Watch Lord Save Us From Your Followers

Lord Save Us From Your Followers is a thought-provoking documentary that explores America's deep divide over values, religion, and politics. The film is directed by Dan Merchant and stars David Anderson, James Barnes, Hugo Black, and Lewis Black. The film's title is a mischievous inversion of the evangelical catchphrase "Lord, save us from ourselves." The film takes a wry look at the divide between Christian conservatives and liberal secularists in America. The documentary explores why the political climate in America has become so polarized and what role religion plays in exacerbating the division.

Lord Save Us From Your Followers is divided into several segments. In one segment, Merchant takes to the streets wearing a jumpsuit covered in bumper stickers with provocative religious and political messages. As he engages with passersby, he discovers that many Americans are wary of overtly religious expressions in public life. Merchant also interviews notable public figures such as Al Franken, Rick Santorum, and Tony Campolo, all of whom weigh in on the intersection of religion and politics.

The documentary features several segments that show the impact of divisive politics on people's everyday lives. A family is divided when one of its members comes out as gay. The Evangelical Climate Initiative, a group of Evangelical leaders concerned about climate change, is shown calling for action on the issue.

The film also features interviews with well-known religious figures such as Pat Robertson, James Dobson, and Tony Campolo. The interviewees are asked about same-sex marriage, abortion, and other hot button issues that have divided Americans. These interviews reveal that religious leaders are just as divided on these issues as the general population.

The film's narrative ultimately focuses on the question of whether we can build bridges across the chasm that divides us. Merchant argues that the answer lies in recognizing our common humanity and that we are all flawed and imperfect. The film's emotional climax is a scene where Merchant interviews Bono, the lead singer of U2, who reflects on his own faith and the role of religion in public life.

One of the film's most impactful segments is a poignant interview with a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. The survivor recounts how Hutu and Tutsi neighbors who lived side by side for years were suddenly turned against each other in the genocidal violence. The survivor acknowledges that many Rwandans sought refuge in their faith during this tumultuous time, but also acknowledges that religion played a role in fanning the flames of hatred.

In conclusion, Lord Save Us From Your Followers is an insightful, thought-provoking documentary that explores the deep divide between religion, politics, and American culture. The film is well crafted and filled with interviews, stories, and vignettes that engage and challenge the viewer. While the film doesn't offer any definitive answers to the questions it raises, it does provide a compelling call to recognize our common humanity and strive to engage in constructive dialogue across the divides that separate us.

Lord Save Us From Your Followers is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.