1.) This movie has nearly every stereotype imaginable in it.
- There is an african american student whose name is "T Dawg" (E insists his name was "G Dawg," but either way it involved "Dawg" in it). I think he has one line.
- Martin is an asian student from China. He of course tests out of math. His father is very strict and only cares about his grades. At one point, Martin is trying to talk to his father about the God discussion they've been having in class, because Martin is having conflicted feelings about it. The father asks him what the professor's opinion is and Martin says, "That God is dead." The father then says, "Then you think God is dead."
- Ayisha is a muslim student. Her father drives a beater car. He is very traditional and he is very strict. When he finds out that Ayisha has been listening to Christian podcasts, he beats her and physically throws her out of the house.
- Josh's girlfriend is caucasian, blonde, and wears a cross necklace and a lot of white.
- Josh, the Christian hero in the film, is very clean cut, but cool at the same time. He wears Newsboys t-shirts, button down shirts, and Chuck Taylors.
- The non-theists in the movie are mean, angry, bitter, and generally not good people. See #2 for more information.
2.) The non-theists in the movie are giant tools. I mean really - giant douche bag assholes. The Professor is pretty much a dick to everyone he meets, but especially so to Josh (who dares to disagree with him), and his girlfriend, Mina. Mark (Mina's brother) is a douche to everyone he interacts with, and continues to be until the end, when he kills someone with his car and doesn't even stop. He also makes the comment (when Mina tells him he should go visit their mother, who has dementia), "Why bother? I bought her a TV." Blogger girl is "too busy for cancer" and is very confrontational and aggressive when she does her interviews for the liberal blog that she writes for.
3.) The Christians are all really nice. Like REALLY nice. Except for Josh's girlfriend who dumped him because his act of standing up for God was ruining their future together. And this right after he gives her Newsboys tickets for their anniversary.
4.) The Newsboys are apparently the only Christian band ever. And EVERY Christian LOVES them. Josh wore Newsboys shirts and had Newsboys posters in his dorm room. They ALL went to the Newsboys concert. Even Ayisha, who you would think would be a little strapped for cash, having been kicked out of her family's home with nothing.
5.) When Josh makes his arguments, he sounds rational. He is humble, and uses an even tone of voice. The professor sounds spiteful, hateful, and angry when he makes his points. This makes Josh's arguments look solid, even though they aren't. Like when he says, "Atheists say there's no proof for God. But I say they have no proof that He doesn't exist." Josh also lectures about circular logic.... enough said.
6.) The atheist professor treated the writings of Dawkins and Hawking as though they were infallible. He name dropped and made a point of how educated they are compared to Josh, a lowly freshman. This is very stereotypical of atheists, who are often accused of being arrogant, overly-educated, and elitist.
7.) All the non-theists were non-believers because they were angry or bitter. With possibly the exception of blogger girl, who they never really gave a backstory on.
8.) When faced with her imminent death, blogger girl turned Christian. On his death bed, the professor turned Christian. The only one unresolved was Mark, who ran over asshole professor and killed him, then peeled out. Still an atheist, still an asshole.
9.) There was one point in the movie where Pastor Dave tells Josh that the other 80 kids in his philosophy class have probably never been exposed to Christianity of Jesus' love and that Josh's presentation may be their only exposure to it. Really? Where do entire classrooms of students exist where there is only one Christian and 80 non-theists? Because I would really like to sign up for those classes. :)
10.) I completely get how this kind of film would get Christians all hyped up and excited about their faith. I think it's probably very similar to how I feel when I go to a freethought conference and get excited and motivated to do new things with Siouxland Freethinkers. I think the film 100% accomplished what it set out to do with its intended audience.
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