The God Who Wasn't There
September 16th, 2005 8:00 pm
Associated Program:
God Who Wasn't There, The
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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 bold new film demands answers to the questions few dare to ask. Your guide through the world of Christendom is former fundamentalist Brian Flemming , who unflinchingly examines believers and the origins of their beliefs. He gets help from such luminaries as esteemed folklorist Alan Dundes ( Holy Writ as Oral Lit ), Jesus Seminar fellow Robert M. Price ( Deconstructing Jesus ) and neuroscientist Sam Harris ( The End of Faith ).
Along with Brian, you will discover:
• The early founders of Christianity seem wholly unaware of the idea of a human Jesus
• The Jesus passed down to us in the gospels bears a striking resemblance to other ancient heros and the figureheads of pagan savior cults
• Contemporary Christians are largely ignorant of the origins of their religion
• Christianity is as obsessed with blood and violence now as it was in the 1 st century
• Fundamentalism is as strong today as it ever has been, with an alarming 44% of Americans believing Jesus will return to Earth within the next 50 years
• And God simply isn’t there
Brian Flemming also explores his own experiences within fundamentalist Christianity at a cult-like school that taught him how how and what to believe. Ultimately, he confronts the man in charge of educating the school’s 1800 students, and this superintendent’s inability to justify what he teaches is revealing and distressing.
Dazzling motion graphics and a sweeping soundtrack by DJ Madson , David Byrne , Thievery Corporation , Zap Mama and Le Tigre help tell this tale of one person’s journey from the darkness of first-century thinking to the enlightenment of reason.
Hold on to your faith. It’s in for a bumpy ride. |
Axiom Theatre
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Organization Type: Microcinema |
Seating Capacity: 100 |
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Contact: Patrick Kwiatkowski |
Position: Founder |
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Description:
Infernal Bridegroom Productions was founded in 1993, in order to develop new audiences for the arts through the production of plays unlike any others being produced in Houston, Texas. Over the course of its ten year, forty-one production history, the company has been recognized for excellence in various local and national publications, including American Theatre, Stage Directions, Dallas Morning News, The Houston Chronicle and The Houston Press, which, in their annual “Best of Houston” editions, has issued the company awards including Best Theater Company, Production, Original Show, New Play, Actress, Actor, Director, Set Design, Light Design, Costume Design, Curtain Speech and Christmas Show. IBP has introduced Houston audiences to the works of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, Brian Jucha, Sarah Kane, Richard Foreman, Wallace Shawn, Mac Wellman, Heiner Müller and Bernard-Marie Koltès, and has mounted eleven original plays and twenty regional premieres. The original music the company has created receives regular radio play on various college radio stations around the country. And in its recent residency at The Axiom, IBP has returned the legendary warehouse district nightclub to its roots as a mecca for the most vital, exciting live music in town.
Five years ago, IBP was an all-volunteer, homeless company. The company now boasts its own theater with a full time staff of five and a resident company of eighteen and pays fees to all its artists. It’s Outreach and Education programs have reached hundreds of area high school and college students. And, though blessed with a loyal following among traditional arts patrons, fully half of IBP’s audience does not regularly attend cultural arts events of any description. IBP has received substantial financial and in-kind support from various foundations, corporations, arts organizations and private donors.
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