Movie Review
The God Who Wasn't There is great example of narrow minded propaganda that hopes to convince folks about the silliness of Christianity. So the pseudo-documentary sets up straw men, interviews only “experts” that extend the film’s thesis, neglects to substantiate its radical claims, and caricatures extreme visions of fundamentalist Christianity and thus falsely concludes that Christian faith is found wanting.
After Brian Flemming, the author/director, asserts that since Paul doesn’t ever speak of a human Jesus (a false claim; besides, how about Josephus and Tacitus for extra-canonical starters), the film then summarily dismisses the Jesus of Nazareth as ever having existed. Then, as if by making such a claim makes it so, the film then goes on to debunk Christianity as irrational and negative. Of course, the Christianity they debunk is a dispensationalist fundamentalism. And the film’s sources for this “expose’” is someone who runs a website on the validity of the rapture and Christian school administrator that by all appearances is deliberately set up.
It’s a shame that the film doesn’t take on some credible sources and really explore the historical possibilities of Jesus. Of course, if Flemming had done that he wouldn’t have nearly fun bashing his little straw men. My guess is that credible sources would unlikely be willing to be interviewed. There would be little guarantee that Flemming has any interest in pursuing truth. Seemingly, his sole interest is justifying his rejection of a form of the Christian faith that by most Christian observers would be highly suspect.
As often happens, the baby sailed out the window with the bath water.
My original thought was that the film might represent an alternative, critical look at Christianity. However, after previewing the film, my conclusion is that most atheists who are serious thinkers would find the film insulting—particularly in regard to journalistic integrity and historical work.
So I would say look elsewhere for something to chew on. The God Who Wasn’t There is thin gruel indeed!
Carson Reed
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