"God on Trial" airing on PBS

[RickC]

Greetings

I wasn't sure where to post this TV program announcement, {as this isn't "Information regarding The Narrow Path Ministries"}. On the old forum it was okay to post stuff like this under "Announcements"...I hope this is alright...I went ahead and took the liberty. Please let me know if I should post things like this elsewhere.

Here's the PBS Masterpiece Theater link for further information:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/god ... index.html

[quote="re: "God on Trial," PBS"]Why is there so much suffering in the world and what kind of God would allow it to happen? Universal questions about faith and philosophy are at the heart of God on Trial, which was inspired by the legend that a group of concentration camp prisoners conducted a mock trial against the Almighty God. From all walks of life, a physicist, a glove maker, rabbis, a law professor and at least one criminal weigh the evidence and offer thoughtful arguments taken from history, science, theology and personal experience.[/quote]

This trial is based on a legendary story of "God on trial" that happened in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. There has been some disagreement as to whether this is a true story. From what I've gathered, it really happened. I trust that PBS' portrayal will be relatively historically accurate. For information on this story's historical accuracy, click:
Elie Wiesel reported, "I was there when God was put on trial."

I'm watching this program, first, as a human being: We all have questions about God or have "questioned God." But also, I want to better understand how, or what, at least some Jewish people might think about God. My interest is 'peaked' because, as Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jews."

I could have linked to this under "Judaism." But though this program {story} had Jewish characters; the questions they asked were human. I'm wondering in advance how I would have dealt with the questions that were raised, if I had been in their situation. I'm curious to what extent I've addressed these kinds of questions...and if I need to take another look....

This program is airing here tonite.
{Sorry I didn't post it earlier...had a busy week}.
Again, I hope it was alright for me to post this link here.

God bless you.

[Michelle]

Hi Rick,

I fell asleep last night just after this started on TV, but watched it online this morning. (With my snappy new laptop, I might add.)

I really liked it. I was moved by the questions the prisoners raised and some of the answers they came up with. I liked the Job feel of the whole trial, and the way they used both the book of Job and the Psalms in their arguments. I was struck at the end when the rabbi spoke about the history of the Jewish people; he brought out troubling details that I knew, but had never really thought about before. And it broke my heart when he finished by saying, "God is not good and He never has been; He's just been on our side." But minutes later it was the same rabbi who was the one who started the prayers. I think this was a fantastic story about faith and doubt, and how the two intertwine.

You said you were interested in this story for two reasons, one of which was to get more information on Jewish thought. It's interesting that this was written by a Catholic, Frank Cottrell Boyce, who says he had sort of a 'dark night of the soul' while writing it, yet, by the end, had a stronger faith. Here's what he said in an article he wrote for the Guardian last summer:

It's a fact that, although many people lost their faith in the camps, just as many had it renewed. As French philosopher La Rochefoucauld says: "A great storm puts out a little fire, but it feeds a strong one." Reading the Bible in the light of the Holocaust was a bit of a storm for me. It came close to putting out my fire, but in the end it blew stronger.

Here is the rest of the article. It's a great read, even if you didn't watch the program.

Thank you, Rick, for telling us about this program. I enjoyed watching it and it's given me a lot to think about.

Michelle

[darinhouston]

I put it on my ipod -- watching in waiting rooms, feeding my baby, etc. -- I'm about half way through it and it is so far EXCELLENT in every way. It's even compelling drama with excellent acting.

I can't wait to see if they hint at Christ, but considering the Jewish perspective, I doubt it. I am at the point now where they are discussing our "freewill."

I would hope Steve watches it and gives his impression.

[featheredprop]

Rick,

That was absolutely awesome. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. You've shared some really good resources in the past - in my estimation this probably tops them all.

The scene that really struck me was in episode 13, when Rabbi Akiba took the floor. He ended his soliloquy with the line, "He [God] has made a new covenant with someone else..." It reminded me of Caiaphas in John 11 who unknowingly prophesied before the Jewish council.

If you have the time I highly recommend this video ...

peace,

dane

[RickC]

Greetings

Michelle,

Thanks for posting the link! And I'm glad you really liked this program!

Darin & Dane....you guys too!
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Excerpted from this review:

It is left to the Rabbi, Akiba, to deliver the most damning evidence. Using his knowledge of the Torah, he outlines the murderous and bloodthirsty actions of God. "God was never good. He was only on our side. God is not good." He reminds them that now the German soldiers have on their belt the motto "Gott Mit Uns" {means: "God is with us"}. "He is still God," Akiba says, "but not our God. He has become our enemy. He has made a covenant with someone else."

And so God is convicted.

"What do we do now?"

"Now we pray."

The first thing I noticed about Rabbi Akiba was his name; which is the same name of the 1st-2nd century Akiba who proclaimed Shimon Ben Kosiba {aka, Simon Bar Kochba} to be the Messiah. The original Akiba was among the most influential early post-temple rabbis, if not "the" most influential. Bar Kochba and his followers were killed by Roman armies in 135AD.

When Akiba said, "He has made covenant with someone else," I thought of the New Covenant, which includes believing Gentiles, believing Jews....and so obviously, no Nazis....

Btw, tonysidaway has other links too.

URL: http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1213

“Who needs a God who suffers?” is just one of many discomforting questions God on Trial dares ask, intending to provoke and challenge believers and nonbelievers alike. The compelling and disturbing television drama, to be broadcast on PBS stations Sunday, November 9, is as powerful as anything you’ll encounter on the stage or big screen this year.

(Extended quotations from the film are in this article...as well some very interesting concluding remarks).

Comments

First, this program is viewable on PBS till Nov. 16th if you haven't seen it. I can't watch it again because my computer's too old for videos. However, it will be rebroadcasted here again as a rerun this weekend.

My general impression of this film was simply "awesome!" It covered not only the history of the Jews and the Holocaust but the history of we Christians, "For salvation is of the Jews." Just about every area in apologetics was touched upon, though not necessarily directly.

There's too much to say about this film! So I'll just summarize the "stream of thought" that I had while watching it.

I heard issues addressed in the book of Romans loud and clear.
It was as if Saint Paul was "there"...I imagined what he would have said...and did say.
I heard how Saint Peter and the Apostles quoted the same verses as characters in the film.
I understood Jesus warned that persecution would happen to his followers.
That they/we should not be surprised...and should rejoice for being counted worthy.
I can better understand why Jews don't understand their persecution and/or anti-semitism.
I heard the New Testament and its Message...during the whole film....
with every OT reference...and every complaint, doubt, and hope.
I thought again that though not all Jews have believed;
I love them because of the fathers, Romans 11:28.
I was reminded that Jesus Christ is the only hope for Jews, pagans {Nazis and otherwise}, and all other Gentiles.

I realized that Christians cannot put God on Trial; He did that Himself when He sent His Son.
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Two things in this film seemed sort of "Christian," at least initially.
1) In one scene a 'witness' stood with his arms stretched out. The image it portrayed, in my mind anyway, was someone on a cross. Thousands upon thousands of Jews were crucified in the first century, especially during the 70AD War. At any rate, this character went on to say something that wasn't about crucifixion. I was almost expecting him to. This imagery was probably intentional, I'm guessing. What it was intended to evoke is unclear. Or maybe I'm reading more into this scene than was there....
2) On at least two occasions one or more of the characters mentioned "when the messiah returns." "Returns?" I wondered. Of course, these Jewish characters and Jews in general don't believe the messiah has come. Perhaps, it was meant that another messiah will return. That is, one who is like David, who was technically a messiah {"an annointed one"}. But again, I'm still not clear on what was meant by the messiah returning. Enigmatic....
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This film was so good! it would be an excellent tool for leading a Bible study for believers, as well as a great medium for evangelism {telling the Good News}. I believe Jews and non-Jews could be led to Christ via this film. That is, if the New Testament teaching were "brought to light" on each theme presented.

After I get back to work {next week, I just got a job!} I hope to purchase this film some time soon.

God bless you and: Please see this film if you haven't! Five days left!