Ten Reflections on "Collision"

1. Artistically, this film is very well done. The music is quite diverse and impactful. As a musician, when I watch a film, if the music is engaging right from the start, I know that I will probably like the movie. I am weird with first impressions like that, but it seems to always play out that way. This film did a great job with the music. The editing is also very well done and will keep you visually interested.

2. This film is fast paced. For those of us who don't have much training in differing world-views or philosophical reasoning, you might find that you'll need to hit the pause button and reflect on what these guys are kicking back and forth. That was my wife's first response. I wouldn't let that stop you from watching it. You might miss a bit, but you'll catch quite a bit as well. It would be worth watching a couple times, just to review and rethink what is going on.

3. Hitchens is a bit of a rock star today in pop culture for good reason. He has the cool British accent, he is very quick, witty and funny. To me, he just kind of looks like a guy who is an atheist. I know that sounds weird, but the way he holds himself makes me thinks that his face bears out the implications of his worldview. He looks sad, heavy and downcast. If all we are is just random matter in motion, then why be happy?

Hitchens is a great pop-atheist, but a guy like William Lane Craig would eat him for lunch, and I think already has (if anyone has a link to this, please pass is on in the comments section). There is not a ton of content in what he brings, but he sure is engaging. I would like to hang out with him.

4. Wilson keeps pressing, over and over again, for Hitchens to give a ground or foundation for his worldview. For example, Hitchens, repeatedly lambastes believers for not condemning the slaughter of the Amalekites in the Old Testament. How Christians make sense of that is another post for another day, but Wilson keeps pressing Hitchens on WHY he believes that biblical scene is objectively wrong. Why should we listen to Hitchens in his complaint? If he has no objective moral standard to which he appeals, then he is simply reduced to preferences. Why should we listen to Hitchens? Hitchens claims over and over that things like this are WRONG, but he fails to ever explain why we should care. Why is his view of the world better than say, Hitler's, who thought slaughtering a certain sect of people was completely sane and good. Hitler or Hitchens? Based on what standard can we say one is better than the other? Unless you appeal to an objective standard outside of yourself (God) you are simply reduces to preferences. I prefer life, you might prefer death, but who is to say one is better than the other with any sense of authority? Hitchens always has to borrow from the Christian worldview to make his worldview coherent, but he never admits this.

5. There is a pointed scene where they each talk about their upbringing as children. Hitchens was subjected to Christian education, but his family was completely uninvolved in seeing any of this teaching take root in his life. On the other hand, Wilson's family taught and modeled the Gospel intentionally and consistently for him. This was a great point of reminder and conviction for me as a parent.

6. One of the funniest and oddest scenes in the movie is when they are filmed getting out of the helicopter and walking on the tarmac towards what I would assume to be a car to pick them up and take them to their destination. The way it is shot is completely like a hip-hop video, where the rock stars exit the helicopter with the win blowing in their hair while they strut away with all the bling and half-dressed ladies. It's just quite oddly funny that their scene is shot exactly the same way, with the head bobbing hip -hop music in the back ground, but it's chubby Hitchens and Wilson, sporting the kakis and briefcases, walking away from the helicopter. They are the anti-rock stars, but it's shot the same way. Very funny in my view.

7. Hitchens states that if God actually exists and then inflicts so much suffering on us (like 9/11 for example), why should we ever believe in Him? Why run to him? He is just a big fat meanie in the sky. This begs of the question of purpose in suffering. What is extremely important to note is that Christians have a God who suffers with us and for us at the Cross. Hitchens does not get this, but if you do, much of your suffering will be endurable, still painful, yet meaningful. There is a telos to our suffering and there is comfort in the fact that one day ultimate justice will be served. It is interesting to note that Hitchens does admit that in his worldview ultimate justice for say, Hitler, will never be served and this is an unavoidable conclusion.

8. It's great to see these guys model engagement with one another without any screaming and yelling. It's as far from Jerry Springer as one could get. I found it to be a great picture of seeing two guys who vehemently disagree on worldview issues, but can still laugh together over quotes of literature that they both share an appreciation for. Most in our culture would say that we should relegate worldview discussions to the realm of taboo, and simply talk about where we agree. We wouldn't want to get anyone offended. But this film portrays two men who can interact on matters of utmost importance and still seem to maintain a healthy respect for one another. You get the sense that these guys actually like each other. This is important to view in our culture of pervasive political correctness where feelings are more important than Truth.

9. There is a scene where Hitchens describes the immense and crushing beauty of the Universe. It's a quite moving description. I find myself wanting to ask him, does random evolutionary matter in motion perceive beauty? How? Where does a sense of beauty come from? Seems that evolution from primordial slime has nothing to do with nor could ever produce a sense of beauty in a thing. Beauty implies some sense of objectivity and order. Where in the world could this possibility come from?

10. The last scene leaves you with a feeling of mystery that I find to be very post-modern, but I like it. I'll leave it to you to watch it and make your own conclusions. Hitchens gets the last word, but it's a word of hope... sort of.

You can buy this DVD here.