DVDS
The Marks of a Cult: A Biblical Analysis by The Apologetics Group- This does mention Oneness Pentecostalism and the United Pentecostal Church. From Amazon: "In today's religiously diverse and relativistic culture, labeling a group a cult may seem extreme to many people, not to mention rude. Even people who believe in absolute Truth and further believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life can get confused about just what constitutes real Christianity. Just why are Baptists properly considered Christians, but Mormons are not? Or why is the Jehovah's Witness religion classified as an anti-Christian cult while Presbyterians or Wesleyans or Pentecostals are simply seen as denominations within the Christian faith? With the explosion of different sects that claim to honor and follow Jesus, how does one differentiate between true Biblical Christianity and an aberrant religious movement? Just what are the marks of a cult? Join us for 'The Marks of a Cult' as it takes you on a journey into the heart of Biblical revelation and the constant struggle of truth against lies, the apostolic faith against the "doctrines of demons."" Rent from Amazon.com
here. Also available here.
Audience of One Directed by Michael Jacobs- This documentary that was first seen in early 2007, revolves around Richard Gazowsky, a United Pentecostal Church minister, who believes God directed him to make a $50 million biblical science fiction film. According to his blog, he still believes this as of March 2012. From Amazon: "AUDIENCE OF ONE is a documentary that chronicles the making of "Gravity". This verite-style film goes inside a Pentecostal church, where the charismatic Gazowsky leads his loyal cast and crew on an incredible journey that tests the limits of faith. From pre-production at their church, to shooting principal photography in Italy, to leasing an enormous studio on an island in the San Francisco Bay, AUDIENCE OF ONE keeps pace with an embattled church production looking to God in order to keep their dream alive. Full of humor and pathos, what transpires is a story of obsession, faith and delusion." Rent from Amazon.com
here.
Marjoe starring Marjoe Gortner- Highly recommended, but you are warned that it may be difficult for some to watch. From Amazon: "There's more to Marjoe than the exposure of an evangelical fraud. Directed by Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan, this Oscar winning 1972 documentary operates on a number of levels as it follows Marjoe Gortner, a fire-and-brimstone preacher who had been raised, since becoming an ordained minister at the age of 4, to preach the Gospel to a large flock of believers. It didn't matter that young Marjoe was himself a non-believer, or that he would eventually trade his Bible-belt revival tours for the hedonistic pleasures of the 1960s counterculture. What we witness in Marjoe is the power of charisma, and the sheer vitality of a born showman whose fervor--regardless of its falseness--had a profound effect on Christians all around the country, to the extent that Marjoe Gortner achieved a kind of spiritual celebrity by the time he exposed himself as a phony in the early 1970s. Smith and Kernochan capture Gortner's essence with such candor that he emerges as an amiable narcissist, betraying his own selfishness and self-loathing yet honest enough to confess the "business" of harvesting cash donations from his Pentecostal audiences." Rent from Amazon.com
here.
Paradise Recovered an independent film- Scheduled to be released April 24, 2012. From an Amazon review: "It is the story of a young woman caught up in a Christian cult who discovers what she believes and is taught by the cult, is not what the leadership of the cult lives out. In a delightfully light, humorous manner the movie presents the recapture of her own freedom and grace while she forms a relationship with a young man questioning his own spiritual beliefs and heritage."
The Wave- From a review on Amazon: ""The Wave" is set in modern day Germany. A high school curriculum has students enrolling in special projects based on different forms of government. A popular teacher (a great Jurgen Vogel) tries to invigorate his seminar on autocracy by stimulating discussion in unorthodox ways. He leads the class in exercises in discipline, uniformity, and communal ideals. The students are so taken, they start really coming together. It's as if by providing order and structure, the kids are getting something they didn't know they were missing. But this new group spirit also brings about a certain elitism and brashness. Some are taking the experiment a bit far, and those that oppose them must face the repercussions. As the days progress, the situation becomes increasingly tense." You may also rent this movie and watch a trailer
here. The original made-for-tv film may be purchased
here and rented
here or watched on Google for free
here.
The Village starring Joaquin Phoenix- Though not about unhealthy churches, "The Village" has spoken to a number of people. The manufactured fear over a creature meant to 'protect' the people from the outside world and the control of the community members, keeping them in the dark about the truth of their situation and forcing them to live as people did years ago---many former members have connected with these aspects of the film.
Since it is not about any church group, some may be able to more freely watch it and gain some insight into their own situation.
Rent from Amazon.com
here.
The Shunning starring Danielle Panabaker- From Amazon: "'The Shunning' refers to the ultimate punishment among the Amish--someone who's committed an offense against the community may not be spoken to or looked at until true repentance is achieved. It's not revealing too much to say that it's Katie who becomes the target of this punishment. But the threads of drama surrounding the crisis--expertly directed by Michael Landon Jr.--keep the viewer, and most of the townspeople, guessing about the "whole story." 'The Shunning' is a drama about people, connections, love, and loss, and it's told with respect and heart."
Beyond the Gates of Splendor with Steve Saint- For anyone who is struggling in the area of forgiveness, I highly recommend watching the movie. I don't know a better story of human forgiveness than what happened with the families of five missionaries who were murdered by those they were trying to bring the Gospel to. The documentary interviews many people who were involved and includes actual footage shot by the men in their last hours. Through their deaths and because of the forgiveness of their families, an entire brutal tribe of people were transformed by the Good News. Of particular note to me was when one of the relatives asks to be water baptized years later by some of the very men who were involved in the murders. I love this movie- it is powerful. You might also like the movie
End of the Spear, though this isn't all accurate.
Revival of Evil/Cult Explosion with Walter Martin- I don't list this for the first film, "Revival of Evil." It is recommended for the "Cult Explosion" section. From Amazon: "Cults sound like Christianity and look like Christianity; they even claim to have the truth. Surprisingly, 78% of all cult groups are made up of people who have previously attended Christian churches. Cult expert Dr. Walter Martin and former Hindu Guru Robi Maharaj, explain the attraction of cults. Testimonies from ex-cult leaders disclose the secret inner core of: People's Temple, Worldwide Church of God, Moonies, Hare Krishna, Christian Science, Scientology, Mormons, Jehovah s Witnesses, T.M., Black Muslims, Unity and the Manson Family."
Join Us from Ondi Timoner- From Amazon: "There are thousands of cults in America...this is the story of one. 'Join Us' explores the subject of mind control by following four families and the cult leader over two years as they leave the group - seeking treatment and justice against him. Using an intimate verite' style and hidden cameras, award-winning filmmakers Ondi Timoner, Vasco Lucas Nunes, and Tim Rush infiltrate the cult and its leaders to create an emotional and human portrait, exploring why America is the number one breeding ground of cults in the world, and how mind control can happen to anyone."
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