"Field of Dreams" and the False Gospel of Inner Divinity: A Christian Movie Review

In this follow-up to his Hitchcock review, Dr. Douglas Groothuis offers a sharp and thoughtful worldview critique of the beloved 1989 film Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. While the film presents a moving story of faith, family, and reconciliation, it does so through a distinctly New Age lens — one that subtly replaces the biblical God with the self as the ultimate authority.

Drawing from his background in Christian philosophy and apologetics, Dr. Groothuis unpacks the philosophical assumptions behind the film’s famous line, “If you build it, he will come”, and contrasts them with the truth of biblical revelation, divine transcendence, and eternal hope. For anyone learning to engage media with discernment, this short essay offers a powerful example of Christian film analysis in action.

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🔑 Main Takeaways

• Understand why worldview analysis matters when watching emotionally compelling films.

• Learn how Field of Dreams reflects a New Age worldview, where the voice of God is replaced by the “inner self.”

• Explore how the film's portrayal of heaven, karma, and fulfillment differs from biblical eschatology.

• Hear a call to discern the difference between emotional resonance and theological truth.

• Be reminded of the true Christian hope: not dream fulfillment, but redemptive fulfillment in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21–22).

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Bible Verses Referenced

• Revelation 21, Revelation 22:15

Resources & Mentions

• 🎥 Field of Dreams (1989), directed by Phil Alden Robinson

• 📘 How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer

• 🌐 DouglasGroothuis.com

• 🏫 Cornerstone University and Theological Seminary

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📣 Calls to Ac