Joe played me. So I played movies.
Lord Save Us From Your Followers Tumblr
Yesterday, Joe was supposed to hang out with me and Zoe. We were going to hit up Starbucks and the park and enjoy the gorgeous 75 degree weather. But then Joe slept in and wiggled out of our date.
Not quite sure what to do with myself, I plopped down and watched Bill Maher’s “Religulous” and then “Lord Save Us From Your Followers.”
I don’t have much to say about “Religulous.” It was just okay. Maher pretty much asked a bunch of questions phrased in a such a way it was obvious he didn’t actually want any answers. They were really ways to elicit the most comedic responses, and at times, it works and the movie is funny. Those times, however, are too few and far in between. So yeah, that’s really all I’ve got to say about that.
I really liked “Lord Save Us From Your Followers.” Host Dan Merchant, an Evangelical Christian, takes a real honest look at the culture wars, politics and Christianity today in America. From the movie’s website:
If you were to meet ten average Americans on the street, nine of them would say they believe in God. So why is the Gospel of Love dividing America?
Dan Merchant put on his bumper-sticker-clad jumpsuit and decided to find the reason. After talking with scores of men and women on streets all across the nation, and also interviewing many well-known activists in today’s “Culture Wars,” Dan realized that the public discussion of faith doesn’t have to be contentious.
From its opening Talking Heads sequence through its touching look at faith in action, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers is a fast-paced, highly engaging documentary that explores the collision of faith and culture in America while opening up this important conversation to all of us.
As discussion of religion floods the media, the rhetoric is divisive, hyper, and most often, angry. With humor more common in a comedy-sketch program than a documentary, Merchant brings the sensibilities of someone who is deeply concerned with how his faith is being represented by others. Lord, Save Us provides a provocative, funny, and redemptive discussion that is sure to continue long after the credits run.
Merchant sits down for interviews with well-known people on all sides of this great divide, including best-selling author William Paul Young (The Shack), comedian/politician Al Franken, former “Religious Right” Senator Rick Santorum, noted “liberal evangelical” Tony Campolo, conservative radio host Michael Reagan, and racial reconciliation activist Dr. John Perkins.
If that’s not divergent enough, other features include Bono, Rick Warren, Bill Maher, James Dobson, George Clooney, Jerry Falwell, Stephen Colbert, Ann Coulter, Pat Robertson, Lewis Black, Tony Perkins, Monty Python, and even Stewie from “Family Guy”… along with many others.
The movie is all over the web, on Hulu and Netflix. I recommend it. Oh, and I did get my Starbucks and a little park time later after all once K got home.
Joe, you owe us.