So far, the worst–most ridiculous and far-fetched–Christian killer I’ve seen is Jake Busey‘s 

revivalist-terrorist in Robert Zemeckis’ Contact. The whole movie is pretty ridiculous, some outstanding cinematic effects aside. Every character is a caricature, and the point of the movie seems to be that whatever we’re exploring–whether science or religion–in the end we’re really just exploring (say it with me) ourselves. If only MST3K were still around to give this movie the proper treatment. 

Busey’s Christian revivalist hates Jodie Foster’s scientist, though we’re never told why; the fact that he’s a fundamentalist is apparently explanation enough. Eventually, he straps a bomb to his chest and blows himself, a few scientists, and an expensive alien communication machine to kingdom come. 

Which raises a question: What’s the precedent for characterizing a Christian extremist as a suicide bomber? Timothy McVeigh might count, or maybe abortion clinic protestors of earlier days, but is this mostly an example of Hollywood’s general tone-deaf-ness when it comes to religion? I’m not saying representations of, say, Arab Americans are any better, but still–why this conflation of Christian extremism and suicide bombing? What do you make of a characterization like this?