Product Description: Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Seattle Interntional Film Festival, Dan Karslake's provocative, entertaining documentary brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture, and in the process reveals that Church-sanctioned anti-gay bias is based solely upon a significant (and often malicious) misinterpretation of the Bible. As the film notes, most Christians live their lives today without feeling obliged to kil anyone who works on the Sabbath or eats shrimp. Through the experience of five very normal, very Christian , very American families - including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson - we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. With commentary by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, For The Bible Tells Me So offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.
Powerful It was very important to make this film and to document the pain and joy of being different in the world and how some people will hold onto their belief no matter how hurtful they are and some people are willing to move love into their heart and change. YEA to the people who made the film, watch the film and share their thoughts and feelings.
Interesting and Thought-Provoking I watched this documentary as part of the book tour that Gene Robinson was on. Watching it and then hearing Gene speak was incredible. The high-energy hate of the film followed by the calm (though no less passioned) talk that Gene gave was an interesting juxtaposition. Of course, the movie is about Gene Robinson's life and consecration as Bishop of New Hampshire (in the Episcopal Church). But it is much more than that. It is about the struggle of homosexuals, and also of those who love and care about them, while not understanding nor accepting their orientation. It specifically presents the rhetoric of the religious right, and and how their scriptural logic is flawed. Also, while the movie focuses on bigotry against homosexuals, you can't help but recognize that this is the same hatefulness that has worked hard to keep Blacks and other minorities subjugated. We see the same thing at work today against Mexicans and others.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to hear the 'other side of the story'. The anguish of the parents in the movie is palpable; it really shows the humaness of everyone who has to deal with this issue day-in and day-out. The only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is because it is 1.5 hrs long, which is a bit long. But I can't think of any portion that could have been cut to make it shorter.
A POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IN AMERICA This powerful and courageous video exposes the Fundamental Christian Right and other traditional organized religious venues for what they really are, as well as de-bunking their twisted logic, in an objective, academic and empiracal fashion, relative to the alleged "Words of God", via the Scriptures.
The credible, thoughtful and realistic interpretations of the Biblical lines that the hateful/Old Testament autocrats use to freely admonish the ideologies associated with same-sex relationships, are skillfully presented in a creative and culturally time-sensitive fashion that is holistic, insightful and transcends the anal and restrictive mindsets associated with "Old Time Religion", thus guiding Compassionate and "Christ-like" minded human beings into the 21st century.
Families that have experienced the heartache, pain, suffering and social sitigmatization that comes from the hateful rhetoric and shamful osterization energies that spew from those that "judge & condem" others who condone same-sex relationships, share their first-hand immersion experiences in a frank and forthright way. The powerful testimonials are gut-wrenching, profound, and at times, brought tears to my eyes as I empathized with them, being a parent and loving father.
Watching the families deal with their crisis and finding the courage and strength to arrive at the Christ-centered conclusion that, regardless of the torment that may have occured because of their child's "choices", thier child is ALWAYS their child and worthy of their UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!
It was refreshing to share the family's experiences, as they embraced life with zest and zeal, as they were willing to grow spiritually, accepting and loving their offspring, as being one of God's children, in spite of their gender specific choices. It took real courage and genuine parental love for the families involved, to whom traditional relationships were the norm, to reaffirm and validate the passion that emanates from the love of one's child, as only a mother and father can know. Kudos to those wonderful parents!
What a travesty, actually an abomination that shames our great nation, as a few well-placed omniscient, seemingly omnipotent and self-proclaimed experts (such as Dr. James Dobson, Jimmy Swaggart and others), due to their high-visibility stations-in-life, often as alleged religious leaders, teachers, and spiritual mentors, have abused their powers. They have perpetuated the hateful, condescendingly judgmental and negative energies, acting as official monikders for the Almighty Ineffable, who have destroyed families and fueled the rage in the less-stable "Christo-Fascists" that perpetrate the increasing number of horrific hate crimes that are directed towards those that engage-in and/or support-same sex relationships.
This DVD is a riveting, no-nonsense and sorely needed vehicle for positive change for all civilized and decent people who have an inherent sense of Reverence and Spirituality. More importantly, it is also a powerful wake-up call for the so-called Traditionalists who are driven by Old Testament energies that reek with the cruel "fire and brimstone" payback mind-sets that one will "go to hell" for same-sex interests. It may also encourage those that engage in rote and simplistic behaviors that are "preached" weekly in Church by the so-called Evangelicals and Ministers of organized religious venues that are often more interested in their own self-serving agendas and financial gains, as opposed to offering genuine spiritual guidance for the masses, to perhaps "re-consider" and reflect on thier own spiritual journey relative to Enlightment and Salvation.
Additionally, the video reminds us that the old adage that states that the greatest problem with the Church is the Chruch, is worth a second look. Too often, the politics associated with traditional organized religious venues, spill-over into a hateful divisveness that perpetuates an "us and them" mentality where each venue claims to have the ONLY way to Salvation and Heaven. Sadly, the language of the so-called Judeo Christian Bible was written in the context of a reality that existed some 2000 years ago. As society and Culture evolved, progressed and grew with the times, too many of the "quoted" biblical lines have been either taken out of context or interpreted in a restrictive and unrealistic fashion that are misleading and simply dead wrong! Just as beauty is said to be in the eyes of the beholder, perhaps TURTH lies in the eyes(soul) of the beholder, as well.
In the end, I doubt that a personal God works to inform us, day to day, about how we should behave, relative to societal norms, politics and cultural constructs. Freedeom for Americans allows for CHOICES in the domain of man-made rules, social order and in civilized living matters. "Because the Bible tells me so", is quite possibly the greatest impetus for all of God's children to observe and to LIVE The Golden Rule as the best guide towards Englightenment and Salvation! THANKS!
Captain Rick Rotundo July 28, 2008
DVD-"For The Bible Tells Me So" For The Bible Tells Me So
A wonderfully written documentary on the struggle for spiritual equality for gay and lesbian christians. Tells how so-called christians use scripture in order to bolster their own homophobic beliefs and "beat up gays and lesbians" with scripture that is not even closely interpreted in a authoritative and biblically understood format.
The DVD shows gay christians (and NO - that is NOT an oxymoron!) in loving relationships; it also shows gays in a growing relationship with God - who loves all people and does not make gays and lesbians to be second-class christians/citizens...
Revolutionary! I have seen this movie twice, and both times was nearly moved to tears. In this film families of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Christian children share their struggle with understanding God's will concerning homosexuality and also their difficulties with accepting their children. The movie is most powerful because of the honesty and vulnerability of the families. The two screenings I was at, though, were probably attended by people who are already affirming. This movie needs to be seen by parishioners in every church--affirming or not, so that people know the struggle of LGBT Christians everywhere. I truly believe this story has the power and beauty to change people's hearts.
Justin R. Cannon Author, The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality Editor, Sanctified: An Anthology of Poetry by LGBT Christians
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