GOD’S NOT DEAD 2

US, 2016, 120 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, Pat Boone, David A.R. White, Benjamin A. Onyang, Ray Wise, Hayley Orrontia, Robin Givens, Trish Lafarche, Paul Kwo, Fred Dalton Thompson.
Directed by Harold Cronk.


In 2014, the Faith-film, God is Not Dead, received a worldwide release. In more recent years, Faith-films, produced in the United States, have shown expertise in craft and have become big box office there. Beyond the United States (or, within different states in the US) these films play to their target audiences, those with Bible-based Christianity, relying on literal interpretation, and at least to that extent fundamentalist.

These communities have come to the fore during 2016, especially with the campaigning for the US presidency. There has often been quite some conflict between these religious groups and “secular” groups in terms of moral issues, especially abortion, homosexuality, same-sex unions. In fact, these issues are not brought up in this film which presents the Christians as committed, fervent, prepared to protest and campaign for their faith.

The original film centred on a university course and intellectual and philosophical debates about God and the proofs for the existence of God as well as of faith. Audiences, fundamentalist or not, who are interested in such proofs found the film of interest. But, it is the type of film, with its proof-dialogue, which is quickly dismissed by those of a more atheistic disposition. The conclusion was that God was not dead. It was a subplot involving a journalist who lacked faith but who discovered she had cancer and who prayed and was healed. A Christian music group, the Newsboys, also featured.

The journalist healed from cancer and The Newsboys are back in the sequel. This time it is not an intellectual debate – although a great deal of time is given to the proof of the existence of the historical Jesus. This time the centre of the film is a court case.

Television star, Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina) is a faith-committed teacher at a local school. She is supported by her grandfather whom she cares for – Pat Boone, at 82, still proving himself evangelical (with some good one-liners: for instance, atheists destroy but they don’t destroy the pain). At school, she answers a question about the teaching of Martin Luther King and that of Gandhi and quotes the Gospel sermon on the Mount on nonviolence. She is reported to the principal (Robin Givens) and called before the school board who tells her that she has broken the law, proselytising in the classroom.

The parents of the girl who raised the issue are secular and take the teacher to court. She is allotted a lawyer, Jesse Metcalfe, who wanted to apologise so that everything is over and done with. She is committed to her cause, suffers a great deal during the case, especially with the always sinister -looking prosecutor, Ray Wise and even a final ordeal from her own lawyer. The judge, Ernie Hudson, is not particularly sympathetic.

To non-American eyes, the case seems somewhat silly, it being evident that this was a history class, a history question was answered with history reference irrespective of the faith commitment of the teacher. However, those against the teacher, protesting outside aggressively, media person0alities critical, are portrayed as self-righteous and intolerant. Young people support the teacher. She is shown to be willing to be a martyr for her faith and commitment to Jesus as her personal saviour.

With the issue, the possibility for featured to refer to religion, to religious teaching, in a school is something that most people would happily tolerate taught The other issues in the moral area have led to what could be labelled as viciousness on both sides. This is not part of the screenplay is. hostile critics of this film are quick to point out that Christians can be vicious and intolerant in their protests of bringing the literal Bible passages to bear on moral issues.

The film was quite emotional – on both sides, but involving its audience in the Christian cause and for religious freedom. As with the first film, there is an emotional rally climax with a song by The Newsboys.

The setting is Arkansas. At one stage the Christian pastors are ordered by law to submit the texts of all their sermons for the previous three months. One pastor who has featured in each film, with his own name, David A. R. White, has refused and an epilogue to the film has his arrest – and the potential for God’s Not Dead 3.



1. The title? Evocation? For faith-audiences? Non-faith audiences?

2. The target for the film, Christians, Bible-based Christians? The impact for Christians less fundamentalist?

3. The original film, a debate about God, the proofs of the existence of God, atheistic characters, student characters, professors? The theme of healing and prayer? The choir and the Newsboys?

4. This film and its focus, the right of Christians to proclaim their faith, court case, the challenge to faith?

5. American law, separation of church and state? Rights to faith and expression of faith? Hostilities to faith, Christianity? Assertion of faith? Secular opposition? Antagonism towards Christians, in the law, the media?

6. The film not taking up moral issues and their controversies, the strong stances on either side? But the film presupposing faith rights? The role of proselytising, contexts for proselytising? Sharing faith? In schools, outside schools? The role of sermons?

7. The character of Grace, Melissa Joan Hart (and her role as Sabrina)? Teacher, her age, looking after her grandfather, the bond between them? At school, friendly, the other teachers? Teaching history? Empathy for students, the meeting with Brooke? Professing her faith in Jesus as personal saviour? The class topic, quoting Martin Luther King, discussing Gundy, principles of non-violence? The reference to the gospel, Grace quoting the text? Brooks family,

8. Brook's family, secular parents, and wishes, the dead son, Brooke and her grief, wanting time with her brother, moving the boxes, the gift of the Bible, the markers, her reading it, the getting to know her brother, the surprise about his Christianity? The parents and their suing grace?

9. The complaint, the meeting with the school principal, a strong stances? Grace called before the Board, their hostility? The union advocate with her? The later testimony in court, the criticisms of the principal? The criticisms of the union advocate, saying that Grace was always talking about her faith and asked to give specific instances? Grace asserting his stance? Supported by her grandfather?

10. Pat Boone is the grandfather, his religious history? His comment about the first human right being to know the right to know Jesus? His comment about atheism taking away hope but not the pain? His comment when Grace was finding faith and prayer hard – the fact that God seems distant, and his comment that during a test, the teacher keeps quiet, leaving the student to respond?

11. The appointment of the lawyer, his age and experience, ambitions, not wanting the case, discussions with Grace? Suggesting she make an apology? Wanting everything to go? Her refusal? Is been conscientious, this cross examination of the witnesses, the judge rebuking him for going too far? Grace wanting Brooke to take the stand, the prosecutor twisting Brooke’s remarks? Lawyer and is reading the books, the issue of history, quoting Jesus as a historical character, the witnesses and their testimony about the historicity of Jesus, non-Christian references? This final stunt, challenging grace, coming down hard, her reaction, on the whole court?

12. The prosecutor, a sinister smile, his confidence, his team, the cross examinations? His comments on Grace’s lawyer and his look, the shoes?

13. The stances of the judge – and generally not sympathetic to grace?

14. Pastor White, from the previous film, his work as a pastor? Martin writing, from the previous film, his range of questions? Martin and his Christian beliefs, wanting to be a minister, to return to his own country, his father coming and denouncing him? Martin the church, being asked questions by Brooke? The pastor and his friendship with dude, from Africa? The bond between them? The pastor and is being called for jury service, listening attentively, his collapse, in hospital? The pastors and their saying they had to hand in their sermons from the last three months, the law, his going to the office, is envelope of refusal?

15. The effect on Brooke, her friends, their protests?

16. The News boys, the woman who is cured, contact with her, her coming to the court, the discussions, the stances, with the media?

17. The effect on grace? Protests in support of her? The chant that God was not dead?

18. The News boys, the concert, asking everybody to pray?

19. The jury, the young Christian girl on the jury, listening to the lawyers outburst? Grace innocent?

20. The defence of the rights of the Christians? The touches of demonising the secular opposition, secular despotism? The issues between teaching and preaching?

21. The historicity of Jesus – literal Bible studies, seeing the Gospels as forensic documents? Especially with the eye example of Jesus before and this and no reference to Isaiah 50 and it’s been the fulfilment of that recap servant text?

22. The overall effect of the film? The rights of Christians? Of the still further question about the rights of the pastors and their sermons? In the film not including the rather harsh stances on sexual and moral issues?