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Filmography - Christianity: I - M

Titles available on DVD and Streaming video as of October 2013

Christianity

Titles available on DVD and streaming video as of  October 2013

Most streaming videos listed are available exclusively to AU students, staff and faculty after an online authentications by AUID#.

This is a selective list of video holdings in the American University Library. Filmographies are created by doing multiple keyword searches in the ALADIN catalog to capture as many titles on a topic as possible.  All DVDs listed below are located in Media Services on the Lower Level of Bender Library. To search the library’s complete videos holdings on prison topics (including VHS tapes) search the library catalog at: http://www.american.edu/library/mediaservices/index.cfm

I Believe: The Faith We Confess. 2012.  The Faith We Confess: A 21st-Century Look at the Meaning and Relevance of the Apostles' Creed.  1 streaming video file   (46 min.). Each Sunday millions of people around the world stand to recite a creed that affirms their belief in the Christian faith. In this program Christian theologians provide an overview of the tenets encapsulated in the Apostles' Creed. Topics include the Creed as a summary of basic Christian doctrine; the Creed as defense against heresy, especially in the early Christian era when uncanonical versions of the Gospel were circulating; the Creed as a confession at baptism; the definition of "belief" as an assertion of faith in the Apostles' experience; the doctrine of the Holy Trinity; the Holy Spirit; and God the Father, a personal God who is involved in human life as both creator and nurturer. Streaming video.
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The imam & the pastor: An African answer. 2006.  2 videodiscs (40 min.), (38 min.). The imam & the pastor: Documentary about the efforts of Imam Ashafa and Pastor James to peacefully resolve conflicts and to promote tolerance between Nigeria's Christians and Muslims. An African answer: The results of national elections in Kenya in December 2007 were disputed.  In Rift Valley Province, this produced unrest and violence between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin ethnic groups. Imam Ashafa and Pastor James (from Nigeria) were invited to this area to work towards reconciliation between people of these two tribes. DVD 4156.

In the beginning God created Heaven and Earth: Crossroads of faith and science. 2013.  1 streaming video file   (50 min.) . Will the battle between creationism and scientific purism ever be resolved? In search of a more nuanced and illuminating dialogue, this film explores the views of free thinkers around the world who balance their spiritual sensibilities with genuine scientific curiosity. Conversations focus on the origins of the cosmos, living things, and the human species. Researchers, intellectuals, and religious leaders in France, Germany, and Turkey share their interpretations of biblical and Quranic passages, pointing out rarely discussed echoes of scientific concepts and explaining why faith and factual evidence don't necessarily cancel each other out. The program also takes viewers through a colorful chronology of the three major monotheistic religions, looking at historical periods in which the sacred and the scientific intersected - clashing in some cases, while in others forming a symbiosis. Streaming video.
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In the name of Christ. 2006.  The Holy Wars.  (New York, N.Y.).  1 streaming video file   (30 min.). This program examines the forces behind European determination to capture Palestine, linking the belligerence of medieval Crusaders with their piousness. Drs. Klaus Herbers of Friedrich Alexander University and Patrick Franke of Martin Luther University draw surprising parallels between East and West, focusing on martyrdom as a vital component of the Crusader's motivation, interreligious notions of knightly behavior, and cases of negotiation and cultural exchange despite numerous atrocities and military disasters. Without neglecting the harsh realities of the Crusades, In the Name of Christ presents a fresh perspective on the medieval clash of Christian and Islamic powers. Streaming video.
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In the shadow of faith: Redemption behind bars. 2007.  1 streaming video file   (57 min.). Angola Penitentiary has its own radio station, its own magazine, and-most notably-its own highly organized evangelical ministry. It is also a working farm, tended in large part by compliant, nonviolent inmates. What forces are at work in the once-notorious Louisiana institution? Have its residents embraced religion sincerely, or is Angola a focal point of sophisticated brainwashing? This program invites viewers to consider those questions. Examining daily life at the complex, it reveals an existence that, while varying from inmate to inmate, finds meaning in work, worship, and little else. Insights into prison realities and their spiritual remedies come from lifers, guards, and warden Burl Cain, the charismatic instigator of Angola's transformation. Streaming video.
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In the shadow of the Reich: Nazi medicine ; The cross and the star. 2003?  1 videodisc (109 min.).  "'Nazi medicine' studies the step-by-step process that led the German medical profession down an unethical road to genocide. It graphically documents the racial theories and eugenics principles that set the stage for the doctors' participation in sterilization and euthanasia, the selections at the death camps, as well as inhuman and unethical human experimentation. 'The cross and the star' finds disturbing echoes of anti-Semitism in the ... Gospel of St. John, the sermons of St. Augustine, the writings of Martin Luther and in the voices of the Crusaders and the Spanish Inquisitors--all of which may have helped the ideological seeds that developed into Nazism."--Container. DVD 1149.

Indoctrination: Public schools and the decline of Christianity in America. 2011.  1 videodisc (102 min.). "Nearly 90% of Christian children attend a public school. Filmmaker Colin Gunn and his family drive across America asking questions about the origins and social impact of America's public education system.". DVD 10219.   

Inner journey: Path of mysticism. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (57 min.). This program respectfully explores mystical aspects of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Taoism. Learned scholars, including Elliot Wolfson, professor of Hebrew and Judaic studies at New York University; Peter Awn, professor of Islamic studies and comparative religion at Columbia University; and Eric Yudelove, author of The Tao and the Tree of Life, introduce Kabbalism, Sufism, Hesychasm, kundalini yoga, and Taoist yoga. Together they shed light on the history of mysticism, purification practices for mind and body, challenges and struggles associated with traveling an esoteric path.and mystical union with the One. Streaming video.
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Inside the Medieval mind: Belief. 2010.  Inside the Medieval Mind.   1 streaming video file   (57 min.). Founded in 1230, Scotland's Pluscarden Abbey still pulses with the prayers and spiritual pursuits of Benedictine monks. Abbot Hugh Gilbert describes their work in reassuringly human terms, framing the Christian battle against Satanic evil as an inner struggle within one's own psyche. But, as this program shows, the culture which brought Pluscarden into existence was rigidly institutional-and entrenched in the cosmology of heaven and hell. The film explores demonic possession and brushes with the afterlife, as recorded in documents of the period; the ways in which wealthy believers sought to "purchase" heavenly redemption; and the sanctity conferred upon the bones of martyrs and other religious relics. Streaming video.
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Inside the Medieval Mind Sex. 2010.  Inside the Medieval Mind: Inside the medieval mind.  1 streaming video file   (58 min.). Although rooted in religious misogyny and crude anatomical knowledge, the sexual mores of the medieval era were surprisingly complex. This program explores the attitudes and behaviors of a sexual culture that was by turns romantic, transactional, and perverse. Documents and historical accounts include the story of Christina of Markyate, who defied marital conventions and maintained a lifelong vow of chastity; the more passionate tale of Peter Abelard and Heloise d'Argenteuil, whose 12th-century love letters transcend the brutality of the age; and a list of intrusive questions compiled to help 11th-century priests steer parishioners away from promiscuity. Troubadour poetry and primitive views of menstruation and fertility are also discussed. Streaming video.
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Inside the Vatican. 2010.  1 streaming video file   (88 min.). The Vatican-the world's smallest sovereign nation-is a mysterious yet widely known place made up of an intriguing mixture of religious and secular concerns. This classic program reveals a miniature world rich in history and tradition as it spotlights some of the many for whom the Vatican is a way of life, including Pope John Paul II, the Swiss Guards, the Pope's personal photographer, the preservers of the Vatican's exceptional art collection, and the boys of the pontifical choir. Rare footage of secret archives, private chapels, and papal quarters rounds out this exploration of the Vatican's long, powerful history and its venerable traditions and ceremonies. Streaming video.
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Islam and Christianity. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (30 min.). This program examines the historical relations between Islam and Christianity and the long history of conflict between them. Iran's ambassador to the Vatican, Mohammad Masjed Jame'i, explains the basic differences and similarities between Islam and Christianity: the roles of Christ and Mohammad, the Bible and the Koran, and the main differences of approach. The program also examines the reasons for the continuing conflict between Islam and the West, and whether an understanding can be reached between them.  Streaming video.
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The Jesus factor. 2004.  1 videodisc (ca. 60 min.). "As an evangelical Christian, President Bush has something in common with 46 percent of Americans who describe themselves as being 'born again' or having personal relationships with Jesus Christ ....  To what extent do the President's spiritual beliefs impact or influence his political decision-making?  And how closely do Bush's religious views mirror those of the country's burgeoning, and politically influential, evangelical movement?"--Container. DVD 1045

Jesus from carpenter to preacher. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (26 min.). After King Herod passed away, his successor Antipas turned his attention to Jesus, who, like John the Baptist, was also considered a threat. In this program, the "Jesus file" reveals information on Jesus' birth, his parents, his career as a carpenter, his allegedly dissident preaching, and the mixed acceptance and opposition he incited. In addition, the ancient cities of Tiberias, Sebaste, and Bethlehem, along with the fortress-mausoleum of Herodium, are explored . Streaming video.
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Jesus gathers a following. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (26 min.). This program, based on detailed intelligence from the "Jesus file," focuses on Jesus' recruitment of disciples from fishermen along the Sea of Galilee, his relationship with fellow agitators Simon and Andrew, the growth of his popularity, and his lack of success preaching in Jerusalem-until he raises a man named Lazarus from the dead. This dossier also features archaeological information on a 1,900-year-old fishing boat, the recently discovered village of Bethsaida, and the city of Capernaum and its synagogue.  Streaming video.
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Jesus of Nazareth rebel or messiah? 2006.  Heaven, Hell, and Nirvana: Heaven, hell, and Nirvana.  1 streaming video file   (43 min.). The recorded history of the West is, in a sense, the history of Christianity. How did the religion get its start? This program, based on the New Testament, uses gripping reenactments-from Herod's infanticidal purge to the crucifixion and burial-to dramatize key moments in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Footage of rituals as well as landmarks both devotional and archaeological adds depth to the study of the man millions would later call the Son of God, while topics including Jesus' Jewish heritage, the discovery of the Codex Sinaiticus by Konstantin von Tischendorf, and the question of the Shroud of Turin's authenticity provide points for deeper inquiry. Streaming video.
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Judgment. 2006.  Judgment Day: Images of Heaven and Hell 1 streaming video file   (24 min.). If there is life after death, will it be one of bliss or torment? This program focuses on the moment of judgment in the belief systems of ancient Egypt, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, and Christianity. Featured works of art include the Egyptian Book of the Dead; a Buddhist painted scroll; a mosaic from the Byzantine Church of San Apollinare Nuovo, in Ravenna; a mosaic in Venice's first cathedral, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta; Giotto's fresco Last Judgment; the doom painting over the chancel arch of the Church of St. Thomas, in Salisbury; Michelangelo's The Last Judgment, in the Sistine Chapel; The Last Judgement by John Martin; and Mark Wallinger's Threshold to the Kingdom, a slow-motion video installation filmed at London City Airport. Streamnig video.
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Kill them all: Christian Crusaders against Christian heresy. 2007.    1 streaming video file   (56 min.). After hundreds of years of ideological discord, one form of early Christianity, Roman Catholicism, defined itself as the only true version and began to eliminate all other versions. Using history as an analytical lens, this program looks at Christian heresy in the form of the Cathars, on the one hand, and the Apostolics, on the other-examples of two different types of alternative Christianity that were squelched in a similar way. Brutal military expeditions and the gruesome Inquisition effectively spelled the end of these schismatic sects' resistance. The commentary of Michel Roquebert, author of History of the Cathars, and historian Corrado Mornese is featured. Streaming video.
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The Kingdom divided.  2012.  1 streaming video file   (90 min.). This program tells the story of two different visions of Christianity and how each is finding a pulpit and battleground in Central America. In Nicaragua, the Sandanistas' view of Christianity says that the poor must not wait for justice, that the Kingdom of God can be achieved in this world. In Honduras, the poor are attracted to evangelical churches that promise a reward in heaven for the sufferings of this world, a view which poses no challenge to the status quo. "The religious world has turned upside down in Central America," says host Bill Moyers. "After four centuries, the Catholic Church, with its liberation theology, is identifying itself openly with the aspirations of the poor. Its place as defender of authority and stability in society is being taken by evangelicals. And back here in the U.S., Christians are choosing sides in this new Reformation. Streaming video.
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Kingdom of David. 2009.  1 streaming video file   (55 min.). With his invasion of Judea in 63 B.C., the Roman general Pompey began a brutal colonial conflict-prompting open rebellion as well as fierce debate among Jewish factions about their future. This program illustrates the impact of the ancient Roman occupation of the Holy Land: violence and suffering, including the sack of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple, while the seeds of two new religious traditions, rabbinical Judaism and Christianity, were sown. Streaming video.
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The language of the soul Abraham's children. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (52 min.). Apart from their outward differences in ritual and doctrine, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam share an inward-pointing imperative to know God. In this program, clergy, theologians, and others with religious vocations delve into the esoteric aspects of three of the world's great religions. The use of meditation and contemplation as vehicles for transcending the mundane and drawing closer to the divine is examined, especially as exemplified by monastic life, Kabbalism, and Sufism. Streaming video.
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The last and first days of Jesus. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (26 min.). This program investigates Jesus' presence in and around Jerusalem during Passover: his allegedly seditious activities, his subsequent arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, his trial at the palace, and his execution by crucifixion. The remains of the shops of the money-changers and the great temple itself are also explored. With his death and burial, the "Jesus file" is closed, except for one loophole: his miraculous resurrection. Streaming video.
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The last enemy defeated. 2012.  1 streaming video file   (51 min.). The Creed declares that "on the third day he rose again from the dead." What does it mean that Jesus was raised up, after death, by God? In this program, Christian theologians examine the tenet of Christ's resurrection and what it means for human beings. Topics include the resurrection as victory over sin and death; the role of faith in accepting this belief; the implications of Christ's transformation from physical death to a new spiritual life, and of his ascension; the imagery of "sitting at God's right hand" Jesus as mediator between God and man; the Second Coming; Jesus' reinterpretation of the hopes for a Jewish messiah; and different ways to understand what is meant by Judgment Day. Streaming video.
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Lessons from job desperate with grief. 2006.  Reconciling Christian Ideals with History: Promises and paradoxes.  1 streaming video file   (44 min.). Throughout history, the crucifix has been to Christians a symbol both of suffering and of overcoming suffering. How, in a world filled with genocide, pandemics, and mass starvation, has Christianity been able to reconcile the concept of divine mercy with rampant human misery? Citing the story of Job, Angela of Foligno, and Archbishop Oscar Romero, this program examines the roots of faith within the context of suffering. The concepts of good and evil are also explored, as is original sin. Streaming video.
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Let the church say amen. 2006.  1 videodisc (87 min.). Let the church say Amen: "Blocks away from the White House and the Capitol stands a tiny storefront church, endeavoring to combat the street violence, unemployment, and homelessness that threaten American families living in poverty. Over the course of a year, this feature-length documentary ... follows four church members as they work to fulfill their dreams for a better life."--Container. A stolen moment: "In the future, the world has fallen victim to viruses and diseases. There is no human touch, no eye contact and no socialization. Everything is cold and clinical. But after catching the eyes of a stranger, Sophie finds herself longing for human interaction."--Container. DVD 6647 

Light and mourning. 2013.  1 streaming video file   (52 min.). Has the Catholic Church become a ghost ship in search of a crew? Director Nicola Zavaglia reflects on this consequential issue with a documentary that brings you behind the closed doors of Catholicism. Featuring interviews with members of the Quebec and French clergy, as well as striking images shot in Rome and Calabria, Light and Mourning goes back to the roots of Christian belief in an attempt to explain the dramatic decline of the once powerful church in modern society. Two thousand years after Jesus, can the Catholic religion hope to flourish once again?  Streaming video.
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The longest hatred: A revealing history of anti-semitism. 2004.  1 videodisc (150 min.). Drawing on interviews with Semites, anti-Semites, and scholars, the program traces anti-Semitism from its earliest manifestations in antiquity to the recent ominous outbreaks in Germany, Russia, and elsewhere. DVD 5976

The Lutheran church.  2008.  I BELIEVE-with Dennis Wholey.  1 streaming video file   (28 min.). In this program, Dennis Wholey has a conversation about Lutheranism with the Reverend David Eberhard of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, in Detroit, Michigan. Topics of discussion include Martin Luther, his 95 theses, and the Reformation; the doctrine of justification and other core beliefs; the Church's two sacraments; The Book of Concord; how Historic Trinity Lutheran Church stays relevant to both its congregants and the city of Detroit; and concerns over the hectic pace and stress of modern life. The program also goes inside Historic Trinity to illustrate aspects of a typical liturgy-oriented Lutheran worship service. Streaming video.
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Madwoman of God. 2013.  1 streaming video file   (77 min.). A story of the passion between a nun and God, her "divine spouse," Jean-Daniel Lafond's film paints an astonishing portrait of Marie de l'Incarnation - a mid-17th-century mystic who abandoned her son and left France to build a convent in Canada, where she became the first female writer in New France. A religious adventure story, the film shows actress Marie Tifo seeking to inhabit this unusual role. Using a script by Jean-Daniel Lafond, she tackles the nun's incandescent writing and her candid letters to her son. The documentary fuses actress and role, past and present - and takes us on a truly extraordinary historical and artistic journey. Streaming video.
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Maintaining the truth: Epistles of the new testament. 2005.  1 streaming video file   (52 min.). Of the 27 compositions that comprise the New Testament, 21 are letters: some guide, some warn. This program explores the content as well as authenticity of the various letters attributed to Paul, James, Jude, and Peter. Location footage brings to life Paul's missionary journeys to Antioch, Athens, Corinth, and Rome. The Pastoral Epistles, Gospel of Thomas, letters of Pontius Pilate, and the theological differences between James and Paul are also examined. Along with noted scholars, Father Jerry Murphy O'Connor of the Ecole Biblique Jerusalem and the Right Reverend Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, also offer commentary. Streaming video.
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Marketing the message: Selling Jesus, or selling Jesus out? 2007.  1 streaming video file   (27 min.). If the goal of Christian evangelism is to draw people to Jesus, then it makes a certain amount of sense to translate eternal Christian beliefs into the vernacular of pop culture. But it's a slippery slope. At what point might the methods to win souls obscure, cheapen, or compromise the message itself? Believers and skeptics speak out as this program takes a balanced look at marketing the message. Ministries built around NASCAR racing, pro wrestling, skateboarding, and motorcycles are spotlighted along with Jesus-oriented products ranging from clothing and housewares to rock music CDs and Bibles styled like fashion magazines. A visit to The Holy Land Experience, Orlando, is also featured.  Streaming video.
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Medieval Spain. 2006.  1 streaming video file   (55 min.). This program uncovers medieval Spain's historical significance through four of its monasteries: Sant Pere Rodes Benedictine Monastery, Santes Creus Cistercian Monastery, Poblet Cistercian Monastery, and Miravet Templar Monastery and Castle. Dr. Francisco Sandoval, from the University of Madrid, and Father Jose Maria Recasens, from the Cistercian Monastery, discuss how the monasteries battled and defended the land against the advance of the invading Islamic army in the 10th century, and were key in preserving Western culture. Dramatizations of village and monastery life against the backdrop of real medieval towns illustrate a chapter in history that is generally unknown.  Streaming video.
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Monty Python's Life of Brian. 2007.  2 videodiscs (ca. 93 min.). Monty Python delivers the group's sharpest and smartest satire of both religion and Hollywood's epic films. Set in 33 A.D. Judea where the exasperated Romans try to impose order, it is a time of chaos and change with no shortage of messiahs and followers willing to believe in them. At its center is Brian Cohen, born in Bethlehem in a stable next door, who, by a series of absurd circumstances is caught up in the new religion and reluctantly mistaken for the promised messiah, providing ample opportunity for the entire ensemble to shine in multiple roles as they question everyone and everything from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate and haggling to revolutionaries, crazy prophets, religious fanaticism, Roman centurions and crucifixion, forever changing our biblical view. DVD 970 

The Mormons. 2011.  1 streaming video file   (120 min.). This program begins with the turbulent early history of the Mormon faith, from Joseph Smith's astonishing visions and the creation of "The Book of Mormon" through the Mormons' contentious and sometimes violent confrontations with their neighbors and the founding and ultimate abandonment of three major religious communities in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. The program explores the complexities of the Mormon sense of persecution, their controversial personal practices of polygamy, and the events following Smith's death in 1844, when Brigham Young led the faithful to what would become modern-day Utah, now the seat of the Mormon Church.  DVD 3159 and Streaming video.
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Moyers & Company: Nuns, faith, and politics. 2012.  1 streaming video file   (57 min.). Weeks before Paul Ryan was selected to run for vice president, Sister Simone Campbell - who heads NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby - hit the road to protest the so-called "Ryan budget" recently passed by the House of Representatives. She and some of her sister nuns rolled across the heartland on a bus trip designed to arouse public concern over what the Ryan plan would mean for social services in America, especially its slashing of programs for the poor. Sister Simone says that Ryan's budget is inconsistent with Catholic teachings, and although the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agrees, other Catholics say the NETWORK nuns have crossed the line. Robert Royal, editor in chief of The Catholic Thing and founder of the Faith & Reason Institute, believes that issues of economic inequality are being oversimplified. On this episode of Moyers & Company, Sister Simone and Robert Royal join Bill Moyers for a passionate, candid discussion about faith and politics. Also included is a field report from producers who rode along on the Nuns on the Bus tour. Broadcast date August 24, 2012. Streaming video.
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Moyers & Company: The case for old-school faith & politics. 2012.  1 streaming video file   (57 min.). Two movements once at the center of our society-liberal politics and American Christianity-have gone astray, say Eric Alterman and Ross Douthat. On this edition of Moyers & Company, each meets separately with Moyers to discuss the implications of this for American democracy. Alterman describes the grand aspirations and historical ironies that prompted him to write The Cause: The Fight for American Liberalism from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama. He calls on liberals to regain "the fighting spirit" that characterized the New Deal. Douthat, the conservative op-ed columnist for The New York Times and author of Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics, is just as candid about how institutional Christianity has declined from a mainstream and bipartisan force to a polarizing, heretical combatant in the culture war. And, in a new essay, Moyers talks about the federal appeals court decision to allow political and issue advertising on public TV and radio channels. Streaming video.
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The mystery of the tomb of Jesus: Quest for historical Christ. 2005.  1 streaming video file   (51 min.). This program uses footage of the caverns beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other sacred sites, artwork, and expert commentary to analyze the historicity of Jesus' last days, the political context of 1st-century Jerusalem, and the emergence of Christianity as an institution. Jesus' execution, burial of the dead in Jewish tradition, the significance of Jesus' tomb, and two millennia of Jerusalem's history are addressed by N. T. Wright, canon theologian of Westminster Abbey; archaeologist Ronny Reich, of the University of Haifa; Martin Biddle, of the University of Oxford; Jonathan Riley-Smith, of the University of Cambridge; author John Dominic Crossan; and others. Streaming video.
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The mystic lamb: The Ghent Altarpiece in vivid detail. 2013.  1 streaming video file   (65 min.). Standing in the presence of a 500-year-old polyptych laden with exquisite miniature paintings is an opportunity for awe and reflection, to be sure. But to personally scrutinize the Ghent Altarpiece involves a unique set of challenges and, as is often the case with sacred and protected works of art, privileged access. To connect on a truly intimate level with Jan van Eyck's depictions of Biblical narratives, viewers have a viable alternative in this meticulous, high-resolution video documentary. It offers panoramic, medium-range, and finely detailed images of the Altarpiece in both closed and open positions. Accompanied by authentic 15th-century music, the camera ventures into each panel to reveal astonishing subtleties of color, texture, and form-virtually recreating the experience of direct and uninterrupted study. Jules Cashford, director of The Mysteries of Jan van Eyck (item #40331) provides commentary on the transformative nature of van Eyck's archetypal imagery. Streaming video.
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Mysticism and the perennial philosophy: Huston Smith speaks. 2008.  1 streaming video file   (28 min.). Huston Smith has devoted his life to study of the ineffable experience. This program opens windows of understanding into the renowned mystic philosopher's unceasing quest for truth about the ultimate nature of reality as he shares the story of his early decades: growing up in China in a missionary family, preparation for a career in the ministry, the "aha!" moment in college that redirected him to a career in academia instead, and the shift in worldviews from naturalistic theism to mysticism that resulted from reading Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy. In addition, George Washington University's Seyyed Hossein Nasr expands upon the concept of the perennial philosophy, while author and futurist Peter Russell considers the idea that humans are "transitional creatures" and are rapidly approaching the omega point described by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Streaming video.
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