Search - 2000 Years of Christianity, Episode I on DVD

A very sad attempt at mock-scholarship.

Peter Freckelton | Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada | 02/07/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Possibly one of the most unscholarly examinations of historical Christianity I've ever seen. It started to get just plain silly. This was obviously created by non-Christians, who are convinced that the Christian faith is a delusion. Each time they refer to a belief upheld by historical Christianity, they qualify it with words like "supposedly" or "so they believe," and yet will turn around and make assertions with no qualifying remarks, such as when they explain that the author of Revelation was not the apostle John. They go on to claim that the author of Revelation was writing about the fall of the Roman Empire, not the end of the world. Again - no qualifying statements, no supportive documentation or citations are offered. This "documentary" offers the same quality of "The Jesus Seminars" in its assertions, and speculations. The filmmakers go into great detail to explain that the Bible developed over many years, long after the historical Jesus was gone, and therefore cannot be considered a reliable document, but offer not a single shred of information or back it up. Nary a single quote is presented, even though I know there are many available. The creators unconditionally support the Q-manuscript theory, and Markan primacy. I'm all for examining the history of Christianity, and I'm just as disappointed when Christians do this very same thing - offer assertions with no documentation or supporting facts.For believers and non-believers alike: this is not a video that's going to give you a scholarly examination. I originally purchased this video, knowing it was created by unbelievers, in order to demonstrate to my Sunday School class some of the issues that Christians need to respond to. Unfortunately, this video offers nothing to truly *respond* to, since it makes assertions with absolutely nothing to back it up. They might as well be saying that Attila the Hun was the originator of Christianity in Northern Asia. How can one respond to an assertion with no facts? There are much better documentaries out there. A&E's "Mysteries of the Bible", though equally non-Christian, at least offers *some* documentation here and there."

If you appreciate history, you'll be inspired by this.

Alfred H. Kaethler | Sioux Lookout, Ontario Canada | 12/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I thought that the programme was brilliant. If you're interested in history and humanity without looking through a veil of dogma then this programme is for you. Only PBS could put together such a programme. A network which is dependent upon corporate advertising could never produce a serious programme about Jesus and the movement which he inspired, without offending those who have an inflexible view of reality. This programme really makes you think. I guess that's what scares some people."