For The Bible Tells Me So
For the Bible Tells Me So is a documentary that was filmed in 2007 spanning across the United States of America. Four average American families tell their stories about what it is like to have a gay son or lesbian daughter and how they have or have not been able to reconcile that with their fundamentalist Christian belief.
We begin this sociological journey by meeting four fundamentalist families all stemming from different parts of the United States, Minnesota, Washington D.C., Kentucky, and North Carolina. All four families are religious fundamentalists. All have been going to church since birth, and all have been taught the same thing, being gay is a choice, being gay is not only a sin but an abomination, and being gay will only bring you straight to hell. Not only are they four devout “god loving, law abiding families, they are four families that will soon learn what it really means to be gay, what it means to have a gay child, and what the bible actually teaches about not only being gay but also but all the other “abominations” that the bible clearly outlines in the old testament.
This documentary is a wonderful sociological journey into the mind and spirit of the people in this world that claim to love above all else, forgive above all else, and be more righteous and devout in their godliness above all others. You will delve deep into bible passage and face the reality that the bible does not “state”, but it merely” reads” what has been written by our ancestors. You will learn that interpretation is simply that, and personal interpretation can be understood differently from all genders, races, and socioeconomic groupings.
While this documentary covers a heavy topic it is discussed in a manner that any layman can understand, even if you have never read a single bible passage in your entire life. The transformation of belief and the change to true understanding of god’s will for these four families is remarkable to watch and truly uplifting to the spirit. You needn’t be a church goer or a religious follower of any sort to revel in the beautiful message told by these families. Watch as these families whose hearts where once filled with hatred and disgust learn to open up and fill with love for not only their own sons and daughters but for all GLBT people.
The documentary style film making showcased here is easy to understand and will reach an audience of every age level from grade school to road scholar and hopefully open the minds and hearts of all as well. The editing process utilized rather seamless cutaways and jump cuts that moved directly to the next group of people. There is a perfect mix of interviews with real life action scenes to keep the viewer informed but also interested.
Although the ultimate goal of the documentary was clear, great attention to detail was given to both sides of the argument showing respect for the opposing opinions. This documentary would be a useful addition to a classroom curriculum or debate team, or simply watch for your own education and enjoyment. I recommend it to all regardless of the reason for viewing.