E and I went to God's Not Dead Saturday afternoon. Here's my summary of the film. I can't guarantee that it is exactly in the order it was in the film, as there were several story lines that overlapped. Here goes:
Christian kid, Josh, goes to college and his girlfriend who he's been dating for 6 years (which means they started dating when they were 12) follows him to school. He takes a Philosophy class with asshole professor. Another kid sees his Newsboys shirt and cross and warns him not to take class with asshole professor. Josh says he can't. First day of class, Professor asks his entire class to write "God is dead" on a sheet of paper and sign it so that they can skip over the part of the book that discusses whether or not God exists. He says the class must all do this, or they'll have to do that part of the class, which he adds is the hardest and has caused the most students to fail. So all the students write this except for Josh, who can't, because he thinks God isn't dead. Asshole professor says fine - then he can have 20 minutes of the next 3 classes to make his case. Asshole professor says that he'll judge whether or not Josh succeeds. Josh says that isn't fair - that the class should decide. Professor grudgingly agrees to this.
Josh's girlfriend forbids him to do this, saying he will fail the class and then not get into law school and destroy their life together. Josh goes to church and Pastor Dave tells him that this is God's plan for him. Josh decides to take on the professor.
Josh's first argument is basically that the big bang theory happened when God said, "let there be light." Professor says that's nice, but here's what Stephen Hawking says. Josh is humiliated. After class, asshole professor stops Josh, asks him what he's trying to do, says there IS a god and that it's him, and that he's looking forward to failing him.
Josh starts researching. Girlfriend confronts him and dumps him for standing up for God. The same girlfriend that he met at Youth Group. This was moments after he told her he got Newsboys tickets for their anniversary.
Meanwhile, there is a humanist reporter girl. She is caught up in her career as a liberal blogger. She keeps ignoring her doctor's phone calls. She interviews one of the Duck Dynasty creeps, quite possibly just so there is some reason for one of them to have a cameo. She is dating Mark (atheist), who is a giant douche who only cares about his job.
Mark's sister, Mina, is visiting their mother who has dementia. She calls Mark and tells him he should visit their mom. He says why bother, he bought her a tv.
Also, there is a Muslim girl, Ayisha. She works in the cafeteria at the university. Her father is very strict.
There is also a Chinese student, Martin. His father is very strict as well. When Martin tries to talk to his father about the God discussion in class, his father asks him what the professor thinks. Martin says the professor thinks God is dead. Father says, "then you think God is dead." Martin tests out of math classes.
Turns out Mina is a Christian, and is also dating asshole professor. Asshole professor has a dinner party with fellow faculty. They all make fun of Josh and he treats Mina like dirt. Also - she left the wine in the car, which is the WORST THING EVER. She gets mad and walks out of his dinner party.
Pastor Dave is trying to go on a vacation. His car won't start. He gets a rental - it won't start. He gets another rental - it won't start. It's God's plan.
Josh has another go-round in the classroom. This time, his argument is that Stephen Hawking said that "Philosophy is dead" so if asshole professor thinks Hawking is right about everything, then there is no reason for his class. Also has some research from a mathematician who says Hawking is wrong. And says that Hawking uses circular logic (yeah, the Christian is lecturing about circular logic). This makes professor VERY ANGRY.
Humanist blogger girl finds out she has cancer. She goes to dinner with Mark. He tells her he made partner. She tells him she has cancer. He promptly dumps her because relationships are only about what people get from the other, and she is now of no use to him. She cries a lot.
She goes in for her MRI. When it's time for her to get her results, the doctor asks her if there is anyone that can be there with her. She says no (of course not, non-theists have no one).
Professor is talking with his colleagues at work about Dawkins, and how Dawkins is right about everything, ever. Mina goes to break up with him. He says he will not allow that.
Ayisha is caught listening to Christian podcasts. Her father beats her and throws her out of the house. She goes to talk to Pastor Dave. This is why God wouldn't let him go on vacation. After Ayisha leaves, then Pastor Dave's car starts and he can go on vacation - which ends up being going to the Newsboys concert?
It's time for Josh's final argument, but asshole professor decides that's not going to happen and instead they're going to debate. Kind of - they don't really debate. Josh asks him why he hates God, and keeps pushing until asshole professor admits that he does hate God and it's because his mom died of cancer when he was 12, even though he asked God to let her live. Josh says, "how can you hate someone who doesn't exist." Checkmate.
Martin confides in Josh that he has been convinced that he should be a Christian. Josh invites him to the Newsboys concert.
Mark goes to see his mother. He says that she prayed her whole life and ended up with dementia, but he is a giant tool and his life is perfect. Mother says (in a trance like state) that sometimes the devil allows people to live perfect lives so they don't convert to Christianity. Then she snaps out of it and asks him who he is.
Blogger girl has a meltdown and blogs that she is going to die of cancer.
Asshole professor goes to his office, reads a letter his mom wrote him on her death bed telling him to follow the lord and live a good life. He tries to call Mina, who doesn't answer because she's at the Newsboys concert. He decides to go chase her down and win her back.
Blogger girl barges in on the Newsboys and starts asking them how they can promote the whole Christian thing. The drummer is somehow a mind reader and knows that she came there because she's suffering and wants to believe. She admits this is true. They all pray for her and she looks peaceful and happy for the first time in the whole movie.
Josh and Martin are jamming out to the Newsboys. So is Mina. So is Ayisha. The Newsboys dedicate a song to Josh for standing up for God. Ayisha flirts with him a bit. Newsboys tell everyone to text "God's not dead" to everyone they know. Mina texts Mark. Mark gets pissy after reading the text and peels out in his car.
Meanwhile, Pastor Dave is running late to the concert because ... I don't know why. Because God likes to mess with Pastor Dave's car a lot. Asshole professor is hurrying to make it to the concert to win back Mina when he steps out in the street and gets hit by a car, which is driven by... Mark. Mark pauses, but keeps going. Professor is laying in the road, dying. Pastor Dave yells "call for an ambulance" (no one does), and then starts praying for professor. Professor says he's an atheist. Pastor Dave gets him to accept Jesus as his one true savior right before he takes his last breath and dies.
Everyone is really happy. Even Pastor Dave, who just saw this guy die. Everyone is rocking out to the Newsboys. Screen goes to black and it tells the audience to spread the message by texting "God's not dead" to everyone they know. Roll credits.
I plan on doing some follow up posts about this movie - such as the take away points, and more indepth discussion of some of the main points in the movie. Stay tuned!
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