Becoming Truly Human

This is a good documentary looking at a very particular demographic, 33% of the US that are not Atheist, not "Religious" but instead are "Spiritual but not Religious" or "None of Above". Many of these are people that grew up in religous homes but left affiliation, but have not become fully Atheist, potentially agnostic at best.

It is really meant for two audiences: 1. Religious individuals wanting to understand "nones", there motivations and the world view they eventually accept. Why eastern religions (li.e. Ight Buddhism) are so popular with this demographic.

2. People of this demographic wanting validation and the directors answer to it.

The film shifts to the directors solution; his Thesis that this is a "searching" that isnt a happy/final state and how he found meaning in Faith and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Basically that nones have rejected a unhealthy theology presented to them and need to find a better christian theology. So be warned you are getting a hypothesis instead of fully dispassionate analysis. It is up to you to accept this as a potential solution, the solution or as propaganda.

Warning, religious propaganda.

This film is dishonest.

It dishonestly defines 'nones' as uncertain about which religion they belong to. What most people would call 'agnostic'.

"None of the above" does not mean "Other".

In the real world, the term 'nones' also includes we who are convinced there is no such thing as a god of any kind. Including hardcore atheists. There are no atheists in this film. The 'No god', or 'We have permanently rejected religion' viewpoint is not presented. So the film is unbalanced.

Happy ending: They all return to the church.

Note that this film came out in 2017, but only has 4 reviews as of 2024.

This is a wonderful film.

I love the end, but will not give it away.

This is an honest assessment of one man's journey toward Faith, and his engagement with others on a similar path.

Cheers.