God's Not Dead - Renegade Cut 

I still chuckle at a comment I saw in another review... "Wait, so you're telling me that nobody, *nobody* in a PHILOSOPHY class, likely full of philosophy majors and taught by a philosophy professor, could come up with at least *some* kind of argument on a secular nature of morality?"

I can't wait for the 3rd movie, "God's not dead 3...in space!". The tagline should be "in space, no one can hear you preaching..."

Josh's answer that "none of them would go to church" is a good reflection on Pureflix's views on society: that if others are not as devout as they are in their own personal judgemental view, then they do not deserve being part of their religion and thus are lumped in with actual atheists, gnostics or faithful of other religions.

Yeah I grew up in a VERY Christian and conservative home/college, this is a very very realistic view of how many Christians see non-believers. There is a belief that gay people shouldn't get married because "why do they want to get married, they're sinners!" as if marriage is only a Christian ritual. Basically anyone who isn't Christian has no reason to be moral or do anything good.

In my own experiences, the discrimination I have experienced here in the states as a Christian, mostly has taken the form of OTHER Christians attacking me for my more moderate and liberal political leanings, OR for not following their form or sect of Christianity. In my experience, no one persecutes Christians like other Christians.

"Christianity is for everyone. A church is meant to be a sanctuary, inclusive, not exclusive." Thank you, Leon. That's a very good summary of a lot that is wrong with this entire movement.

I'm surprised you didn't contrast the professor of the first with the teacher of the second. The professor practically indoctrinates the students with his atheistic beliefs first thing on the first day of class, whereas the teacher answers a question about Jesus saying, "the writer of the gospel of Matthew states...". Which is as neutral as you could answer and isn't at all punishable by law. I feel like that comparison should tell any audience member how absurd the two films are.

Real talk: My fairly centrist-conservative parents watched this movie and they HATED it, finding it to be weird propaganda for a very specific version of Christianity. They basically aren't for conversion, as you speculate. They're kind of just a belief-reinforcing tool for people who already are deep into this specific form of evangelical Christianity.

Saddest thing about God's not dead...I grew up with Hercules the Legendary Journey.

I have such a man crush on this channel

I am muslim, reasonably travelled, have seen many facets and customs in different muslim communities. I have no idea what is going on in the clips seen here showing the would be convert covering her face and later wearing what looks like a US/European style meshed funeral veil while beaten by her father. Bad props or lack of consultation? Having seen a lot of TV preaching (which follows the same tactics for most religions) I'd say these movies appear to exist for the purpose of reaffirming belief. Present something that is factual, attribute a positive meaning to it, then refer to how God creates all that is good as evidence for the existence of God. It is intellectually dishonest for sure, but it invigorates the own group. It is a movie for American christians who find themselves outpaced at every turn by wordly rationale, feeling like they have no answers that work on rational grounds.

You are analytical, deconstructive, and exceptionally respectful at the same time. This a unique quality to have and something to be proud of.

The most ridiculous part to me is Kevin Sorbo's conversion at death. (the following is coming from a moderately practicing Wiccan who came from a non-religious Jewish background, btw) While I hope, as you stated, that people don't feel they need faith in god to BE good people, I can certainly accept that having faith can perhaps inspire a religious person to do more good than they would otherwise be naturally inclined to do, so in that aspect, faith can be sincere and helpful to those that believe. But the idea of a staunch atheist converting at the moment of his sudden and unexpected death and the pastors relishing it to me is 100% insincere. That's not a moment of faith, that's human nature of survival. When faced with death, humans will grasp at ANYTHING to survive, and in a society where an atheist is aware that a large group of people believe that their god can answer prayers and help them, of COURSE religion is a straw he might reach for, especially having been a topic on his mind recently. So how can the pastors possibly believe this is a sincere conversion?

Looking at Kevin Sorbo's acting career it seems like the dude really wants to play Jesus but is seemingly cursed to only ever get close to the role. Just look at Hercules and andromeda. Two series in which he is the decedent of a God and a god like alien respectively.

I'm a Christian and I couldn't agree with you more great vids keep them coming

I'm a film student, and I just discovered your channel today. I've been marathoning a ton of your videos; they contain so much depth compared to other analyses and reviews I'm so surprised they have so few relative views. I was extremely curious to see how you would handle a controversial film like this, and you really amazed me with your level of understanding, tact, and fairness. Subscribed.

The worst part about this series is that even most Christians hate them just as much as other people. The only people who see these films as anything more than shameless (and inaccurate) propaganda are the fundamentalists and literalists you mentioned. Say Goodnight Kevin, a Christian reviewer, did an amazing take-down of the first film when it came out.

Thank you so much for making this video. As a Christian, it was incredibly cathartic, well meaning, and insightful. Keep up the great work!

I find Ray Wise's role in the sequel especially funny, considering I associate him the most with his role as The Devil from _Reaper._ I miss _Reaper._

Okay, credit where credit's due, it was really brave of him to post a video like this on RU-vid.

Who watches these movies? People who, like me, enjoy terrible movies! Seriously though, I live in a town that got these films, and others like them, in major theaters alongside all the actual movies. I can attest that these things are disturbingly popular among a shockingly large subset of Americans. Of course these movies also have quite low budgets, so they are easily able to make many times their budget back, thus further propagating this side of the industry. Also, I feel compelled to point out that the actors headlining the films made rose to fame playing a Greek demigod and a witch. God must love heathens!

I can't wait for "God's Not Dead: On Ice"

My friends kept insisting that I watch God's Not Dead 2 with them, and I really didn't want to, because I found it to be insulting and contradictory to the teachings of Jesus. So we struck up a deal. We would watch God's Not Dead 2, which they wanted to see, and then afterward would watch Shape of Water, which I wanted to see lol

I'm sad to see Ray Wise in one of these movies. I dunno if he really wanted to be in it or work's just that hard for him to get now, neither possibility is particularly positive.

These movies always forget that people can be something other than Christian or Atheist. They have the girl that converts from Islam in the first, but I'd really like to know how these movies would handle Shintoism or Taoism. I already know they'd get Paganism completely wrong and probably all other religions too, but they are leaving out numerous religions that don't fall under really anything they say. It's more of a curiosity though. They'd most likely portray other religions terribly too.

This was well-written, fair, and pretty insightful. Well done!

🎶"God's not dead he was never alive"🎶

Oh Kevin Sorbo... it's always so sad to learn the truth about your childhood heroes.

Great video, Leon. I think you brought up exactly what is so dangerous about films like this. The whole "us VS them" mentality isn't a good way to go about discussing religion and beliefs. I have friends of different faiths, and we all get along. We don't feel like we need to "prove" anyone right or wrong, and we certainly will defend each other if someone disrespects someone's faith. It's just rude to tell people that their beliefs are wrong or untrue or evil.

Honestly, these types of movies nearly drove me from my faith. They made me believe that to be a Christian meant to be a hyper-conservative jerk, and I'm a fairly liberal person.

as a philosophy MA, this movie and the argumentation physically hurts me. 1) using science to justify God is problematic by definition, because it thereby limits one's conception of God to human understanding and the phenomenal world 2) the works of Søren Kierkegaard and Paul Tillich (both Christian philosophers who give great arguments the film could used,but didn't. A missed opportunity)

Very few channels could of handled such a sensitive topic in such an amazing way, hats off mate👍

As a Christian (Lutheran) these films upset me a great deal. They present horrible portrayals of Christians as intellectually dishonest, mean-spirited, and even dare I say it, unloving.

This was a wondeful video, Leon! My friend, a devout christian, saw these films and was offended on quite a few levels by their content. Good to know why he was xD

An excellent and well thought out analysis. Very well executed review with an incredibly strong message in the conclusion.

Pastor Dave is Jar Jar Binks of God's Not Dead films.

Very well researched and thought out. Bravo

Excellent that you address these films.

One of your best videos.

Intelligent and well reasoned analysis.

Back when I cared about such things, I asked christians why they have morals. Their answers were because God says to. I ask why do what God says? Their answers were because if you do, you go to heaven and if you dont you go to hell. Never once was the answer because it's just the right thing to do. It's dependent on rewards and punishment, devoid of empathy.

As a Christian, I find most Christian movies like these insulting. I agree with the Reviewer. I can understand they are trying to spread their belief through film But as a person who studies film and popular culture I find embarrassing. Strange dialogue, writing, tacky too many stereotypes, preachy and I can't relate to Christian characters.

Didn't Ray Wise play a proto Vulcan on that episode of Next Gen where his people revert back to superstition when the crew reveals themselves on accident?

Thank you. Thank you for making this. I Enjoi this. Thouroughly.

People that make movies like "Gods Not Dead" make it hard to be Christian in America, not the ACLU.

Can you imagine a world where 75 percent of taxes went towards helping people rather than being spent on the military. Sad world.

my english teacher made us watch this movie at school back in 2015... I hope she's having a bad day

The most hilarious thing I noticed in God's not Dead, was that in Josh's second argument, he brings up God giving us free will, and yet, Pastor Dave's car frequently breaking down, so that he could be at the right place at the right time, makes it explicitly clear that Radison's death was predestined, all according to God's plan, which undercuts the free will argument.

That was beautiful. Beautiful and heartbreaking analysis of everything wrong with these movies, and such a fare assestment of how insulting it is to everyone. Well done Leon, you actually made me cry.

Around 7:30, did anyone notice Josh has canine teeth like a vampire?

I am atheist and if my philosophy professor told me to write "God is dead", I wouldn't do it. It's stupid.

This is Hercules teaching philosophy? Oh... Kevin Sorbo. That guy from Hercules.

Interesting review.

12:21 Even though it's a little unrelated, I remember when I was a middle schooler and when I was going to my bus, there was some random guy just passing out bibles or religious pamphlets to the kids. Some of the kids on my bus took those little bibles(?),ripped them up and threw away in the air(I also did that, I must admit. :P). Didn't really have a point with that story, I just thought it was a weird little thing that I remembered.

"Kronk, make a movie!" "Not that movie!"

I first saw both these movies when I was a Christian and I thought they were the best movies ever, they were reinforcing my faith. Now as an atheist I can't watch them without yelling at my screen about all the bad arguments, terrible writing and strawmaning. It just fills me with anger and sadness that people think like I did but never see the hateful ideas that these movies try to get you to believe. And HOLY SH*T these movies have such a persecution complex it hurts. Like another youtuber said in his critique of these movies "those with privilege, see equality as oppression." And that screams religion today.

The end of this movie feels like some dark humor. It would be a great dark comedy...

8:57 I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that kind of impact wouldn't kill anyone, it would probably break a couple bones at most, but he'd probably be able walk away from that.

Great episode! I'm a Christian, and I think these movies are a cancer of my sub-culture. The way it presents these issues in an us-versus-them way is disgusting. I do appreciate when people outside if it give the benefit of the doubt that "mainstream" Christians don't agree with these movies, but, quite sadly, many Christian friends of mine that I wouldn't necessarily call "extremists" like and quote this movie. Because, from what I've experienced, Christians don't often question or criticize art that "comes in the name of Christ." Indeed, there are many exceptions to this generalization, but this is what I've found, and it saddens me. Acting as the victim and vilifying people with opposing views ends the conversation before it even begins.

I dead ass had a pureflix ad at the start of this video.....

i really liked this episode, and i liked how you have a reasonable nuanced opinion. my parents are christian and they think these movies are ridiculous.

Thank you for a place to come for critique, somewhere where either you love or hate the film you can discus the movie and asks you to question your own hang ups.

Back when I made the blood oath that I would watch anything with Ray Wise in it, I had no idea what I was getting myself into

Wow, had no idea Ray Wise was in the second one, I honestly may have to see it now, I need 2 more hours of Ray Wise in my life.

Great vid as always, was a bit jarring to see RU-vid cram an ad for PureFlix in the middle though >.> I don't know how much control creators have over allowing specific types/sources of ads though, since I know it's mostly algorithm-based.

This was a very good and insightful review. I appreciate your point of view of someone who is not religious and does not make fun of Christianity.

I wouldn't be to hard on these films mostly because we Christians haven't figured out how to make a good movie yet...

A title I'd like to see -- God's Not Dead: But ought to be...

Data point of one, but this kind of crap pushed me *out* of my church.

I got an ad for pure flix on this video, shit

Got a pureflix ad for this video

I feel it's worth pointing out that the trial in the second movie is a really confusing, backwards version of the 1925 Scopes 'Monkey Trial' where a school teacher was tried for teaching Darwinian evolution in a state school (which was illegal in Tennessee at the time). To quote Bruce Springsteen's song 'Part Man, Part Monkey': "They prosecuted some poor sucker in these United States / For teaching that man descended from the apes"

It's persecution porn, which has been a fixture of Christianity since it's early years. When the Church was becoming dominant in Rome, gaudy stories of Martyrs became popular.

TYVM

Even as a deeply spiritual person, I could see how cringey and cartoonishly strawman Sorbo's Atheist professor was. When you have to bend characters to a cartoonish degree to try to make your point, it says a good deal about your argument. Thanks for putting out good work consistently :)

Whoa @10:00 thats the President of the US in Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 :O

A friend of my ex-wife who works at a private religious university in the intermountain west lent us this on DVD with the exhortation to watch it because it exposed so much of what is 'going on in universities right now'. I was not really interested but out of politeness I agreed to watch it. And there are few scenes in any movie I have ever watched in my life that disturbed me more than the death of the atheist professor. And it reinforced one of the most troubling beliefs of evangelical christianity to me. That being a non-believer is the worst thing that anyone can be. Worse than being a murderer. Or a rapist. And that he should die in a horrible painful way (but he was 'saved') reflects what these people want to have happen to non-believers. And that is truly horrifying.

I believe the standard of morality is gauged through what you are taught to believe while being raised, whether in a religious or irrigilous community.

he's living on the inside

So what would be worst rewatch in term of "inspirational multiple storyline" movie Gods not dead or Crash? (not the cronenberg version)

That guy from the Second movie Was cooler in creepers jeppers 2

parts of god is not dead 3 were filmed at my university

Oh god

They should do gods not dead 3 on a plane about to crash and a flight attendant gets sacked for praying for her life, and has to prove that her faith saved the passengers.

I am so surprised these films did not try to "pray the gay away" like, the protagonist finds a happy gay couple, is disgusted, and shows them the bible. Doesn't matter if the happy couple is religious or not, it's just "they're gay so they need religion"

I wonder how many more videos about some movies I will probably never watch I can watch before I'm bored of it. And what does that say about me? (Actually, I would watch the movies, but I'm not going pay for it.)

#nailedit

I always found the premise of God's Not Dead 2 to be particularly preposterous given that in my public high school world history 1 class, we were taught about the basics in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism so we would have some understanding of a lot of the cultures we would be studying later in the year. The idea that a teacher would get sued for that sort of thing is a wild fantasy.

Pureflix actually tried to advertise on this video

Wow. The all powerful Creator of the entire Cosmos is reduced to an invisible man that needs support from those who believe he exists. This sounds like a contest between humans over a fairy tale.

Oh God...they dragged poor Ernie Hudson into this.

When I first heard about this flicks (only Americans...) I was shocked and saddened that actor who played Hercules and starship captain in SF series is in that. I mean, he was never great actor but that is below soaps low. In terms of artistry and intent. Or did need a job that desperately?

Someone should make a secular Gods not dead movie.

Wait, Ray Wise does not play the Devil in a TV series?

Nooooo, not Ray Wise!

Glad I'm not the only one horrified by the "morality can only exist with God" idea. I first heard this in a college english course from a classmate, and I just about fell out of my chair. I tried to argue that morality can exist because humanity itself has inherent value, so treating one another well should be valued as well, but he flat-out insisted that no human life has any value, except for the value prescribed by God, and beyond that, there was no meaning to anything. Yikes.

Can the ACLU sue the makers for being portrayed as cardboard cutout villains?

I literally just got an advertisement of the church before watching this video. Weird

I hope renegade cut does an analysis on the christian film about the columbine victim, can't remember what it was called though.

i like the song tho ngl