I wanted to see Andrew Denton‘s documentary, God On My Side, when it hit the cinemas late last year back but never quite got there.
I wanted to get to bed really early on Monday night to get over the remnants of the flu but never quite got there.
Australia’s ABC Television screened God On My Side on Monday night and I made the mistake of watching the first couple of minutes. I was hooked. I sat there through to the end and I’ve got to say that I was very impressed with the way Denton handled the subject matter.
God On My Side is a film about Andrew Denton’s visit to the 63rd National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention in Dallas, Texas, in February 2006.
More than 6 000 Christian communicators gathered to discuss how best to spread the word of God and how to take advantage of opportunities presented by the explosion of new technologies and audiences.
Rather than being a comment on Christianity I saw the documentary as a comment on those who would try to sell Christianity as a product.
Some of the beliefs held by several of those Denton interviewed were rather disturbing. Some of the products being sold were tacky and disturbing. Fellow blogger, Phil Cooke, seemed to be the voice of reason among those giving their points of view.
A couple of thousand years ago Jesus spent a fair bit of time talking to crowds so I’m not against trying to take his message to large groups of people, after all I do work in Christian radio, but I do get concerned when the messages that people are sending out don’t match up with the messages that Jesus himself was spreading.
Blind allegiance to any political leader based only on their professed religious faith is of great concern. Even the great leaders of the Bible messed up. To hear some of the people interviewed pledge their approval for everything George W. Bush does, without checking whether his actions are just or right or Biblical scares me. Likewise, the belief of some of those interviewed that Israel should be protected no matter what the country does is frightening.
One of the things that also concerns me is the tendency to turn the Christian faith into a set of beliefs and prescribed behaviours. Yes, there needs to be belief and there needs to be evidence of our faith in our behaviour but reducing it down to a formula is totally ignoring what the faith is all about.
I suppose I could write all day about how I think others are getting it wrong but in the end I need to look at myself and judge myself against what the Bible calls me to be and do.
I don’t think I can go too far wrong if I continue to move towards the kind of faith described in the Old Testament book of Micah where it says, “… the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. “
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: God On My Side – Andrew Denton – Faith
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Good summary Rod,
I found Andrew to be a professional ‘mirror’ in that he merely showed what was going on, the good and the bad. He was fair minded, but also showed the ‘kook’. Your point about political alleigance is very well made.
Typical of the quandry I have is the interview with the ‘Duff’ brothers. On one hand they are genuine Christians who told a moving story about how God convicted them. In the next breath they were swearing blind alleigance to Bush…….
I wonder what isssues I have, that I cant see?
It sounds like I need to see this doco. It concerns me also the way that Christianity is becoming an ‘industry’ in and of itself in some sectors. Of course, with industry comes the opportunity for profit, and there will always be some who are willing to put that ahead of all else.
I can relate to why Jesus went and upturned the stalls at the church bazaar…
I saw this doco when in Dec last year when it was screening down at the Lunar in Freo. On one hand some of the beliefs and the consumerism of Christian ‘products’ was quite concerning. I remember the bit about that lady who was selling bibles where you could get your own name inserted into. Far out!
On the other hand, I reckon Andrew Denton did a great job in being as unbiased as one can be in a documentary.
Denton was very fair, but he certainly did stumble on some wacky people.
At the end of the day, we did not come off looking at all good!
Rodney – appreciate your perspective on the documentary by Andrew. I was in Australia last week and had the chance to talk to him again, and I’m very impressed with his openness. You’re right – his series title “Enough Rope” says it all – in “God on My Side” he let each person hang themselves by simply letting them talk. I’m glad you felt I didn’t hang myself… 🙂
Thanks for this post Rodney. I was surprised that Australian Christian blogs didn’t “light up” the morning after this doco. Perhaps that’s testiment to the fact that Denton did give a fair depiction of the southern American Christian landscape. I hope this doesn’t sound condescending – but I think Denton has matured in his craft since he first appeared on the TV. I appreciate that and enjoy his interviewing style.
haven’t seen it, but i think i’d like to!
also bumping u a line from over at Thats My Answer!
Phil Cooke did a superb job of representing Christianity in a mature, media savvy way. Thanks Phil.
Hamo, I think people can discern there are kooks in every religion, and see sincerity as well.
I dont think Christianity came off as bad as we might think.
If anyone saw the Richard Dawkins show on Compass, he came across as an angry, unreasonable Atheist.
Despite the way he tried to present himself as being the reasonable one, blind freddy could see he came off giving atheists a terrible name.
Which is just to say that people can see insincerity wherever it is.