By: Dave Fidlin

Be in the world, not of the world. 

The popular saying, paraphrased and abridged from Scripture in John 17:14-16, has been uttered in churches and Christian circles for ages. Case in point: Avalon, a Contemporary Christian Music group, devoted a song, “In Not Of,” to the topic on their 1999 album, “In a Different Light.”

But for a Christian, the exact interpretation of how to live this philosophy out has been scrutinized and debated. Some members of the Christian community concede it is blasphemous to evangelize outside a traditional church setting or an event sanctioned by a Christian organization, while others take a far more liberal view, saying even bars or strip clubs can be used as venues to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In general, evangelical Christians tend to embrace the “go out into the world” mentality, while more conservative-leaning Christians tread much more lightly on this philosophy.

During his time on earth, Jesus displayed an example of how to live a life of faith and effectively spread the Gospel. While He came down hard at times – as evidenced by his angry response toward occupants of a temple, who turned the venue into a market – He also was compassionate and associated Himself with people who were not walking in God’s footsteps. The fact Jesus gave the time of day to a prostitute like Mary Magdalene is proof that He did not associate solely with church-goers.

Perhaps one of the boldest modern examples of a Christian evangelizing in an unorthodox setting is Heather Veitch, founder of the Las Vegas-based ministry JC’s Girls. (JC stands for Jesus Christ.) Veitch, a former stripper, claims to have turned away from her past lifestyle and advocates against the sex industry. Members of JC’s Girls visit strip clubs across the country and offer invitations to the women to attend church. Veitch also serves on the staff of Central Christian Church in an area nicknamed “sin city.”

The ministry has even set up booths at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo – a venue where a Christian presence would seem most unlikely. Members of JC’s Girls have given out gift packages accompanied with messages saying God forgives all sins. In interviews, Veitch said the goal of the ministry is to reach out without coming across as judgemental. 

JC’s Girls have raised more than a few eyebrows in the Christian community. 

“Heather’s intentions may be good; I’m going to put the best construction on her intentions,” Ingrid Schlueter, a Milwaukee-based conservative Christian talk show host, wrote on her blog, Slice of Laodicea, last year. “But the lack of solid biblical teaching today is resulting in ‘ministries’ that are bringing only more shame on the name of Christ.”

Schlueter and other Christian leaders have been critical of several of Veitch’s tactics, including a critique that she continues to wear somewhat revealing clothing, which could lead to a stumbling block for men struggling with their own fleshy desires.

But there are some members of the Christian community who believe a fresh approach to evangelizing is necessary in a culture that is growing increasingly cynical toward the seemingly judgmental, narrow-minded attitudes of people in churches. 

“I’m always inspired by (Veitch’s) love for the girls (in the adult entertainment industry) and her passion; her ideas for reaching people are fresh, bold, crazy and innovative,” wrote a member of Ethur, an organization aimed at intertwining Christianity and culture, on the blog, A Polite Rebellion Against Mass Thought.

The Veitch scenario raises an interesting point of evangelizing outside the church. One aspect is certain: Christians should not expose themselves to situations that could cause them to stumble in their walk with the Lord. It would be hard to argue this would be crossing the line between being in the world and not of it. A recovering alcoholic who has come to Christ, for instance, might not be best suited to share the Gospel in a bar. Not initially, at least. However, a Christian’s previous sins, and God’s transformation of that person’s life, can become a powerful testimony to those who have yet to proclaim a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Perhaps one of the most effective means of straying from vulnerable situations is to pray for discernment each day – especially when going out into “the battle field” and sharing Christianity with nonbelievers. The book of 1 Thessalonians speaks to the topic of discernment, particularly in 5:21-22, where Christians are instructed to “examine everything carefully,” “hold fast to that which is true” and “abstain from every form of evil.”

Amid the debate of being in the world, not of it, is an important point: Whenever a Christian steps outside the church doors and wants to share the Gospel with the world, authenticity is a key ingredient to the witnessing efforts. 

The old adage, “People don’t care how much you know until they know you care,” is in danger of being deemed trite because it is tossed around so casually, but it holds true when any effort is made to bridge the gap between Christianity and pop culture. Memorizing Bible verses is only one step in sharing the Gospel with others.

Letting one’s guard down, and perhaps being somewhat vulnerable, is a second, and powerful, step believers can use when sharing the benefits of a walk with Christ. All too often, it can be tempting to come across with a polished, I’ve-got-it-all-together attitude. But a Christian giving their testimony – sharing how God has worked in his or her life – is a powerful means of witnessing to a world searching for answers to tough questions. 

Anyone can shout Bible verses into a megaphone and tell passers-by they are going to hell if they do not repent. Taking an active interest in someone’s life, on the other hand, can be demanding. It means investing in that person by sacrificing time and, at times, it can result in emotional fatigue.

But, borrowing another clichéd phrase, “What would Jesus do?” Based on his interactions with believers and nonbelievers alike, the answer appears fairly obvious.

By Andy Dudynsky

Revelation Generation 2009 provided an awesome venue for non-profits to get their name out to a receptive Christian youth audience. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit that is quite popular amongst modern day music fans, as many of today’s most popular acts promote the brand in various ways.  Frequently attending Warped Tours and music festivals all over the country, TWLOHA is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. I sat down with James, a representative, to learn more about TWLOHA.

How long has TWLOHA been around, and where did it all start?
-It all started on MySpace in 2006, where a group of individuals wanted to sell shirts to raise money for a friend who needed treatment. Quickly, it resulted in many individuals responding and sharing stories of their own.  Before we knew it, we had a huge network of people who were able to give each other advice and hope.

What gave you the idea to promote with musicians?
-Because MySpace is so integrated with music, what happened is that musicians started taking notice, and were some of the first to buy our shirts.  Our biggest help was word of mouth advertising.  People would see guys from their favorite bands wearing the shirts, and start talking about it to friends.  Also, our message connects with a lot of the lyrics that bands write, so they can relate to what we’re trying to say.

Do you promote outside of the music industry?
-While we mostly attend music events, we try to make as many appearances we can each year.  We also frequent charity events and any festivals that share a similar message.

What has made TWLOHA so successful? 
-To tell you the truth, we’re such a real organization, not just another non-profit that is asking for money.  I think our message hits home with everyone.  We’re all about encouraging people to talk about these issues, and that it’s ok to talk about tough stuff.  We encourage everyone to “be yourself,” and we’re a very open community. People feel comfortable talking with us about getting help.

Thanks to James and all of the TWLOHA crew! You can learn more about the organization and buy apparel at www.twloha.com.

By: Andy Dudynsky

Emery was one of the first bands to hit Tent 7 on Friday at Rev Gen 2009- which attracted a small group of lucky fans who got a chance to learn about how the band came together, and what it means to have Christ in their lives.

The guys from Emery started in Church choir, growing up in a Christian atmosphere and singing through high school. “We didn’t start playing guitar until college” mentioned guitarist Devin Shelton.

Toby Morrell (Bass/Vocals) helped explain Emery’s message. “We write about relationships with family, God, and people you dislike.  It’s usually a whole bunch of things that can happen in relationships. You can be blessed, hurt, etc.”

When asked about their main influences, the guys mentioned “50′s and 60′s rock n’ roll”, which had deep meaning with the lyrics.  They explained how the music from this time period generally came across as happy, but there was an undertone that not everything was necessarily going to last.  Toby mentioned that he enjoys finding multiple meanings in music.  Also on their list were Queen and Weezer, and a lot of indie rock.

Now in their ninth year as a band, one fan asked how they stay creative while creating new music. “We rely on each other” mentioned Toby.  He went on to say that they all contribute to writing, and if one person is stuck, they might ask another for help, or to hear some old stuff they’ve written for inspiration.  Their main motivation to write music is that they love it, and want to be real for their fans.  They feel a need to be honest with people – and to be able to relate to them, which is why the focus on relationships of all kinds.

“We get caught up in our lives, and there’s constantly a daily struggle of “Jesus is Lord vs. ME.”  Toby added that last week he dropped his brand new iPhone, and he and his wife both screamed and looked at one another. “I wish I could be as devastated about a homeless person, or something that really matters.” He closed by saying that “Everything gets better with Jesus in my life.”

Emery shared similar messages to their fans, drawing a huge crowd in a lively set that include both new and old material.

You can check out Emery and their new album “…In Shallow Seas We Sail” at emerymusic.com.

By: Allysen Mahaffey

One thing that makes Christians stand out like a sore thumb in American mainstream culture is views about premarital sex. It is almost unheard of today for someone to wait to have sex before marriage, and if someone does decide to wait because of his or her Christian beliefs, people may look at them strangely or mockingly with disbelief. For instance, think of the Christian tradition involving the so-called “purity ring,” where young unmarried Christians choose to wear a ring symbolizing their commitment to abstinence until marriage. In some church traditions, fathers give their young daughters this “purity ring.” To an onlooker, this might look like these people belong in a different century or are part of a cult-like group that follows the strictest of rules. This is especially true in the context of our contemporary secular culture, which practically worships sex and the idea of it. Sex seems to be everywhere, in advertisements, TV shows, movies, music, magazines and the Internet. How can Christian views about sex, which traditionally teaches the only place for sex is marriage, be so different from contemporary American popular culture? Is Christianity’s mainstream view about premarital sex too old-fashioned for today’s culture?

Sexual temptation is nothing new, and has been around since the beginning of time. The biology of our bodies and the feelings, passion, and lust that arise in a relationship is something Christians have dealt with for a long time. Today’s culture, however, does not make things any easier for Christians to strive for sexual purity until marriage. For many, making the choice to wait may sound insane. It is much easier to be like everyone else then rather stand out and be that person who is still a virgin, and will be until…when, marriage?! Perhaps it was easier when the mainstream American culture agreed that sex should be saved for marriage only. American popular culture views about sex drastically changed during the 1960s, a decade famous for the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war demonstrations, but also known for its cultural revolution. The Baby-Boomer generation led the way for what is known as the “Sexual Revolution.” Amongst other things, views about sex drastically changed. For example, “free love” came about and is described as unrestricted sexual practices and a casual attitude towards sex. People were “freed” of sexual boundaries and rules, and premarital sex was no longer such a taboo or hidden deed. However, this much more relaxed, open view about sexual behavior did not come without negative consequences, such as unwanted pregnancies and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. These negative consequences did not stop American culture from continuing on become more relaxed about premarital sex, however. After all, here we are half a decade later, as a generation that does not quite remember chastity as ever being the norm.

Not only is sex everywhere, it is also celebrated greatly. Premarital and casual sex is the standard behavior for characters in TV and movies, and the basis for lyrics for many popular songs and magazine articles. Pornography is also more accessible than ever, and is an industry that makes billions of dollars annually. Rarely does our popular culture focus on the long list of possible negative aspects of casual sex. A fictional character in a TV show or movie that indulges in casual sex hardly gets a STD, an unwanted pregnancy, or deals with negative emotional aspects tied to sex. If one of these issues should arise, they are solved in an unrealistic timeslot. For example, think of the popular sitcom Friends. The characters of this show have premarital sex frequently; yet deal with very little negative consequences, except for one unwanted pregnancy. However, the mother and father end up together in the end, are over 30 years old and financially stable. Although this is just one TV show, it is representative of the problem with the way sex is viewed and dealt with in our popular culture. Much of it seems to say that sex is extremely important and vital in a dating relationship, that you should have it as much as possible, and if you do not have it frequently, you are not a man or are a prude.

Some might say that Christianity needs to keep up with contemporary culture, or it may become irrelevant and outdated. Sure, this may be true for the type of music that is played during a worship service or how people dress for church, but should this really be the answer for a serious and important issue such as sex? Sex is not as simple, and the choices we make about it can be life changing. Did God give us boundaries for the sake of giving us rules because He doesn’t want us to have fun, or is there something more to these moral guidelines? Many people, including the non-religious and religious, often claim rules that religion place on people restrict individual freedom and choice. Perhaps the Christian church is somewhat at fault as well for over-emphasizing these rules so greatly instead of Christ’s grace, mercy, and freedom.

It is important to read what the Bible has to say about sex and its boundaries. Just like other sayings and phrases in the Christian tradition such as the “Holy Trinity” or the “Second Coming,” an exact phrase condemning premarital sex does not exist in the Bible, which does not make things exactly easy. However, there are verses that infer God does not want His followers to live in sexual immorality, which amongst other things includes premarital sex. Both 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 and Ephesians 5:3 say to “flee sexual immorality.” The passage in 1 Cor. 6 also says that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that people who sin sexually sin against their own body. In 1 Cor. 7, Paul wrote that men and women should get married to avoid burning with lust and fornication (defined as having sex outside of marriage). Having sex or satisfying lust is of course not the only reason for marriage in the Bible, but the language used in these verses makes it clear that God does not want us to engage in sexual immorality, including premarital sex, and for good reason.

In can be extremely difficult for a young Christian couple to wait to have sex before marriage. When two people are in love, it feels natural and right to advance their physical relationship. However, even our own feelings can lie to us.  In the moment, what we think is right and what may feel great may not be the best for us. The world around us is also constantly lying to us. “Free-love” is an ironic term that is not so freeing after all when you consider all of the possible negative and life-changing consequences that such a relaxed view about sex brings about. Sex may feel right and good at the time, but like many other things in life, it may turn sour if practiced outside of the boundaries God gave us. As Christians, we believe God is the Creator and Sustainer of our universe and humankind. If this is true, then we must trust He knows a lot more about what is good for us then what the world and our minds tell us. God has made boundaries for a reason, and these boundaries are not to restrict us but to ultimately set us free. Many parts of the Bible celebrate sex in the context of marriage, and it is important to remember that God created our bodies and sex as good and beautiful things. Sex in the context of marriage is an intimate and important act, as well as a gift from God. Unfortunately, sex has been perverted into what American mainstream culture thinks of it today. Things like casual sex, promiscuity, and pornography, are hurtful to society, as well as demeaning and destructive to women, men, and relationships. It is not what God intended for sex or us. God did not create sexual and other boundaries to hinder our fun, yet to ensure we can enjoy life to the fullest without so much unnecessary worry.

By: Andy Dudynsky

 
As a veteran festival attendee, I’ve been to countless Warped Tours, Bamboozles, and all other alternative music festivals that stop by the New York area.  But this past weekend at Revelation Generation 2009 was something different. I’ve even been to several Christian music events, but nothing that compared to the scale of Revelation Generation 2009.

Unlike the events listed above, RevGen 2009 started with something special – a word of prayer.  Under Friday’s blue skies, the early arrivers bowed their heads before The Glorious Unseen took to the New York stage. This set the mood for the entire weekend, as throughout the weekend thousands of teens were given the chance to learn more about Christ while watching their favorite bands, many of them for the first time.  Sean Grom of the RevGen steering committee commented “Revelation Generation is not just a concert. We want to see lives changed.”

“I don’t care, I’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, I can die now!”  said a girl of fourteen or fifteen years.  Interestingly enough, each band stressed throughout the weekend that they do not deserve to be looked at as anyone different than the fans in the crowd.  This was also the aim of “Tent 7,” a place where a few lucky fans were able to meet and greet their favorite bands and listen to what they had to say.  Most shared messages about being saved, and how God and music have changed their lives.  “We try to do the right thing, and let people down all the time” says Toby Morrell of Emery.  Many bands, including Underoath and Switchfoot told stories about tough times in their lives, and how they wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for God’s love.  At the end of each Tent 7 session, people unfamiliar with Christ were given the chance to receive a bible and talk to the friendly volunteer staff so that they could learn more about what it means to be a Christian – something a lot of youth took advantage of. 

Friday’s acts kept their fingers crossed as the breeze began to cool and the clouds began to darken.  Although Emery introduced themselves as the “official Underoath tailgate party,” their performance was nothing less than spectacular.  After, fans got treated to Haste the Day, who encouraged listeners to “stand up for what you believe in, even when everything falls away.”  Attendees were reminded that it’s easy to do the right thing in a Christian atmosphere such as RevGen.  But when you go out into the world; whether at school or work, or even seeing the same bands in a non-Christian setting, stay true to what’s important to you and to God.

Over on the Philadephia stage, popular artists like Matthew West, Jars of Clay, and MercyMe pumped out their chart-topping hits.  Joining them was Delirious?, in what will most likely be their last show in the United States, as they have decided to split ways in November 2009.  Dressed in three piece suits, the band from the UK is best known for their 1994 song “I Could Sing of your Love Forever.”  Friday bands didn’t have huge crowds, but that didn’t stop them from putting out amazing music that echoed over the massive space that is Revelation Farms.  Jars of Clay ended up drawing the biggest crowd of the night, playing songs from the new album all the way back to their self-titled.  This was the first time I personally felt God over the weekend – I’ve been listening to Jars for about six years, and to look around and see everyone singing along and praising God was quite amazing. Even though just about everyone was there to see different bands, everyone was really at RevGen for a similar reason; to praise God through music, and not worry about work or school.

Closing out the night was Underoath, who stressed the importance of the fact that we cannot tell other what to do, but that we can love people, be open minded, and have open hearts, while loving everyone the same.  A large group prayer followed, where several of the tents were packed with teens who shared tear-jerking testimonials and words of guidance.

One event attendee, Kate Laird, 24, from Port Republic, NJ, commented that she wished that all of the RevGen bands would talk more about Christ onstage at their other shows.  I agree, and hope that bands will continue to thank God while onstage, and reach out to music fans that really need help finding God in their lives.

Saturday’s weather ended up being a bit hotter, as temperatures rocketed up to the high 80′s. (Come on, that’s hot for September in Jersey!) Thankfully, RevGen was also more reasonable about water prices, selling bottles for just a dollar – talk about unheard of! The proceeds from the food and beverage sales benefited various local charities.  Speaking of charities, RevGen’s merch tent provided an awesome outlet for many non-profits, including Gospel for Asia, Rockforlife.org, To Write Love on Her Arms, and several Christian apparel brands.  Fans got a chance to get some free gear, find out more about a charity, and donate money directly.

Also in attendance were several local colleges, which provided a great chance for all high school and middle school students to get a peak at some of the northeast’s finest Christian based schools.  In attendance were Philadelphia Biblical College, Baptist Bible College, and Messiah College, and many others.  With free t-shirts and private orientation dates, I’m sure many teens took advantage of a free college fair during the weekend.

August Burns Red, ready to headline their next tour, gave Staurday’s crowd a reason to arrive early.  Before their performance, fans heard a message from festival organizers explaining that love is what will build the music community, and parents learned that although the music of the Philadelphia stage may sound “angry,” it is passionate, and presents a strong message.  The weekend provided Christian music for all types of fans, which is why it is such a big hit for youth groups and families.  Other attractions included skateboarding and BMX demos, and multiple volleyball courts not too far away from the main stages.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot packed the Nashville stage tent on Saturday afternoon, with fans literally overflowing out the sides of the tent for a solo performance.  In an intimate setting, he let listeners choose which songs they wanted to hear.  He mentioned that he writes music to take care of the things in the world that don’t make sense, and that music is all about communicating these issues.  The fans sang along, and got a kick out of references to Bob Dylan and Wayne’s World 2.

I got a chance to sit down with Mindy Daleo, who played on the Nashville Stage Saturday afternoon as well.  She explained that if there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that “Anywhere you’re at, you can get out of it.  I’ve been there.”  She said that she can’t stand how religion is presented these days, and “Believes in a God you can talk to in your living room.”  This message is one that is close to my heart, as I often find myself talking to God in the middle of my day in any given place. 

Before I mention Saturday’s headlining acts, let’s take a look at two other side stages.  Ranging from the pioneers in the Southern Christian hip-hop, GRITS, to B.Reith’s Nashville based band, the Urban Stage provided an opportunity for exposure to some fresh Christian artists. MyChildren, MyBride, and Impending Doom were the big names on the Come and Live stage, which attracted a steady flow of fans that came to see the headlining acts.  Between dance teams and DJ’s, these stages offered something different than the Christian alternative scene.

The Devil Wears Prada played a lot of new material in an energetic set that had the crowd surfing and circling in pits that “exceeded (the bands) expectations.”  It certainly seemed as if the crowd and the band were feeding off of each other’s energy, as TDWP too mentioned that everything that happens in the crowd is just as important as what they’re up to on stage.  Lastly, they made sure attentive fans knew that even as devout Christians, they too make mistakes.

Saturday evening’s performances included Relient K, MercyMe, Switchfoot, and Flyleaf.  Relient K treated their old fans to a special set which included tracks like “Mood Rings” and “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” all while busting out trumpets, accordions, and even a bit of 90′s rap.  Flyleaf’s Lacy Mosley was the only female at RevGen – she was joined by the talent of Fireflight, Blanca Reyes of Group 1 Crew, Mindy Daleo, and the award winning BarlowGirl.

In passing, I heard a girl mention “I feel like this year it went by so fast.”  I truly felt the same way, as the headlining acts were flowing all weekend long.  Luckily, I (like everyone else) didn’t have time for a single break, and found myself joining packs of teens running from stage to stage in order to try and catch the end of a set.

This year’s Revelation Generation Festival provided an awesome venue for music fans to come together in a Christian setting. Let’s hope that the future holds more events of this sort all over the country!

You can find out more about Revelation Generation at
www.revgen.org
or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Rev_gen

See you guys next year!

The launch of NTV has been temporarily delayed. More information will be made public as developments arise.

By Robert Ham

As you likely have already noticed, the divide between Christians and non-believers seems to be getting wider every day. For every bold individual that manages to construct a bridge to navigate over this gulf, there are dozens, if not hundreds, more who are happy to sling invective, insults, or worse back and forth.

There is hope, however. Hope of closing this gap, opening up dialogue between these two disparate parties, and healing some of the hurt inflicted on each group toward the other. Hope in the form of a tall, bespectacled fellow who likes to walk around covered in bumper stickers.

True, that’s not the only way he likes to dress, but when we first meet Dan Merchant in his entertaining and eye-opening documentary Lord Save Us From Your Followers, he’s wearing a white rain suit covered in stickers and varieties of Jesus fish decals and drawing attention from a variety of passersby. It’s a quick way to grab people’s interest, but also a quick way to get people talking to Merchant on camera about their beliefs, their understanding of Christianity and just why it is that, as the subtitle of the film spells out, the gospel of love is dividing America.

“We are the ones who are supposed to understand compassion and forgiveness,” says Merchant, “so why are we in the middle of all these political arguments? Why is it when people yell at us, we swing back?”

Merchant, an advertising and marketing filmmaker based in Portland, Oregon, took a film crew with him across the country, interviewing theologians, politicians (including Rick Santorum and Al Franken), preachers, a beat poet and even a drag queen hoping to answer these questions and shake up of his own firmly held beliefs, the first cracks of which started to show about five years ago.

“I was on a trip to Ethiopia to shoot a documentary for the State Department on aid and I saw some profound things,” says Merchant, speaking from his production company’s office in Portland. “What really struck me was the Christians that I saw there who come from around the world to do the difficult work that needed to be done. And that Ethiopian Christians have a much greater depth of faith than anyone I know. There I was thinking, ‘This guy who lives in a hut half way around the world understands God better than you do.’”

Coming back to the U.S., Merchant saw the stark contrast go into deeper relief in the news coverage leading up to the Presidential elections of 2004. “I heard people on TV and on talk radio and they had this very strident, aggressive, divisive approach and were really alienating people. I compared the people on the mics to that kid in his hut who reminded me of Jesus…and then I looked in the mirror and realized that I had much more in common with the guys on TV.”

Like Michael Moore and Bill Maher before him, Merchant puts himself in front of the camera, giving viewers a figure to follow through the film and giving us a chance to watch him peel away his preconceptions as he goes along, as well as watching him challenge himself for the sake of being a more loving Christian. The most potent example being the confession booth he set up at Portland Pride, the annual event for the city’s gay and lesbian community.

Taking its inspiration directly from the pages of Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz, this booth was for Merchant to confess the sins of Christians towards homosexuals, as well as his own personal sins. As the film attests, the experience had quite an effect on the booth’s visitors and on Merchant. “Half the people that came in broke down in tears and so did I,” he remembers. “They were so generous and kind to me to be willing to listen and accept my apology. And the conversations that we had afterward, they told me things that were very personal and I told them things. And that’s just what friends do.”

Lord Save Us is not without its lighter moments, as well, like Merchant’s very Michael Moore-like attempts in St. Paul, Minnesota to have the city’s name changed to New Leningrad, a satirical reaction to the city council’s decision to remove the Easter Bunny from their holiday decorations. The director is quick to point out though that moments in the film, like these were thought up on the fly, free of the preconceived agendas that mark the work of Moore or Maher’s anti-faith film Religulous.

“It’s why the film took three years to shoot. It was like I was in the middle of a detective story. I would read the news and go, ‘Oh, here’s a clue: a guy in kabuki makeup screaming at kids playing guitar on the steps of city hall in San Francisco [the aforementioned drag queen, Sister Mary Timothy, protesting a Christian youth conference holding an event in his hometown],’ then that’s what we’d do. Or when talking to Al Franken and he’d say something about the Easter Bunny being removed from St. Paul City Hall and we’d go find out about that. My personal quest is simply mirrored in this movie.”

The film is going to slowly be released in theaters around the country starting on September 25th, but Merchant has already taken the film to churches and colleges around the country for small screenings, events that the director says have already started to help push these two sides closer together. “So many people who call themselves Christians have told me this is a movie for them, and non-Christian audiences – Jewish, Muslim or Atheist- they think the movie is for them. It speaks to them all.”