Deliver Us From Evil (2006)
The Oscar-nominated documentary, Deliver Us From Evil, directed by Amy Berg, examines clergy sexual abuse in Catholic congregations throughout northern California during the 70s and 80s. It focuses on Father Oliver O'Grady and the church's attempts to ignore and/or cover up his behavior before ultimately sending him back to his native Ireland. This documentary takes an incendiary topic and presents it in a straightforward fashion, no easy task given the evil subject matter which could have been easily sensationalized.
Jesus Camp (2006)
Another of the conservative, evangelical Christianity exposes, Jesus Camp, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady and nominated for an Oscar, follows a group of children as they participate in a week-long camp that indoctrinates the children into both religious and cultural conservatism. The images of children as young as 5 years old weeping and confessing sins makes one think of the notion of Protestant clerical abuse as well.
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)
A fantastic docume
ntary, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, directed by Stanley Nelson, uncovers the events surrounding the birth, life, and death of Peoples Temple lead by Jim Jones. Though the events of Jonestown will live in infamy (both MSNBC and CNN aired 30th anniversary specials last year), the documentary reveals just how socially progressive and inclusive the Peoples Temple was at its beginning. It also reveals the dangerous turns a religious community can take when it is based on the cult of the celebrity.
Renewal (2007)
Directed by Terry Rockefeller and Marty Ostrow, this is a documentary with which I had the privilege of working to implement in religious, environmental, and academic settings. Renewaltakes a multi-faith approach to the growing religious environmental movement taking place across the country and reveals that this might be one of the most fruitful places for interfaith dialogue and action. The film presents eight different stories set in different communities of faith...each addressing a different environmental concern ranging from mountain top removal in Appalachia to ethically raised and slaughtered meat in Illinois.
For the Bible Tells Me So (2007)
Perhaps the most significant documentary of the decade, For the Bible Tells Me So focuses on homosexuality and the Christian church. Directed by Daniel Karslake, it examines a variety of Christian families whose children have come out of the closet. The film draws from their personal testimony along with moderate to liberal scholars, ministers, and activists who discuss the various interpretations of Scripture that have generally been taken as prohibitions of homosexuality. At its heart, this film is also about the issue of Biblical inerrancy which so fervently fuels one side of the discussion.
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