Of Godly Men

Last night I finally had the awesome experience of watching Of Gods and Men, the critically-acclaimed French film featuring the true story of Trappist monks caught up in the religious violence of the mid-1990's Algeria Civil War.  Based closely on James Kiser's book, The Monks of Tribhirine, the movie describes how the eight monks, led by Dom Christian de Cherge, prayerfully struggle with how to respond to the escalating threat from Islamic extremists and their violent crusdade against foreigners and "infidels." 

The monks are frightened by the risks, but feel compelled to remain at their monastery, despite entreaties from the French government and local authorities to leave for their own safety.  The monks provide medical services and have close personal ties to the local Muslim population and are loathe to abandon them.  They fight to maintain neutrality between the corrupt government and the militant insurgents and are caught between both in an ever-increasing spiral of danger.

I don't want to give too much away if any readers aren't familiar with the story, but I did find this film to be extremely compelling and inspiring from a faith perspective.  The modern secularist will probably be puzzled by the monks seemingly suicidal decision to hold their ground, as will perhaps a lot of Christians.  But this is no story of religious fanaticism, but rather the story of having a moral purpose and in meeting one's commitments to others in faithfulness that some things in life are worth grave risks.  The world would do well to learn about the kind of love (Christ-imitating love) that leads one to give everything for another, even those who look differently and believe differently than one's self.

Indeed, Of Gods and Men is, in part, a statement of a love that transcends religious differences.  As the situation in Algeria deterioriated in December 1993, the real Dom Christian began to prepare for his own possibly martyrdom, and wrote a beautiful "Last Testament" describing his decision to stay.  The entire text, and a lovely discussion about it, is featured in this 2007 article for Spiritual Life.  De Cherge wrote, in conclusion, an a priori message to the man who might someday take his life:

The final words, in Arabic, are the classic Muslim conclusion to any statement of worth, "God willing."
 
Of Gods and Men is moving, awe-inspiring, and compelling for anyone, believer or no-believer alike.

And also you, the friend of my final moment, who would not be aware of what you were doing.
Yes, I also say this THANK YOU and this A-DIEU to you, in whom I see the face of God.
And may we find each other, happy good thieves, in Paradise, if it pleases God, the Father of us both. Amen. In sha ‘Allah.