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The Unbelievers





This documentary really gets to the heart of a huge problem in our culture right now. The problem with the film is it has no idea it is doing such a thing. We live in a time where Christians treat the Bible like a science book and where scientists think they are uncovering what makes humanity tick with their discoveries. We should be marrying science and religion, instead we are treating them as the same thing. This film puts this notion on full display, not only that it believes it is the way everyone should be thinking. The documentary follows two scientists, Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss, on their quest to let everyone know that their scientific findings have proved away God and to bring us all into the age of enlightenment. I have many problems with the film. The biggest may be that they never say how their findings prove no God exists, just that it does. In fact they never even go into the specifics of evolution. Krauss says many times that science doesn't have all the answers but they want to keep asking the questions. He also says that the answers they do have can lead them to logical conclusions. I am not sure how he thinks this is different than religion because he never says. I can only assume he means that religion purports to have no questions left to answer. He is either being disingenuous or has never talked to any religious people.

My next big gripe, which maybe is my biggest (it's just so hard to choose), is that they never go into the question of the fallen state of man. They never ask any questions about moral absolutes or our obligation to one another as human beings. They have the key to making religion extinct but never even delve into any of the important questions religion answers. As I stated before the Bible is not a science book but it is a morality book and this documentary is completely uninterested in exploring any of these questions.

This film spends its entire runtime doing exactly what it says it is against, proselytizing. It is trying to convert people to atheism on the false claim that science completely negates the need for a higher power. You can call it what you want but these men are having church. Large gatherings of like minded people affirming each other. It is about fellowship and their message. They have preaching and they have music.

We are a country divided in almost every aspect right now. It is unfortunate because when no meaningful conversation is happening between factions there is little chance of change in either direction. This film is a prime example of that. Don't misunderstand me as meaning that believers have it all together while others don't. I think a very similar film could be made called The Believers, The Right, The Left, The Abortionists, The Lifers, and the list could go on and on. I am not even saying people shouldn't act this way when they believe they have absolute truth. There are very few issues that I feel I have absolute truth about, but those I do I am sure I come across just as smug and arrogant as Krauss and Dawkins do here. The issues for me is I don't believe they have absolute truth, far from it, especially concerning the existence of God.

I forget who recommended this film to me but it sure was an interesting way to begin the film journey I plan on taking this year. It may seem like I hated this film but I didn't, I just think it was poorly done. It was actually an excellent affirmation of my beliefs. I was entertained and engaged. This is contrary to the film's intent but hey, everything is not always the way we think it is.