Documentary Questions the Existence of Jesus

The Los Angeles Times ^ | August 20, 2005 | Patricia Ward Biederman, Times Staff Writer

[vrwc1]

Brian Flemming's "Bat Boy: The Musical" was praised by critics but appalled some fundamentalists with its references to incest and other dark themes. Flemming's latest project is just as likely to disturb conservative Christians.

The 39-year-old Angeleno has made an hourlong documentary titled "The God Who Wasn't There." In it, the former born-again Christian argues that the biblical Jesus never lived, but is a mythological figure like Paul Bunyan.

Initially released theatrically June 17, the documentary grew out of Flemming's research for a fictional thriller-in-progress titled, "The Beast." In that film, which he hopes to release next year, a teenage Christian discovers that the Jesus she fervently believes in never existed.

"My position is that's the most likely scenario," the filmmaker said.

Asked why he chose to question Jesus' existence instead of his divinity, Flemming said: "I think that the idea that an individual could be the son of a god is already so ridiculous it doesn't need to be debunked."

[vrwc1]

The L.A. Times will give anyone with a camcorder a platform as long as they produce a movie that attacks Christianity. I can almost guarantee if you produced a movie that proves the existence of Jesus they wouldn't give you the time of day!

[kittymyrib]

You can be sure Jesus knows all about you, Brian Flemming.

[Jeff Gordon]

So? What's for dinner?

[brivette]

The Passion was an "in your face" movie to Hollywood.

[Cindy]

[trubluolyguy]

I'd like to see them disprove the existence of Mohammed. I wonder how long until their BLDG was bombed.

[frankiep]

Flemming's latest project is just as likely to disturb conservative Christians.

So a documentary claiming the Christ is a myth would disturb ONLY conservative Christians? I would think that it would disturb ALL Christians. Leave it to the Christian and conservative hating media to come up with garbage like this.

[wimpycat]

I've never heard of Brian Flemming, and I've never heard of or seen his movies.


But I have heard of Jesus. Funny how those myths have a way of hanging around.

[maestro]

.....Documentary Questions the Existence of Jesus The Los Angeles Times ^ | August 20, 2005 | Patricia Ward Biederman, Times Staff Writer

...............ROTFLOL.......

.....Jesus is claimed as one of Islam's great prophets.....

.....TLAT is going to have to take their claim up with 'AQ' et al....

ROTFLOL......

/LAT nonsense......?

[Redbob]

Sponsored by the ACLU, I'll bet.

[Artemis Webb]

"So? What's for dinner?"

I'm making lasagna...that and a little crusty bread and beer.

Anybody seen any good movies lately? I hear there is nothing on the way to theaters but unimaginative crap.

[Skooz]

I just saw "Downfall" on DVD last week.

Absolutely superb in every respect. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[maestro]

Anybody seen any good movies lately?

yep,......"Cinderella Man"

[Jeff Gordon]

I'm making lasagna...that and a little crusty bread and beer.

Sound good!

I have not been in a movie theater since "The Passion of Christ."

[nosurrender]

Yawn. Yes, well, whatever.

[wagglebee]

I'd like to see them disprove the existence of Mohammed. I wonder how long until their BLDG was bombed.

I don't know about Mohammed, but it would be pretty difficult to doubt the existence of Allah; after all, it's just a ROCK.

[Cicero]

Reminds me of when the Beatles boasted that they were more famous than Jesus.

Actually, I like the Beatles. But that was a pretty silly remark.

[pollyannaish]

I'm going to be honest here—I'm a conservative Christian and quite frankly this doesn't bother me in the slightest. I know they want me to be disturbed, but I'm just not. I believe Jesus exists and that's all I need.

I get to ignore Flemming and his work. I don't have to watch it. He can say anything he jolly well pleases and I don't care. It won't change what I believe.

However, if they start to make this required watching in grade schools...come see me. Until then...

That said, If you want to see disturbed people...try turning the tables on them.

[Clint Lippo]

"...appalled some fundamentalists with its reference to incest & other dark themes..."Who wouldn't be appalled? Oh, never mind.

[narby]

he said, he believed his teachers when they said that God created the world in six days and other Bible-based lessons. But those beliefs crumbled when he went to UC Irvine and began studying philosophy and science. ... What Flemming learned at a secular university convinced him that his fundamentalist teachers had "misrepresented what evolution was" and distorted other truths to bolster their Christian faith.

Yet another example of why it's a bad idea for fundamentalists to insist on a 6 day creation. I rejected God because some Christians eventually convinced me that I had to either accept a 6 day creation, or reject God. I rejected God.

Christianity needs to make peace with science, or this kind of thing will become the norm.