Customer Reviews

Frontline - Faith & Doubt at Ground Zero

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Frontline's "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero caused me to do a scrutiny of where I stand after 9-11. Before 9-11 I was on a spiritual quest. As a Christian, and a Catholic, I went through the fundamental stage of absolutism, meaning I drank in all the church taught and swallowed it whole. It was quite black and white to me. Then I entered different stage of spirituality, where I began seeing my own life as a gospel, a relationship with Jesus that was unique to me and profound. Then I entered another stage... Where nothing could be taken for granted, where possibities of God did not come from organized religion, but from my own thoughts, experiences and explorations. I value Saying 3 in the gnostic Gospel of Thomas, "...the kingdom of God is inside you and outside you. When you know yourselves then you will be known, and understand that you are children of the living Father (God, Mother, whatever Name your beliefs embrace)." I much appreciate the scrutiny of faith in which this program delved. It is a real warning, to me, about creating a God for whom one would kill. It is a real warning about fundamentalism and the creation of a religion that proclaims itself the One and Only. It fortifies my belief, held since early childhood, and I have no idea from where it came, unless it was the Voice of the God within, that there is no room for exclusion, or supremacy in my own personal view of the Divine. I am so very grateful to experience the strengths and falterings of so many different people, carrying so many different beliefs, and their soul-searcing, honest pursuit of even rejection of the Divine in this program. I have to add, and hope there is no offense, it is my deepest hope we learn the lessons 9-11 so abundantly offered. Kathleen

One of the most powerfully articulate and moving documentaries I have ever seen. It is a wonderful piece of film-making which manages to educate and stimulate the viewer ideas and perceptions at the same time. I really feel this film should be part of every High School student's manadatory social studies curriculum.

FRONTLINE proved to me that they truly are the most courageous journalistic program produced in the United States with the release of this Awarding winning (2002) examination of the World Trade Center attack. FEAR & DOUBT at GROUND ZERO digs much deeper than the science of why the towers collapsed or what motivated the insane rapture that rationalized besides justifying the full horror (spelled out within the boundaries of "good taste") of the WTC attack.
Religion is what precipitated the attack of the WTC on September 11, 2001. The 'evil' that brought down the WTC towers can be found in "good" peoples hearts everywhere and regardless of their religious traditions, principals and concepts of righteous justice. 'Fear & Doubt' points out what peoples must understand in the darkness of their own religious convictions and in failing to do so could result in acts similar to the attacks of September 11, 2001.
This is by far the most eloquent, poetic and startling examination of the causation of acts of evil from a most eclectic group of religious thinkers that reach across the theological landscape. Truly a masterpiece.

Quite simply, the most moving and profound television I have ever seen. Wrenching, but ultimately, uplifting and life affirming. Don't miss it.

The horror of 9/11 beyond the hellish images of that day and the politics which followed becomes secondary (if that is possible) to the deeper questions about faith, religion and evil in this documentary from PBS.
Traditional blind faith and "our G-d is an awesome God" and "G-d is my buddy because we are on the "right" side of religion, was shaken to its very core. After all, we are Americans, we wear the "White Hat" of righteousness and therefore we own G-d, G-d is American.
What this profound documentary does, is uncover the tenets of faith and brings into the light the unthinkable doubt that arises when "stuff" happens. The camera eye does not play favorites in this video, the viewer, much like the readers of Mark's Gospel are left with trying to make sense out of the clues left behind at Ground Zero.
The questions which we are asked to consider are, what is my faith based on? What is the role of G-d as defined by me or my particular Religion? How do I pray? And most hauntingly "How am I and the terrorists similar?
Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, challenges me to "Seek G-d in all things?" Where was G-d at Ground Zero? The face of G-d was on those planes, was in the rescue workers, and for a brief moment even George W. Bush.
This documentary is a tough thing to watch, but by spending the time doing so, one's faith maybe deepened one's belief may become less self-righteous and more righteous and claimed as one's own.
Faith demands action as James says in his letter. Watching this film has forced me to look at the world again and my place in it in a new way.