“God on Trial” airs on PBS (online through Nov. 16)
Update (May 28, 2012): The film can sometimes be found on YouTube. Search “god on trial ful movie” for results like this: http://youtu.be/f7XCnJBTfZM.
PBS’s “God on Trial” recounts an event that occurred in a concentration camp during World War II. From PBS:
Why is there so much suffering in the world and what kind of God would allow it to happen? Universal questions about faith and philosophy are at the heart of God on Trial, which was inspired by the legend that a group of concentration camp prisoners conducted a mock trial against the Almighty God. From all walks of life, a physicist, a glove maker, rabbis, a law professor and at least one criminal weigh the evidence and offer thoughtful arguments taken from history, science, theology and personal experience. …God on Trial explores unfathomable loss and unshakable faith.
I haven’t watched it yet, but I plan to. From what I’ve read on other Christian blogs, the movie is compelling. It is available online through Nov. 16 at PBS.org (see the “Watch Online” link in the sidebar).
Currently, I am reading Elie Wiesel’s Night with my students (I teach at a public high school). This is a tough topic. Do we, as creatures of God, have a right to question God? I haven’t formed an answer.
Additional background about the trial can be found here: Wiesel: Yes, we really did put God on trial.
Similar Posts:
- TV review: Auschwitz prisoners put God on trial
- (podcast) The Akedah: “The binding of Isaac”
- The Akedah: “The binding of Isaac”
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I tried to watch "God on Trial," but got this message: "Sorry, we only have rights to stream God on Trial to viewers in the US." Living in California, this appears to be some sort of computer glitch. But I did watch the first few segments on YouTube, and it appears to be an engaging drama. In the opening scenes, one of the prisoners complains bitterly about God, only to be rebuked by another who says, "God can hear." That prompts a angry response: "God can hear? He hears? Why doesn't he do anything?" That exchange forms the basis of the subsequent trial. Unfortunately, the episodes on YouTube are not labeled properly, so I was not able to watch much beyond this point.
Mark Adams
11 Nov 08 at 12:55 pm
My Internet issue seems to be isolated to my home service. I watched "God on Trial" at work, and found it to be a remarkable story. I highly recommend viewing it during the free period, or else buying/renting the DVD, which will be released later (January, I believe).
Mark Adams
14 Nov 08 at 3:24 pm