A new movie coming soon and entitled Collision explores the topic of Christianity and whether or not it is “good for the world.” Featuring the recorded conversations between atheist Christopher Hitchens from Great Britain and pastor Douglas Wilson from the USA is quite provocative and well done. Here is a 13 minute sneak preview:

Here are a few thoughts from Justin Taylor [Between Two Worlds] by way of review:

• Hitchens believes that “vicarious atonement” (one man taking the sins of another) is deeply immoral. It powerfully reinforced to me the truth of 1 Cor. 1:23-25: the gospel of Jesus Christ cruficied and risen is simply foolish to the world; in reality Jesus Christ is “the power of God” and he is “the wisdom of God”; and God’s “foolishness” is wiser than men, and God’s “weakness” is stronger than men.

• I really liked that there was no “voice of God” narration. Which means that virtually the entire film consists of Hitchens and Wilson talking–making arguments, asking questions, responding, trading favorite P.G. Wodehouse lines, etc. The result is that you get to hear a lot of arguments–something very rare.

• The editing is evenhanded. It seemed to me that both men essentially got “equal time.”

• It was good to see the friendship between Wilson and Hitchens that has developed through their time traveling together and debating each other. One senses that Wilson is one of the few Christians that Hitchens actually respects.

• The music throughout is simply great.