A chilling inside look at the missionary efforts of the US evangelical right to instill their "bible based" homophobia into Uganda. I won't repeat the fine observations made by other reviewers, except to say this is a must see for all LGBT persons/ activists and their supporters. It's frightening, sobering and inspiring all at the same time. It's also remarkable for the amount of footage devoted to an inside look at the gatherings and meetings of the International House of Prayer. These frenetic prayer sessions, characterized by manic, crazed, jerky movements on the part of the participants, testify in a graphic manner to the lack of any real interior peace or integration on the part of the (perhaps) well meaning zealots. Here we have human beings in the grip of a fever of fanaticism, without the "peace that surpasses understanding" of the gospels. A fever of emotional certitude coming from the ego rather than from the depths of their interior being. Contrast this with the gentle peace and quiet confidence of the two gay- supportive pastors featured most prominently. These are both remarkable human beings who exude a compassion and wisdom that breathes peace throughout the entire documentary. These are persons centered deep within their interior beings where the Spirit lives and breathes, a peace that gives them such courage in the face of opposition. This is especially so for the saintly bishop, whose gentleness masks a steely will to stand up against injustice. He is even more remarkable for his quiet inner optimism and confidence in Uganda's future, despite the terrible situation in Uganda at
the moment. This is the quiet confidence of a man deeply attuned to his own inner being, listening to a higher voice not of his own making, which sustains and inspires him. This is not a man enslaved to his inner demons who drive him to peaks of frenetic emotionality. The bishop is a gentle quiet tenacious presence contrasted with the tin rattling clamor, noise and confusion of the zealots, insisting that they know that God wants this and God wants that. Remarkable, I wish the film had mover of him.
The simple contrast between the demeanor and peaceful body language of the supportive Christian pastors with the alarming intensity of the crazed zealots is one of the most powerful messages of the whole film. It's a simple rule of Christian discernment, the Good Spirit brings peace. (Apologies for the explicit Christian references, since the Spirit is certainly not limited to Christians alone, but In a documentary replete with so many young missionaries ignorant of the basic rules of Christian discernment, it seemed appropriate.)
the moment. This is the quiet confidence of a man deeply attuned to his own inner being, listening to a higher voice not of his own making, which sustains and inspires him. This is not a man enslaved to his inner demons who drive him to peaks of frenetic emotionality. The bishop is a gentle quiet tenacious presence contrasted with the tin rattling clamor, noise and confusion of the zealots, insisting that they know that God wants this and God wants that. Remarkable, I wish the film had mover of him.
The simple contrast between the demeanor and peaceful body language of the supportive Christian pastors with the alarming intensity of the crazed zealots is one of the most powerful messages of the whole film. It's a simple rule of Christian discernment, the Good Spirit brings peace. (Apologies for the explicit Christian references, since the Spirit is certainly not limited to Christians alone, but In a documentary replete with so many young missionaries ignorant of the basic rules of Christian discernment, it seemed appropriate.)
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