Where is the Faith in “American Sniper” and “Unbroken?”

Two U.S. military heroes wrote books about their lives that became movies released in the last few weeks.  Both men wrote movingly about the way faith anchored their lives and guided their actions.  And yet there was little mention of their faith in the two films, “Unbroken,” the story of WWII soldier Louis Zamperini, and “American Sniper,” the story of Iraqi veteran Chris Kyle.

Sarah Pulliam Bailey wrote in the Washington Post:

Both stories focus on the dramatic stories of warriors who died before the movie versions of their lives came out. Both “American Sniper” and “Unbroken” include an early scene of their families sitting in church. Both men struggle with substance abuse after returning from war.

And both films largely skirt the faith that Kyle and Zamperini said were key to their identity — and their survival.