Hey Chris!
How are things?! I haven't seen this whole movie, but EMPIRE I think have seen a trailer (or a trailer to a movie very much like what you have described). I don't know if it was on Youtube or not, but I don't think it matters.

Now, when I saw it was probably a year ago, so I may take a different take on it now, but I do remember that when I initially saw it I was very saddened and half moved to rage. Most of this rage came from a single scene where one boy was saying how he didn't like hanging around with his non-Christian friends and thought they were all bad and was very negative towards the aspect of any person being non-Christian.

Well, I don't know about you, but I think that Gandhi kicks some serious ass! And the Dali Lama (Tibetan/Tantric Buddhism, if I'm not mistaken ...)?! Even my friends. You don't have to be a bible thumper to be a good person. Sure, everyone should aspire to know their creator - and who knows, maybe they are in their own ways. I'm not one to judge. Of course whenever I go to a Christian retreat or something like that I always haul along as many of my friends as can come, but I don't shun the ones who don't feel comfortable coming.

Ok, so I know a few families of Cradle-Christians (and hard core too), and it can really go both ways. Some of them really turn me off from the whole idea of religion! Although I am in no position to judge, I can't help feeling that these Christians aren't really doing God's work. On the other hand, some of the Cradle-Christians that I know are the nicest, most faith-filled people I know that I can go to for absolutely anything! They are absolutely wonderful people! So I think it can really go both ways - but seeing that one part where that kid was interviewed simply touched a nerve that doesn't enjoy poking!

So what's my conclusion? You wanna raise your kids hard core Christian? Awesome - more power to you. They could turn out to be the best kids/people around! But like others have said - the importance of individual thought can't be overstated! Religion isn't much (in my books at least) if you are just following actions and there isn't a relationship with God, and for that relationship there has to be a conscious choice from the individual. Although head-knowledge is great and all, what really counts is what you know in your heart!

Another thing that I don't believe has been brought up is that: sure, raise your kids hard-core Christians, but make sure you make them good people too. From what I've read, Jesus' disciples and followers weren't metaphorically straight A students. Yet Jesus still loved them, and he taught them the truth. That LOVE is sooo important, yet is often the missing element that is needed by those hard-core Christians who simply turn you off. And since we aren't Jesus - the definitive Truth , us humans are in even LESS of a position to judge others based upon their belief systems.

Ok, so that was just a huge rant. But I do think I raised some relative points (of course I do, I wouldn't of said them otherwise :P). Anyways, thats just my position. Not sure if its right or not, but thats the way I feel. Oh, and if I am misinterpreting that part of the movie, or talking of a different movie, forgive my long rant ;)

Graces of God,
Deliverance