Review of the film "The God Who was'nt There" by Brian Flemming

Watch film here

 The God Who Wasn't there 

 Independent Documentary made in 2005 written and . 

Directed by	Brain Flemming  watch here

A quick review of the film that may have been a inspiration for The Zeitgeist trilogy and Global movement.  More Christ bashing, Christ isn't real and Christians are ignorant fools propaganda .Lets take a look at the allegations that Flemming makes against Christians.

Christians don't know Mythology?

During the interview of Christians found outside a Billy Graham crusade, Flemming asks wide eyed believers did they know of Mithra, Andonis , Dionysus , or  Osiris? Those presented in the documentary,  knew nothing of these ancient "Gods". The way the material is presented, the Christians look ignorant and uninformed. However , I think it safe to say, that Americans as a whole don't know their mythology either and if the same question were posed, at lets say the super bowl, ones findings would be similar . Once again , our public government controlled education system does not harbor true learning, therefor mythology  ,  as a required class, which I advocate  (along with comparative  religions for a well rounded world view ) is absent from the curriculum. With our media, plugged in cable or  satellite  brain washing, "dumbing down" hypnotic consumer producing T.V. recreation necessity, I ask how is the general public to learn its history? The history Channel?  

My advise during these times of debate, intellectual refutation to discredit the Bible, Christ and a monotheist creation deity , is simply,  Christians learn your ancient  history . It is important that you know your enemy. Mythology is rich and interesting. You need to be armed when the argument is brought up that Christ is nothing more than a repeat of these other mythological gods. Once you know them you can argue with confidence how the similarities are absurd. Lets look at Dionysus the God of wine...

Dionysus also known as "Bacchus" 

 Greek God Of Wine , grape harvest , wine making and pleasure

Dionysus 200 BC

Mithra

 Zoroastrian divinity (yazata) of covenant and oath .Mithra of Persia 400 BC

"Mithra is an Iranian god of light and the cosmic order, sometimes called the son of Ahura Mazda, whom Mithra assists in the battle against evil. Mithra was born from a rock or cave, fought the sun, captured the divine bull, and went to heaven. Mithra may be portrayed with thousands of eyes and ears riding a chariot with white horses. He is often shown slaying a bull. 

The cult of Mithra is a mystery religion which became popular with Roman soldiers. To the Romans, Mithra was known as Deus Sol Invictus - Unconquered Sun God. Mithra may also be called Mitra or Mithras". 

and

 "Mithra is described in the Zoroastrian Avesta scriptures as, "Mithra of wide pastures, of the thousand ears, and of the myriad eyes,"(Yasna 1:3)" .

Osiris 

  Osiris is the god which most affected Egyptians' daily life and their life after death. Originally the god of agriculture, he quickly became the god of rebirth because plants grow again every year. Osiris is often painted green in pictures because of his identification with growing plants. Osiris was also said to have been the first king of Egypt. While he was king, he was murdered by his brother Seth and his body was chopped up into many pieces. Some say 13 others 14. Each piece was hidden in a different place in Egypt. Osiris's wife and sister Isis and his son Horus searched all through Egypt to find the pieces and brought them together again. However they did not find the phallus, leaving 13 pieces in the event of 14 pieces. 13 a relevant number eventually . At any rate  she made one from gold and wax (some myths say mud or clay). Promptly inventing the rites of embalming, and with her magical powers in full force, Isis brought Osiris back to life and conceived their child Horus..Some say that mummies are wrapped with bandages to make them look like Osiris, not because the wrappings are actually needed for anything. 

I could go on and on with the story of Set, Horus, Isis and Osiris and it is one that I encourage my readers to look into , as D. M. Murcdck, author of The Christ Conspiracy, the greatest story ever sold and her recent book  Christ in Egypt:The Horus-Jesus Connection desperately attempts  to disprove Christ.

Andonis 

 Greek mythology, beautiful youth beloved by Aphrodite and Persephone. He was born of the incestuous union of Myrrha (or Smyrna) and Cinyras, king of Cyprus. (Similar in incest to Iris and Osiris , Horus, not very similar to Christ .) Aphrodite left Adonis in the care of Persephone, who raised him and made him her lover. Aphrodite later demanded the youth for herself, but Persephone was unwilling to relinquish him. When Adonis was gored to death by a boar, both Persephone and Aphrodite claimed him. Zeus settled the dispute by arranging for Adonis to spend half the year (the summer months) above the ground with Aphrodite and the other half in the underworld with Persephone. Adonis' death and resurrection, symbolic of the yearly cycle of vegetation, were widely celebrated in ancient Greece in the midsummer festival Adonia. The worship of Adonis corresponds to the cults of the Phrygian Attis and the Babylonian Tammuz. Read more:  here Adonis, in Greek mythology.

Double Speak 

Other "Gods" who are presently being deemed as the same as Christ, by none other than D. M. Murdock, from The Truth be known web site (this is  double speak at its finest, for it is a site of lies) [  Doublespeak is language that deliberately disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms (e.g., "downsizing" for layoffs, "servicing the target" for bombing), in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable. It may also refer to intentional ambiguity in language or to actual inversions of meaning (for example, naming a state of war "peace"). In such cases, doublespeak disguises the nature of the truth. Doublespeak is most closely associated with political language] and others in the Zeitgeist movement and films claim that  Attis of Phrygia 200 BC,   Horus 3500 BC, Krishna 3228 BC  and  Zoaster 1200 BC, all are essentially the same.

"It's all about Jesus, that's all you have to pay attention to!" A quote from a Christian in the film ,who is  made to look gullible and ignorant. Christians who wish to defend the faith must have  knowledge of ancient history and mythology against the allegations that Christ is nothing more than another mythological character.

Christians love blood and Gore

I abhor blood and gore and admittedly have a problem still understanding the blood element to Christianity , drinking the blood, the blood sacrifice , being made pure by the blood. This is something I am still attempting to understand and absorb as true and necessary. However, Flemming presents rather than the conflict that I struggle with , and likely others with the blood  , Christians who love blood as evidenced   in the multi million dollar producing mega hit film by Mel Gibson, The Passion of Christ. An image of an Mayan is shown  holding a bleeding heart in his hand . There is no shortage in history of blood , virginal , human and animal sacrifice to the Gods. It has always been troubling to me. Eat his FLESH and DRINK His BLOOD.

Scene from Gibson's film The Passion Of Christ , Jesus on the cross

 The horribly brutal scenes (that are too violent for my taste, but the attempt was made for reality, claims Gibson and other supporters of the film ) Flemming calls  "...the bloody Jesus"  stating that it was the top grossing movie  at the box office, in fact, the  top pick for Christians!... with its  implication  that Christians love blood and gore.

Then on to the crazy evangelists...showing images of discredited , defamed and charlatan TV evangelists, who admittedly led far to many gullible Christians astray . Point? There is a sucker born every minute? Who should we be condemning, the deceived or the deceiver?

Christians wish to send to the electric chairs all homos

 

Flemming then goes on to state  "God hates Fags" quoting old testament  Leviticus  as the justification apparently for why Christians feel all gays should die. But has he forgotten that  Jews should hate fags too? I can not defend radical Christians who protest with slogans such as Turn or Burn and admittedly the subject of homosexuality is highly controversial.  It is unfortunate that such passionate Christians feel the need for such extreme demonstrations, I would like to remind ,  that he who has no sin should throw the first stone and Christians do need to beware of hypocrisy as well.  I don't condemn these radical demonstration, however Flemming is equally at fault for implying that all Christians believe in this method of describing their personally held interpretations of the bible. Flemming shows images of the electric chair , again with the implication that if Christians had their way they would have the act of sodomy illegal and punishable by death !

This IS NOT the view of most Christians.  It can not be said, non the less,that there aren't  adequate references that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible, neither is an array of other "sins". This particular issue is highly charged at this time in our society. It is not politically correct, at this time, to state an opposing view on same sex relationships, so at the least I , and others might too, recognize the bravery and conviction those who do take this issue out into the streets.

The Abdu Ghraib torturers were Christians 

From the imagery of the electric chair that is paired with protesting , presumable Christians the film moves on to Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse. During the War in Iraq, human rights violations, committed from late 2003 to early 2004, in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, reports of rape, sodomy, and homicide ... Wikipedia The face of the female solider who holds her thumb up over a prisoner with other of the atrocities is directly linked to Christianity. This is dishonest at best. I ask where the correlations  are? American soldiers are all Christians? Or just the ones that like to torture?  How is this type of Christian bashing not questioned?

Torture  is Christian doctrine

 

The Inquisitions are shameful. Let us remember it was not the common man/Christian who was behind the heinous   acts , it was Papal power and those in church authority who carried out the torture. How Flemming can say that this  dark period dark in time, is an "expression of Christian doctrine ",  is shocking!  The viewer is pom-parted with a series of bloody awful pictures of gore and torture. Then quickly back to the passion of Mel Gibson where we are reminded that it  "was right to portray all of  the "Jews as Evil". Interesting, Gibson paid a dear price in his career and was black listed from the industry shortly after the success of his film. Jews rallied against the scenes where it clearly was the  Sadducee's who sentenced Jesus to death in a manner that parallels some of our own questionable legislation. How can we be asked to censor a film that portrays alleged  historical fact because it is unbecoming to a particular religious group?

Christians lack logic

Sam Harris

Sam Harris is an American author, philosopher, public intellectual, and neuroscientist, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Project Reason. Wikipedia

He brings up many interesting ideas that I have pondered for years. He states statistics that show that 22 % Christians believe that Jesus is coming back in the next 50 years , another 22 % think he probably will  and will do so in 'their lifetime Harris correctly states that   it is "maladaptive for planning a sustainable future "  and "certainly at a time to avoid global conflict "and furthermore that global conflict  is a precursor " to Jesus return".  

 I have shared the concerns that Harris expresses. I have struggled with the book of Revelation particularly. My question is what came/comes first , the chicken or the egg idea? Is it truly fulfillment of prophecy or are we fulfilling the prophecy   because it is there? I  loath the idea that before we can have a world of peace, such horrors that are outlined in the final book, the last days of the end times must occur first or be precursor  as Harris outlines. It is been an issue for me and my faith. It makes no logical sense. I personally reject it and still rely on the hope that man will see past his violent nature and will not resort to global war over religion and  territory . Fundamentalist Christians, however  say no, I think differently and conjure that other Christians do too. 

Sam Harris states that a fair percentage of Christians who would see a mushroom cloud over Jerusalem on the evening news "would see a silver lining" in the event . I'm afraid he is right and Christians  who might feel this way, need to seriously consider the implication of this statement and its meaning.

 Christians read the  LEFT BEHIND  series

I refuse to read these novels, however Flemming is right in addressing their immense popularity  .I can not comment intelligently on them therefore and do not intend to read them in the future. I dislike the premise and its implications. Again that we must face total global destruction before salvation at least for the majority apparently of unsaved on the planet.

The Left Behind Fiction Series

Then another scholar, and author states that it is a serious problem more or less when  anyone  nearly with a computer can publish things about Christianity or anything for that matter  , and others read it   and repeat as truth without investigation. In other words , concepts, history can be reported untruthfully and people believe it ! precisely the whole reason I created this blog . This brings me to D. M. Murdock who is perpetrating  the lie under the guise of truth no less in her double speak web site The Truth Be Known. So Christians check your facts!

Artists rendition of Biblical  Babylon

restored Babylon

The Rapture Letters

Founder of The Rapture Letters is featured frequently in the  film , where he is shown reading  a passage from an  end time prophecy from the book of Revelation of the Bible. He informs Flemming, that one of the 'signs' is the rebuilding of Babylon and that  in Iraq, or Sumur,/Ur it is in fact been being rebuilt for the past 20 years. Then, states to my great surprise, that Madonna came to christian  it! . She is being called the Whore of Babylon by many apocalyptic researchers .  This is stuff for another post  I fear!

Those who are saved are raptured into Heaven

Faith stops meaningful Dialogue

Harris says "faith is a conversation stopper" and this statement is also largely true. When Christians are asked something that demands a reasonable response, it is  to often met with an answer of "Because God says so", or its a "matter of faith", or just "because the Bible says so". This type of 'reasoning' from Christians , in my opinion needs to change. It feeds into  the anti-Christian movement, lead by 'reasonable' atheists, that Christians are ignorant, uneducated fools.

144,000 male virgin Jews ?  Apparently  they  will be raptured .  And...Christians that lose their heads? Director of the film goes on to say "He's not crazy", and that he likes the guy, hes a good guy...because he used to believe the same things "Scot believes" and now we see the man behind the documentary as Scots face transforms into his. Admirable courage Flemming ! We learn  "Yes I used to be a fundamentalist Christian too" !

He  believed   " Hell is a real place" and then  , similar imagery to Zeitgeist is shown , a favorite from Hieronymus Bosch,  a Dutch painter. His work is known for its use of fantastic imagery to illustrate moral and religious concepts and narratives. Wikipedia

Flemming lets us know that  Jesus is a great guy. However he warns the teachings claim be forgiven or be damned, yet, he will forgive you for anything...even forgive against speaking against himself . Yet, there is but one unforgivable sin,  where one will be  externally dammed (x2 it is stated  in the bible)

And that  unpardonable sin is to deny the Holy Ghost/Spirit. Flemming says, as luck would have it,it is  the Holy  Spirit/Ghost that  is the easiest to doubt. The one unforgivable sin , denial or rather questioning  of the Holy Ghost,  the director equates  , as 'thinking' is the greatest crime that Christians can make!

 Christians ...Don't think 

"...the greatest crime in fundamentalist Christianity is to think "

States Flemming in the nearing  dramatic conclusion of his clearly anti-Christian  film.

There is being served in this film, a personal vendetta as well, I'm afraid , which is so apparent I found myself embarrassed for Flemming . He ventures  back to his own  private Christian school to talk to its present administrator Dr. Ronald Sipus .

Then back to Harris again, where he lets us understand that we all  know that if  you are in dialogue with extraterrestrials or to deny the holocaust is synonymous with being crazy in our culture due to lack of evidence , expect for matters of faith. He asks what scientific evidence do Christians  have that the world acts this way? Harris paves the way to show how crazy Dr. Sipus must be.

To Deny the reality of God, sets off our narrator ...the Principal of the Christan based school that teaches 1800 students, says emphatically, "...that there is empirical evidence for the existence  of God". I agree. But the intent of Flemming is show how ignorant , uninformed and yes even crazy this man/Dr./teacher is.

Flemming states that the Bible is symbolic literature and asks Dr. Sipus "Do you  really think that you should teach that it is real ?" Dr. Sipus , composed is clearly showing  a slight irritation and says  that the  director "...was dishonest " in representing what they were going to talk about. Sipus  ends up walking out on the interview .  Flemming shows this, I think it showed move of Flemming's agenda and  malignant  intent which is indicated as  he ends his documentary in  his church (where he was born again three times) holding the camera to show his face, while he declares that he denies the Holy Ghost/spirit  and the scene goes black  and the words are presented ....I am not afraid . 

Wow! Flemming has intentionally committed  the one unforgivable sin for all the world to behold. He blasphemed in his own church! He sure put his thumb up to God and Jesus Christ and he has no fear of any repercussions...he is not afraid. OK, that is fine, good for you , however this is an anti-Christian film which slanders, insults, degrades , and abuses Christians. It is interesting to note, if this were done in the same manner against Homosexuals or Jews, for instance , what would the public outcry be then?


sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra

http://ancienthistory.about.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublespeak

http://www.mummyfriends.com

http://www.deborahkingcenter.com

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia