For non-Americans the US Christian Fundamentalists movement (or whatever they call themselves because I think some of them don't like being called fundamentalists) is a fascinating thing to behold. Sort of like visiting an unfamiliar and weird country and being glad you don't live there, but also glad you went.
Andrew Denton is famous in Australia for his interview shows (such as the Money or the Gun, and his current Enough Rope). He is one of the best interviewers I've seen because he gets his guests to talk about the intimate details of their lives, including their flaws, in great depth. He is like a father confessor.
He also has a real knack in letting people explain themselves without judgement. His non-emotive questioning is the trick and he uses it well in this documentary. I already knew a bit about the evangelical movement (although the Rapture was not something I'd heard of until a few years ago) but it is the wonderful explanations that he gets from convention stall holders themselves that is the real treat. The Jews promoting Israel to the Christians (so they can visit where Jesus walked) is amusing, and the European guy trying to be diplomatic about the singularly American Christian beliefs was so amusing it kept a smile on my face well after leaving. Just make sure you sit through the credits to see more footage and a joke from Denton.
A gentle documentary more suited for TV, but well worth wasting an hour and a half on.
Andrew Denton is famous in Australia for his interview shows (such as the Money or the Gun, and his current Enough Rope). He is one of the best interviewers I've seen because he gets his guests to talk about the intimate details of their lives, including their flaws, in great depth. He is like a father confessor.
He also has a real knack in letting people explain themselves without judgement. His non-emotive questioning is the trick and he uses it well in this documentary. I already knew a bit about the evangelical movement (although the Rapture was not something I'd heard of until a few years ago) but it is the wonderful explanations that he gets from convention stall holders themselves that is the real treat. The Jews promoting Israel to the Christians (so they can visit where Jesus walked) is amusing, and the European guy trying to be diplomatic about the singularly American Christian beliefs was so amusing it kept a smile on my face well after leaving. Just make sure you sit through the credits to see more footage and a joke from Denton.
A gentle documentary more suited for TV, but well worth wasting an hour and a half on.
