Glory and the Power: Fundamentalisms Observed

Fascinating, straightforward look at members of the religious right. Filmmaker seemed to have had unfettered access to places like Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. And rather than poke fun at them or goad them into arguments, he simply allowed them to unpack their theology and show you how they practice their faith. Depending on your own religious framework, you may laugh, nod your head in agreement, or be appalled by them. It is not unlike documentaries like "Jesus Camp," which came much later, but it does one seem to be very objective and lives up to its subtitle of "fundamentalisms observed." BJU practices what the narrator calls "separatist fundamentalism" even separating themselves from more well-known evangelical figures like Billy Graham and Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell. Their differences with the culture on hot button issues like abortion, the teaching of evolution, and the role of women are well articulated.

More activist fundamentalists like Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry and Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, are interviewed and shown in action, but the documentary seems less successful in regard to them. The film does not go behind the scenes with them and allow them nearly enough screen time to truly help the viewer understand where they're coming from. All in all, though, it is highly worth a look for those interested in the subject.