NOT IN GOD’S NAME aired at many PBS stations nationwide and also on World PBS, and it is scheduled to air at more stations in the near future. Be sure to check out www.notingodsname.com for airtimes & locations, and check your local listings.
Several people have e-mailed us to say how much they enjoyed Not In God’s Name.
CONGRATULATIONS to Paula and her fabulous team! Below are some of quotes from viewers…
“Must tell you….. were riveted. It was excellent, disturbing but at the same time so interesting; and maybe with a glimmer of hope. We will share it with friends who have Direct TV and cannot get it.” — submitted by Angela Watkin.
“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!! Loved the way the documentary was laid out according to faiths.” — submitted by Linda Drucker.
“Congratulations Paula!!” — submitted by Sherril.
Parfil's Weblog 
I enjoyed your film immensely. I’ve travelled around most of India and I appreciated learning a whole lot more about what I was seeing but not really comprehending.
At 71, I found myself preferring that your ending had been something like “There are many ways to the divine, including non-belief.
To me, the God thing seems to be like an evolutionary step backwards emotionally and intellectually.
As far as the divine is conerned, it’s already divine. All of it. And for we humans it’s also suffering. Lots of it. And that’s divine too despite the fact that I almost never experience the divinity in my suffering.
Thanks again for the film and for the opportunity to think about it for a bit.
I just caught the final 3 minutes of the show on kqed. I was thrilled to hear such a great message, tolerance and acceptance.
As a teen I tried many different churches. On the 3rd week at most churches the pastor/bishop/leader would aproach me after the service and talk to me personally. He would say he’s noticed my attendance and invite me to join their church. He would always ask if I was ready to denounce all other religions. I couldn’t do it. I would always reply, ” you preach god is all loving. Why would not love everyone? All people of every religion?”.It has always been apparent to me that this world has many cultures many languages. Obviously there is an equal number of ways to reach the divine. To expect everybody to speak the same language or do things the same way is selfish not realistic. I have always found truth in the oldest beliefs, traditions and customs.Ancient Sanskrit sounds so foreign and difficult but the meanings are the most simple and clear. Buddhism worked for me when I needed it. It will always be there for me if I need it. I want to learn more and practice more. I like truths that are universal truths. True for everyone every time. Like gravity, love, giving and positive energy. Karma means experience. I have had an incredible life that has been full of Karma. More than anyone ever imagined was possible. I feel truly blessed. Thank You.
Nick
The one thing I forgot to say is all the different religions are connecting people to the same god. There is only 1 god but there are many ways to reach it. I will go so far as to say there is no wrong way. Translates to all religions are the right one. You choose the one that fits you best. Whatever works for you. It’s your choice how you connect with that 1 great force that is the source of life on this planet and in all universes. The CREATOR is something. For some reason there is a planet earth that has everything it needs to support many life forms including us humans. What a coincidence huh. What an amazing miracle this whole life thing is. An incredible balance that everything needs everything to sustain everything. We all know that when we destroy anything it puts something out of whack.
We are all connected. There is only one life. We are a part of it. We might have our own bodies that we can do whatever we want with but the truth is there is only one life force. One life energy we all share. We are all here together. When nature forces us closer together we can’t deny it. When we loose everything we look to those around us to share anything and everything they might have. I don’t know how we can all ignore such a truth until we need help. I certainly don’t have all the answers. I can only speak for myself and from my own experiences. For some reason, I had to share my thoughts.
Thank You,
Nick
I posted two comments on the section about the DVD because this section hadn’t opened yet. You might check them out. I won’t repeat them here.
I have become a one woman crusader for “it isn’t what religion you follow or whether you follow any, the ONLY thing that matters are your day to day actions towards your fellow man (whatever their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, race, social status, wealth, age,religion or lack thereof) and all living things.”
This simple phrase brings lots of vitriol from area Christians. BUT whenever I see a Letter to the Editor of my paper that spouts fear or hate of the other I write a letter back and usually I am the only one that responds. Far too many people keep quiet. One example a lady wrote a letter saying “she had heard that we should tolerate other religions but she didn’t think that was right.” A few weeks later a man walked into a Universalist Unitarian church and started shooting. No one else had responded so I did and pointed out that is one way you go about not tolerating other religions. I finished with my standard line that I mentioned above. The hate filled response from others was amazing!
Jesus said that when hit on one cheek, we should turn the other cheek. He said again and again that His kingdom is not of this world, and could not be established by fighting. That is one reason the zealots deserted Him, after they initially thought He would lead them in a war of liberation from Rome’s rule When Jesus said that He came to bring peace not a sword (which you quoted in the film), He meant the sword of the SPIRIT, which is against spiritual darkness, not people. In fact, the scripture says that we do not war against flesh and blood (people), but against the spiritual realm and spiritual darkness. To quote Jesus’ words as being a call to arms against people of other religions is to completely misunderstand what He was saying, and is misleading to your viewers.
Yes, that is what we were illustrating, that people can misunderstand the statement.
I am sorry to have some typos in my last comment! Jesus did say He came to bring not peace but a sword – it is the sword of the spirit, not a sword of war. I accidentally transposed those words in my haste to reply to the film.
Thank you for your open look into the good of humanity. I appreciate the contrast you illustrate between loving God and one another versus the tactics of coercion allowed and even promoted by extreme sects of some organized religions.
I also appreciated one comment about the example of the Crusades as being “Christianity.” This illustrates the confusion many face when they group people under labels of organized religion. Most Christian history books speak of those actions as the Dark Ages in an attempt to recognize before the world that those actions didn’t shine light into the world, rather darkness. In other words, they do not represent true Christianity.
Tolerance must assume that all people have different ideas about God, and that it’s OK to talk about in public. So let’s include someone in on the conversation. If God is alive and active, then can that God not speak? Is this God un-able to move, prompt, and work from the inside out?
Anger and hate come from the fear one has inside. This fear comes from feeling threatened. So in the moment when one feels the twinge of anger, it would make sense to ask, “Why do I feel threatened?” Perhaps one should revisit their experience and thoughts on God before reaching for a sword. The source of the perceived threat is less likely from the other, and more likely from within.
When anger flares regarding religion, then perhaps one ought to reach for help or a better book, or reason, or a pen, rather than a sword (Cain’s response to Able). Shouldn’t the mature in these organizations correct the misunderstandings that lead to injustice, rather than feed off the power and temporary control (and death) that these extreme movements provide? Where does the responsibility reside?
This brings us to the sword to which Jesus refers. It’s the scalpel like effect that his words had within/among the family and community of one nation and religion. It was the discerning (seen as divisive) effect that his way of living (at one with God and valuing one another over traditions) had against religious methods of coercion and conformity.
The sword effect of his unconditional love divides the power base of organizations. It condemns the tactics of conformity that organizations depend on to control their membership in order to maintain their perceived identity and power base. Jesus’ sword weakens the fragile support base for organizations who seek to create a world identity through “attendance, buildings and cash flow” (the ABC’s of organizational success).
The sword effect frees those from the prison of thought that confuses handed down traditions as a relationship with a living and active God. This is what threatens those who conform to the form of religion, yet don’t experience God’s mercy, grace and power.
We all need to enjoy and extend God’s grace, if we dare.
Submitted via e-mail by Robert Kenny:
Here is a brief statement that I hope honors your and Paula’s good work and will be helpful to you:
I had the good fortune of having a spiritual teacher who not only expressed understanding and respect for all the world’s religions, but also urged us to focus on the core wisdom of those traditions — which they hold in common — rather then the accretions of ideology and the “one-and-only-right-way” attitude that divide religions and tragically lead to hatred, conflict and even war.
This film is a beautiful song to the heart of love, understanding and compassion.
The Dalai Lama says in the documentary that he has a practice of regularly visiting and praying with the members of various faiths. What a simple, and yet so profound and groundshaking, practice. May we follow his example and enter is sacred dialogue with our brothers and sisters, who essentially share the same longing as we do, to realize communion with life, with one another, and with the one Spirit that infuses and unites all our lives.
Many blessings to you,
Robert
Wow, great info man. I’ll try to put it into practice as soon as i can but first i have to find the best blogger template for my new project. btw i found your blog searching for blogger templates so here you are an idea for new a section ;P regards!
Thank the powers that be, for a little sanity on these issues.
I have spent the last thirty years writing to the local speak-out and letters to the editor in a personal search to reconcile difficult issues in science and religion. It has been successful in making some sense of my mid-1970’s college science education.
The Holy Bible’s “Seek first the kingdom of God” became coupled with Sagan’s “Follow the truth, where ever it leads.” It led to my realization that God is a perception, that the secrets of the human genome (DNA) will provide the operational schematics of the human mind/brain with directly experiential observations and paths towards a variety of religious experiences including nirvana.
I am saddened by the realization that the glorification of American warrior culture has begun to compete with the glorification of American religious culture, and seems to be winning. “The Greatest Generation” that fought WWII created the unintended consequences of basking in “might makes right” glory. Losers look humiliated. Compassion for Nazis and for Confederates of the War Between the States (the Civil War) gave rise to Joe McCarthy-based Rush Limbaugh sentiments of hate culture. The Pentagon provides a permanent war on enemies and promotes target mindfulness, not holiness mindfulness. This message of hate seems to only grow, while the message of genuine, modest religious pursuits faces a variety of hate culture buttons.
Insanely jealous believers are feeling the demon’s cravings.
Loving the pale blue dot that is the earth seen from outer space and man’s tentatve stewardship of spaceship earth in addition to stewardship of future generations is the task of the holy men and women of tomorrow, bringing a sense of right and wrong, and teaching respect and justice for all living things.
Neat site look
“I just saw your film on PBS and loved it! You were balanced, fair & you even threw in the 4,000 Jews! Thanks.
I’m leaving for Israel Wednesday for my son’s BarMitzvah. Your film is
quite parallel to the strife we face there. Good Job!” — submitted by Heidi.
Thanks this made for interesting reading. I want your wordpress theme!
You should add a retweet button to your blog. I just tweeted this article, however I had to complete it manually. Simply my $.02 🙂
Great idea. Thank you. I will work on it. I don’t think I set up Twitter yet, but will do so soon.
Comment submitted via e-mail by Sonia Puopolo, Author of Sonia’s Ring:
“Your film is extraordinary. It is in complete
alignment with what I am trying to do with Sonia’s Ring and I love that you understand my story and message.
Love & Light,
Sonia”
I like this web site so much, saved to bookmarks.