Review of The Case for Christ
** out of five stars
Currently available on video
by Walter G. Tarrow
“The Case for Christ” is a drama from Pure Flix Entertainment based on the book by Pastor Lee Strobel, former investigative journalist who professed to be an atheist until his wife decided to go to church. He then sets out to use his investigative powers to prove her wrong and refute the existence of the very foundation of Christianity, the Resurrection of Jesus.
Meanwhile, he is assigned by his boss to investigate a cop shooting. That investigation is meant to parallel his research into the Resurrection. Actually, his journalistic integrity is far more evident there than in his building his case against Christianity.
Christianity, all religions, by definition, intrinsically, rely on a leap of faith. Belief where there exists no proofs, no observable, measurable, repeatable evidence.
Science and mathematics rely on proofs. Experimentation repeating the findings of others under controlled conditions to test theory, to question beliefs, to disprove the null hypothesis.
In a very real way, religion is the antithesis of science.
As such, any attempt to “prove” religious beliefs is a fallacy. In the modern vernacular, fake news. If the bases of beliefs come down to leaps of faith, then scientific inquiry, proofs, are invalid. In other words, you can’t prove Christianity with facts because Christianity, as does all religion, has, at its core, belief without facts, that leap of faith. That powerful, omnipotent, omniscient leap.
A third approach, investigative journalism, is the process by which reporters deeply research a single topic typically with the intent to expose wrongdoing through the analysis of documents, public records and interviews with witnesses and experts. Driving the investigation is the belief that some startling reveal will bring the bad people into the light.
By dramatizing his story, the filmmakers’ intentions are to give us insight into the inner workings that brought him to join his wife in her beliefs. And they fail miserably. We get knee jerk reactions and superficiality.
The film is extremely simplistic in its delivery. All in one liners, quick takes and white washed. Christians are shown as universally kind and understanding while Lee is portrayed as an angry, combative, non-believer who seeks solace in drink.
There is an absolutely ridiculous plot device where Lee squirrels himself in the basement of the news building with a wallboard posted with countless pieces of information much like that of a procedural crime drama. But, following along with his investigation, we see him spend only moments with a few experts. A minute or two with the psychiatrist Faye Dunaway, who tells him that he has daddy issues and that mass hysteria is impossible. A minute or two with a priest who tells him to stare into the eyes of a replica of the shroud. And a minute or two with a doctor who tells him that Jesus had to have died on the cross.
Ultimately all evidence he gathers, according to the laws of evidence, is two-thousand-year-old hearsay, based solely on witness testimony without any observable, measurable, repeatable data. In other words, unscientific.
The acting is competent. The storytelling is straightforward. But it plays like a throwback to the TV movie of the week without substance but with a MESSAGE.
The Case for Christ is finally, when all is said and done, a story, not of a man seeking the truth, but of a man taking a leap of faith for family. Not an atheist being converted but a closeted Christian coming out, despite any facts, but maybe with a verdict from his jury, to acknowledge his faith.
The fact is Christians will see this movie as proof that they are right and atheists are wrong. Atheists needn’t bother.
The truth is facts don’t matter when it comes to beliefs. Should they?
My first question is “Are we not all sinners, falling short of the Glory of God?”. Why is it when confronted with death, the non-believer seeks salvation (maybe not all, but certainly many)? Why is it there are no atheists or agnostics in foxholes in combat? Why does man continually defy the Creator? The answer is very simple, man thinks he is god in his little, meaningless universe. If you require solid, explainable, scientific “consensus” about the existence of God, you will find many if you seek it, and none if you don’t – it is called faith. Just accept that God loves you and wants what is best for you and act accordingly.
You know the answer – look in the mirror. You were brought up in the church, but still defy the existence of God. If you don’t believe in evil, I pray for your soul, because it is real and the evil one is here on earth every day, prowling for weak souls to manipulate to his desires. He is winning, look at the condition of the country,
the debt and depravity both economically and within hearts and souls. Look the filth from Hollywood, the music industry, television, and the human condition shown on news programs every night. With all the wonders we have at our disposal, we have nothing, we are empty, we are lost. All because we continue as a country to defy God.
I’m not pointing fingers, I am a sinner amongst sinners. But I know good and evil, what is right and wrong, what is true and false and how to decipher between the two. I was taught how to think, not what to think.
There are atheists in foxholes. I know this as a matter of personal experience. I also know I wasn’t the only one. I don’t know why this silly cliche is so often repeated, but I suppose it serves some sort of purpose.
Mr. Basura,
I know you to be an educated man and a Liberal of first degree.
I expect you, of all people, to reject any religion because those on the Liberal side believe in nothing but themselves. I believe you were in the Marines and served in Vietnam (Thank You for your service to our country) and in none of that time were you ever in a situation where you sought God? If no, then I take everything back, you in your own mind are god. Frail, misguided humans often take that stance when nothing else can be explained. Faith is a leap for those who will not see. Their eyes are open but they are blind. I wish you a good day, sir.
No, I never sought god’s help. Not as an adult – not in combat or at any other time. I did believe in religion as a child. Then I started thinking about it. Liberality or conservatism are not at issue . There are religious liberals (Jimmy Carter), and atheist conservatives (Ronald Reagan seemed to put his faith in astrology). . I don’t consider myself god, despite your suggestion that I do. I’d have to accept the existence of a divinity to do that. Man created god not the other way around. The idea of religion is to try to explain away mortality. People don’t like to think death means death. I don’t like it either, but I haven’t a credible argument for afterlife.
Mr. Basura,
Sir,
President Reagan did not follow astrology, Mrs. Nancy Reagan did.
“The truth is facts don’t matter when it comes to beliefs. Should they?”
A very interesting question. One that only be answered by considering how much of our well being depends on Faith, rather than on proven facts.
A very common example is exemplified when we choose a mate. I guess there would be a few facts that would enter into our belief that we could be happy and trust that our given choice will live up to our expectations, in our attempt to share our lives with someone else. You see, even though we may consider all the known facts, many of which may be biased by our own desire, it is actually a leap of faith to make the decision to trust that individual with our emotional and physical well being. Although we may not be solely dependent on them for such, they do have a significant impact on both.
As is the case with some Christians not living up to the tenets of Christianity as a cause to not have faith that there is a God and that Jesus and the Bible are in fact worthy of our trust is a very weak argument in favor of casting aside our faith and/or religious beliefs. And we must also consider how often that science is proven wrong, after new facts are discovered over time. So, are we to trust solely the ongoing restating of scientific “Facts”?
My answer to all that is that, we as humans must continue to survive on the tenets of faith. Faith that our chosen mate will be our lifelong companion, faith that the last answers of scientific experiments are the true answer, and yes, for some, that the bible contains facts recorded by those that were not trying to put a P.T. Barnum hoax on mankind. Without faith, mankind is lost my friend. How we each choose to expend our faith, is a choice that should be viewed without ridicule by others that may not share it. In fact, an effort to destroy ones faith in anything, is most likely based on some fear or insecurity in ones own choice in what they believe in. Why else would one buttress their own faith by trying to denigrate that of another?
Mr. Moras, outstanding!
But you are not a Lefty, you actually think for yourself and don’t follow the herd. Neither did Jesus, and he was tempted many times to deny his Father, which he would not.
These are troubling times and I hope those wanting the truth and salvation seek it with all their heart.
This is an excellent review of a movie few will see. You make a distinction between faith and reason, which often seems confusing to the apologists for religiosity. One can have faith in many things, such as the fidelity of a spouse, but it requires a great leap to imagine (have faith in) a deity that has vast powers, and will provide a nice home to the believers the in the afterlife. Don’t get me started on the Bible: Noah, Jonah, a talking snake. The story of Elisha is an interesting one, as Bible scholars will know.
I thought both of the Reagans were interested in astrology. White Spokesperson Marlin Fitzwater confirmed that in a statement on May 4, 1988.
The New York Times Mat 3d 1988.
“Mr. Fitzwater said Mrs. Reagan is particularly worried about the impact astrological portents can have on her husband’s safety. But he declined to say exactly how Mrs. Reagan had used astrological information. And the President, answering a question at a photo-taking session, said, ”No policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology.”
If we can believe the New York Times.