A MATTER OF FAITH

A MATTER OF FAITH 

A MATTER OF FAITH: C-

I looked into this movie for one reason and one reason only. Harry Anderson. I haven't seen Harry Anderson in anything in years. From CHEERS and NIGHT COURT to his role as Richie Toser in Stephen King's 1990 Mini-series IT, I've always been a fan of Anderson's. While going through selections on Netflix and seeing his face, I decided to check this film out simply because it had been such a long time since I've seen him act in anything.

The film was a Christian film, made for Christians. Predictable, "preach to the choir", give em what they want reiteration, mixed with "agree with me" anecdotes and the popularity complex of finding more power in having others agreeing with you, than in your own personal convictions.

The film reminded me a lot of my experiences in life. Especially my experiences at Northwestern College.

The synopsis of the film on the Wikipedia page describes Professor Kaman as the antagonist. As the arrogant, know it all who is out to defy creationism. And the character of Stephen, as the protagonist simply defending creationism and sticking up for God.

The movie didn't play out that way though. Both were absolutely certain of their beliefs. And while I appreciated Professor Portland's point in his speech how both evolution and creationism are a matter of not knowing, but instead of what you believe, I did not appreciate the contradiction of one minute later saying, "evolutionary lies" and "Biblical truths." If both are a matter of faith, and he truly respected both beliefs, then he wouldn't use "lies" to describe one theory and "truths" to describe another.

I do think though that Professor Portland is the type of Christian I could get along with. He reminded me of the type of Christian that I usually do get along with. While strong and steadfast to his own beliefs, he seemed as eager to open his ears as he was to open his mouth.

Stephen, I might be able to get along with. I appreciated his humbleness, although I questioned whether it was sincere humbleness or as the late Tiny Tim (Jesus's ##1 fan by the way) would call it, "False modesty."

Evan is the type of person I would like to deck right between the eyes as hard as I can. He reminds me of a lot of kids I went to NWC with. Pretentious, self-righteous, mean spirited, everyone who doesn't see it the exact same way he does is WRONG bully. Not only did he take shots at non-Christians, but shots at other Christians who didn't see it the exact same way he did. I didn't really mind the film all that much until it heroized him as some sort of savior for Rachel.

I'd say if you're a Christian you'd probably enjoy this film. Although I would hope that you would see how film has a great sense of as I said before false modesty. I would have rather had the film either go out with a stronger sense of, "God...OUR GOD created the universe, end of story!!" or a true since of modesty in leaving it at, "It's all a matter of faith. This is what we believe. This is what you believe." Yet instead it sort of tried to play off as, "We'll leave it as this is what we believe and this is what you believe....but...we're RIGHT and you're WRONG!"

Enough about the story I guess. Although I can't help but say one more time how much I can't stand people like Evan. Even atheists who are like him. Just people who have an unbearable desire to bully and manipulate everyone they associate into believing just like them. I cannot stand people like him.

I watched the film to see Harry Anderson and I thought he did well in the role. He's as gifted of an actor now as he was 25 years ago. It makes me want to see him in part 2 of the new IT. Not as Richie Toser, but as another character. A minor character. Perhaps as the pharmacist who confronts Eddie.

I've seen so many of these Christian films that make it seem as if there are only two beliefs in the whole world. As if Christianity and atheism are the only two things a person can believe. As if one must be all or nothing amongst the two beliefs too. 100% Christian/0% atheist or 100% atheist/0% Christian. I mean they even had a quote from Professor Portland that each person in this life should take the arguments, evidences and other information from both sides and make up their own mind.....and yet the film's focus was how upset Rachel's parents, especially her father was that she was being subjected to new ways of thinking in her biology class by her professor that were contradictory to what she was taught growing up. It wasn't that she had given up her faith or was even questioning her faith that bugged her father. What bugged her father was that she was even shown that there were alternatives to what she was taught in the first place. So what is the message of the film?

The C- I give the film is a bit high in comparison to all films but I feel like rating this strictly as a Christian film. It's not getting a high grade like the Buttercream Gang films do, but I've certainly seen worse too.