Christianity - History and Issues Filmography
updated (7/07)

Abortion blockade and gunfire who are the peacemakers? Morris Hill forum. 1995. 1 videocassette (120 min.). Includes presentations, a debate and a question and answer period on the morality of abortion and of those who oppose abortion in violent ways. Ms. Michelman uses her own situation to support her pro-choice position; Rev. Rankin bases his opposition to abortion on ethical principles and on a five step analysis of violence that begins with "male chauvinism." VHS 3245

The age of faith to the age of reason . Great minds of the Western intellectual tradition: SuperStar teachers. 1995. 2 videocassettes (540 min.). Part 2 traces the progress of the Western mind in grappling with the fundamental questions that determine our stance toward being. This section marks the critical schism between the claims of faith and science, beginning with the works of two saints, Aquinas and Thomas More. The origins of modern scientific thought are traced, and concludes with by exploring the effects of the rise of science on philosophy. VHS 7501 pt. 2

Amen . 2003. 1 videodisc (126 min.). When a newly commissioned SS Lieutenant witnesses the chemical disinfectant he's helped perfect being used to systematically murder interred Jews, he knows he must act. The only sympathetic ear he finds is a young priest with ties to the Vatican. As the two unlikely allies fight to reveal the truth to the Church and world, they discover that a man of conscience can commit treason and a man of God can commit heresy in order to thwart genocide. DVD 730

American Byzantine . 2000. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Tells the story of the building of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and its connection to America in the 20th century. VHS 6664

Ancient philosophy and faith ; From Athens to Jerusalem . Great minds of the Western intellectual tradition: SuperStar teachers. 1995. 2 videocassettes (540 min.). This program is the first of a six-part series which traces the progress of the Western mind in grappling with the fundamental questions that determine our stance toward being. This includes an introduction to the series and to the enduring problems of philosophy. The critical tensions in Western thought are identified and the context is set for the other parts. The part includes lectures on the pre-Socratic Greeks, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, key contributions from the Roman Stoics, particularly Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and material from the Old and New Testaments. VHS 7501 pt. 1

Apocalypse . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Features the story of Noah, his ark, and the great flood. Examines the role of suffering, the wrath of God, and the idea of righteousness. VHS 4744

Apocalypse! 1999. 1 videocassette (120 min.). Program traces the evolution of apocalyptic belief throughout the ages-from its origin in the Jewish experience after the Babylonian exile to its diverse and often tumultuous expression in modern times. Drawing on interviews with historians and biblical scholars, and vivid imagery and historical pictures, chronicles the fascinating history of where our ideas of the End Time and doomsday and destruction come from, and how they have shaped our world. Examines the last book of the New Testament--the Book of Revelation, looking at who wrote it, scholars' views on its historical setting, and the meaning of its startling images. The second hour explores the impact of apocalyptic thinking from the early Middle Ages to the present, illustrating how the Book of Revelation and its symbolism has shaped the course of Western history-from the apocalyptic overtones of the Crusades to Hitler's apocalyptic language; from Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation to the Antichrist of the American Revolution; from the invention of the printing press to the proliferation of the Internet-and reveals how apocalypse became synonymous with Last Judgment and the end of the world. [Summary taken from Frontline website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/etc/synopsis]. VHS 6109

The apostle . 1999. 1 videocassette (134 min.). Sonny, a gifted, charismatic Southern preacher, is loved by his community but is secretly plagued by the darker side of human desire and rage. When he loses control and commits a crime of passion, he is forced to run from the law. Hiding out in the small town of Bayou Boutte, Sonny adopts a new identity and sets out on a new mission--to find the road to redemption. VHS 6048

At play in the fields of the Lord . 1992. 2 videocassettes (186 min.). The tale of two men's experiences with a native Indian tribe in the Brazilian rain forest. One is an American mercenary hired to drive the Niaruna Indians off their land, who joins forces with them instead. The other is a missionary sent to convert the natives to Christianity. VHS 3580

The battle for the language of the Bible . The adventure of English: 500 A.D. to 2000 A.D. 2004. 1 videocassette (50 min.). "In late medieval England, English quietly ousted French in law and government, but the move to make it God's language meant bloodshed. This enhanced DVD looks at the battle for a Bible in English, a struggle with huge impact on the language itself. Dramatic readings from successive English Bibles show the language's evolution. Location footage and original manuscripts illustrate key figures and events, such as John Wycliffe, the Lollards, and the first English Bible; William Langland's Piers Plowman; Henry V's official letters, the role of the Chancery or the English civil service; William Caxton's printing press; William Tyndale's translation; and the King James Bible."--Container. VHS 7792

Becket . 1989. 1 videocassette (150 min.). A dramatization of the career of Thomas à Becket from the time of his appointment to chancellorship of England by King Henry II, through his consecration as Archbishop of Canterbury, his opposition to Henry's efforts to curtail churchly authority, and his assassination in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. VHS 1340

The bells of St. Mary's . 1987. 1 videocassette (126 min.). Father O'Malley and iron-willed Sister Benedict find themselves in a subtle battle of wits over how the children should be trained at St. Mary's parochial school. VHS 2958

Black narcissus . 1995. 1 videocassette (101 min.). Majesty gives way to mystery, and marks a harrowing descent into madness, when a young British nun is ordered to establish a convent in the remote Himalayan mountains. Sister Clodagh (Kerr) is a serious young novitiate assigned to lead a crucial mission, with the reluctant recommendation of her Mother Superior. Together with a disparate group of nuns, Sister Clodagh will face strange peoples and customs, a harsh and unforgiving climate and a wrenching struggle with her own past that will prove the ultimate test of her devotion and faith. Home Use Collection VHS 5093

Blessed deception . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Focuses on the story in which Rebekah procures Isaac's blessing for Jacob through deceit. Explores sibling rivalry, the idea of women as the carriers of faith, the nature of blessing, and the uses of deception. VHS 4748

The blood of Jesus . The Black experience collection. 1994. 1 videocassette (57 min.). The story concerns the accidental shooting of a woman and of the faith in Jesus that brings her back. As she lies dying, her soul goes on a symbolic journey in which it rejects Hell for Zion, Satan for God, at the foot of the cross. When she awakens, recovered, the choir of sisters and brothers from the church come in to sing and celebrate the miracle. A film that offers a glimpse into Southern Baptist life from an African-American perspective. Home Use Collection VHS 7030

Bonhoeffer . 2003. 1 videocassette (93 min.). Documentary on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young German theologian who was one of the first to openly resist Adolf Hitler. Features photographs, archival footage, and interviews with family members, friends, students, and associates of Bonhoeffer, including the last interview with Bonhoeffer's close friend and historian, Eberhard Bethge. VHS 7519

Brazil . Faultlines. 2004. 1 videodisc (37 min.). "This controversial program highlights the political initiatives taken by Brazil's top two religious entities: Catholics and evangelical Protestants. It argues that the Roman Catholic Church has always been fused with the nation's identity, from statues of Christ in Rio de Janiero to mark the first centenary of Brazil's independence to the thousands of Brazilian flags waved during the morning mass at the Cathedral of Aparecida. Yet the Church has seemed aloof to many Brazilians; fewer than one in ten attend Mass regularly. With the growing power of the evangelical movement, a battle against the Catholic establishment begins for political collusion at the time of a crucial presidential election"--Container. DVD 1279

Call and promise . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Examines the story in which God makes his covenant with Abraham. Explores what it means to be "called" by God, what it feels like to be in exile looking for a homeland, and how the covenant led to the founding of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. VHS 4745

Camila love against all odds . 2002. 1 videodisc (ca. 105 min.). Recounts the true story of a young Catholic socialite from Buenos Aires, Camila O'Gorman, who falls in love and runs away with a young Jesuit priest, Ladislao Gutierrez, in 1847. Eventually they are found and executed by the repressive government. The film also makes a statement about the affect of dictatorship on personal and political freedom. Recounts the true story of a young Catholic socialite from Buenos Aires, Camila O'Gorman, who falls in love and runs away with a young Jesuit priest, Ladislao Gutierrez, in 1847. Eventually they are found and executed by the repressive government. The film also makes a statement about the affect of dictatorship on personal and political freedom. DVD 1198, VHS 1024

Chase the devil: Religious music of the Appalachian Mountains . Beats of the heart. 1982. 1 videocassette (ca. 60 min.). Religious music in the Southern Appalachians covers a wide panorama. At one extreme, is the idea that any music is the "devil's work," at the other is hard driving, rhythmic music. Focuses on the Holiness church experience depicting the exuberant preaching and singing. VHS 3268

Community of praise . 1992. 1 videocassette (59 min.). Examines how faith works in the lives of a small fundamentalist group who desire to maintain a daily intimacy with God. VHS 4069

Creation or evolution?: Science & religion: bridging the gap . 1996. 1 videocassette (58 min.). A Christian perspective and analysis of both the geologic record and the biblical account of creation. VHS 6485

Creation vs. evolution: A battle in the classroom . 1982. 1 videocassette (58 min.). Creationists and Evolutionists hold contradictory views of the origins of life. Now, in legislatures, school boards and courtrooms across the country, Christian fundamentalists are demanding that "creation science" be taught in a balanced presentation along with evolution in public schools - a proposal opposed by the science community. This video looks at the issues in this battle for the classroom involving educators, parents, fundamentalists and children. VHS 4936

The cross and the star: Jews, Christians, and the Holocaust . 1992. 1 videocassette (53 min.). Using a combination of interviews and film footage, the program describes the roots of antisemitism in Christianity, examines the role of Christianity in the Holocaust asking why churches and governments did not do more to prevent it, and follows the reconciliation efforts since the end of World War II. VHS 4102

Damned if you don't . 1987. 1 videocassette (42 min.). This portrait of a lesbian nun combines narrative and experimental techniques, as well as footage from "Black Narcissus," an earlier film with a similar theme. VHS 6713

Dead man walking . 1996. 1 videocassette (122 min.). Based on a true story. Matthew Poncelet (Penn) is the convicted killer of two teenage lovers, waiting to end his sentence and his life - on Death Row. In response to a letter, Sister Helen Prejean (Sarandon) visits Matthew and finds herself face-to-face with a convicted killer who continues to plead his innocence. When the date is set for his execution, Poncelet asks Sister Helen to be his spiritual advisor and she agrees. Home Use Collection VHS 4316

Journal d'un curé de campagne = Diary of a country priest . The Criterion collection. 2004. 1 videodisc (ca. 115 min.). A new priest arrives in the French country village of Ambricourt to attend to his first parish. The rural congregation rejects him immediately. Through his country diary entries, the suffering young man relays a crisis of faith that threatens to drive him away from the village and God. DVD 1116

The disputation: A theological debate between Christians and Jews . 1991. 1 videocassette (64 min.). Recreates a public theological debate between Christians and Jews, which were common during the Middle Ages. This one, held in Barcelona in 1263, was unique, being a genuine debate between Christianity and Judaism which brought to light the basic differences between the two religions. VHS 1714

The dissenter . Renaissance, the origins of the modern world. 1993. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Survey of the religious ideas of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance and those who dissented from them. Also explores the role of dissent in the modern world. VHS 2985

Elmer Gantry . 1998. 1 videocassette (147 min.). One man's fervent pursuit of wealth and power leads him to religion for profit in the evangelist tents of the 1920s Midwestern Corn Belt. Elmer is a fast-talking salesman living on shoeshines and off-color jokes when he meets up with the beautiful Sister Sharon Falconer, a revivalist preacher who is dazzling the Bible Belt population. Hired to give testimony and raise a few dollars, Elmer discovers he has a true gift of gab and the minimum amount of divine inspiration needed to launch his career as a preacher. Unfortunately, his success is jeopardized when a prostitute and former girlfriend, Lulu Baines, crosses his path. VHS 6047

Entertaining angels: The Dorothy Day story . 1997. 1 videocassette (112 min.). Film examines the life of social activist Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement. Day moves from atheism to Catholicism, from fast living/free loving to a life dedicated to helping the poor and unfortunate, and from being a politically active radical journalist to becoming the founder of the Catholic Worker, a newspaper dedicated to the oppressed and hopeless. VHS 4663

Exile . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Focuses on Joseph's exile in Egypt and explores the issues of national and spiritual exile, assimilation, coming of age, and the dilemma of beauty. VHS 4750

The eyes of Tammy Faye . 1999. 1 videodisc (80 min.). Focuses on Tammy Faye Bakker's life from the time she met Jim Bakker until the fall of their ministry. Includes interviews. Home Use Collection DVD 468

Faith & doubt at Ground Zero . 2002. 1 videocassette (120 min.). Frontline illuminates the myriad spiritual questions that have come out of the terror, pain, and destruction of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, and explores how the spiritual lives of both believers and non-believers have been challenged in the aftermath of September 11 by questions of good and evil, God's culpability, and the potential for darkness within religion itself. VHS 7144

Faith into action . 199? 1 videocassette (96 min). This video shows how African American Churches and Faith communities, have been, and continue to be the most effective, consistent, and significant contributors to the economic development, the health, the leadership, the diversity, and the identity of the community and it's institutions. VHS 6877

A family affair . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Explores the story of Abraham's relationship with the slave girl Hagar, examining the role of Sarah, her importance for the idea of faith, and the issues of race and class. VHS 4746

Father Roy . 1997. 1 videocassette (55 min.). Describes the protests of Father Roy against the military assistance and training that the United States provides to Latin American countries at the U.S. Army School of the Americas. Richter, a human rights advocate, believes that all too often the graduates of the school have used their training in attacks against their own people and seeks to have the school closed. VHS 4666

From a far country . 1997. 1 videocassette (126 min.). This epic story follows the life of Karol Wojtyla, a Polish Roman Catholic who ascends the throne of St. Peter as Pope John Paul II. Torn by fear and repression in post-Stalin Easter Europe, Karol becomes a poisonous thorn in the communists' side. VHS 7751

From Jesus to Christ: The first Christians . 1998. 4 videocassettes (240 min.). Explores the life of Jesus and the movement he started, challenging familiar assumptions and conventional notions about the origins of Christianity. Drawing upon new and sometimes controversial historical evidence and interviews with the nation's leading New Testament scholars, the series transports the viewer back 2000 years to the time and place where Jesus once lived and preached. Traces Jesus' life, focusing on the events that occurred after he died and on his first followers, the men and women whose belief, conviction, and martyrdom created a major movement that transformed the Roman Empire in the space of only 300 years. VHS 5331

The Garden . 1993. 1 videocassette (90 min.). The film recreates the story of the Passion with the figure of Christ replaced in some sequences by two lovers, who are arrested, humiliated, and tortured. Jarman attempts to examine the role of the Church in the persecution of homosexuality, while treating Christ with great reverence and respect. VHS 6617

Genesis a living conversation . The Moyers collection. 1996. 10 videocassettes (600 min.). Host Bill Moyers dialogues with several panels consisting of a diverse array of prominent theologians, artists, historians, and clergy discussing the stories in the Book of Genesis. VHS 4741-4750

Global capitalism and the moral imperative . 1998. 1 videocassette (29 min.). Looks at the issue of whether capitalism on a global scale is producing consequences similar to those of the 19th century which saw huge gaps between the rich and poor. Looks at who in the world community will care for the needs of the poor and how it will be accomplished. Asks who, if economic and political reforms are necessary, will initiate them and how will they be enforced? Discusses the Catholic Church's viewpoint on the human impact of the global free market economy. VHS 5355

God in government . 2004. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Explores the complex relationship between religion and politics in the contemporary world with a major focus on the United States and segments about India, Israel, and Iran. Academics, politicians, and activists, including Jay Demerath, Madeleine Albright, Fareed Zakaria, and Henry Waxman, among many others, examine topics of religion and violence, separation of church and state, faith-based initiatives, and activities of the Christian Coalition. VHS 7863

God is not through with me yet . 1995. 1 videocassette (27 min.). Film examines the past and present lives of ordinary, Afro-American Baptist women in Marion County, Florida, in order to record their role in the conservation and transmission of Afro-American culture. Looks at their role in the establishment, management and support of Baptist churches. Features interviews with members of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church, York, Florida, and the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, Flemington, Florida, among others. VHS 4412

God wrestling . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Looks at the story of Jacob's wrestling with the angel. Explores such ideas as personal transformation, reconciliation, and the mystery of the angels. VHS 4749

The gospel according to St. Matthew . 2004. 1 videodisc (ca. 135 min.). The birth, life, teachings, and death on the cross of Jesus Christ presented almost as a cinema-veritâe documentary. Pasolini's second feature is an attempt to take Christ out of the opulent church and present him as an outcast Italian peasant. DVD 1590

Hanged on a twisted cross: The life, convictions, and martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer . 1996. 1 videocassette (120 min.). Uses archival footage, documents and visits to original locations to capture the life, times and thought of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed by the Nazis just days before the end of WWII. VHS 4910

Holy Ghost people . 1998. 1 videocassette (52 min.). A report on the religious fervor of a small Pentecostal congregation in West Virginia whose fundamentalist philosophy encourages the biblical teaching of speaking in tongues and handling serpents. VHS 5341

In God's image . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Examines the very first story in the Book of Genesis, God's creation of the Earth and humankind. Looks at such issues as creativity, the image of God, and the roles of male and female. VHS 4741

In this life, 1900-1979 . The struggles for Poland. 1988. 1 videocassette (58 min.). Examines the influence of the Polish Catholic Church, especially its anti-Communism, anti-semitism, and prejudice against Orthodox Ukrainians. Focuses on its adaptation to the Communist state following World War II and its growing influence following the election of John Paul II as Pope. VHS 524

Industrial Revolution, Pragmatists . Western philosophy. 2002. 1 videocassettes (50 min.). "The Industrial Revolution had a deep impact on the direction and questions posed by western philosophy. Technological advancements prompted questions about the role of religion and for the first time, attempts were made to explain the human evolution of western civilization and history. Thinkers including Schopenhauer, Nietzche, and Sartre began to question the human condition. Philosophy tried to reconcile the mechanistic laws of the universe with human freedom of will and action in a world that was beginning to be perveived as godless. Philosophical debate shifted from not whether the external world exists, but rather, how we interpret it. The language we use in every day life became a focus for the Pragmatists and Wittgenstein." --from container. VHS 7645

Intolerance . Griffith masterworks : twenty-three complete films. 2002. 1 videodisc (197 min.). Four separate stories are interwoven: the fall of Babylon, the death of Christ, the massacre of the Huguenots and a contemporary drama, all crosscut and building with enormous energy to a thrilling chase and finale. DVD 641

Islam and Christianity . Islamic conversations. 1994. 1 videocassette (30 min). This program examines the historical relations between Islam and Christianity and the long history of conflict between them. Iran's ambassador to the Vatican, Mohammad Masjed Jame'i, explains the basic differences and similarities between Islam and Christianity: the roles of Christ and Mohammad, the Bible and the Koran, and the main differences of approach. The program also examines the reasons for the continuing conflict between Islam and the West, and whether an understanding can be reached between them. VHS 6142

Jesus . 2000. 2 videocassettes (175 min.). The life and times of Jesus of Nazareth, from his humble beginnings to his destiny as the son of God. A wonderfully human and realistic performance by Jeremy Sisto. VHS 6255

Jesus Christ superstar . 1986. 1 videocassette (108 min.). Depicts in song, images, and music, the story of the last week of Christ's life, his betrayal and crucifixion as seen from the point of view of Judas. VHS 1425

The Jesus factor . 2004. 1 videodisc (ca. 60 min.). "As an evangelical Christian, President Bush has something in common with 46 percent of Americans who describe themselves as being 'born again' or having personal relationships with Jesus Christ .... To what extent do the President's spiritual beliefs impact or influence his political decision-making? And how closely do Bush's religious views mirror those of the country's burgeoning, and politically influential, evangelical movement?"--Container. DVD 1045

Jésus de Montréal = Jesus of Montreal . 2004. 1 videodisc (119 min.). A Montreal shrine seeks to inspire its congregants by modernizing its staging of the Passion play. A promising cast of vibrant young actors are signed on - one fresh from perfume commercials, another from the pornographic film industry, and another who had an affair with the basilica's priest - quickly drive the production on to become a smash hit. But as the play enjoys the success, the actors become more and more challenged to seperate their real lives from their lives onstage. DVD 1210

John Paul II the millennial Pope . 1999. 1 videocassette (150 min.). Biographical look at this controversial world leader that is a journey through the 20th century to the source of John Paul II's character and beliefs, and the passionate reaction to him. Drawing on interviews with those who have studied and analyzed John Paul II or, whose lives have intersected with his, film offers insights into the major themes in his life: the shaping influence of Polish culture and history, his relationship with Jews, his part in the fall of Communism, his opposition to liberation theology, his repudiation of the ordination of women, his battle to convince the world, especially the West, that it must save itself from sinking into a "culture of death." [Summary taken in part from the Frontline website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/pope/etc/synopsis]. VHS 6107

Keeping the faith . 1987. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Examines the Black church in America as a source of Black heritage and cultural identity, a wellspring of social and political action, and a refuge for impoverished urban blacks. Shows how two Black churches in Chicago, one with a middle class congregation and one serving the inner-city poor, balance the spiritual needs of their members with their mission of addressing the social and economic problems facing many disadvantaged Black Americans. VHS 4966

King of kings . Screen epics. 1996. 2 videocassettes (174 min.). The drama of the life of Christ from his birth in a Bethlehem manger to the crucifixion and resurrection. This film depicts Jesus' 40-day ordeal in the desert, the selection of the Apostles, the inspiring Sermon on the Mount, the betrayal of Judas, the passion, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Home Use Collection VHS 5210

The kingdom divided . God and politics. 1988. 1 videocassette (90 min.). Part of a series examining how religious beliefs shape political events. This segment examines a clash between two visions of Christianity that is having a profound effect on both religion and politics in this hemisphere. Shows how religious forces are shaping events in war-torn Central America. Reveals how this spiritual war is closely related to U.S. foreign policy. VHS 459

The land of Jesus . 1993? 1 videocassette of 1 (VHS) (ca. 60 min.). Tracing the routes traveled by Jesus, this documentary offers a colorful tour of the holy cities of Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, a visit to the waters of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, and many other sites sacred to Christianity. VHS 7602

The last supper = La ultima cena . 1989. 1 videocassette (110 min.). An historical drama based on an incident from Cuban history. Set in Havana at the end of the 18th century, a guilt-ridden count invites twelve of his plantation slaves to a "last supper" during which he attempts to teach them what he sees as the crucial elements of Christianity, namely, submissive obedience to their master and joy in suffering. When the count breaks his word, however, and forces the slaves to work the next day (Good Friday), they revolt and the count's punishment is swift and brutal. VHS 4203

The last temptation of Christ . 1996. 1 videocassette (163 min.). In this controversial movie, Jesus, as both fully human and fully divine, is viewed as free of sin but subject to all temptations, including sexual ones. VHS 4777

A leap of faith . 1997. 1 videocassette (87 min.). Documentary about the "Irish Troubles" as seen through the first year of a primary school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The year is 1993 and four families in Belfast band together to create a school under the direction of educator Helen Farrimond that integrates their Catholic and Protestant children in a search for the peace that neither politics nor terrorism has achieved. Using archival sections to explain the conflict, this program integrates a history of Ireland's "troubles" with a story of hope. VHS 4632

Life of Brian . The Criterion collection: Criterion collection (DVD videodiscs). 1999. 1 videodisc (94 min.). A caustic view of the foibles of the Judaic-Christian religion. The Pythons satirize religion, capital punishment, revolutionary politics, terrorism, graffiti, science fiction, and a host of other topics through the story of Brian, a first-century Judean. DVD 970

MacNeil/Lehrer news hour, June 3, 1991 . 1991. 1 videocassette (56 min.). In the first segment, Charles Krause presents a background report on recent economic and political events in the Soviet Union. Jim Lehrer interviews Robert Zoellick, Under-Secretary of State, and Robert MacNeil interviews two Congressmen, Jim Leach (R-Iowa) and David Obey (D-Wisconsin) about the proposed "Grand Bargain" in which the USSR would move toward a market economy and greater political freedom in exchange for U.S. aid. In the second segment, columnist William Raspberry, interviewed by Charlayne Hunter-Gault, raises several questions about affirmative action: Do these programs lead to quotas or discriminate against white males? Are present programs fair after a long history of slavery and discrimination and when will that history cease to be relevant? How do we assure both workplace diversity and fair hiring practices? What are the causes of the growing racial conflict? The third segment by reporter Fred di San Lazaro of Minneapolis questions past, present and future priests and lay Catholics about proposals to increase the number of priests by allowing them to marry, by ordaining women, and by transferring some priestly functions to lay practitioners. VHS 1493

The Magdalene sisters . 2004? 1 videodisc (ca. 120 min.). In Ireland in the 1960s, four women were sent to the Magdalene Laundries, an institution for "fallen" women, where they will atone for their sins through a regimented life of work and prayer. They all had to work in the laundry, where the strict nuns would break everyone's wills through sadistic punishment. Based on a true story. DVD 442

A man for all seasons . 1998. 1 videodisc (ca. 120 min.). A portrayal of the political and religious conflict between adulterous King Henry VIII who wishes to divorce his wife Catherine, and his Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, who refuses to support such a plan. When More cannot be swayed, Henry demands the clergy renounce the Pope and name him the head of the church in England. Cromwell, leader of the divorce campaign, frames More, forcing him to resign as Chancellor. Eventually, More is brought to trial, found guilty of treason, and beheaded. DVD 2093, VHS 11

Martin Luther . 2002. 2 videocassettes (ca. 120 min.). Martin Luther nailed his treatise to the doors of the Wittenberg Cathedral and forever changed the Christian world. This previously obscure German monk unleashed forces that would plunge Europe into war and chaos. He offered the Christian world a new vision of man's relationship with God and, in turn, redefined man's relationship with authority in general, bringing the collapse of the medieval world and the birth of the modern age. VHS 7649-7650

Merton a film biography . 1984. 1 videocassette (ca. 57 min.). Presents a study of the life of Thomas Merton, Trappist monk and author, through archival film and still photographs, interviews, and readings from his writings. VHS 4078

Miracles are not enough . Americas. 1993. 1 videocassette (60 min.). One of a series of programs focusing on contemporary Latin America. This segment travels to Brazil and briefly to Nicaragua to observe the explosion of theological debate, social activism, and spiritual renewal that is changing a region where religion has long played an important role in society and politics. In the last 30 years, the religious landscape has changed dramatically, with new religions challenging Catholicism, old and new beliefs mingling, and the Catholic Church undergoing remarkable changes. VHS 2126

The Mission . 2003. 2 videodiscs (125 min.). A powerful epic about a man of the sword and a man of the cloth who unite to shield a South American Indian tribe from brutal subjugation by 18th-century colonial empires. DVD 1664, VHS 3275

Mistrz i Malgorzata = The master and Margarita . 1990. 4 videocassettes (373 min.). On the one hand film is the story of devils visiting soviet and antireligious Moscow, of true and victorious love, of Jesus meeting Pontius Pilate. It also, above all, offers the belief that the world is not so bad and that people, if only given a chance, are simply good. VHS 2385

Monsieur Vincent: The moving story of Saint Vincent De Paul . 199. 1 videocassette (108 min.). The story of Saint Vincent De Paul, a poor priest who struggles to help the poor in seventeenth century France. VHS 7242

Mythos . 1996. 5 videocassettes (275 min.). Excerpts from Joseph Campbell's last lecture series before his death illustrate his theory of the origin, purpose and history of myth and mythology. Psyche and symbol: Looks at the universal themes that operate in all people and cultures which link us together. Also examines how myths emerge from the unconscious and how, in every culture, these myths have evolved to guide the individual through the cycle of life. -- The spirit land: Explores how, for the American Indian, myths served to awaken in them a mystery of life and provided them with the rituals to prepare them for the obstacles of the real world. On being human: Discusses the characteristics we share in common with the animal world, and that point where animal behavior ends and human behavior begins. -- From goddesses to gods: explores the connections between ancient societies and the origins of the Western Judeo-Christian tradition. -- The mystical life: Uses texts and artifacts from the ancient mystery religions of Greece to reveal the unbroken connection between these religions and those of the West. VHS 5142

The name of the rose . 2004. 1 videodisc (131 min.). Investigating the deaths of two monks, a visiting brother discovers a secret library containing rare books considered lost to the world and dangerous to the Catholic faith. DVD 2106, Home Use Collection VHS 1016

A new Saint, a new art . 2004. 1 videodisc (49 min.). St. Francis of Assisi revolutionized Christianity in 13th-century Tuscany with his down-to-earth belief that poverty, chastity, and obedience should shape an individual's relationship with God. By going back to Christ's original message, he played a pivotal role in the genesis of the Renaissance. This poignant program investigates how St. Francis's infusion of emotion and nature into the Christian mainstream inspired artists of the period to produce naturalistic depictions of him that were full of action and feeling. DVD 1197

La religieuse = The nun . 1990? 1 videocassette (155 min.). Freely adapted from Diderot's 18th-century novel, the film tells the story of a 16-year-old girl compelled by her mother to enter a convent. Convinced by the mother superior, the girl accepts her vows, but soon meets with harshness and abuse when the kindly superior is followed by a cruel successor. Her desperate attempts at freedom land her first in another convent and finally, tragically, in the outside world. VHS 3347

The passion of the Christ . 2004. 1 videodisc (ca. 127 min.). Concerns the last twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In the Garden of Gethsemane near the Mount of Olives, Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot. Jesus is condemned to death for blasphemy and brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, for sentencing. The roaring crowd demands his death, so Pilate orders his crucifixion. Jesus is severely beaten and made to carry his cross up to Golgotha, the hill outside Jerusalem, where he is nailed to the cross. With his mother looking on, he dies. DVD 943

Peter and Paul and the Christian revolution . 2002. 1 videodisc (120 min.). Early Christianity faced powerful obstacles. The might of the Roman Empire and the power-politics of ancient Jerusalem laid a heavy burden on those who believed Jesus was "the Messiah." But this new faith would not die. In a brief span of time, the fledgling religion would transcend its origins in the provinces of Rome and absorb the capital of the empire itself. With the words of Paul and other ancient writers, interviews with contemporary scholars and dramatic reenactments, Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution explores how two men weathered crippling disagreements and political persecution to lead one of history's most astonishing religious movements. DVD 910

Peter Berger . 1988. 1 videocassette (29 min.). Peter Berger, professor of sociology and religion, compares capitalism in America and East Asia commenting on the social, philosophical, religious, and political factors that have influenced the development of capitalist economies in each area and discusses the relationship of capitalism to democracy. Interviewed by Bill Moyers. VHS 1306

Portrait of an American zealot . Crisis to crisis. 1982? 1 videocassette (58 min.). Interviews with conservative American Christian leaders and organizations about their beliefs and political aims. Ed McAteer, the founder of the Religious Roundtable, is featured as the American zealot speaking out on topics such as abortion, school busing, the ERA, sex education, and eternal life. VHS 7902

Priest . Miramax classics. 1999. 1 videodisc (98 min.). A young Roman Catholic priest in a Liverpool parish must learn to deal with the issues of homosexuality and incest, as well as conflicts between his vows and his conscience. Home Use Collection DVD 1994

Rationalists and British empiricists . Western philosophy. 2002. 1 videocassettes (50 min.). "The discoveries of Copernicus and Galileo turned science completely upside down, forcing people to examine their place in the world and question God's place in science and mathematics. Religious volatility in Europe also prompted fierce theological debate amongst scholars over the true nature and necessity of God's existence. In Europe, the Rationalist movement was born. The sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries saw the emergence of continental mathematical and philosophical giants including Descartes, Leibniz, Kant, and Spinoza. Meanwhile in Britain, a philosophical renaissance was taking place. Known as the British Empiricists, they included Locke, Hume, and Berkeley." --from container. VHS 7644

Return to Cameroun . 1993. 1 videocassette (56 min.). Biography of Fred and Roberta Brown Hope, Presbyterian missionaries to Elat, Cameroon by their grandson who travelled to Cameroon 80 years after they first worked there. VHS 3389

The robe . 2001. 1 videodisc (135 min.). This is the inspiring story of the robe that Jesus wore on the cross and the Roman centurion, Marcellus Gallio, who wins the robe in a gambling match at the foot of the cross. DVD 2224

Romero . 2000. 1 videodisc (105 min.). Romero is a compelling and deeply moving look at the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who made the ultimate sacrifice in a passionate stand against social injustice and the oppression in his country. This film chronicles the transformation of Romero from an apolitical, complacent priest to a committed leader of the Salvadoran people. DVD 1167, VHS 1013

Rosita a documentary . 2005. 1 videodisc (57 min., 47 sec.). When a nine-year-old Nicaraguan girl becomes pregnant as a result of a rape, her parents--illiterate campesinos working in Costa Rica--seek a legal therapeutic abortion to save their only child's life. Their quest triggers a battle over whose life has precedence, and pits them against the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the medical establishment, and the Catholic Church. As the story gains international media attention, its repercussions spread across Latin America and Europe. DVD 1560

Saturday night, Sunday morning: The travels of Gatemouth Moore . The Bernice Johnson Reagon Collection. 1992. 1 videocassette (70 min.). Documents, through interviews and early photographs, the life of Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore, a prominent blues singer who left the stage at the height of his career to preach and sing gospel music. VHS 4077

Say amen, somebody . 1984. 1 videocassette (100 min.). Follows gospel singer Willie Mae Ford Smith from her home to church services to an emotionally galvanic singing convention. Also features Thomas A. Dorsey, her mentor and the man credited with inventing gospel music ; Delois Campbell Barrett and other gospel singers. VHS 2714

Science revises the heavens . Day the universe changed. 1986. 1 videocassette (52 min.). Deals with advances made during the Scientific Revolution, including Copernicus's explanation that the heavens do not revolve around the earth, Galileo's exploration of the acceleration of falling objects, and Newton's theories, and examines the bitter conflict that these ideas caused within the Catholic Church. VHS 2895

The search for Jesus . 2000. 1 videocassette (130 min.). Peter Jennings visits the Holy Land to explore the historical figure of Jesus and offer extensive insights into the story of Christianity and the man whose life continues to inspire devotion and debate. Includes conversations with: Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, N.T. Wright, Robert Funk, Paula Fredriksen, and Marvin Meyer, etc. VHS 6403

Sex and the Holy City . 2003. 1 videodisc (50 min.). "In the West, many Catholics ignore the Church's teachings on sex. But in poorer countries the words of the Church still matter, whether spoken from the pulpit or through a government minister. Pope John Paul believes everyone - not just the world's billion Catholics - should follow the Vatican's teachings. And he's tried to make sure the world listens, becoming a key player in the bitter global debate over women's rights and reproductive health. In this unique documentary, BBC reporter Steve Bradshaw investigates how the Pope, who tried to act in the best interests of women, came to be accused of ruining so many lives." -- from www.bullfrogfilms.com. DVD 979

Sex in a cold climate . 1997. 1 videocassette (50 min.). The film is a disturbing portrait of Magdalen asylums, run by corrupt and sadistic Catholic nuns in Ireland. The purpose of the asylums, named after the repentant biblical prostitute Mary Magdalene, was to correct the supposed sexual deviance of young women. The film follows the stories of four women who were detained in Magdalen asylums between the 1940s and the 1960s. VHS 7460

'So, who is this Jesus?' . 1999. 1 videocassette (ca. 48 min.). Basic introduction to Jesus intended especially for those who have no idea who Jesus is, or for those who need a helpful overview about Jesus. Two thousand years ago a man was born who changed the course of history. Today, even in an age of skepticism and materialism, there are millions of people who passionately believe in him--and who claim he has radically changed their lives. Film takes us to the very places Jesus lived and ministered and introduces the viewer to the Jesus who changed people's lives then and now. VHS 6179

The song of Bernadette . 1999. 1 videocassette (156 min.). Until a miracle changes their minds, church and state officials persecute a simple, ingenuous peasant girl who claims to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary. VHS 7292

The songs are free . 1991. 1 videocassette (58 min.). Bill Moyers joins Bernice Johnson Reagon for a celebration of the power of song. Reagon traces the history of communal singing and the repertoire rooted in the Black church that continues to preserve and transmit the spiritual strength of African-American culture. VHS 1878

Stop the church . 1990. 1 videocassette (24 min.). Documentary film exploring the planning and execution of the disruption of a service at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral in 1989 by the radical gay rights group, ACT UP. The filmmaker brings the audience into the Cathedral during the protest as well as into the planning sessions of ACT UP, New York. VHS 3909

The Supreme Court's holy battles . 1989. 1 videocassette (58 min.). Examines the controversy surrounding the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Reconstructs the period in which the amendment was written and explores more recent cases and controversies involving the religious clause of the First Amendment. VHs 615

The sword and the cross . Columbus and the age of discovery. 1991. 1 videocassette (58 min.). This program explores the interests of the conquistadors and the church, and their effect on the indigenous population. Follows events of Columbus's second voyage, 1493, and subsequent conquest, colonization and quest for gold. Looks at the settlement at Isabella in Venezuela, its influence on Christianisation, exploitation and the crusade of Fr. Domenico de las Casas and others against slavery and brutality, and the decimation of the local population by disease. Looks at Cirtez's conquest of Mexico, Teotihuacan, the Aztecs and the results of Christianisation. VHS 1435

Temptation . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Examines Adam and Eve's tasting of the forbidden fruit and their subsequent expulsion from Eden. Explores freedom of choice, the nature of good and evil, the meaning of sin, and issues of gender and sexuality. VHS 4742

The test . Genesis, a living conversation. 1996. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Examines God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Explores the difference between blind faith and true faith, and the meaning of sacrifice. VHS 4747

Thérèse . 1986. 1 videocassette (90 min.). The story of Therese Martin, a 15-year old girl from Provence who overcomes the opposition of her father and local priest to become a Carmelite nun. Her cheerfulness and dignity despite the tuberculosis pain that led to her early death in 1897 made her one of the most beloved modern saints. She was canonized in 1925 and is known as "The Little Flower of Jesus." VHS 1303

Trappist . 1997. 1 videocassette (56 min.). Trappist monks trace their history through 1,700 years of Western civilization. Documentary looks at the reality of a monk's life as it is lived at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina. Combines startling and beautiful images of the past to explore how a monk fits into our modern world. VHS 6120

Twist of faith . 2006. 1 videodisc (87 min.). The deeply personal story of a man who confronts the trauma of past sexual abuse by a local priest, only to find his decision shatters his relationships with his family, community, and faith. DVD 1814

A union in wait . 2001. 1 videocassette (28 min.). This film takes a very personal look at Susan Parker and Wendy Scott's relationship and the controversy that would make their private life anything but private. Susan and Wendy are members of Wake Forest Baptist Church. In 1999, the couple decided they wanted to have a union ceremony in Wake Forest University's Wait Chapel, but the University told them no. Susan, Wendy, their church, and many others joined together to fight the school's decision in what would become a controversy that divided a community in North Carolina and made national headlines. VHS 6203

Voodoo and the church in Haiti . 1988. 1 videocassette (40 min.). History and influence of Voodoo in Haiti. Presents the people of Haiti, the religion and rituals of Voodoo, the inclusion of Christian images in the Voodoo worship and the conflict between Christians, Catholics and Voodooists. VHS 3698

Walking the Bible . 2006. 2 videodiscs (ca. 168 min.). One man's journey by foot, jeep, rowboat and camel through the greatest stories ever told: The five books of Moses. From crossing the Red Sea to climbing Mount Sinai, this will change the view of history's most legendary events. DVD 2119

We shall not be moved . 2002. 1 videocassette (60 min.). The American Civil Rights Movement is examined from the perspective of African-American churches which played pivotal roles during this period of United States history. DVD 1482

What is Catholicism? 1984. 3 videocassettes (ca. 257 min.). A nine-session program by theologian Fr. Richard McBrien discussing basic beliefs of Catholicism. He examines how these beliefs developed historically and transformed the Church. VHS 110

A white garment of churches: Romanesque and Gothic art . Art of the western world. 1989. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Examines Romanesque and Gothic churches as evidence of the values of the societies that created them. Shows the effect of monasticism and pilgrimage on Romanesque church architecture. Uses Gislebertus's sculpture at St. Lazare in Autun to show the medieval focus on heaven and the afterlife. The Gothic architecture, sculpture and stained glass at St. Denis and Chartres are discussed as evidence of a new theology and profound social changes during the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. Features experts Paul Crossley, William Clark and Anne Prache. VHS 1094

Wise blood . 1985. 1 videocassette (106 min.). Traces the career of a religious fanatic who attempts to found a church without salvation. While spreading his twisted religious message, he encounters a variety of unsavory would-be followers, one of whom eventually seals his own tragic fate. VHS 3069

With God on our side: George W. Bush & the rise of the Religious Right in America . 2004. 1 videodiscs (ca. 97 min.). "Takes an in-depth look at President Bush's connection with evangelical Christianity ... a parable of the complex ways religion and politics mingle in American life"--Container. DVD 1236

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