Christians and Police Corruption in I'M IN LOVE WITH A CHURCH GIRL | Evangelical Films, Part 2 of 3

If you want to directly support me and see this video without ads, check it out at nebula.tv/vide...
Ja Rule was in a Christian movie! And it's real bad! Join me, Maggie Mae Fish, as I discuss "I'm In Love With a Church Girl," and Evangelical financial crimes! Next time: Kirk Cameron in Saving Christmas!
/ maggiemaefish
/ maggiemaefish
ko-fi.com/magg...
/ maggiemaefish
FILM ANALYSIS videos from Maggie: • Maggie Does Media Anal...
Zora's podcast Dopetown 3000: wearecampfire.m...
And I was on an episode that you can hear right here: wearecampfire.m...
References:
I'm In Love With a Church Girl, dir. Steve Race 2013
Fire Proof, dir. Alex Kendrick 2008
Jesus Christ Superstar, dir. Norman Jewison 1973
Robocop, dir. Paul Verhoeven 1987
Starship Troopers, dir. Paul Verhoeven 1997
Showgirls, dir. Paul Verhoeven 1995
Galley Molina story on CBN: www1.cbn.com/7...
San Jose Mercury News on Galley Molina: www.mercurynew...
State Journal-Register on Galley Molina: www.sj-r.com/a...
USA Today on "religious freedom": www.usatoday.c...
Forbes on Church Fraud: www.forbes.com...

[@pkmcburroughs]

"SO...what do you do?" "I own a faith-based products store." "And your boyfriend?" "Oh--he's a drug lord who maintains his criminal empire with the use of violence and murder.-" *(gasp!)* "--annnd he's a Christian." *(big sigh of relief)*

[@angrytheclown801]

And that cop is immediately taken off the case.

[@knate44]

But he's black *gasp* But he's rich! *sigh* But he's from the hood *gasp* But he's living in style now!

[@GeoffBosco]

Her boyfriend should be punished by the entity that maintains its legitimate empire with the use of violence.

[@maxdoubt5219]

Haha! Pkmc, you are a wit!

[@heathenpotato]

"...and she takes him to church. Not the Hozier kind." Then what's even the point??

[@blackedmirror5073]

Like Nebraska?

[@chillytoes1]

thats the sin kind of church, not their kind of church of theft and leaving people hungry and destitute

[@quinnzykir]

My guess. A bash on Lutheran churches

[@domojersak3449]

The Sinead O'Connor kind

[@FractalSpiral1]

I took literally the opposite message from this movie than I think the writers intended: Evangelical Christianity is like the mafia.

[@Duiker36]

Was that... not the message?

[@FractalSpiral1]

@@Duiker36 I thought so, until I found out that it was apparently made by Evangelical propagandists.

[@angrytheclown801]

Prosperity Gospel really is.

[@stefanforrer2573]

@Black Ninja aawww, does the poor evangelical feel insulted?

[@sphealingit222]

"I want a church girl, to go to church, AND READ HER BIBLE"

[@MyssBlewm]

Clearly, the voice of a generation.

[@raycearcher5794]

I want a church girl with a short church and a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong Church

[@Nic33rd]

"I want a Jewish girl that go to temple, AND READ HER TORAH"

[@amad8466]

@@raycearcher5794 im crying

[@wadespencer3623]

@@raycearcher5794 With a short alter and a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong aisle!

[@SarahZ]

I think the most fascinating thing about these evangelical movies (and evangelism in general) is the way it frames Christianity in people as a rare trait deserving of special notice and consideration. The whole 'Christianity is dying' propaganda tactic tends to vastly underestimate the number of actual evangelical Christians, let alone just Christians in general, to frame it as a rarity in need of protecting

[@kajones93]

I think, in their view, 'Christianity is dying' is true, as part of a purity spiral, not viewing others as 'real Christians' if they differ in opinion.

[@odinkiller727]

No you don’t understand. Christianity is “only” over 3 billion people. That’s only like half the planet’s populations and might as well be none of its not the entire planets.

[@ramiel3759]

Like Umberto Eco wrote about fascist spheres,the comtempt for the weak and a obsession with a fake plot:even though 2/4 of the Earth are christians,make a majority of the western population and the christian faith is carved on our culture still "Jesus is mad because people forgot about him"

[@zugabdu1]

I suspect they would say that TRUE Christians are rare and that most people claiming to be Christian don't count. For just one example, it's common for evangelicals to claim Catholics aren't really Christian - that drops the number by about a billion on its own.

[@dirtfriend]

the only difference between a religion and a cult is how many people are in it

[@plantain.1739]

"Last time I checked, style ain't a sin." Then you've clearly never actually checked.

[@danielsantiago4490]

I know right? All I though was "Ain't that vanity? I'm pretty sure the bible has a something to say about that?"

[@edgyspaceunicorn7215]

Daniel Santiago mixing fabric is a sin too. Which a lot of fashion does.

[@ThomasSellers]

Then clearly you shouldn't check into him. And for the record, who is God to judge?

[@palazzo1113]

Jesus was said to have made no reputation of himself. Sounds like an unassuming guy to me.

[@a.p.2356]

Driving a Ferrari isn't even "style" though; it's a conspicuous display of wealth. The entire theme of the New Testament could be boiled down to "hoarding piles of wealth is bad, and spending it on stupid shit like fancy clothes or Italian sports cars instead of giving it to the poor is worse." I'm not sure how the hell anyone would read the Bible and come to the conclusion that a pastor driving a Ferrari isn't a ghoulish parody of the text.

[@dusty2366]

TBH, the premise of "guy who gets rich doing crime becomes an evangelical christian to avoid getting prosecuted and he gets to keep his money" sounds like it would be perfect for a parody of a Christian movie

[@H2OSaborizada7017]

Parody?

[@toracabey93]

I thought that was what this movie was.

[@dusty2366]

@@toracabey93 It is, but I'm saying the premise sounds like would make a better parody than the real one

[@KL-zt6jx]

Except it's not a parody. They made their own parody without realizing it? Subtility is dead. :(

[@TheSongwritingCat]

It's similar to the plot of the show Impastor where Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) is a criminal/gambling addict who stumbles into stealing the identity of a pastor to hide from the cops. Except, at least in the show, he had to impersonate a different person instead of just saying "I'm Christian" to get away with his crimes.

[@awkwardpause9532]

“Executive producer: God”, I can’t

[@M-CH_]

The golden one, with four hooves and horns.

[@Gideon13397]

@@M-CH_ I think that's the devil you're actually describing.

[@DeadmanWalking789]

@@Gideon13397 They're referring to the Golden Calf, the Biblical "False Idol" that Moses found people worshipping after descending the mountain with the Ten Commandments.

[@johnpotts8308]

They are correct: the Bible doesn't say style is a sin. It DOES have a lot to say about the love of money being the root of all evil, how it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, how you should give up everything you have and follow [Jesus], you should not turn the Lord's house into a hideout for thieves... and so on. I guess they just skipped those bits?

[@bm1747]

Right. There's style, and there's conspicuous consumption intended to stroke one's vanity by advertising one's own wealth. What kind of car does he get out of right before saying that, again?

[@nat6098]

They didn't skip them, they just edited them out of their church branded bibles.

[@ThomasSellers]

The Bible DOES say love of money is the root of all evil. The Bible should talk. The Bible DOESN'T mention the SOIL, which is deeper than roots and is more reality based than any verse of the Bible, which is propaganda created for the purpose of controlling others through false teachings and guilt trip psychology. The Bible condemns what it celebrates, SIN, which is necessary and essential to maintain humanity. Thus to wage war on sin is illogical and not reality. I myself escaped Christianity to celebrate sin on my own terms. I am now outlawed from God's kingdom, and currently in the world and of the world. Fair trade.

[@ILikeMints]

the thing is, it does. all the "dressing modestly" talk is actually about not adorning yourself with expensive silks and jewels (essentially, don't spend your money on designer clothes and jewelry, give it to the poor). of course, modesty has been twisted to punish women for having bodies, but disapproving of conspicuous consumption through clothes was its original intent.

[@TheSandyDR]

@@ILikeMints Exactly! Part of what is going on in that passage is that the congregation was multi-class and to show off wealth while worshipping with persons who were poor or even slaves was actively cruel. And it's not just the NT. The Hebrew prophets actually go so far as to compare the rich who get rich through the oppression of the poor to cannibals. (And yes, in other parts of the HB/OT it also celebrates rich people... the Bible is a complicated collection of works)

[@WyattoonsComics]

It’s a shame because the concept is actually pretty good. This could’ve been a really interesting crime drama about a man manipulating religious believers to make money. The film could’ve even had a good message of “hey this is wrong, maybe keep an eye on those people running mega-churches”. But, well... the movie we got was definitely not that.

[@57wookie]

So A modern remake of the music man

[@stefanforrer2573]

@Black Ninja uuuuuh, i'm having my doubts about your assessment of the situation....

[@57wookie]

@wolf masque I'm not criticizing the idea, just making an observation of how I see it

[@MarcillaSmith]

"May I have your attention please? Attention please I can deal with a trouble friends with the sale of my merch, this very merch Please observe me if you will I'm Reverend Harold Hill And I'm here to organize an evangelical church!"

[@LisaJeynd]

I'm European, and for half the video I was genuinely confused, because to me it sounded like a movie denouncing the corruption in the church, the contradiction of the justice system. Halfway through the video it finally clicked in my head that this story is seen as a "the way things are and should be" by the evangelicals!? Oo How!?? Seriously, wtf?

[@workyoutube7798]

This movie has inspired me to sell faith based narcotics, like cross joints, or little bibles full of coke. Seems like a pretty big market for those two things, so combining them should be aces...

[@kitwhitfield7169]

I’ve got your slogan: Lift your spirit HIGH.

[@workyoutube7798]

@@kitwhitfield7169 Welcome to your new career as our marketing exec

[@itbeibitterfly2186]

Can I join your crew, I Don't have any talent but I'm very Christian so I believe I should be entitled to things, praise jeebus

[@workyoutube7798]

@@itbeibitterfly2186 Sounds legit to me lol

[@JapaneseDenim]

I’d buy a bible filled with coke

[@marcuswalters8093]

I legitimately thought she was wearing a choir gown this whole time.

[@davis0730]

same here

[@toddhollen]

Wait, was she not? I thought that was intentional.

[@marcuswalters8093]

@@toddhollen I don't think so, I think it's just a jumper.

[@JustinGrays]

Huh. Same here.

[@vipermad358]

@@marcuswalters8093 “Sweater” for those of us in the states. But I watched Father Ted, and I know about Dougal’s red jumper.

[@LucasBuilds]

God is listed as an executive producer in this movie, but not on this movie's IMDB page. If anything I'm oddly disappointed that IMDB doesn't have a page for god where his sole credit is... this.

[@itbeibitterfly2186]

Even he/she doesn't want to be associated with Ja after Fyrefest

[@manband20]

If you see how many times God was thanked at the Oscars, he'd probably be the third most successful Executive Producer in the history of cinema. His IMDB page would be stacked with winners.

[@herbalgerbil]

As a publisher you might think she'd get thousands of story credits.

[@sigmacademy]

Well, Greta Thunberg has her own IMDB page, so apparently she's popular enough to get on there? ;)

[@sigmacademy]

@@manband20 Weird, because the only things I hear are shoutouts to social issues and movements during interviews at award shows and on stage? :P

[@JacksonBockus]

SJPD: “We’re supporting Christian values!” Also SJPD: “We really really really want to turn undocumented immigrants over to ICE”

[@Silburific]

"What we really support is the Old Testament, "Kill Everyone Who Doesn't Agree With Me" stuff, but 'Christian Values' has a more family-friendly ring to it."

[@TheSandyDR]

@@Silburific It's not necessary to throw the Tanakh/Old Testament under the bus to call out hypocrisy. There plenty of pro-social and economic justice (and explicit protection for the sojourner/foreigner) in the Hebrew Bible.

[@stephsviolin]

@Xyre154 Religion is about following the law, huh? So I guess Jesus was crucified by the Romans and most of his followers ended up in jail and/or executed because they were totally following all the laws and encouraging everyone else to do the same? That's what happens to polite, law-abiding citizens, right? 🤦‍♀️

[@AmberAmber]

Xyre154 I hear you - however 1. I disagree; 2. America is distinctly Anti-Legalities when it serves them. The Criminalisation & Imprisoning of ASYLUM Seekers Wasn't - nor should it ever be AGAIN - a "THING" 'til djt signed it into a law 08/2016 (HELD indefinitely - without logic, & denied basic HUMAN rights like an explanation, an attorney, any sort of a trial, ANY Hint of a release date in sight, nor Amenities which DONT violate Every protection of Human Rights EVER {housed in cages designed for temporarily holding actual criminals in violation of border laws - hence chain link & concrete floors • & not 1ce imagined nor intended to be long-term *Concentration Camps* [YES - THEY ARE *Concentration Camps* - they fit the Legal Definition to a Tee • it's not any exaggeration to refer to them precisely what they are! - WWII Germany had Concentration camps - & also many Death Camps]; they're not long enough to lie down in to sleep on the concrete floors devoid of blankets/mattresses • children torn from their mums [90% are pregnant women, new mums, their babies, & their young kids] & no further contact after, no explanations.•few/NO Spanish speaking guards; no blankets, beds, toothbrushes, soap, proper food/water, no regular bathrooms/hygiene/bathing [if at all], no doctors for those with chronic illness, no regard for the many who've already DIED, no tv, books, movement, exercise, medication, sunlight, contact t with ANYONE in the outside world, and no respect nor caring that these are NON CRIMINALS - THEY'RE TERRIFIED HUMANS who were pushed to Escape Their Homes by Brutality only to discover MORE BRUTALITY}). 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 *ASYLUM* seekers (*ASYLUM* IE. UTTERLY¡¡Desperate!! for ¡¡HELP!!•cos OMG our CITY, our town, our neighborhoods are currently UNLIVEABLE - overrun by DRUG Cartels • 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 Directly caused, no less, by The USA's {Orig. & also Currently driven by greed & racism•&•100%*Unwinnable*•} .☆*WAR*ON*DRUGS*☆.; •CREATING CARTELS • which INCREASE Asylum-Seeking, {AND the anti-drug laws which ARE responsible for creating Cartels? [Keeping in mind that MOST of the drugs trafficked by Cartels are going straight INTO THE USs market for drugs created by an insatiable lust for drugs - addiction created partly but also primarily by deeply unsatisfying sociological systems; cos statistically? There's NO ONE who quite loves TAKING drugs .•°°•. nor REALLY any other country who systemically continues to target Young Unarned Black Males just for existing whilst Black ▪︎& hence, are being subjected to the ongoing senseless mind-blowingly frequent *Being Murdered by, "I-was-Scared-for-my-life", Cops• quite as much as the USA] - ■WELL, The USAs BRAIN TUMOUR of a PRESIDENT has just recently re-INCREASED Drug Crime PENALTIES & thus AGAIN Increasing the Sociological conditions - & its most common response - to all things made inexplicably but EXTREMELY illegal ■ [like doing drugs or drinking- neither one should be illegal-nonetheless 1 is; de-criminalising drugs means more money spent on prevention of & the learning about addiction]■the activities INCREASE •aka.• MORE CARTELS•■} & WARONDRUGS ? It's Hemorrhaging tax Dollars like a slashed carotid artery}) 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 Anyhow - Asylum Seekers who weren't caged cos luckily they were granted asylum by places who've NOT made being desperate for life-saving help criminal -, All Legitimate Data Collected by Actual Journalists, & reports made by anon-cartel escapees, National Geographic Magazine, etc... The cartels are slaughtering without any rhyme/reason; leaving Human HEADS - Parents Heads - ON SPIKES out in front of schools & shopping centers...; are Raping, Killing, burning Alive, Kidnapping, & Torturing, & BURNING HOMES WITH the innocent families ASLEEP INSIDE •Regularly & DAILY • These are the people being kept in cages, & being wrongfully imprisoned maligned. They're not coming here to try to be American - they have NO OTHER OPTIONS - And when it comes to saving our kids? We will DO ANYTHING.

[@NiGHTSIntoMemes]

@Xyre154 You're aware that Jesus broke the law himself, right? That just because something is the law doesn't mean it's right or moral? That the people being put into these camps are trying to get in legally, not trying to sneak in like people have been assuming? Basing your morals on what's legal or not will just end up with your morals constantly changing, because the law is constantly changing. It's inhumane and outright malicious, how these people are being treated. Even if this was what the law said to do, that doesn't make it right, to jail these people for an undefined period of time, with no blankets or clean water or food or medical care. Pregnant women in these camps have had miscarriage upon miscarriage. Children are malnourished or sent off to be adopted by an American couple when their actual parents are *still alive.* This isn't okay, no matter what the law says.

[@ArcaJ]

God: "I'm taking my name off of this production."

[@naftalibendavid]

Alan God Smythee

[@pkmcburroughs]

"What the--? What are you doing?" "I'm double-crossing you, taking all the money for myself, and then shooting you in the face." "But--I thought you were a CHRISTIAN!" "I am," thumbs back the hammer, "so when you meet Jesus, tell Him I said 'hi.'" A Christian cop and his task force watch from afar. "Nothing to see here, boys. Let's pack it in." A gunshot rings out.

[@jessiescott7795]

Missed opportunity with "double-crossed". "I'm double-crossing you... and that's like Jesus². So even if I sin, m̶u̶l̶t̶i̶p̶l̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶ ̶n̶u̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶a̶l̶w̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ having faith means I'm forgiven. Now d̶i̶e̶,̶ ̶m̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶f̶u̶c̶k̶e̶r̶ praise the lord so you may enter heaven."

[@handarule]

Imagine how differently this story would go if it was I Fell In Love With A Mosque Girl. I wonder what Steven Baldwin's police dept would do then lol

[@sianais]

Well, the sequel might be called "Finding My Love in Guantanamo".

[@turtleboy1188]

They wouldn't do anything

[@burningmisery]

@@turtleboy1188 Nah, police in the US usualky treat black & brown ppl the same as whites.... NOT.

[@jackzimmy8461]

Talking of Stephen, did anyone else notice Michael Madsen? Poor guy. Imagine playing second fiddle to the Lesser Baldwin twenty years after Reservoir Dogs

[@williama3600]

Maggie Mae would not have done any video about it. Hitting on Christians is easy and requires no courage.

[@chibisven]

As a recovering Evangelical (I promise I'll never do it again) I can confirm 2 things: 1 everything you covered absolutely happens and 2 those doing it are absolutely not self aware, they genuinely attribute their transgressions to the mighty space wizard. Your takedown of this movie illustrates the amazing thing about art and criticism though. Art shows more than the author intended and creates a medium for critique and deconstruction without necessarily attacking a person. The teenager who's watching this video while still going church with their family will now have specific behaviors to notice and steer away from without the critique being pointed towards that teen who likely hasn't done anything worse than a little incognito mode browsing while mom's at her "women's group". Loved the video-essay. I always appreciate a well reasoned and educated interpretation that comes from a different perspective than mine.

[@zokontech]

I only know them from anime, but isn’t greed a sin?

[@thewhat531]

Zander Krasny there is no such thing as 'sin'.

[@pronoydutta614]

Fullmetal alchemist is my Bible also

[@angrytheclown801]

So is Pride, which we see from Ferrari boy.

[@johnrankin7135]

@@thewhat531 why do we have a word for a concept that doesn't exist?

[@psi9899]

@@johnrankin7135 We have a word for unicorns. They don't exist.

[@DR-vf9tr]

"While the movie is called 'I'm in Love with a Church Girl', it has very little to do with love, or church, or the titular girl." 😂😂😂

[@krixkhaos]

When you said, "ItS mY fAitH," I realised who you remind me of: Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian. Also, "In remembrance of me, eat the rich" - that was just... * chef kiss *

[@TheStupidrule]

That delivery on "carry his seeeed" was so perfect that I want it as a ringtone. Except also not, because that's gonna get awkward in public. Especially because I'd burst into laughter every time.

[@Iamjustherek]

“Eat the rich.” -Jesus Christ, 2019

[@cryofpaine]

I think that's a valid modernization of 1 Timothy 6:10.

[@moredetonation3755]

Jesus says "Fuck the Police, but not, like, in an extramarital way"

[@FaiaHalo]

Boy also asked enslaved human beings to "obey their earthly masters" (Ephesians 6:5) soooo...

[@alejandrokaplan7243]

@@cryofpaine you mean the verse which states that it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven

[@cryofpaine]

@@alejandrokaplan7243 similar in spirit, but this is the one that says love of money is the root of all evil.

[@sepulchrums]

The whole “protecting the Christians” thing is happening at a local university that I was planning to go to. They allowed this organization to preach over the intercom and were just causally being homophobic. Not to mention, they apparently have a history of telling people to convert, made a game where they pretended to “baptize” an “atheist”. But the university won’t allow band members for example, to practice their instruments outside when they only have like 20 practice rooms.

[@lloroshastar6347]

Ironic really that these same people try to blame University for 'poisoning the mind of our youth'. All debate is open but those 'poor oppressed Christians' get special privileges nobody else gets.

[@teethgrinder83]

@@lloroshastar6347 Gotta dumb down the youth as much as possible if your going to rip them off and strip them of any of their potential. Honestly this current era of anti-intellectualism (because this isn't the first time of course) worries me more than any other time due to the ease they can spread their rubbish using the internet whereas before you had to get out there and knock on doors or use the radio or TV (and TV was/is pretty expensive for people getting started on their scams) but now it's as simple as setting up a YT channel. Just last night I was watching a YT vid where a Phd student studying classics (who cited all her sources and basically did all the things you should be doing when you want to be taken seriously as well as imploring her viewers not to just take her word for the things she talked about but to look up other reputable sources) was talking about this tiktoker who is seriously trying to get people to believe the Roman empire was NEVER A THING and it was made up by Spanish Catholic monks in the 1500s for some reason I don't understand as well as the British Victorians and Russian tsars I think too-her "ideas" are a bit of a mess frankly and I'm not sure of her motivations although I think they are partly religious based since she seemed to have a disdain for Atheists and I don't think it's a coincidence her conspiracy starts just around the time the Protestant reformation was beginning (and she seemed cool with Protestants compared to Catholics) as well as the fact Russia is obviously Orthodox Christian-im just not sure why she had a bone to pick with the British Victorians which is why her motives aren't entirely clear. But apparently it was all Greece and not Rome in any way and it seems a fair lot of people are eating up her nonsense and it worries me as we've seen in the past, especially in the last 100 year or so how people in power have manipulated the classical era for themselves (Mussolini and his Fascists immediately spring to mind and that's just 1 group) and now we have random people on the internet doing kinda the same thing for reasons I'm unsure of but it's clearly not good reasons. I'll go find a link for the vid in case your at all interested as I'm awful at explaining things sometimes, even more so on a Sunday and I'm hungover lol Edit-just type in Lady of the Library and her video which says "tiktok conspiracy theory:Rome never existed? A Classicist reacts. Like I said I can be terrible at explaining but I think it's definitely worth a watch if your at all interested, even if just the title intrigues you

[@QuinnsIdeas]

lol I died when cinderella by the cheetah girls started playing

[@nicoleshan6410]

We all did. ❤️

[@branflakesbud]

“And Steven Baldwin” Oh this can’t not be a masterpiece

[@tleilaxu42]

"Next time: Kirk Cameron in Saving Christmas!" You're going to need a lot of energy to get through it. May I suggest Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas Blend Coffee... which, to my horror, ACTUALLY EXISTED.

[@adeer87]

tleilaxu42 Seriously? How can that movie advertise a drink of all things, since Kirk clearly never drinks anything out of those _obviously empty mugs?!_

[@kayhaven4710]

tleilaxu42 thanks I’m gonna go check it out. Maybe I’ll be able to buy some!

[@AutumnintheNorth]

Which is somehow worse than Alex's Jones' WAKE UP, AMERICA!! Coffee, an actual brand of coffee grounds that exists in the world.

[@adeer87]

Xyre154 That would actually be amazing lol.

[@rebeccacrow9013]

I'm scared to find out how the church I grew up in distributed their money, because money didn't end up where you would expect. They're in decline currently, but during their heyday, they were notorious for manipulating church members into providing services they should hire someone to do professionally. I recently found out they guilt tripped my dad into rewiring the entire church years ago and have pestered and pestered him into providing computer services for free for my entire life, and yet my parents are giving them money still, even though they're not attending there. My dad hasn't seen a penny of that back, even when he was unemployed for a period of time. Additionally, the music director for the church came down with some major health problems that prevented him from doing his job. Simultaneously, the church was having "money troubles." So, instead of the pastor and other staff trying to be charitable and giving him money to support him, they essentially fired him. And then magically they had enough money to remodel the church six months later, but they had to beg people to give them more money to give the kicked out music director money as a Christmas present. WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM, AND WHERE IS IT GOING??

[@MaggieMaeFish]

holy moly that's awful!

[@sigmacademy]

I can relate with church horror stories. Everything from the scribe helping herself to food and clothes meant for the poor, to a pastor who wanted free paint and labor from church members (who were working class people) to paint a house that the church was providing for free to him, to general discrimination against non-whites and alternative lifestyles who wanted to be part of the church, to a ban on female pastors, to money being spent on only "certain" church member cliques, to food passed from the food bank to alcoholics who would spend their money on booze and go and get food from the church, to collectors who would comment on how you didn't need some things in your home (like mags my mom got for free from someone else) and could have given that money to the church, and a gossip grapevine that would dwarf many others, usually centered on not being chic enough in a clothing-sense for "church" or scandals of the week, or pastor home visits that only happened once a year for less than 10 minutes, or no visits to my parent in the hospital, even when that person had cancer (currently in remission). And that is only the tip of the iceberg. Needless to say, haven't been to a church in years and living my life way more spiritually than I ever did inside a building which only existed as an income for some. :)

[@brokenroot7337]

I find it hilarious that Michael Madsen is in this movie. He has like 10 kids and will take literally any role that pays a half way decent amount.

[@loveoffthedamned]

As a weirdo with a niche interest in American Christploitation, I just want to say thank you so much. Finally, there is a youtuber who does videos on this topic and isn`t involved with a dubious company!

[@MichaelBreen.]

I'd recommend Renegade Cut, another channel that does analysis on Christianity in pop culture.

[@RisingRecluse]

Big Joel also covers Christian movies.

[@loveoffthedamned]

@@RisingRecluse Thank you! I`ll check it out

[@loveoffthedamned]

@@MichaelBreen. oh I forgot here for a minute about him. He`s great. I also enjoy God Awful Movies podcast. They can be a bit too much with their jokes for my taste but their Fireproof episode is absolutely hilarious

[@JohnSmith-ot4hq]

Check out hugo and Jake too

[@steelstringd2018]

Maggie the way you said "...carry his seed" made my body flinch in pain. You are too powerful.

[@zellynmermaid9326]

“The Bible didn’t say anything about style being a sin” Except that it does. Except that it does a lot of times in a lot of ways. Except that Jesus does, a lot of times in a lot of ways.

[@PrincessKLS]

Rosellyn Lindert Yes, the Bible is the reason women get shamed for their clothing.

[@moustik31]

@@PrincessKLS and jewellery. hands off my earrings Xtians!

[@rikitiu369]

PrincessKLS no it doesn’t. Greed is a sin but not style

[@SorowFame]

@@rikitiu369 the eight deadly sins: Pride, Lust, Wrath, Sloth, Envy, Greed, Gluttony and Style. That said I’m willing to bet that guy is guilty of Greed at the very least

[@NA-ys9ib]

That "debate me" burn. So satisfying.

[@geoffreypeterson8903]

BOLD move giving God an Executive Producer credit.

[@ChuckEllis]

As a disillusioned historically evangelical Christian, I love these. Please never stop making them.

[@RumtumtuggerTB]

Some days I just wanna give you a hug. The mental torture you put yourself through by watching these films that are roughly equivalent to 3 weeks of waterboarding at Gitmo, is the height of modern martyrdom. We thank you for your service Maggie

[@DAndyLord]

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this whole "Christians love serving the Lord" crap. I know a lot of Christians, and not a single one cares to serve me. Believe me, I've done my research.

[@MarcillaSmith]

Oh, right, so I guess you think you're :: checks name :: ...

[@kidd32888]

Ur just a Lord and not DA LORD

[@DAndyLord]

@@kidd32888 My initials are DA and my last name is Lord. I really am DA Lord. Not kidding.

[@bobshankar]

My mom grew up with the “church girl” that this story is based on, and this movie has always been a joke in my household 😂🤣 she’s gonna love this video

[@Desi-qw9fc]

Oh gosh, I was just wondering when your next Christian movie thing would come out!

[@michaelm.3694]

"Christ rules everything around me, dollar, dollar bill, Y'all

[@jblue1622]

CREAM, get holy**

[@dangerouslydubiousdoubleda9821]

Wu Tang is for the kids not capitalism

[@r.p.4756]

That Sonic doll in the background makes me anticipate a Sonic 2019 X Christianity review coming up.

[@fionatastic0.070]

R. P. I will only accept it if it is reviewed along the lines of Brian David Gilbert’s Sonic Bible

[@LivingEncyclopedia]

They played Fireproof for a group of kids aged 5-15 at a lock-in at my childhood church

[@adeer87]

“In remembrance of me, eat the rich.” ~Jesus, 2019 Edit: I cannot wait until you review Saving Christmas!

[@sigmacademy]

No wonder cannibalism has been such a hot topic this year?

[@adeer87]

Marinus van Zyl Oh, it’s all coming together now!

[@roberteriksen6434]

The ending reminded me of how counterculture often becomes swallowed by the status-quo-culture to support the status quo. Christianity might just be the best example of that, and i never even thought about it !

[@lloroshastar6347]

The far right does the same thing. Many people aren't even aware that the Skinhead counter-culture movement was founded by working class people of different ethnicities, including white and black, and was by and large a celebration of black music such as reggae. Then white supremacists came along and made Skinhead culture all about, well, white supremacy. In fact its very hard to find anything culturally invented by the far right, they co-op almost everything.

[@snarthelg]

once in a while the youtube algorithm shows me the best youtube has to offer instead of the absolute worst, this was one of those times. subscribed

[@m0L3ify]

"open up your own faith-based franchise" = join the MLM 😂

[@ethal1222]

What you never want to hear your significant other say... "We need to talk." What you never want to hear ANYONE say... "We need to talk about Stephen Baldwin."

[@ironwolf56]

Was it intentional you wore a shirt that looks like a choir robe on the video or just coincidence?

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

It took me about 5 minutes to realize it wasn’t 😂

[@satelliteflash]

"It's my faith..." might become one of my favorite sarcastic catchphrases now.

[@bluebat7496]

Kenneth Copleland looks like he is trying to zap that reporter with Force Lightning like Emperor Palpatine.

[@1000huzzahs]

I only have one qualm with your final thesis: Jewish Priestly establishment of the day was definitely NOT analogous to the Catholic Church. The Roman government had its boot on their neck pretty much the whole time, except for like 3 years when the Temple didn't even exist and then it was just one sect of zealots. Plus, the Pharisees of the day (the REAL ones, not the warped caricatures in the Christian Gospels) were hard side-eyeing the priesthood for precisely the reasons mentioned, and used everyday personal ritual in public and private life to oppose Temple-centric practice and hegemony. And when the Temple and Priesthood were obliterated? Guess who stuck around long enough to become the Judaism we know and practice today!

[@MaggieMaeFish]

We definitely had to flatten history to fit it into this short video. I hope it's clear that we mean the historical bits as a jumping off point, not as a end-all be-all explainer on Judaism in 33 CE. Even the part about Martin Luther becomes incorrect in Luther's later years. He became extremely authoritarian!

[@Devimon4000]

@@MaggieMaeFish It's still positioning the elites who Christianity bravely stood up to as Jews not the actual people with power, add that to following praise for Martin Luther who was a massive antisemitic the whole time, made the end of the video very uncomfortable watching,

[@MarcillaSmith]

*_Karaite Jews have entered the chat_*

[@josef2012]

Also,no one really cares.

[@TheNicoleRoo]

"Executive Producer: God" is the funiest thing I've seen in a while

[@NaramSinofAkkad790]

I'm so excited for 12 hours of Ja Rule explains what an echo is.

[@edisonlima4647]

These reviews are filling the void left in my playlist when a certain bald guy went on a public interview to claim that everyone who complained about being treated like crap, abused and sexually harrased by a certain nostalgic company was either lying or crazy.

[@The_Drewid]

How long until Maggie slips into the niche of only reviewing Christian movies?

[@MaggieMaeFish]

NEVER!! But I'll always come back to it once in a while haha.

[@reaganbartels9993]

SayGoodnightMaggie... I'd watch it

[@drakkarlogan9070]

@@MaggieMaeFish Crossover with Cinema Snob? :D

[@Ellieescent]

After watching the Righteous Gemstones, these videos hit even harder. The pure, unadulterated materialism is wild. Great video!

[@josef2012]

Praise Joel Osteen!

[@62LeftyBlues]

I like how your sweater looks like a choir gown. Really ties into the whole church story thing LOL

[@Just-in-Spenc]

Now I have the face to match up with all the voice overs you done on other channels. 😆

[@margodaniels1682]

"In remembrance of me, eat the rich!" I've never hit the subscribe button faster.

[@brokengirlsrus]

"In rememberance of me, eat the rich." Right on Jesus

[@Spookybluelights]

Was this ACTUALLY filmed in San Jose? I’m from San Jose and I don’t recognize a single outdoor shot in this. I’m sure the city lent them patrol cars less for religious reasons but because this movie makes the San Jose police seem more like an actual police department and not a frat house.

[@curiousworld7912]

As someone who tries to follow the teachings of Jesus, and professes to be a Christian; I find these 'Christian' films abhorrent, fraudulent and depressing. There is nothing I've found in any of these movies that Jesus himself would even faintly recognize as an understanding of either his teachings or his principles. God help us all...

[@angrytheclown801]

When Full Metal Alchemist understands these sins are things to be avoided better than Christian Propaganda films you know it's a treat.

[@SgtKaneGunlock]

@@angrytheclown801 Freaking Preacher understands Christianity better than these films

[@weatheranddarkness]

alwayshasbeen.jpg

[@se9865]

I know when I see a repair or contractor van with a Jesus fish painted into their business logo I always avoid them.

[@Desi-qw9fc]

S E “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall drive like shit.”

[@CultOfNothoon]

@@Desi-qw9fc I'm dead.

[@josef2012]

🤘

[@aforcemorepowerful]

Absolutely love the way you use the "music was horrible, the service was gloomy" clip as a motif whenever the Fyre festival comes up.

[@Where_is_Waldo]

15:24 I've always hated and ranted about this. My christian relatives argue that it's charity, I say charities still report their expenses to prove they're not fraudulent and evangelism isn't charity.

[@kenirainseeker539]

Aint nothing charitable about poor people giving rich people money for free

[@Gamingderpmonglers]

Ma'am, you randomly appeared in my recommendations criticizing films AND Christianity. This is the best freaking thing to happen!!! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO

[@mmarrrow]

"He doesn't confront the fact that his [...] actions were wrong. [...] He's never encouraged or expected to make amends for his crimes." That's just the whole Evangelical vibe, so perfectly summed up in a handful of sentences. Literally who cares how terrible you are to others, as long as you have ~~faith~~, you can do whatever you want

[@sandraplascebo]

Executive producer: God? What happened to "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"? Has that commandment been repealed?

[@lloroshastar6347]

They found a new God here on Earth, he is totally antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and therefore a perfect candidate for the new 'God' of the evangelical organisation. He was even signing bibles at his rallies. He blames all things on minorities which is much better than that pesky God fella in the bible who 'forgives', why forgive when you can 'stick it to the libtards'.

[@stevenklnes7148]

Maggie Mae Fish is simply wonderful and I absolutely love these analysis videos. We need more of this level of thought in society.

[@crittermoded]

absolutely crying at "EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: GOD"

[@rachelm3326]

Here in Brazil there are many criminals in jail serving sentences who start repenting in the name of God and suddenly they are seen as "changed"people and get some "good behaviour" benefits. One of our most famous cases was Pedrinho Matador, who became a KZbinr that gives some godly discourse in the videos. I am not doubting the guy got better, nor I believed it blindly, but it is a very curious phenomenon to me. Edit: I had to edit things I saw because of beer. Maybe grammar errors but pfff.

[@madhatt3r93]

Ja rule wishes he was fyre-proof lmao

[@zeggai1986]

I cannot stress enough how this video is competent and funny.

[@nayannmartinelli300]

Right at 0:53: The way Maggie says "wonderful gem" is just delightful :)

[@caithenry8429]

If you made a shirt with "commodify your faith!" I would buy it and never take it off

[@Hipplofwrld]

Thanks for making this video. I grew up in a church setting that worshiped these films and followed those teachings. Your analysis is SPOT ON. Plz keep it up 👍🏽

[@jons787]

In the fight between Jesus and the money-changers outside the temple, the money-changers ultimately won.

[@misterkevinoh]

The Pureflix ad before your vid’s crack me up. THEY KNOW WHAT YOURE DOING

[@dildonius]

Holy shit I literally forgot that The Cheetah Girls existed until RIGHT NOW! D:

[@OpiatesAndTits]

Where was this channel all my life?! And how did I not know I needed it?

[@puffymagu]

He looks like a toddler wearing his dad's suit.

[@BrutalSnuggles]

The executive produced by God was a solid move on their part. I've argued with so many people that people wrote the Bible and they just say "no, God did" Religious people are adults that believe in Santa Claus

[@JusticeChrist]

Someone once told me that God was gonna roll me.

[@weatheranddarkness]

she was lookin kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb, in the shape of a fish on her forehead

[@juniperbelmont]

The high res image of Michael Pence at 21:27 literally scares me.

[@KurKiriKuru]

Wow got a lil triggered by that Not Of This World logo. Damn I forgot what an edgy Evangelical I was!

[@TheNotoriousBTG]

As soon as I noticed that was a shop in a mall, I knew it was C28 then I saw the Notw, and my suspicion was confirmed.

[@DoriGaga]

gotta love that the same people who will tell you saying "oh my God" is taking the lord's name in vain will ALSO put God as the executive producer of their movie... which is LITERALLY what taking God's name in vain actually means... stating your own opinion and claiming it's the word of God. These hypocrites, I tell ya

[@kenirainseeker539]

Yeah if I were a Christian that would piss me off. Like, how dare you presume to know god's opinion on your movie?

[@LivKidula]

"CHRIST-LIKE THEMED"

[@creatrixZBD]

Olivia Kidula srsly, that DID my head in! 🤷🏽‍♀️🙄

[@RealLukeWilson]

I once sat in on a service at a friend’s church where the preacher gave a sermon about how “the eye of the needle” was the name of an entrance to some old holy city, and since camels were the primary source of travel back then, “it’s actually not all that hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.” Astounding.

[@markwilliams2620]

The story is a camel can get through the Eye of a Needle (a gate) by crawling through on its knees. By humbling yourself you can keep your wealth and get to Heaven. Knowing what I know about camels, I can just see a bunch of pi$$ed off idealists trying to get an angry, stubborn camel out of the gate.

[@RealLukeWilson]

@@markwilliams2620 Ahh thanks for clarifying! That was a sermon I heard about 9 years ago, so I obviously forgot some of the details. You're right though, I can't imagine you'd get a camel through that without incapacitating it and severely hurting yourself, so I guess the principle still stands. Unless the wealthy can get into heaven by being sadistic and cruel?

[@danyoung7247]

Smashed it Mags, ya vids got me punching the air shoutin' "Go Maggie!"

[@ethanault909]

So I do have a serious question if anyone feels like explaining it to me. This is the second time that I've heard Maggie reference Jesus being anti-materialism and anti-authority. I come from a religious background and thus read the Bible multiple times in my youth (Although no longer subscribe to it), so I know exactly what she means with the anti-materialism part, but I don't remember as much anti-authority in his teaching. Indeed, from what I remember he seemed relatively passive and non-confrontational toward the Roman Empire specifically ("Render unto Caesar" - yadda yadda) and power structures in general. So I'm just genuinely curious about where the perception - real or otherwise - that he was anti-authority came from.

[@adelaidedupont9017]

When Jesus was 12 years old he went to the Temple and later on he turned heels on it. Look in the Gospels... A lot of Christians will tell you - his passivity and nonconfrontational attitude WAS his radicalism.

[@Indiegirl007]

These movies are the literal definition of propaganda.

[@ModernConversations]

It’s like The Room. It is set in a universe where every character is obsessed with what the writer/director is obsessed with.

[@MojoSojoJojo]

I have been waiting for someone to talk about this film and confirm that it wasn't just a fever dream I had in which my auntie makes me watch this incredibly ridiculous movie! Thank you!

[@VideoCesar07]

Yeah, that has been in line with many of my experiences. Seems like people have not learned their lessons from Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart. It amazes me how many people who attend church are barely making ends meet yet give their weekly tithe while some of the pastors are driving luxury cars and live in gated communities. The one thing that stood out was how you mentioned that if you say the G word or go to church then many of the same churchgoers will categorize you as a good person no matter how you behave. It made my head hurt how often some celebrity or other figure would just say "I thank God...." and people would say "You see!? He/She's a hardcore christian!" It really is a scam. No taxes, billions of dollars taken from people with practically no benefit to the community but to build churches that rival anything on MTV Cribs and living a lavish lifestyle. That said I have my own faith and belief, I just don't go to a fancy building or throw my money away to prove it. Thanks MMF!!!

[@daffyphack]

Me: *playing video games while listening to the video* Maggie: "In his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Paul Verhoeven..." Me: O.O

[@mwihaki.wanjoroge635]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@CanuckMonkey13]

Wow, I think this might be a new record? Less than a minute into this video and I am already compelled to give it a like. Maggie Mae, you are an absolute gem and I can't wait to watch the rest of this video!

[@EmilyRitcheson]

I came here expecting an awkward Christian romcom with a former Cheetah Girl. What I got was...a heck of a whole lot more.

[@tinycrimester]

This movie feels like a confession. I love it when people I despise spell out the reasons why themselves for me to reference in conversation.

[@__Andrew]

"Last time i read the bible, it said nothing about style being a sin" That's like 1/3 of Leviticus lol.