Posted by Jenna Sieker in BOOKLIST: TOP 10 RELIGION VIDEOS OF 2009
Purple State Of Mind
Posted by: John Marks on 11/11/2009 @ 1:50 pm
Here are the top ten religion videos of 2009, according to Booklist, the magazine of the American Library Association. Purple State Of Mind is third from the bottom.
Top 10 Religion Video: 2009.
Beauregard, Sue-Ellen (author).
FEATURE. First published November 15, 2009 (Booklist).
Reviewed over the past two years, these films cover a spectrum of religious topics and issues, from offering advice on how to face death with a Christian outlook to profiling a troubled Catholic parish in Massachusetts and dramatizing a mock trial that debates God’s role in the Holocaust. Choose among these superb titles according to patron demand, interest, and use.
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama. 2007. 85min. Monterey, DVD, $24.95 (9781569943991).
Globe-trotting filmmaker Rick Ray asks the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet 10 questions that spur eloquent answers. Also includes biographical information about His Holiness and background on the fundamental beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism.
Confronting Death: A Christian Approach to the End of Life with Walter Wangerin, Jr. 2008. 60min. Paraclete, DVD, $59.95 (9781557255976).
Author and university lecturer Walter Wangerin Jr. speaks frankly about his cancer and talks about how to face death from a Christian perspective in this compassionate program for viewers facing their own or a loved one’s death.
God on Trial. 2008. 86min. PBS, DVD, $24.95 (9781593758424).
A group of Auschwitz prisoners argue over who is to blame for the Holocaust and God’s role in the extermination of Jews in this powerful drama. Prisoners (including rabbinical scholars and atheists) bring charges against God in a mock trial.
In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick’s Journey of Faith. 2007. 82min. Out of the Blue, DVD, $100.
This documentary recounts the triumphant life and work of Sister Jeannine Gramick, who crusades in support of gay and lesbian Catholics in stark contrast to the religious hierarchy who oppose her work. This emotional program invites follow-up discussion.
Jerusalem: Center of the World. 2009. 2hr. PBS, DVD, $54.95 (0-7936-7025-X).
Hosted by PBS journalist Ray Suarez on location in Jerusalem, this beautifully filmed program traces the history of this holy city that remains the “center of the world” for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Living Goddess. 2008. 87min. Alive Mind, DVD, $129.
Three chosen goddesses considered “living deities in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal” are highlighted in a revealing program that contrasts longstanding religious rituals and citizen unrest, showing how certain religious traditions may be endangered.
Painting Revelation: A Visual Exploration of the Last Book of the Bible. 2007. 44min. Firefly Life, DVD, $15.99.
Artist and teacher Debby Topliff introduces and discusses the last book of the New Testament while standing in front of a large painting depicting 29 scenes from Revelation in beautifully vibrant colors. Excellent for bible study groups and personal viewing.
Purple State of Mind. 2009. 82min. Passion River, DVD, $19.99.
Two men who roomed together in college 25 years ago and now hold opposing beliefs (one is a devout Christian, the other questions the church and its teachings) argue over religious and moral issues in this enlightening program.
Qur’an Contemporary Connections: Jesus to Jehad. 2008. 43min. HOO, DVD, $24.95.
Nine Qur’an scholars are interviewed in this film that provides background on the life of prophet Muhammad, includes information about the Qur’an, and offers insights into the Muslim faith.
Scenes from a Parish. 2009. 85min. Neoflix, DVD, $49.95.
This sensitive documentary explores the meaning of community and the religious, sociocultural, and economic ties that both bind and divide parishioners of a neighborhood Catholic church in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a once flourishing industrial city now facing hard times.
