and my older sisters picked Friday the 13th, I don’t know what my dad was thinking at the time. It totally scarred me, I was straight up traumatized. For years I checked under the bed, around the house, in closets, etc. before I could relax in a house by myself. Thankfully, I got over it eventually- but at the time I was a mess!

    A couple of zombie books I highly recommend are The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell (7 hrs & 25 min on audio) http://bit.ly/1AHNqnU and Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry (14 hrs & 45 min on audio) http://bit.ly/1AHMgc. I love them both- great stories!

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