'American Jesus' Trailer Will Make You Question (Everyone's) Faith

As I write this, I’m sitting and poring over footage for a video about religion and spirituality in Joburg. In a way, American Jesus, the documentary by director Larry Fessenden is exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for. Rather than just criticizing other people’s beliefs, it seems at least from the trailer that it’s more about probing why people in America have faith and why they worship.

With the recent death of Westboro Baptist Church pastor Fred Phelps, you might think the release of American Jesus seems almost fated. Everyone knows faith, particularly of the Christian Jesus-loving kind, is a big part of the American mega-culture. It affects everything from film releases to politics and so even ends up penetrating the responsive critical culture as well. Larry Fessenden’s film doesn’t seem to be aiming to tear faith down though, just to add to an increasing body of criticism and consideration directed at American Christians and their strong desire for faith.

Why is religion so important to them? That’s a very good question that this documentary might help answer.