Just having watched Jesus Camp, which speaks against extremist religious indoctrination of kids in America, I watched this movie with apprehension. It started with the same kind of editing tricks and smart voice narration that I found in 9/11 conspiracy theory films and while I am an atheist myself and rather against organized religion of any kind, I am also against people who use atheism as an excuse to make political statements, like against Bush.
But I was wrong. In the middle of the movie the narrator reveals that he himself was brought up in the evangelical world, educated from a child to accept Jesus or suffer eternal damnation. During Jesus Camp I often wondered "how do this kids grow up and still believe all that crap?" Well, some don't. Some understand what has been done to them and strike back.
The information itself is rather one sided, but makes a lot of valid points. The Jesus myth has nothing really special. A lot of other religions before Christianity had the same stories with some of the same details, what makes this one special? How much of the Bible can you take as literal truth? And if your answer is "all of it" why not start killing disbelievers and gay people right away? Why stop or hinder scientific research based on lame metaphysical beliefs?
The rather direct way in which the movie attacks Christianity in general and evangelists in particular is likely to make it really hard to stomach for that kind of folk. It also seems to be a part of a bunch of movies inspired by the ridiculous pseudo-religious policy of the White House. That might make one think they are either politically motivated or based on some personal grudge. But even if you think it's evil or in bad taste or unchristian or whatever, just listen to what it has to say.
Bottom line: very informative, could have been better. But just consider it is a one man show, without the finances and resources of large religious organizations to back it up.
But I was wrong. In the middle of the movie the narrator reveals that he himself was brought up in the evangelical world, educated from a child to accept Jesus or suffer eternal damnation. During Jesus Camp I often wondered "how do this kids grow up and still believe all that crap?" Well, some don't. Some understand what has been done to them and strike back.
The information itself is rather one sided, but makes a lot of valid points. The Jesus myth has nothing really special. A lot of other religions before Christianity had the same stories with some of the same details, what makes this one special? How much of the Bible can you take as literal truth? And if your answer is "all of it" why not start killing disbelievers and gay people right away? Why stop or hinder scientific research based on lame metaphysical beliefs?
The rather direct way in which the movie attacks Christianity in general and evangelists in particular is likely to make it really hard to stomach for that kind of folk. It also seems to be a part of a bunch of movies inspired by the ridiculous pseudo-religious policy of the White House. That might make one think they are either politically motivated or based on some personal grudge. But even if you think it's evil or in bad taste or unchristian or whatever, just listen to what it has to say.
Bottom line: very informative, could have been better. But just consider it is a one man show, without the finances and resources of large religious organizations to back it up.