At the risk of upsetting David again, here is episode 2 of God Inc.
When I posted God Inc, episode 1, it was written off in the comments as “unfortunate dribble from artists who are misread, misinformed and ill educated on history and scripture.” Yet someone else called it a “clever, funny and ironic perspective on the nature of an afterlife” proving what we all knew anyway; that a funny short film about the bureaucracy behind the day to day running of Heaven will always provoke reactions in some quarters.
The short film is short in the style of the popular TV show ‘The Office’ as part of an ongoing series by Californian film maker, Francis Stokes, who must surely be one of the only people in the San Fernando valley who shoots films where the actors keep their clothes on! The San Fernando valley on the other side of the Hollywood hills is famous for being ‘porno valley’ where the majority of adult movies produced in the United States are filmed.
—
![Global Vision - [Unpaid ad]](http://www.beforeiforget.co.uk/images/elements/ads/globalvision.gif "Volunteer abroad with GVI")
![Idealist.org - [Unpaid ad]](http://www.beforeiforget.co.uk/images/elements/ads/idealist.jpg "Volunteer, work, intern, organize, hire and connect. Change the world - idealist.org")
![Global Giving - [Unpaid ad]](http://www.beforeiforget.co.uk/images/elements/ads/globalgiving.png "GlobalGiving connects donors with projects around the world to make a high impact.")
![End Water Poverty - [Unpaid ad]](http://www.beforeiforget.co.uk/images/elements/ads/ewp_logo.gif "End the global injustice that causes millions to live without access to clean water and sanitation."){kind=logo}
![UNICEF - [Unpaid ad]](http://www.beforeiforget.co.uk/images/elements/ads/unicef.gif "UNICEF works for children's rights, their survival, development and protection.")
![I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist - [Unpaid ad]](http://www.beforeiforget.co.uk/images/elements/ads/phnat-white.gif "Mapping, reporting and fighting back against restrictions on photography in the UK")
Wrote the following comment on Jan 17, 2007 at 11:56 am
hmmm. funny how you know so much about porn! I thought both “episodes” were funny…its called sattire. People are so uptight…and you always bravely defend yourself LOL
Wrote the following comment on Jan 17, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I have a friend who lives in the San Fernando valley. It was actually him who told me that it was the porno capital of America, but since then I’ve learned that from many other sources from the BBC to Slate… not to mention the TV show Porno Valley on Bravo! :-)
Wrote the following comment on Jan 17, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I wasn’t offended by either one – but then I know better about God (I do not intend that to sound self-righteous or self-important – but my personal experience of God is nowhere near anything portrayed on this film.) Thankfully, he’s not a corporation and thankfully he’s bigger and better than any God, Inc. we can imagine (including the institution of the church). Keep posting Simon – it’s okay to think.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 17, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Funny, I took this one totally different (musta been the pizza the night before I saw episode one). In fact, I could see this one being shown for the church youth group, to stimulate after-talk on our concepts of heaven, miracles, etc. Goes to show you what a good night’s sleep will do for you.
On God Inc., Episode One you explained your detesting of religion, explaining that it is not a detesting of genuine faith. In my reading this morning in your countryman N. T. Wright’s “EVIL AND THE JUSTICE OF GOD” I notice how Jesus and you share similar sentiment on the subject, seeing how Jesus was acutely aware of how politics, culture, power, and society had corrupted the religious leaders of his day to the point where the high priest Caiaphus was casually injust in his treatment of Jesus, and declares “…we have no king but Caesar”, going along with the plot to railroad him toward crucifixion.
And we Christians are still tempted with the same corrupting factors of politics, culture, power, and society, proving that we too need to be delivered from our sins just like everyone else. Therefore my prayer becomes one with yours – DELIVER ME FROM RELIGION. May my faith be genuine, not pridefully corrupt.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 17, 2007 at 6:45 pm
hmmm… to me, this one was a lot better then the first. In the first one, some of the comments made by the actors reminded me far too much of things I’ve heard people around me say… usually with a bitter tone… and it was a bit frustrating to me because while the film was a satire, i’ve conversed with people who believe the principles in it to the extent of the exaggeration. So the film reminded me of the constant war I find myself in trying as best I can to put people’s quotes and ideas from the bible in the context of the Bible.
but this one was more satire of office then heaven… it was funny.It definitely puts a spin on “God damn” this and that.. seeing as its the office of heaven. I guess they could have meant it literally..
Wrote the following comment on Jan 17, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I thought of the literal on that too.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 18, 2007 at 3:31 am
I really like these. The idea that heaven requires a staff to run the place has so much comic potential, and bearing in mind this whole thing is being filmed on a small budget I think the film maker is doing a great job.
Tune in next week for Episode 3. :-)
Wrote the following comment on Jan 20, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I have a question. I was of the understanding that angels don’t have free will, that’s reserved for humans. If that is so, how did Lucifer choose to rebel? Also, as freewill seems to be the gateway to sin, do you think freewill gets removed when we get to heaven? Because if it doesn’t, what’s to stop heaven becoming another garden of Eden.