| The God Who Wasn't There | 
 enlarge | Director: Brian Flemming
Actor: Richard Carrier; Richard Dawkins; Alan Dundes; Sam Harris; Robert M. Price
Studio: Beyond Belief Media
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.94
Buy New: $12.39
You Save: $12.55 (50%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (219 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4703
Format: Ac-3, Color, Digital Sound, Dolby, Dvd-video, Full Length, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 320 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 407
UPC: 837101074865
EAN: 0837101074865
ASIN: B000CAPZBC
Publication Date: June 6, 2005
Release Date: August 23, 2005
Theatrical Release Date: June 6, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 214 more reviews...
Not as "Provacative" as it claims November 25, 2008
I just finished watching this and I must say I am a little disappointed. The film starts with a very sarcastic and biased view of the life of Jesus. I realize this movie is made by an atheist but when you are trying to make a point sarcasm isn't always the best way. Especially when dealing with religion.
I have not watched the "Extended Interviews" yet however, most of the interviews are short and rather pointless. We all know most Christians stumble when you ask them tough questions. The real question is, don't we all? We can't all know everything about religion no matter your denomination (if any.)
I was hoping to gain insight on factual history and though there was some of that; this movie was more the director saying I don't believe it and neither should you.
 Good, but could have been longer. November 12, 2008
In the beginning, it starts to lay out an interesting case for the nonexistence of Jesus, based on the 40+ year span between his death and the first possible date of the first gospels being written, during which no other mention of his recent existence could be found. A fascinating prospect, if explored in greater detail.
However, the latter part of the documentary takes a different approach, simply discussing the many contradictions of modern Christianity. Provocative, perhaps, but nothing really new. One does not logically argue away faith.
The end reveals the personal motives behind the documentary, and makes it almost seem like it was more made for the filmmaker's benefit than ours.
Still, it has a few good parts, and might grant you a couple new talking points if you like to debate from the stance of atheism. Worth a watch, perhaps, but here's hoping there will be more and more detailed films like this in the future.
 good grief October 30, 2008
1 out of 15 found this review helpful
Like it was said before...if you dont believe in God, just save your money becaus ehtis movie is just stupid. If your a christian, just save your money because this movie is stupid.
 Nothing but the basics October 10, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I think I should start my review by saying that I am an atheist, since readers will wonder on what side of the fence I stand before they decide whether they should take me seriously. So, if you are a Christian, you probably won't find anything useful in the paragraphs below.
That said, I was disappointed with this documentary. I bought it mainly because Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins are mentioned in the presentation of the material, and I am a fan of both. What I was expecting to see in this video is something neither Harris nor Dawkins covered in any great length in their books: a detailed analysis of the historical origins of Christianity. Among the questions I was hoping to see discussed is whether historical opinion is more inclined to believe that there was a popular leader behind the Jesus legend or whether even the common person was a later invention. I also wanted to see something about the role the Roman Empire played in the diffusion of Christianity. Both are basic questions for any documentary aiming to discuss the beginnings of the creed.
But the movie doesn't touch those points. Instead, it shows that the miraculous passages in the gospels were written by people living after the time when Jesus is supposed to have lived, and that the figure of Jesus inherited traits from other "savior" figures in older mythologies. Both those things are common knowledge among people with minimal reading about this subject. But Flemming presents them with sensationalist soundtrack and images, as if they were something very new and shocking. Perhaps they may shock believers, but Flemming is very naive if he thinks he will convince them.
When I expected him to go deeper into his subject, he switched the focus, and the question of historicity was abandoned. The rest of the documentary consisted in interviews with Christians (with welcome comments by Harris, Carrier and Price) showing how simple-minded modern Christians can be. This may be amusing to watch for atheists, but it doesn't teach them anything they don't already know. And the sensationalist soundtrack and visual effects are still there all the time, suggesting that they should be shocked by what they are seeing. In more than one moment, I felt that my intelligence was being underestimated.
In a word, the movie lacks any consistent argumentation, and assumes its public will be astonished at seeing what is no more than an exposition of the basics. Serious atheists with an interest in history will find nothing here that they don't know already. But perhaps people who attack Christ not on firm grounds, but because they find it fun to be iconoclasts, may like the movie.
As a note, the interview with Dawkins is on the phone.
good points and bad points... October 7, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
As most of the positive reviews of this film have pointed out, there are a lot of good points made, and a wealth of valuable information and insight presented by the filmmaker. The best parts, in my view, were the direct interviews : Robert Price, Richard Carrier, and especially Sam Harris (Harris' two books are must-reads, by the way). Their comments were thoughtful, probing and insightful. Where the film fell short (again, this is my take) is when Brian Flemming (who wrote, directed and narrated this film) opens his mouth. I don't disagree with his viewpoint necessarily, but he comes across as what could only be described as 'snarky' too much of the time, sometimes descending to a level that were it not for the technical polish of the project would lead me to believe this was some sort of high-school project. The scene where he finds the chapel at his old religious school open and goes inside with his camera, winding up stepping in front of it to 'deny the holy spirit' on camera had too much of a 'I'm a naughty-boy, nyah nyah nyah' feel to it for me.
Also, in one of the bonus interviews, where Flemming is speaking with Sam Harris on the subject of morality, and how its existence is not dependent on religion as a foundation, Flemming makes a joke about the Swedes (who were brought up by Harris as an example of a country NOT dependent on religion for moral values) being 'sheep-f'ers' (and yes, I GET IT, that he's being sarcastic, supporting Harris' premise that morality does not need religion to exist). The look that passes across Harris' face, only for a second, shows that he's surprised by this comment, and, I would hazard to guess, perhaps thinks it's more than a little inappropriate or over the line in what should be more of an intellectual discussion.
None of these 'offenses' I've listed affected me because of any religious feelings I harbor -- believe me, there aren't any. As I said, I believe that the information Flemming is presented is important and needs to be heard / seen by more people. I just don't think this film is going to change anyone's mind, mainly because the attitude projected is simply too sarcastic.
Needless to say, others have differing opinions, and I don't expect anyone to make up their mind without seeing it.
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