The God Who Wasn't There
by Brian Flemming
List Price:
Our Price: $19.20
You Save: $5.74 (23%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Alan Dundes, Richard Carrier, Richard Dawkins, Robert M. Price, Sam HarrisDirector: Brian Flemming
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Digital Sound, Dolby, DVD, Full length, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 320 minutes
Published: 2005-06-06
DVD Release Date: 2005-08-23
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Beyond Belief Media
DVD Reviews of The God Who Wasn't There
DVD Review: Occasionally interesting, mostly just bad
Summary: 2 Stars
I was seriously disappointed by this documentary. The production was shoddy and frequently annoying, with random background music that seemed to have no bearing on the topic at hand. The graphics were amateurish at best.
As far as the content goes, many of the experts had interesting things to say. The narrator unfortunately did a disservice to the film by trying too hard to make it personal. He really did not seem to be after an objective, honest discussion, but rather seemed to be on a personal crusade to discredit Christianity, with tactics that came across as openly dishonest in places.
Avoid this drivel. If you want a far superior documentary on a related subject, see Judgment Day - Intelligent Design on Trial
For what it's worth, I'm an atheist.
DVD Review: Important subject, badly made
Summary: 1 Stars
Brian Flemming falls into the same trap as many unexperienced documentary makers do: He tries to ridicule those he is supposed to convince believe in the wrong things, and spreads bad music fairly evenly all over. A similar approach as Ben Stein had in his ridiculous "documentary" on evolution called "Expelled". The Germans have a saying for this: "Man merkt die Absicht und wird verstimmt". The interviews are good because the participants are trained in this, but nothing new in them. Flemmings personal part just ends in being able to have a his interview object braking the conversation and him saying "I don't beleive in the Holy Ghost", which is hardly a very provocative or enlightening statement. The subject of disproving the existence of Jesus gets lost in bad editing and bad visual material. So if this is the best American Documentarists can produce on such an important question, i'd rather watch "Life of Bryan" again DVD Review: Not Believing What You Can't See
Summary: 5 Stars
This was one man's story of his earliest experiences with and later investigation of religion and his results that culminated with his interview with the principal of the religious school he had attended as a child. When, at the end of the film, he interviews the principal and asks him some excellent questions that very much deserved to be answered, the principal ends the interview and storms off camera. This is a gem of a film and should be seen by anyone who has ever had the strength of character and intelligence to question the validity of religion.DVD Review: "I am not afraid"--Brian Flemming
Summary: 4 Stars
I was a little disappointed when I first watched this documentary. I don't know what I was expecting, but I thought it was a bit dumbed down and focused too much on popular culture, but I think now that that was the point. So many mainstream Christians get knowledge from movies about Christ like The Passion of the Christ. The interviews of Christians outside the Billy Graham Crusade at the Rose Bowl explaining the life of Jesus and then struggling with ambiguities how they believe Christianity spread after Christ's death is the knowledge most Christians have about their faith. Most people are not going to be historians of ancient times who will dive into their studies with questions that might put doubt into their beliefs. I never wondered how the Christian religion spread, so the information produced in this documentary was very eye-opening.
Brian Flemming, who produced this film, was a student of Village Christian School in Sun Valley, California. He learned that the one thing that was unforgivable and would send you to damnation was the denial of the Holy Spirit. This caused Flemming great terror and anxiety when doubts crept into his mind. In this film, he returns to the school and chapel that were the scenes of his fears. He questions the Superintendent until the Superintendent begins to suspect a rat and leaves. Then Flemming gets some closure at the chapel. Before all that, these are the most important points I learned from this documentary.
A gap of 40 years exist between the life of Christ and the Book of Mark which documents his ministry. The Apostle Paul who wrote about Christianity and sought Christian converts during this gap only knew of Jesus's death and resurrection. He did not place these events on earth. No one seemed to remember that Jesus lived on earth until the Book of Mark.
Folklore Professor Alan Dundes lists the 22-points of the mythological hero which uses Oedipus as the model. Jesus shared 19 of these characteristics and, it was acknowledged at the beginning of the Christian church, that Jesus's story was similar to that of pagan gods told long before. The explanation Christian leaders gave was that Satan foresaw Jesus and counterfeited his story through other pagan gods beforehand so his story would not be believed.
Other parts of the hour-long documentary discuss the military aspect of Christianity and the obsession with blood sacrifice. With extremists being more in line with the literal translation of the Bible, where does moderate Christianity fit in? Then there is the Rapture Letters guy. He has a website where you can submit email addresses and he will send out emails when the Rapture comes explaining that the sender has gone to Heaven. I can picture it: "It's Armageddon!? Wait! I need to get on my laptop so I can send out these emails!"
The bonus material includes extended interviews and "commentaries" with such people as "The Jesus Puzzle" author Earl Doherty, the "Raving Atheist" blogger and Richard Dawkins. Actually, they aren't really commentaries but telephone interviews pasted together. I don't know why the documentary needs to be playing in the background. It's distracting. In sum, this documentary was not earth-shattering, but it did bring up important points of which I was not aware and, for that, I am glad I purchased it. Christians and scholars who are more knowledgeable will probably not gain much from it and won't be swayed one way or another.
DVD Review: Lost in the inner space.
Summary: 1 Stars
The idea of this film is good and actual. Its really translates the inner feeling that partain people from 21 centure. This film is a personal revanche as " The third Jihad, Religulous and othres.
Description of The God Who Wasn't There
Bowling for Columbine did it to the gun culture. Super Size Me did it to fast food. Now The God Who Wasn't There does it to religion.Holding modern Christianity up to a bright spotlight, this eye-opening documentary asks the questions few dare to ask. "Did Jesus even exist?" is just the beginning for The God Who Wasn't There. Your guide through the world of Christendom is former fundamentalist Brian Flemming, joined by such luminaries as Jesus Seminar fellow Robert M. Price, author Sam Harris and historian Richard Carrier.
In addition to the film, which won the Best Documentary award at the 2005 Grassroots Cinema Film Festival, this feature-packed DVD includes:
-Special commentary tracks with Richard Dawkins and Earl Doherty
-Over one hour of compelling additional interview footage
-An in-depth Web-enabled slide show
-Music from the soundtrack
-Bios of all participants
This provocative DVD takes off the gloves and gives religion an unprecedented, no-holds-barred examination. So hold on to your faith. It's in for a bumpy ride.
General DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Valentino: The Last EmperorPEACE ARCH HOME ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2009-09-08; DVD
Best price: $13.00
Price in other shops:
The Civil War - A Film by Ken BurnsBURNS,KEN; Release date: 2004-09-28; DVD
Best price: $35.95
Price in other shops:
On the Road with Charles Kuralt, Set 1Acorn; Release date: 2009-10-27; DVD
Best price: $27.10
Price in other shops:
![The National Parks: America's Best Idea [Blu-ray] Image](/images/The-National-Parks-America-Best-Idea-Blu-ray-B002GWDK6Q-X.jpg){kind=small}
The National Parks: America's Best Idea [Blu-ray]Release date: 2009-10-06; DVD
Best price: $68.53
Price in other shops:
Monty Python: Almost The TruthUni; Release date: 2009-10-27; DVD
Best price: $18.97
Price in other shops:
The Secret (Extended Edition)The Secret; Release date: 2006-10-01; Published: 2006; DVD
Best price: $7.78
Price in other shops:
The CarterHART SHARP VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-17; DVD
Best price: $13.85
Price in other shops:
Ken Burns: National Parks - America's Best IdeaRelease date: 2009-10-06; DVD
Best price: $60.95
Price in other shops:
Planet Earth - The Complete BBC SeriesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $26.67
Price in other shops:
Food, Inc.MAGNOLIA PICT HM ENT; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Sense & Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalismby Richard Carrier
AuthorHouse; Published: 2005-02-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.69
Price in other shops:
Letter to a Christian Nation (Vintage)by Sam Harris
Vintage; Published: 2008-01-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.22
Price in other shops:
AAI 2007 ConventionRelease date: 2008-05-05; DVD
Best price: $20.00
Price in other shops:
Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalismby David Mills
Ulysses Press; Published: 2006-08-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.63
Price in other shops:
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reasonby Sam Harris
W. W. Norton; Published: 2005-10-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.13
Price in other shops:
Letting Go of GodRelease date: 2008-11-21; DVD
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Jesus CampMAGNOLIA FILMS; Release date: 2007-01-23; DVD
Best price: $13.31
Price in other shops:
The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesusby Earl Doherty
Age of Reason Publications; Published: 2005-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.78
Price in other shops:
Discussions with Richard Dawkins, Episode One: The Four HorsemanVictor; Release date: 2008-05-20; Published: 2008; DVD
Best price: $20.00
Price in other shops:
ReligulousLIONS GATE HOME ENT.; Release date: 2009-02-17; DVD
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops: