Product Description

What makes George W. Bush tick? While much of the world is confounded by his righteous rhetoric and his boundless certainty, Bush's story makes perfect sense to one group: America's conservative evangelicals...also known as the Religious Right.

This provocative but balanced documentary begins by providing the historical context necessary to understand President Bush's evangelical agenda - exploring the five-decade political education of conservative Christians. Then it zeroes in on Bush himself with a religious biography - from his mid-life crisis involving excessive drinking and a failing business, to his pivotal meeting with a cross-carrying evangelist, and finally to the skillful embrace of 'born-again' imagery that helped elect him president.

Incorporating comprehensive historical detail and interviews with religious conservatives such as Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed, as well as Bush confidants including former speechwriter David Frum, this "eye-opening" film "should be mandatory viewing for those interested in the dominant intersection between religion and politics." (Hollywood Reporter)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79791 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-10-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 101 minutes

Review
By calmly putting all the pieces in a row, shows how we came to have a president who believes, in the words of one commentator, that 'he and his country have a special relationship with God.' --The New York Times

Review
Serious, in-depth and even-handed...If you want to know how [evangelicalism] affected the course of politics in the 20th century, this documentary is an outstanding place
to start. --The Chicago Tribune

Review
Scrupulously balanced, packed with historical, sociological, and cultural context. --Christian Science Monitor

Customer Reviews

A good objective look at the situation
Whether you're on the side of the Christian right or suspicious of it, this film successfully gives nothing more than the facts about the conservative/fundamentalist's political agenda and its influence on the U.S. political scene over the last several decades. It never resorts to taking a stand. Those on the right will find nothing to disdain, and those on the opposite side will perhaps be more informed about what they fear. The movie gives the entire scenario, much of which I've either forgotten, or perhaps never was aware of, regarding the Rev. Billy Graham's unfortunate support of Nixon, President Reagen's Supreme Court nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor and her "disappointing" track record (to those on the right), the presidential bid of Pat Robertson and his scarey jump start in the early primaries, and how conservatives feel that George W. is finally, definitely their man. All very interesting and informative.

Scary
The real danger is that someday the evangelicals will gain so much power that they will turn this country into a theocracy. You can believe that the likes of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Robison and others, if given the choice of a country under their power or a country under the power of the people, would not hesitate to install themselves or someone who would do their bidding.

Well, would this be a bad thing for America? The astonishing thing is that many people would say "No, it wouldn't be a bad thing for America." The more amazing thing is, it could happen.

Democracy and the rule of law, the idea of equal rights for all citizens and a government of checks and balances is actually something new in the world if one takes a long view. Throughout most of human history most rulers were tyrannical and told the people that they derived their power and authority from God. Whether they were European kings, Japanese emperors, Islamic ayatollahs or Easter Island chieftains, they all spoke for and were to spoken to in a privileged way by God. It is only in the last two centuries or so that democratic leaders have risen to rule their countries without the claim that they rule by the authority of God. Thanks to the Enlightenment and the rise of education for the masses it has become increasing difficult to persuade the majority of people that any individual should rule because that individual (and his supporters) say he is God's choice. After all, who decides who is God's choice, and how can we know? Who speaks for God?

That is the real question. In Iran the ayatollahs speak for God. In America it is often the TV evangelist. But they speak in different tongues and they say diametrically opposed things. Both have the Truth and the Light. Both have God on their side.

Today's evangelical Christians claim that it is they who speak for God and it is they who know God's will. Ah, to know God's will. Such arrogance. And in their arrogance they would turn this country into a theocracy in which their will would be done in the name of God.

The problem with having God on your side is that you can't be wrong. Not only that but with God on your side it is easy to persuade yourself that the ends you believe in justify the means you will use to achieve them. If someone is against you, it is easy to see that they are against God. Since you can't be wrong, why should there be any discussion? Why should anyone be allowed to stand in your way?

This is why it is dangerous for the rest of us to allow the evangelics to take over the Republican Party on their way to taking over the country. You can be sure, given the power, they will usher in an Age of Ignorance and Superstition to rival that of the Middle Ages and (by the way) initiate an apocalyptic war with Islam and any other religion or creed that tries to oppose their Truth. After all, to them this life on earth is only a brief period of time before the Judgment. And those who do not follow their beliefs will be in eternal damnation anyway. So what does it matter what we do today or tomorrow or the next when the Rapture is coming and Christ again and the day of judgment?

Question: By what authority does Pat Robertson speak for God?

Answer: By the same authority that Osama bin Laden speaks for God.

This documentary--like no other documentary that I have ever viewed--will appeal simultaneously to both the evangelicals and those who oppose them. Both sides will see in this documentary evidence that supports their point of view. The evangelicals will see their glorious and upstanding heroes triumphant, and others will be disgusted at the very sight on screen of the carefully coiffured liars and hypocrites and those who lust for power. It will also explain why George W. Bush became the President of the United States, and send a warning. What sort of man might the evangelicals elect next?

Religion in the white house and as a campaign tool...
Fabulous doco...

Explores various religious aspects across more than a quarter of a century.

The documentary discusses the importance of religion in modern politics and its place as a modern campaigning tool - using rare footage from Carter onward.

The other focus of the program is on the president and his personal embrace of religion. Though some are cynical, the program enables a better understanding for those unfamiliar with some of the personal history of Dubya.