Constantine's Sword

Tragic marriage of religion and nationalism has born malevolence all over this shaky planet. This, not completely successful documentary, tries to grapple with the Catholic church and it's shameful history of anti-Semitism. In the same time it brushes upon a stunning situation in Air force academy in Colorado, where evangelical zealots pressure cadets to convert to their inane version of Christianity. The trouble with this movie is that while this fresh and interesting development gets about 12 minutes of movie time, the tired and often heard and repeated story about anti-Semitism in the church takes all of the rest. Why putting these two topics together without giving them equal time? It was especially amazing seeing the demented smile on the face of a joke of a preacher, Ted Haggard,notorious crystal-meth popping, male prostitute loving, face of a mind boggling evangelical movement.

Went to see this film with great expectations - Carroll's massive book with the same title is fascinating to say the least - a brilliant writer with exceptional knowledge of his topic. But the film is a far cry from the book; actually, I found the documentary quite tepid, adding little to facts, otherwise, very well known. The antisemite aspects in Christianity are highly complex issues, treated, for some unknown reason, in a simplistic manner in the film (which, again, is not the case of the book, a grand incursion into the subject). Anyone with even a slight interest in history will find the film lame and a bit boring. He attempts to touch on various points and, in my opinion at least, loses himself by aiming at various targets at once.

In regard to the rise of the Fundamentalist Christian Right, which is progressively taking over America and its Government, I would suggest another documentary, the excellent "Camp Jesus" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358/), which is way better than "Constantine's Sword" at getting the message across - in Carroll's case, stick with book and skip the film, which doesn't do justice to Carroll's genius.

Seldom does one find themselves mesmerized by the sheer intelligence of a documentary, but in Constantines Sword the film makers articulate exploration of the all encompassing question of religion and it's place in the world is breathtaking. The film exposes, quietly and without manipulation, an underlying and unhealthy historical familiarity between the modern evangelical Christian movement and previous fervent Christian crusaders. Their anti-Semitic nature perfectly presented.

The film expertly navigates its way through complex historical and philosophical religious concepts, made easy through the very personal story of James Carrol. Part narrator part subject Carrol's view of the world is one we wish all men could share.

Pitch perfect, expertly edited, researched and directed Constantines Sword is a truly remarkable documentary, one that could only be born of such conservative times.

"I also lost a bit of respect for Mr. Carroll due to the way that he portrays the persecution of Jews as a phenomenon entirely unique to Christianity. As if religious minorities aren't oppressed all over the world."

But only Christian Europe built gas chambers for the declared purpose of eliminating an entire people.

Carroll is the only Christian I have read with the decency to admit and express remorse for his faith's 1,700 years of brutal, bloody persecution of the Jews.

Let's hope his book, and possibly his film, spur more Christians to the same remorse.

This was an excellent documentary by a former Catholic Priest into the actions of his Church, the evangelical movement, and politicians over the years to discriminate and kill in the name of Jesus.

It starts with an overview of the indoctrination of Air Force cadets at the military academy and the resulting bigotry and discrimination against Jews and those who will not accept the views of Ted haggard (the preacher who was caught in a sex scandal) and other Christo-fascists. The film ends with another visit and the attempts of the Academy to cover up what is going on and dismiss the report on the takeover by the evangelicals.

James Carroll spends the time in-between visiting Germany and Italy and other places he had seen in his youth as a military dependent. he reminisced on holy sites and relics. he gave a good history of the Catholic Church and it';s relationship with the Nazis and how they contributed to the persecution and death of the Jews.

Those wanting to see how Jews were persecuted and how our political leaders are infusing religion into politics would be well served by this film.