Are you an atheist and did you enjoy it???
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Machine Gun Preacher
Cobra1986 — 13 years ago(September 13, 2012 08:26 AM)
I am, And I did. It doesn't tell you "religion is the answer" or any of that stuff. It basically just tells you Sam's story from A-Z and let's you decide for yourself what you think about him. I personally think he's just a man trying to help, with or without God. That I CAN respect about him because at least he's doing something and at least he gave up drugs & crime to better himself even if I don't agree with his beliefs
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squigee07 — 13 years ago(October 06, 2012 09:38 PM)
agreed, I actually didn't really see the religion part of the movie other than a personal redemption. It's not like there were clips of Sam preaching to the children and trying to convert them or anything. Basically he's just a bad dude who became a good dude trying to help out others in America by building a church etc What he does n Africa IMO sounds more like a Protector of Children at all costs. The Church they had there could have been a wreck room for all i cared.
I'm not an atheist - I "identify" with the Christian faith, and find its moral teachings excellent for leading a fulfilling and peaceful life. -
shagiferabi — 13 years ago(October 18, 2012 08:15 AM)
I agree with you. I enjoyed the film and knew it wasn't trying to be Christian propaganda. There are plenty of good people that will do the best they can to help others. I am definitely willing to co-exist with religions, as long as the people are good, and not imposing ideologies on others, or trying to make people feel guilty because they aren't part of the flock, so to speak. History reveals that religions have to adapt to the surroundings, and evolve or "catch up" to morality it's just behaviors and interactions.
What I can't stand is when religious people (specifically Abrahamic religions) accuse atheists of not having morals. Too many people think that atheism equals nihilism by default. It's just absurd, and being an American, it is alarming that the majority of citizens don't understand the meaning of secularism.
Anyways, I enjoy hero-myths from a variety of civilizations.
the more they stay the same. -
post-orgasmic-mood — 13 years ago(October 20, 2012 01:55 AM)
I agree. I am an atheist and I like to think I am a good person with morals. It hasnt always been the case but I learned to forgive myself and become a better person without a higher power telling me to do so.
What has always bugged me about Catholicism, in particular is that you can commit any sin you please and as long as you say a few hail mary's then you will be forgiven.
I enjoyed this film and Sam obviously needed God to help him and thats not a bad thing. But I didnt feel like the film preached to me.
What I want to know is why he went to the trouble of using his kidney as a full stop? -
targa9 — 13 years ago(October 24, 2012 09:45 PM)
I'm an atheist, and I enjoyed it. I never even knew about this guy Sam Childers.
That takes a lot of guts and selflessness to go over there and help orphans in a dangerous war-torn country. Regardless of his religious convictions, the guy made a difference, which is more than can be said by most of us, atheist or Christian. It was a moving film. All those childrenall that suffering, and a man who had faith and hope. What a good story. -
mdjpeace — 11 years ago(January 11, 2015 05:11 PM)
I'm a pagan and enjoyed the movie generally(with reservations as to the heavily-endorsed Christian message- but what the hell- preaching has been going on for 2000 years and the planet and species has existed a great deal longer, so I can take the religious aspects with a pinch of salt and choose to ignore them altogether).
Scratch the Christian and you reveal the pagan
Will somebody get this big walking carpet out of my way?! -
werecow2003 — 9 years ago(April 13, 2016 02:13 PM)
I am, and the movie was OK. Not great, but not bad. There was a lot of cross-waving going on, but seeing as how it's about a born-again Christian, that just strikes me as realistic.
Not sure how to feel about Childers irl though:
http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2011/septemberweb-only/machinegunpreacher.html