The Christerion Collection Ep. 2 – Facing the Giants

Since the film is only 1hr52min, the other 8 minutes is snatches of the Manitowac minute on YT. That’s right. I’m from Wisconsin too, you dirty dog. 🧀

Nolan

There’s a revival happening Patreon

Nolan

Y'all HAVE to do Courageous and Fireproof, I think you'll enjoy Fireproof especially

KingRacer97

This is a great podcast

Thomas Jones

Made me think of growing up in a small Southwestern Louisiana town and having southern Baptist tell me I’m going to hell cause I went to a Methodist church.

Marshall Richard

I think faith and sports are so intertwined because it’s essentially bread and circus right? Gotta keep people from realizing how shitty it’s getting right?

Shortbus Thug

The clip of the kid crawling came up for me the other day and they had music playing the whole time and it was better that way

Quantum OFZENTRIX

I have seen so many Kendrick brother films. They all deserve to be ripped to shreds

Ro Faulkner

You guys should do fireproof and courageous.

Connor Rooney

Thank you for helping me feel like I'm not alone ❤️

MooliciousMD

As someone who grew up in catholic christian schools until late high school, I’m pleasantly surprised to find this series on the patreon (: I love the nuance and viewpoints you guys offer: I feel heard and felt xD Thank you for this great series, the introspectives have even sometimes got me really thinking (: it is so important to not only look inside ourselves for our own truths, but to also look outward to understand other people’s truths

Moogle Bop

Listening to this episode as someone raised southern Baptist. The way they preach is lots of yelling and huge focus on respecting authority. 100000% agree with yalls reading of this movie

Peyton Stanley

I’m really digging this series! Looking forward to listening to more. 😄

Lula Hiigel

I grew up Catholic and my wife grew up christian, we are not severely in that now, me a lot less so. It's funny, I saw my mother-in-law watching God's not dead, I thought it was silly and left, now I realize you guys were talking about it, wow, that's a bad movie.

Quentin's Corner

Loving these thoughtful, nuanced, and engaging discussions of movies from my very Christian upbringing! Thanks, Beth and Matt!

Kay M. C.

I'm loving these! Thanks for sharing your process and doing all this work. You guys are great!

Lea

Fantastic job guys. Lol this is great.

Rich Kushner

But we all know your target audience is somewhat angsty teens and adults so at least you know your audience 😂

Kyler Campbell

Y’all definitely need an actual Christian on here to somewhat defend your hugely broad stereotypes. The whole “respect authority” no matter what thing is how you interpreted it. It’s actually more that you respect authority without questioning it if the person is in line with god. That includes parents, pastors, churches, governments, etc.

Kyler Campbell

If they ever have a place to recommend films I hope someone include some of the Christiano bother films ( like Pamela's prayer or End of the Harvest) because I would love some one to actually talk and break down those films

Mothman Librarian

The bit with a football player carrying another player was from remember the titans I'm pretty sure

John Rogers

This is so fudging good( can't cuss because the lord is watching lol) but I love this podcast and I hope it continues

Logan

I made a comment about Matt missing how translations of the Bible influence so much when he compared it to the Constitution, but then he nailed it with the commandments.

Marcel Cabato

As a Christian (reformed baptist), who has been working in the film industry for the past 7 years, I love the perspective that Matt and Beth bring to the table. I've worked on several faith based films (we all gotta pay the bills lol) and I know a ton of people who worked on Facing the Giants and all of the other Kendrick films. I feel that most of the people that somehow get money to get these produced live in a bit of an echo chamber, most Christian's who actually have agency and think deeply about their faith consider these movies to weak at best and flat out heretical at worst (especially God's Not Dead). The biggest lie pervade through a lot of this content is that as soon as you find "salvation" your life gets better and what ever you want is given to you. In reality, life is HARD despite what your beliefs are, and its a fantasy that you can have your life magically solved in a moment like that. Christianity is about maturing and growing to love God and people, despite and through the challenges of life. I want to see more stories like that, which is why, In my personal film journey i have kind of given up on the "faith based" market. There are a couple films that i have unfortunately worked on that I would LOVE to see Matt and Beth crtique (tear apart lol). A few year's ago i worked on a back to back feature production of a sequel/threequel for a hallmark style, christian purity culture romance film trilogy called "Princess Cut" I BEG you to watch these, it's some of the most cringy, toxic, bad advice, etc i have ever seen in a story. it will have you ROLLING on the floor lauging at you cringy it is. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3175798/ Princess Cut 1 (the Original) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7988412/ PC 2 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7988464/ PC 3

William Willer

There is a Holiday Inn in Manitowoc Wisconsin. That has a dedicated conference room. That plays this movie every two hours

IAN r ROOT

This side pod is everything I've ever wanted. PLEASE consider watching the trailer for "Hearts are Trump" a movie about one black and one white family both deciding who God wants them to vote for in the election. I can't wait for the next episode!

Amanda Larsen

Would you ever consider a Narnia movie? Doesn’t particularly matter which one (I think there are 6 or 7 from the early 80’s through the late aughts). Given the impact of CS Lewis on religious literature, and separately on the broader fantasy genre, a Narnia movie might be worthy of consideration. Either way, great podcast!

Peter

But now I need one on fireproof, various veggie tales, the rest of the gods not dead. And so much more lol

Pocky Princezz

I am in college majoring in Theatre Arts and Religious Studies, planning on going to seminary to become a pastor in the United Methodist Church. I love this series, part of what I fight for in Christianity is some of the believes in things like this. I was raised in a church that is LGBTQ affirming. I am a playwright and a project that I’m working on right now is about Christianity’s relationship with the LGBTQ community, about a non-affirming father learning to accept and understand his son after he comes out. The father is visited by someone who is meant to be an embodiment of the Holy Spirit who then takes him through a series of memories and scenes that show him his own generational trauma and what his son goes through. The hope is to use Christianity to show love, acceptance and to say that Christianity isn’t perfect and that Christian’s are not weak or a minority. That they are in power and can hurt people and should work twice as hard to help people out.

The Gigawatt

i’m a little late should’ve mentioned this during halloween but there’s a horror movie my non-denominational youth church took us to see in theaters called The Remaining. it’s about the rapture and i would love to hear you guys talk about it at some point, i remember the experience seeing it and the movie itself being pretty wild

the slunch

Would love to hear your take on something like “Singles Ward” the Mormon romcom from 2002. Or “Best Friends Recycled”.

Lexi SanDiego

Two episodes in and this is already my new favorite podcast. Matt's tangent on respecting authority really hit home one of the things I really struggled with growing up in the church.

Blythe Atkinson

As someone who grew up in a heavily baptist area; I can confirm that the idea of faith above acts is a very prominent belief across the denomination. There is little to no nuance or metaphorical reading into text. At least in the area I grew up in, baptists are very much what is written in the bible is absolute, unwavering, unquestionable truth. I briefly went to a baptist school for 8th-10th grade, and every week they would have a different pastor from the neighboring communities come and do a sermon. The only one I specifically remember was someone who proposed that idea of challenging your own beliefs and thinking critically about the texts. Unfortunately, not only was he never invited back, but a special assembly was called the next day to hammer in how wrong he was, and that gods word should never be questioned. Many stories from that school; absolutely insane place... This podcast did unlock some good memories of watching this movie with my dad as a kid, and as a former christian myself, I'm loving this series. Would love to see it be a more regular thing as a seperate show.

owlid

I remember when I had to watch this is school

Leif

I highly encourage y’all to review “The Mission” 1986. An incredible cast and a beautiful story. Also very catholic for Matt.

Connor Quick

If this was a bi-weekly show I'd never miss an episode

Dance_JR

As a Christian the general idea of this podcast is something I've seen several times, and I'm always a bit wary about, the idea of non-Christians(or at least ex-Christian) digging into something specifically made for Christians, and especially when they talk about that audience, has been a hit or miss concept for me(which statistically is better than these films, I suppose). But both the episodes out have been an absolute joy to listen to, and I absolutely cannot wait for more!

Jen the Reaper

Please make more of these, it’s the only daddies content my wife will listen to with me

Jesse Denton

Listening to this, the random man blessing lockers is so obviously "God in man's form". Christian stories are obsessed with this inserting God into a story as a physical man walking around causing miracles of faith. Kind of like a kid having a mysteriously magical encounter with a jolly white bearded man dressed in normal clothes but is obviously Santa, lol

SweezBeez

I had a very good experience as a young Episcopalian. Father John encouraged questions about everything because you can't understand something you can't question.

Simon J Caldwell

At around 44 minutes, funny alternate scene idea, she's screaming at the kid to keep crawling and when the kid finally stopsand takes off the blindfold, you see he's actually crawled into the street, then you hear the sound of a semi trucks horn, then it smash cuts to a funeral.

Drednot

didnt have movies like these but oh god this one sounds close to so many catholic morality tales i grew up with, only there was more of an emphasis on guilt for wanting material/vain things. always seemed self defeating when the protagonists get the thing they learned to give up wanting as a reward

hal

I think DreamWorks Prince of Egypt would be a good addition!

I think i would like to see yall watch Heaven is for real just cause i remember that movie being like okay so i need to know if im remembering right or not

Anville

this series might be healing my inner child who spent wayyy too long in a super toxic youth group. if any of y’all are looking for a crazy christian movie, HIGHLY recommend “miracles from heaven.” saw it in theaters with a bible study and it was the last church group activity my teen self ever did lmao. pretty sure beth and matt could have a field day with that one, especially considering the movie trailer spoils basically the entire plot if i remember correctly

mo

Absolute love this series already

Oskar Schmerschneider

All around great! Amazing concept and executive! I can't wait to hear more!

Dustin

These two episodes have been so great! Really interesting also as a former evangelical to see some of the things that confuse Matt and Beth that I think must be specific to Evangelical culture (mostly unbeknownst to me until now!)

Dan Klemme

Movie I’d love to hear about the most is Left Behind (2014). Very concerning movie which scared the shit out of me when I watched it as a kid, and also happens to star Nic Cage. Would also love to hear some more widely acclaimed movies discussed too. Ive been back and forth with my beliefs for years but movies like Silence (2016) and The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) helped provide a really refreshing framework of faith even if they didn’t have all the answers.

Calvin Mumm

Have they decided if these will be exclusive to Patreon or their own thing eventually?

Chris Wade

Bloody love these- please keep them coming!!! 🙏

Helen Poulter

Related: This is also why one of the objects I constantly heard for "identifying" as anything was that your only "label" should be Christian. (Nevermind how it was considered perfectly fine to label yourself a mom, a football fan, etc.)

hi hungry, I'm Beck

Only part way through the episode, but as someone who was raised baptist, I think I can shed some light on something that confused Matt and Beth. Revival, both as a person experiance and a community event, were HUGE parts of the culture. My church held a yearly revival, where you encouraged/expected to bring nonchurchgoers, yes,but you yourself as a Christian were also supposed to be "reviving". It was about renewing your faith and recommiting, bc there was a constant expectation that you could do better. Be better. That you ought always be trying to have more faith and be a better Christian. The preaching is that you need to dedicate yourself 100% to Christ. The verse in Revelations about God only wanting believers who are on fire with faith and "spitting out" the lukewarm is a bit of a trope in media for Bible thumping baptists, but it's one rooted in reality. I hope this makes sense!

hi hungry, I'm Beck

Oh my gosh, the left behind series!!! Classic..

Mort

Hi y’all, still love this collection! Was raised southern baptist and listening to the two of you notice the consistent authoritarian themes and the ways that S.B’s are indoctrinated into them is very insightful as someone that was raised to believe that these viewpoints are the standard. Legalism does seem to be a cornerstone, with obedience being next to godliness. Anyways- would love to see y’all digest the CLASSIC 2008 affirm film “Fireproof” starring Kirk Cameron. Out of all of these religious backed movies released during this timeframe, Fireproof was the only one that was played at my local theater. Great work as always 😌

Mort

YES!

MEMORY REDACTED

OHHHH!! I didn't realize the crawling/carrying into thw end zone scene was from this movie.

Adam Petra

Do the Shack next! It's another wild and unethical movie.

Blake Edward

What was Beth saying about the moon near the end of the podcast? I really wanted to know where that was going.

Blake Edward

Not a movie but I’d love their opinion on Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass

Sean Demarest

Great episode! I think it could stand on its own as a separate podcast! I haven’t seen it, but An Interview With God (2018) could be an interesting movie to review?

Jake Madewell

I would love to hear these two talk about the prince of Egypt

Sebastian Martinez

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Jesus, but we’re two for two on the vehicular trouble trope so far in this series.. Does God hate CARS?

Matt

Love this series, I know it's technically old testament but I feel like the Prince of Egypt would make it into the Christerion because it's just Such. A. Good. Movie. From the story to the music and the animation it's incredible

Bianca

I find myself disappointed by this series bc I expected comedy and this feels more like serious film critique. Good critique, but not what I was expecting from this funny brand. God Awful Movies is a much funnier execution of the same concept.

Gmork

I’m a christian and I absolutely love how y’all approach these movies/topics from your perspective! As a kid I grew up on these movies so it’s really interesting just to see how crazy they were and my young brain not being able to pick up on it. I appreciate y’all for just putting your own views on the film but also doing your research and still paying respect to all sides :) I’m thinking the authority aspect that was mentioned seems to not just come from “honor your father and mother” but also places like Romans 13 like “submitting yourself to government authorities.” Just some more stuff to check out!

Matthew Li

I recommend Jesus Revolution because it wasnt afraid to show how people misuse their “faith”

Levi Jo

Gods not dead 3 was less toxic. I didn’t like the first 2. They got a new director for 3

Levi Jo

Really like the insight on this episode! Never really thought of sports players and their link to religion, but it makes so much sense! I also like how unbiased you seem on your retelling of the story, let's me think of it in a neutral way too. Glad this series is continuing!! I'd love for you both to watch Left Behind and Prince of Egypt!

MissXis

Literally saw the crawling scene last night on tik tok and then you guys cover it. Truly blessed 😂😂

aDMhasnoname

Matt! If you're interested in the intersection of American history and evangelicalism, you should check out the book Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes Du Mez. It traces the historical intertwining of politics and religion in America and sheds a whole heck of a lot of light on our current political situation.

Elle White

100% it would do so well as its own show. I’m willing to give up this exclusive content to the public, it’s so good.

Jordan Jones

I love these and am so excited episode 2 came out so soon. Matt and Beth are such a good duo. Having grown up in Utah I’d love to hear them do a Mormon movie. Saratov Approach or Witnesses would be so interesting to hear their takes on.

Jordan Jones

As someone who didn't grow up religious I love hearing the view points of people who did on these movies.

Chase Payne

I don't know why but I can't get enough of this. Love it.

Robert Davidson

Passion of the Christ next.

Rio rio

Love this series! Keep 'em coming!

Rebecca D

You have no idea how happy I am that this series is continuing <3

Katelyn Marquard

This is so cathartic as an ex-Christian, please keep this going!! I'd love for you guys to talk about Faith Like Potatoes, that one was wild

Josh Dunbar

The Jennifer Garner lead Miracles From Heaven seems right for this series as well as the Liongate mainstream crossover film The Shack. But as someone who isn’t Christian yet manages to see a lot of faithbased movies, I’d recommend God Bless the Broken Road, the worst faithbased movie I’ve ever seen. Incredibly infuriating movie, produced by Betsy DeVos.

J.S.

Omg I’m so glad this came back!

Andrew G

I love this series so very much, please keep doing more! And if you have the time and energy, would love to see it have its own feed, this is such a great concept.

Kae Winters

Christerion Collection needs a public feed -- I wanna share this with different people than who I share Daddies with.

Doyle Just Doyle

From a recovering Lutheran, PLEASE keep doing these. It warms my cold dead little atheist heart.

Jamie Savino

This could have its own feed. But I'll gladly pay to listen to this!

Alan Rodriguez

I think people are religious in sports for the same reason they have historically been religious in war. Your friend did a good job of summarizing his thoughts on the reason

Thomas Jones

I am SO stoked there is more of this series, PLEASE make it a regular thing!

Jesse Barbour

You guys really knocked this one out of the park!

Alexander Eby

the other team getting disqualified allowing the team the movies about is just the plot of pitch perfect😭

meowpilled

Love this

Cain Morgan

I grew up in the evangelical south and the person praying over the lockers was probably the school's/team's chaplain. We had one at my public highschool that would come and give a little pep talk/sermon before games and lead our teams in prayer. And I feel the need to point out once again that I went to a public school, not a private Christian school

A Hollis

SO HAPPY you guys are doing more of these!! Can’t wait for Fireproof!

Josiah Muskrat

I end up getting curious on how the Productions are for a lot of Christian films. I wonder if any are as chaotic and insane as the ones I've worked on in the past.

Stephen Dixon

YEEEEES YOU ABSOLUTE LEGENDS!!!! Deliver me from evil once more!

Elly Wade

YES LETS GOOOOOO

Doot Doot

SO EXCITED TO LISTEN TO THIS!! I grew up Christian and watched this movie way too many times, so I’m real excited to hear what y’all say about it.

Legion Savage

I love that Beth and Matt are keeping this going... As a non-Christian, who also weirdly experienced several of these movies, its an experience to hear their critical eye on them (beyond them not being great movies).

Phil H

Please keep this series going I’m obsessed

isabelle

Oh GREAT choice of movie. I remember this one being actually good but we'll see.

Austin Baker

OMG! Yes! I hope this becomes a full fledged series.

Koi

I'm so excited there's another one!

Kendall Crosby

Woooooo!

Emblade

FUCK YEAH

Bridget Maryalice

Awesomeee! Listened to the 1st 1 the 1st time just yesterday and loved it! So excited!!!

Duffman

I was literally just thinking about how I was hoping there would be a second one this morning.

Abby Amsel

YES

Echo Elden

I forgot you guys did this but am real excited to listen

Ryan Hunt

Oh man I remember having to watch this at church during lent

Lauren

Yea my favorite in-series series is back

Samhain(saw-win)

Ive been so excited for this yAYYYY

Raquel G

Please keep this up!

Down TheRabbitHole

Yes!!!! I’ve been so fucking looking forward to the second episode!

M Moreno