"J.E.S.U.S.A." The Movie with Kevin Miller

The Cupboard welcomes Kevin Miller. Kevin is an author and documentary filmmaker.  
He recently directed “J.E.S.U.S.A.”  

View the trailer here 

Kevin says that he writes books that make kids laugh and films that make adults angry. 
We speak with him about his recent film which delves into the conflation of some Christian groups in the United States with a form of militarism and nationalism. The documentary is not polemic, but rather offers a thoughtful look at biblical interpretation and misinterpretation. While the challenges are real in terms of distortion of Christian faith, there are many reasons to hope for better, more loving expression. 

We highly recommend that you purchase or rent the documentary. The first 8 to 10 minutes are pretty tough to take, but stay with it, better expressions of faith are to follow. 

Episode Terminology:

 

Epistemology: The theory of knowledge. Has to do with how we know what we know.

 

Nationalism: Generally the concept of one particular nation (usually one’s own) as being better than other nations. Nationalism breeds protectionism in terms of immigration, etc.

 

Religious Nationalism: The conflation, the coming together of nationalism with a particular religious perspective. Christian nationalism in the United States implies that the nation would be better off if conservative evangelical Christians were in power.

 

Polemic: oppositional, an attack on something.

 

Books, articles, and websites discussed in this episode:

J.E.S.U.S.A. film

Kevin Miller

Article on the mimetic theory and René Girard, CBC, 2016 

Paul Vasquez video, 2010 

 

This episode we enjoyed two ciders, Hail Mary Rosé Cider and Jackpot Dry Craft Cider, from local cider makers, Windfall Cider. 

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