The Nature of Existence

What happens when a dumb person tries to make a movie about complex questions? You're looking at it.

There's nothing to be gained from watching this. Nygard gathers tiny sound bytes from hundreds of people ranging from priests to his screenwriter buddy to some mentally unstable dude who shouts things at strangers on the street, then pastes them together, thinking complete incoherence will somehow add up to something profound.

Instead, you get meaningless, obvious conclusions that have less to say than those "Coexist" bumper stickers. We all need love and faith of some kind in our lives? Really? That's a profound thought? Nygard emerges as a self-promoting dim-wit, who manages to awkwardly shoehorn himself into every scene. He clearly wants to be the next Michael Moore/Morgan Spurlock, but lacks the intelligence or humor to pull it off. Total waste of time.

I studied comparative religion in college. I can honestly say this is the most thought-provoking and entertaining film on religion and existence that I have ever watched. A film with this level of intelligence and insight does not come around very often, so I would certainly suggest making time to see it during its limited run in the theaters - if it's playing anywhere near you. I got lucky , since the director was doing a screening at my school. I just saw the website and it's actually interactive! I loved that the director included many different religions such as Islam,Christianity, Satanists, Buddhists- everyone. He also included Richard Dawkins and some Pagan-types as well. I think this film will inspire more filmmakers to go out and create important and thoughtful films.

It was hard to take this documentary series as an exploration of a question. The film maker biases himself from the outset. Christianity (his native religion) is represented only by wrestlers, back-woods ministers, a crazed lunatic, and very only crusty men. Other religions are represented by sincere but folksy types who boarder on primitive. Atheism is represented by extremely friendly and socially well-adjusted supra-geniuses.

Were no authors from the Christian best seller's list available? Are no Buddhists or Muslims teaching in universities? And most noticeably missing, the Atheists I grew up with Texas trailer parks ranting, "There ain't no God, that's why I steal and kill." I do not think this was intentional on the filmmakers part. I think he subconsciously sought the answer he was already desiring...."Whatever the nature of existence is, it is certainly not offered by the church, it is doubtfully possible that some other religion offers it, but science gives us the best hope."

This is a smörgåsbord of various belief sets. It's entertaining and funny. There are some very quotable quotes and some that are rather less so. It's very rapid fire which I did have a problem with – I prefer more of an interview style. But the pay-off is the wide diversity of religions presented. He travels the U.S. in search of answers and continues this in China and India (which is a real blast!). He does drop by briefly in Jerusalem and Italy to pick up a few tidbits.

I will probably watch it again at a later date for some more insights, because there are so many prophets, soothsayers, preachers, gurus spouting there little pearls of wisdom that I may indeed get a revelation (but I doubt it!)

"The Nature of Existence" is more than the title of this film, it is a question which we should all ponder with sincerity at some point in our lives.

Having myself spent quite a bit of time pondering such existential questions, I found it very rewarding to see these highlights presented on film by a man on a similar quest, who unlike me, had the resources and willingness to travel all over the world in search of answers.

There are many things in this film, including irony and humor yet throughout, it remains clear that the director's quest is sincere. He really is looking for answers to these burning philosophical questions. This sincerity, I think, is contagious.

I was impressed by how many insights there were, from in some cases surprising sources.

Personally I found the most memorable quote from the entire movie to have been from a Yogi in India who stated: "By accepting our suffering, we defeat it!" That quote just really sticks with me. I think is a diamond, and I will never forget it.

If you watch this film and are able to take away from it even just one thing which can help your life, as I did, then it will not have been time wasted; it will have been some of the best 90 minutes you could ever have spent.