Surpassed my expectations, and is on my top list of best films if not the top. It's full of information but at the same time, it does not get boring. They do a great job of gently presenting topics all while allowing the viewer space for thought and reflection. The film also does a great job in refraining from showing violent acts. It focuses more on the religious aspect of things and hits on various religions not only Christianity. Perhaps they could have done a better job in promoting the film. The way I heard of this film was very unconventional, and if it wasn't for my continues research and online studies I would have never known this film was to be aired. There could be reasons beyond the producers control for this but at least it is out there. I'm afraid this film will not get the notice it deserves.
7 Reviews
Christspiracy is provocative and insightful, but not perfect
anpeople26 March 2024
After viewing Christspiracy at my local theatre, I googled numerous reviews, and the one from a Roman Catholic publication had nothing negative to say about the film. This tends to negate the sensational suggestion that "the church" will not stop at any nefarious act to keep the message of "Christspiracy" from spreading. If there is a conspiracy to stop the message of Christspiracy, and if the film producers are being surveilled, it is most likely by animal agribusiness.
Overall, I found the film inspirational and provocative, although it totally misrepresented Mohammad's view of meat-eating. The film implied that Mohammad wanted his followers to stop eating meat, which is false. Mohammad did institute "halal" slaughter, which like kosher slaughter was intended to cause animals as little suffering as possible (though the rules are almost always ignored); and there are many beautiful passages about animals in the Quran, including about animals being nations to themselves and all of them worshiping Allah. However, Mohammad only wanted his followers to stop eating meat sacrificed to idols, and Mohammad himself was not a vegetarian or vegan. The filmmakers should have left out erroneous claims about Islam.
They also included specious stories about Leonardo da Vinci and quotations from Leonardo for which there are no source documents that I have been able to find.
I was pleased that the filmmakers called out certain prominent Buddhists for their self-serving misinterpretations of the First Precept of Buddhism, which is not to kill any sentient being. And I was glad to hear Maneka Gandhi's critique of the hypocrisy of Hindus being against cow slaughter but consuming vast quantities of dairy products - enabling cow slaughter to the magnitude that India is the world's largest exporter of leather and one of the largest exporters of beef (much of it to the Middle East).
The filmmakers' claims about Jesus being against animal sacrifice and the consumption of meat were well-researched and revealing. Revealed by a scholar is that the word translated from ancient Hebrew as "thieves" or "robbers" in the passages that describe Jesus driving out the sacrificial animals for sale and the sellers from the Jerusalem Temple actually mean "the violent ones." This is a critical piece of information.
A closer examination of the miracle of the loaves and fishes indicates that Jesus fed the loaves of bread to the assembled multitudes but not the fish. How do we miss such things, except that we are conditioned to believe as we are taught.
There was also something about the Last Supper, with Jesus describing the bread as his "body" and the wine as his "blood" that deserve further scholarship and analysis. It seems to confirm that Jesus consumed no meat or blood sacrifice. It might be taken as a refutation of the idea that Jesus gave himself as the "last sacrifice" as the "lamb of God," but as I see it, Jesus wanted animal sacrifice to end (as did Isaiah and some other prophets) and he was willing to die for it. Some may think there is an implied threat to the integrity of the sacrament of the eucharist, but I don't think it needs to be viewed in such a light. One can think of the eucharist (communion) as a holy and supernatural ritual of transubstantiation OR as a ritual that has been sanctified by its practice going back 2,000 years in the way of morphic resonance as described in the theories of Rupert Sheldrake. According to Sheldrake, when we repeat a ritual long enough, it is ingrained with a spiritual meaning.
The portrayal of Jesus rang true to me. Hopefully the film will cause serious discussion of the ideas presented. At the very least, it should create controversy that might cause individual Christians and others to re-evaluate their beliefs and conditioning about animals.
Overall, I found the film inspirational and provocative, although it totally misrepresented Mohammad's view of meat-eating. The film implied that Mohammad wanted his followers to stop eating meat, which is false. Mohammad did institute "halal" slaughter, which like kosher slaughter was intended to cause animals as little suffering as possible (though the rules are almost always ignored); and there are many beautiful passages about animals in the Quran, including about animals being nations to themselves and all of them worshiping Allah. However, Mohammad only wanted his followers to stop eating meat sacrificed to idols, and Mohammad himself was not a vegetarian or vegan. The filmmakers should have left out erroneous claims about Islam.
They also included specious stories about Leonardo da Vinci and quotations from Leonardo for which there are no source documents that I have been able to find.
I was pleased that the filmmakers called out certain prominent Buddhists for their self-serving misinterpretations of the First Precept of Buddhism, which is not to kill any sentient being. And I was glad to hear Maneka Gandhi's critique of the hypocrisy of Hindus being against cow slaughter but consuming vast quantities of dairy products - enabling cow slaughter to the magnitude that India is the world's largest exporter of leather and one of the largest exporters of beef (much of it to the Middle East).
The filmmakers' claims about Jesus being against animal sacrifice and the consumption of meat were well-researched and revealing. Revealed by a scholar is that the word translated from ancient Hebrew as "thieves" or "robbers" in the passages that describe Jesus driving out the sacrificial animals for sale and the sellers from the Jerusalem Temple actually mean "the violent ones." This is a critical piece of information.
A closer examination of the miracle of the loaves and fishes indicates that Jesus fed the loaves of bread to the assembled multitudes but not the fish. How do we miss such things, except that we are conditioned to believe as we are taught.
There was also something about the Last Supper, with Jesus describing the bread as his "body" and the wine as his "blood" that deserve further scholarship and analysis. It seems to confirm that Jesus consumed no meat or blood sacrifice. It might be taken as a refutation of the idea that Jesus gave himself as the "last sacrifice" as the "lamb of God," but as I see it, Jesus wanted animal sacrifice to end (as did Isaiah and some other prophets) and he was willing to die for it. Some may think there is an implied threat to the integrity of the sacrament of the eucharist, but I don't think it needs to be viewed in such a light. One can think of the eucharist (communion) as a holy and supernatural ritual of transubstantiation OR as a ritual that has been sanctified by its practice going back 2,000 years in the way of morphic resonance as described in the theories of Rupert Sheldrake. According to Sheldrake, when we repeat a ritual long enough, it is ingrained with a spiritual meaning.
The portrayal of Jesus rang true to me. Hopefully the film will cause serious discussion of the ideas presented. At the very least, it should create controversy that might cause individual Christians and others to re-evaluate their beliefs and conditioning about animals.
A surprising MUST SEE film
annilanki2 April 2024
Comedy, drama, information and revealing hidden truths - a perfect package for me!!
This may be the most powerful film I've seen. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, that you'll want to ride again. Just saw it the second time and already looking forward to the third!
I had high expectations as well as some suspicion for this film, as I am not a religious person (used to be). I was not sure if this documentary would be interesting to me... After the first watch I was blown away, with so much new information and new thoughts in my mind. I immediately felt like I need to see the film again.
I feel like there is something, or actually several things, to everyone in this movie, and it needs to be seen by everyone!
This may be the most powerful film I've seen. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, that you'll want to ride again. Just saw it the second time and already looking forward to the third!
I had high expectations as well as some suspicion for this film, as I am not a religious person (used to be). I was not sure if this documentary would be interesting to me... After the first watch I was blown away, with so much new information and new thoughts in my mind. I immediately felt like I need to see the film again.
I feel like there is something, or actually several things, to everyone in this movie, and it needs to be seen by everyone!
Jesus not a historical figure but stop eating animals
dstone102825 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The most important part of this movie is to get people to understand, killing animals is wrong. It was very complelling in showing each religion and how each one handles the ethics of animals. And just how insane it is. I have a great deal of respeact for the people in the film and their part. The activists in the film were on a whole other level.
The problem I have is with the history of Jesus. Jesus was not a historical figure. He was a celestial figure that was given a bio later on. As much as I wanted to believe in vegetarian Jesus, standing up for animals, because let's be honest, that makes more sense, I can't do it. I always ask people who use the bible to justify the attrocities we commit on animals, why would god give animals a brain and nervous system to feal love, fear, pain and despair, so we can chop them up into little pieces and flush them down the toilet? Alas, if there were a god, this would not go on.
The problem I have is with the history of Jesus. Jesus was not a historical figure. He was a celestial figure that was given a bio later on. As much as I wanted to believe in vegetarian Jesus, standing up for animals, because let's be honest, that makes more sense, I can't do it. I always ask people who use the bible to justify the attrocities we commit on animals, why would god give animals a brain and nervous system to feal love, fear, pain and despair, so we can chop them up into little pieces and flush them down the toilet? Alas, if there were a god, this would not go on.
A Life-Changing Film.. to say the least
jeremykeyes-331332 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I left the theatre completely shook. Long interested in religion, less familiar with animal rights, but this was so eye-opening and has already led me to employ veganism into my daily eating/mindset. This film exposes the ties between "Big Religion" and "Big Animal Ag" through the Jesus crucifixion story... namely WHY he was a threat to the state and executed for it.
The film doesn't ONLY focus on Christianity, they travel around the world attempting for an answer to 'how would (insert esteemed religious figure) kill an animal ethically?' --- and the resounding answer was... we don't know. We're always told it was because of his religious influence and anarchist, but the filmmakers find it was more his ceasing of Temple slaughter and sacrifice. He was then killed just a few days later.
Fantastic film i will buy and see twice once it's released to the general public. Couldn't recommend more for anyone interested in animals and religion in 2024.
The film doesn't ONLY focus on Christianity, they travel around the world attempting for an answer to 'how would (insert esteemed religious figure) kill an animal ethically?' --- and the resounding answer was... we don't know. We're always told it was because of his religious influence and anarchist, but the filmmakers find it was more his ceasing of Temple slaughter and sacrifice. He was then killed just a few days later.
Fantastic film i will buy and see twice once it's released to the general public. Couldn't recommend more for anyone interested in animals and religion in 2024.
Hilarious, what people will do, and say in support of a movement that is nonsense 😆
jameshazzard1 April 2024
Genuinely thought this was one of the funniest things I've seen..... Clever stuff - had me fooled BUT it's real and they genuinely believe it. Honestly people, it's worth watching for the entertainment value as well as observing the people we share this planet with. I mean, there is enough controversy regarding the existence of Jesus but these two managed to not only surpass that, but found compelling evidence that he was a vegan! This is the classic movement of nonsense political ideology that brain washes the unintelligent virtue signalling lunatics of the world who happily dictate to everyone how they should live their lives BUT, also informing us of how jesus lived his.
More vegan propaganda
lackice-425-734529 March 2024
Just like Kip Andersons other failed attempts to convert the world to the vegan cult, Christpiracy doesn't fail to gaslight you with shotty research, omitted facts, and tons of misinformation.
Fake priests, interviewees that state opinions as if they where facts, and mental gymnastics that make Q-anon look sane in comparision is what you will get with this steaming pile of manipulation.
All in all its a predictable piece of fiction if youve ever seen the creators other propaganda films.
If you enjoy laughing at vegans trying to stay relevant in a world where the vegan fad is dying and being called out for all of its bullcrap however I encourage you to watch.
Fake priests, interviewees that state opinions as if they where facts, and mental gymnastics that make Q-anon look sane in comparision is what you will get with this steaming pile of manipulation.
All in all its a predictable piece of fiction if youve ever seen the creators other propaganda films.
If you enjoy laughing at vegans trying to stay relevant in a world where the vegan fad is dying and being called out for all of its bullcrap however I encourage you to watch.
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