Deep Thoughts....

Here's another movie to check out: The God Who Wasn't There.

This film is an interesting investigation into the premise that Jesus is a figure purely of mythology - a story, a folktale, with NO basis in the existence of any real person.

The academic case is interesting and has some merit. It is not the popular view, obviously not among Christians, and even among secular Bible scholars, many still find evidence that some actual person existed, and upon this person the story of Jesus is founded.

The producer has an agenda - to demonstrate the lack of rational/factual basis for belief in Jesus Christ, and to point out that it is thus a problem that so many people use that belief as a premise for their everyday actions. A number of academics, religious and not, contribute to this discussion. A number of other contributions come from devout religious believers, most of whom (in my not-so-humble and secularist opinion) are treated fairly and and allowed to demonstrate their intellect and knowledge, or in some cases, lack of such. One of the exercises constructed was to have an interviewer discuss with attendees of the Billy Graham Crusade their knowledge of the historicity of the Christ story and of many other parallel myths which have not achieved the status of this particular one. Many demonstrated how their understanding of even the doctrines they accept to govern their lives is superficial and accepted only based on what a religious leader has preached to them.

It is unfortunate that the last episode of the movie, an interview with the principal of Village Christian Schools, degenerated somewhat into a Michael Moore-esque personal attack. In constrast to the apparently open questions posed to Christians on the street, allowing them to demonstrate their position, the interview with Dr. Sipus quickly became antagonistic as the proponent structured more and more leading quesitons as attacks on a personal foundation. Dr. Sipus' initial responses in the interview were well thought out and consistent with his accepted premise that Jesus Christ is a tangible being, present in the world today. While direct accusation and temper did not come into it, it became clear in further questioning of the school's stated principles that the producer's agenda was hostile - likely based on his own experiences in having attended this very school.

Despite this last interview departing from the rigors of structured/academic interview as a valid method of data gathering, the film overall is thought provoking and will incite a reaction. In the absolutely devout, the reaction will of course be a denial of any validity. For those of us, religious to varying degrees, who still believe that skeptical inquiry can inform both faith and doubt, it's a great vehicle for a jumping-off into the debate that enriches and informs our intellectual lives.