AC collins ...you are a clod. JEsus will not rise again- he is just a metaphor. its okay to believe in your own delusion, but please quit blabbing about it.

Self-absorbed. Agreed.

I feel sorry for those who believe Lucifer rather than GOD. Do Homosexuals really believe GOD when the book of Romans makes it plain as day what sin is, and what they are??You cant serve your own natural desires and GOD, sin must be given over to CHRIST because that is what he died for. To choose a sinful life and blame it on GOD is defienitely a case for blaspheming the HOLY SPIRIT....I love and pray for all in sin , rregardless what it is, we are to love the sinner but hate the sins. I as a born again christian commit sinful acts from time to time, but by GRACE I am accepted by GOD when I ask for forgiveness.....HE FORGIVES....THATS IT. NO MORE WRATH COMES FROM MY FATHER.  Time is getting short, and many will not believe this, but JESUS is coming back for a FAITH IN HIM BASED CHURCH. We must pray for all the MARKIES of the world, because she will be lost and serve her time in hell..........because of a lie...the same lie told to EVE in the GARDEN............IN CHRIST...AC COLLINS JR

I think this is a beautiful story and I’m glad she has found her way to happiness.  Amen.

Self absorbed.

Markie Hancock states that she grew up as a born again.  What does she mean by that?  No one is born again at birth or grows up born again.  You receive salvation and become born again when you believe by faith alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a substitutionary atonement for your sins.  Many young children and teens who say that they asked “Jesus into their heart” really do not fully understand what the Gospel is.  Simply saying some “sinner’s prayer” or going up front to some alter or being active at church or doing a lot of “good” works does not get you saved.  Believing by faith alone in Jesus and repenting of one’s sin does.  I do not think she really understood the Gospel or what being a Biblical Christian really was.  It is clear that she allowed her sinful thoughts and feelings to take hold of her life instead of rejecting them.  She kept asking God to take away her sinful thoughts for her.  Well, God does not take away one’s sinful thoughts when you yourself are allowing them to continue.  What God wants for His children is for them to know that they already have the power to reject them and to do so.  But no, she did not reject her sinful thoughts but instead continued to indulge in them and act upon them which made them stronger.  She did not understand the power that God gives all His children over sin.  Instead she rejected the truth for a lie.  She seemed to want to be her own god.  Her brother Michael was just as bad as she was.  They both blame their Christian upbringing for most of the problems in their lives and for the reason they turned out to be the “mess” that they are, when actually they would have been a lot worse without it.

Markie made a lot of bad choices like when she entered Princeton Theological Seminary which is not a Biblically based institution as this video clearly shows.  And like when she acted upon her homosexual feelings.  But again she kept on asking God to do things that she herself, if she was a born again Christian, already had the power to do.

As for her other brother Nathan, he did sound like a solid well-balanced Christian. 

Concerning the comments by “peter” who claims to be a pastor, I disagree with you.  I for one am not glad she has believed the lies of “Satan” and has chosen to live a sinful life.

Markie Hancock states that she grew up as a born again.  What does she mean by that?  No one is born again at birth or grows up born again.  You receive salvation and become born again when you believe by faith alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a substitutionary atonement for your sins.  Many young children and teens who say that they asked “Jesus into their heart” really do not fully understand what the Gospel is.  Simply saying some “sinner’s prayer” or going up front to some alter or being active at church or doing a lot of “good” works does not get you saved.  Believing by faith alone in Jesus and repenting of one’s sin does.  I do not think she really understood the Gospel or what being a Biblical Christian really was.  It is clear that she allowed her sinful thoughts and feelings to take hold of her life instead of rejecting them.  She kept asking God to take away her sinful thoughts for her.  Well, God does not take away one’s sinful thoughts when you yourself are allowing them to continue.  What God wants for His children is for them to know that they already have the power to reject them and to do so.  But no, she did not reject her sinful thoughts but instead continued to indulge in them and act upon them which made them stronger.  She did not understand the power that God gives all His children over sin.  Instead she rejected the truth for a lie.  She seemed to want to be her own god.  Her brother Michael was just as bad as she was.  They both blame their Christian upbringing for most of the problems in their lives and for the reason they turned out to be the “mess” that they are, when actually they would have been a lot worse without it.

Markie made a lot of bad choices like when she entered Princeton Theological Seminary which is not a Biblically based institution as this video clearly shows.  And like when she acted upon her homosexual feelings.  But again she kept on asking God to do things that she herself, if she was a born again Christian, already had the power to do.

As for her other brother Nathan, he did seem like a solid well-balanced Christian. 

Concerning the comments below by “peter” who claims to be a pastor, I disagree with you.  I for one am not glad she has believed the lies of “Satan” and has chosen to live a sinful life.

Honestly, her views are so extreme too. Yes, her parents raised her very strict and with very fundamental ways, however, that is not all religion nor all Christians by any means. The film was dramatic and the whispering ridiculous. It is good to hear one’s story, but this one seems pretty judgmental for tagging others as so.

The melodramatic music isn’t necessary. This girl is steeped in selfishness. Poor me, my life sucks because of religion, blah, blah. It’s narcissim to the extreme. Jesus didn’t come to bring a religion, He came to bring SALVATION. Big difference,and this is the point she misses entirely. We all struggle with sin. Jesus died on the cross precisely because none of us can overcome sin on our own. My guess is that she felt burdened by all of the tasks of ‘good living’ her parents expected while growing up. She missed out on the message of God’s love (via Christ on the cross) and the freedom we find in Christ’s shed blood and instead focused on herself and her own ‘goodness’ and tried to be pleasing to God through her own will to be ‘good’. Of course this didn’t work and she inevitably became disenchanted. If we had the ability to please God on our own there would have not been the need for Christ to die in our place. Another reason why I believe she is a narcissist (and why I believe homosexuals are what they are because of their extreme narcissim) is the fact that EVERYTHING had to be about her sexuality. It’s not healthy or normal to be so wrapped up in your sexuality. There’s more to life than that one aspect! Get over yourself, and get over it, already! I say that in the most loving, respectful way possible. It’s just not good for anyone to dwell on this. I thought the little brother Nathan was right on and I can tell he has his head on straight and is a true believer in Christ. I thought he bravely stood for the truth but did so in a loving and respectful way toward his sister. I truly hope Markie and Michael return to God and receive a personal relationship with Christ, because this the determiner of one’s eternal life. It is the most important decision that a person can make. It is not to be taken lightly.
As an aside, I wonder what she thinks being anti-war and anti-capitalism have in common with being gay? Did you notice she equated all these things and let her disdain for conservative values shine through? What do these things all have in common? She is rebelling against everything which gives human society order and true freedom and equality. In her search for ‘freedom’ to be ‘who she really is’ she has embraced an agenda of limiting freedom and security. Ironic! Final thought: Did anyone else notice the “other voice” she used to read her journal entries? Did anyone else, as do I, think that she sounds possessed?

wow - i also was raised evangelical and fell away but - i was SO miserable without Jesus in my life! nothing went right for me!  Then I went back to church after years away and my whole life changed for the better!  I know I will with Him in Heaven and I have such peace. 
But you cannot be a christian (a follower of Christ’s teaching) AND be gay! sorry You have free will to be whatever you want and if you chose that lifestyle you are free to do so but - you are NOT a follower of Christ since that is what he says in His word!  I know it is popular these days (and the bible warns this is coming - people will turn away from God’s Word).  (AS if a man has more wisdom that God) This girl had religion but NOT a realtionship with Jesus herself!  that would have made a difference for her maybe she wouldn’t have left Him instead of the religion.  Jesus said - “I am the way the truth the light and no man comes unto the father but my me” I hope she finds a realtionship with Him again - I did!

there is noone who has had a near death experience

Decent film.  As a pastor who struggles with faith, i found this film interesting.  I struggled with the simplicity of her views however, as I know many persons who are gay (male and female) who are believers.  It is a good film though, but her points are often mutually contradictory.  Well made though, and I am glad that she has found peace, if not forever, at least for a while.

It’s TRINITY, not TRENIDY. You spent too much time in Sunday school, and not enough in grammer school.

I enjoyed watching this film. I would like to comment however, that I believe it is possible to reject fundamentalism without embracing atheism. An oppressive fundamentalist upbringing followed by the realization of being gay can be seemingly irreconcilable. Turning to atheism actually feeds into the fundamentalist ideology that God rejects homosexuals inversely causing them to reject God altogether.Religion in and of itself doesn’t have to be the culprit for all things wrong.

great story, i also couldn’t hear the diary parts, since becoming an atheist i feel as if shackles have been removed, keep the anti-religious documentaries coming

a born again christan is a person . who believes in the trenidy the father and the son and the holy ghost . also who follow gods ten comm . and . believe that jesus christ is coming back . for his children

Will libs ever find anything better to do than bash Christians. God get a life you losers. We’ve had to hear and watch your anti-Christian hate for 40 years now. You hate Christianity, yippee. Move on

This is in response to Donna Muller’s comment posted on 07/27/09.  She said she couldn’t hear the parts where the narrator whispered the diary entries.  I had no problem at all hearing those parts.  I didn’t even have to adjust my sound at all, so I’m not sure why she had so many problems with it.  I would suggest that she check her sound software and make sure everything is working properly.

I was very, very interested in seeing this film, as I had just listened to an excellent review of it on a podcast. I think I really would have loved the film, but I could not hear a single word of Markie’s WHISPERED diary entries.  I had the sound cranked to the top on my computer AND on the movie, and still couldn’t make out her tiny voice.  I watch video podcasts every day, so it’s not me.  What a disappointment, because I was looking forward to this.

This documentary is AMAZING.  I’m so glad I decided to watch it.  When the narrator read her journal entries, it was almost like she was reading directly from my old journals.  My dad is a minister, and my mom was (and still is) the church secretary.  My sister and I had to attend each and every service they held.  Starting with Sundays we had Sunday school at 8:00am, then regular church service from 11am to 3pm.  Usually after the first service, we would eat in the church dining hall.  Then our 2nd service would start around 4:30pm and end around 6:30pm.  Every Tuesday we had to attend “Bible Study” starting at 6:30pm and ending at 8:30pm.  Then on Wednesday night we had “prayer meeting (devotion) at 6:30pm till around 8pm.  Then on Friday nights we had to attend a service named “Joy Night”.  Then we would have to wake up real early for choir practice every Saturday morning. That really bothered me more than anything else because all my friends at school got to sleep in, or hang out with friends, or play outside, or watch Saturday morning cartoons, that’s the kind of stuff I wanted to do on Saturdays, but I couldn’t. I was a very tormented child because I knew I was gay very early in life.  I knew I was gay before I even knew that there was a word for it.  I thought God hated me, and he was punishing me for having gay thoughts and desires. From age 7 to age 18, I would pray EVERY SINGLE NIGHT for God to make me “normal” and straight, and to stop me from having “gay thoughts”.  When he didn’t answer my prayers, I thought I was too horrible of a person for him to listen to me.  I would smile and put on a good face while I was singing in the choir, and sometimes I would excuse myself and go in the bathroom between songs, and just sit in there and cry until it was time for another song, and I’d dry my tears, put on a fake smile, and go back out there to sing.  As soon as I graduated high school, I went off to college and moved into an off campus apartment.  I stopped attending church all together, and discovered that I was a lot more secure, content, and happy as a person without it (religion), and I’ve never looked back since. ****ADD ME AS A FRIEND ON MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/privlidge ****

I am amazed at how personal this film is. I am a 21 year old gay male and I can see parallels between Markie’s life and mine. My older sister and I are Agnostics, my younger sister is a liberal Christian, and my older brother, mother, and father are conservative Christians. In my early years I grew up Catholic but our family converted to Christianity after a nurse who cared for my mother during her knee surgery invited us to her church. I gave my life to Christ at 11 years old and became very involved in church and church activities.

For most of my life I was a conservative, creationism believing Christian. My parents never had to force me to go to church or take part in any of it’s events because I already had deep conviction in the Bible and God. Before my sophomore year of high school I begged my parents to send me to a Christian private high school to further my education in a Christ-filled environment in which they did. There I became interested in Creationism and planned to become a Creationist biologist because I felt Evolution was wrong and the Book of Genesis was correct.

In college I took a course on Biology to understand Evolution. I wanted to understand it so that I could defeat Evolutionists through debate more accurately. I never would have thought that doing this would actually do the exact opposite. I slowly and progressively began to deny Creationism and accept Evolution as fact. Instead of debating Evolutionists I began to debate Creationists.

Then the questions came. I began to question my own beliefs instead of just believing in them. I soon read books by Bart D. Ehrman on the inconsistencies in the Bible. I watched films like “Who Wrote the Bible” and daringly read Richard Dawkins “The God Delusion”. I never would have thought I would read a Richard Dawkins books because when I was a devout Christian I absolutely HATED Richard Dawkins and my stomach would turn every time I would see him on TV or on YouTube. Finding out all this information was not easy to hear.

All this (my de-conversion) took 2 years. It was not any easy route but I am glad I did it. Like Markie I felt I was born-again and that I was free. Never in my life would I have thought 3 years in the future that I would be here saying the things I am saying on this little comment section on some random website. I can now live my life freely and honestly.

Great movie. However, the narrator does this god awful whispering during the movie. It’s supposed to be her conscious speaking. It’s so bad I had to fast forward those parts.

Markie,

Clear, Honest, Moving, Brave, Well Done.

THX.

Jim

As someone who grew up with an Evangelical pastor as a father, I very much sympathize with many of the emotional themes in this film. Thank you. It helps the understanding and healing processes.

Wow, I live in Altoona. This gives me a new perspective.

Markie, I went to Wheaton with you. I knew you, and Andee and Laura and Melody and Cherith and all those folks in the pictures. I was in the theatre with Jim Young and all those folks.

Your work in the documentary you’ve made is powerful, liberating and important. Thank you for your courage, compassion and equanimity in the making of it. I hope you’ve received as much as you gave to the work. You are on the hero path. I’m sorry you had to deal with so much of it alone, for so long. But, as you know now, you’re not alone. You’ve crossed the boundaries and shared the journey. The bottom line is, you made a great film. Thank you. And please keep going.

I’m a director and teacher and now work at Eastern University in PA, in the theatre program there, based on the model I learned at Wheaton. So much of what Jimma taught us gave me tremendous appreciation for your amazing human journey. Please come and visit us the next time you’re in the area; to catch up, but also to share this profoundly affecting account of a soul in progress.
What honesty and clarity.

Check out the doc, Ordinary Radicals, by an Eastern alum, for a perspective on some of this. Plus, I have a cameo regarding The Laramie Project, which I directed at Eastern.

Finally your work here has to do with the tension at the intersection of family and truth. And you have revealed that in a profound and moving way. Again, thanks.

Mark

Markie,
Thank you for producing this film.  You and I went to Wheaton together.  I have since struggled in very similar ways as you regarding my faith and my sexuality.  It is soul wrenching.  I am thankful that I have made it to the other side and am thankful that you and others have, too.  This film will encourage others to continue their struggle and hopefully come through the other side into a life worth living.

Thank you, Markie.

My girlfriend and I just watched your documentary.  She went to Wheaton, and too struggled with breaking free of the religious oppression.  We were both touched and inspired by your film.. thank you.

Thank God For This Movie

I wish I could have watched the whole thing but she talked so quietly I had to turn my sound way up to even hear her, especially when she was quoting scriptures...she whispered, which was actually pretty creepy sounding.  Anyway when the commercials came on they were blaring!!  That really hurt my ears.

She is right though, Christ divides with the Sword, which is the Word of God.

One part I did see there at the end I wanted to comment on is where she thought her girlfriend should be referred to an an aunt or something...well if she had a boyfriend, he wouldn’t be referred too as if he was a relative either actually.  I really, really disagreed with her brother saying he would have to tell his daughters that she didn’t love God...I really didn’t see the point of that before telling the girls his sister was gay.  There were too young to try to explain her gay relationship..they would think of them as friends is all. They were just too young for that.

I realize this came out over 20 years ago..wonder how many people in that movie are still alive today and if things changed any? A follow up would be nice without the blaring commercials.

Markie-

I truly enjoyed your film. I recently attended the commitment ceremony of two of my female friends. They were very apprehensive about inviting me because I am a born again Christian. So I told them the God I serve and His Son has taught me to love my neighbor as myself and not to judge lest I be judged. I am not a religious person. I do not agree with religious doctrine made up by man. That kind of thinking puts limitations on ourselves and subsequently our children. How sad. It is those of us who call ourselves Christians that turn people off from Jesus with our judgements. I know your parents love you. Their hearts are right but they were just misinformed as many of us have been. You are lovely. Keep the “Faith”.

Thank you for such a necessary film. I’m so proud of you for leading the life you were meant to live. Your family’s religion, christianity, divides people. At least their interpretation of it. The idea that the bible is literal and truly the word of jesus is absurd. Their religion is their addiction and has made them blind to their own daughter and her life partner. It astounds me that seemingly intelligent educated people can be so ignorant.

I am fortunate because my family accepts that I am gay and accepts my partner. I let them know years ago that I would not be attending any family function without the person I was seeing. That was enough to get them to pay attention and realize this was not a phase I would grow out of.

We make the family that we love when the family that is supposed to love us turns their back on us. Live out loud and proud that you are gay. It is our birthright and nothing to be ashamed of. There are plenty of people who support and love us just the way we are.

Hi Markie,

Thanks for creating such a healing tool for those, who like myself, were unable to accept the ideas and beliefs taught in fundamentalist Christianity. 

This provides some good insight into one of the root causes of human alienation -Not a good thing. 

Just as our world is divided by religion, this sheds light on the fact that there are countless families also divided by religion.

Equality for all.

Garry-Anthropologist

Hi Markie,

Thank you for your moving documentary “Born Again”.  I found your patience with your family both admirable and heartbreaking.  How religion can convince someone of their superiority over others is shameful and your preseverence for those you love, while they look down, is altogether the makeup of a dedicated understanding person.  It is my hope we can get to a place as a country in the next coming years, perhaps more, where we can see bigotry for what it is and stop using religion as a front for bigotry.  This is my strong hope, I am at the point where I have no room to listen to someone’s “personal views”, because they are not personal beliefs anymore.  They come with voting rights, and a vote to get our fellow man and woman down.  So thank you for showing wisdom and continuing to try to help the ones you love their prejudices for what they are. 

All the best,
Owen

markie,
i just watched your documentary, i too am sadden, but by you.  we have always been taught God is stronger than anything and everything, but we possess something stronger....our will, which was given to us by God.  sure He could make us do anything He wants to, but He’s not gonna make us, He wants us to freely give to Him like He freely gave His Son Jesus to us.  you use your parents and religion as your excuse, because you’re trying to justify why you do what you do. shame on you, put on your big girl pants and blame it on sin.  we all are born with sin whether it be homosexual, murder, stealing, etc...and in God’s eyes their the exact same, only in man’s eyes are they different.  bottom line it our choice what we do with that sin.  if your mother wants to pray for you, let her, don’t condem her, because in your own words “it’s not gonna make any difference”.  so what’s your problem, she’s not hurting you?  You’re the one who’s making the issue of your homosexuality, you’re the one who’s putting up the walls.  we are to love the sinner, but HATE the sin, according to my Bible.  so where do you get your learning of what’s right?

That girl you had your first crush on was pretty cute.

To becca’s comment ‘It deeply saddened me that Markie believes that when this life is over you are simply done.  What is the point?”.
I take Chris Hitchen’s view, that your Idea of an afterlife is pathetically pointless. The Idea that you live your life here on earth with this false “free will” granted by a supreme overlord is laughable. That if you can choose to live by some old book of made up stories and hogwash, you will then be in paradise forever, is pathetic. The Idea that every thought and deed you do is being watched by your ‘Master” to be later punished (or rewarded), as if we are all living in some cosmic version of North Korea, is horendous. Being dead most likely will be just like it was before you were alive, Nothing. Feel free to pray all you want because no one is there. If you want to truly be ‘Born Again” start facing the reality that this life is all anyone has (for sure), so spend it wisely and stop condemning people who want to live there life truthfully and in REAL happiness. I never really appreciated life as much as when I realized that it was finite. Trust me, your imaginary god doesn’t care who’s boinking who.

There seems to be a confusion of religious rituals and relationship.  Thank you, Markie, because this is a great testimonial to the reality of that which takes place in a christian home.  It is not perfection.  It is a process of living.  I too grew up in church.  I was a PK. I had all the fears that you had, but I truly believe that God exist and that Bible is his word and our guidance.  I, believe that going to save you. Saying a bad word is not going to sent you to hell.  A tattoo is not going to make God love you less.  Any homosexual feelings or desires are going to make you less of a christian.  God loves me and all so much that HE, being clean died for my sins.  That is the love and grace that saves us.  I can’t earn salvation.  As I was telling a friend.  There are not enough good deeds to pay for my wrong doings. 

I will try to live and love and love some more and when I can’t love any long.  I will love more. 

Markie, God fancies you, I don’t want to use the numb word, LOVE.  HE TRULY FANCIES YOU!!!!!!!

Once again, Thank you.

Markie thanks for sharing your story in this film.  It saddened me. I believe that the Heavenly Father will never bless any gay relationship that I might have as a gay man.  Blame it on my upbringing, religion, or whatever, but it is the way I feel.  I’m glad you have found peace.

Although I did find this film intriguing and well done, it seems to me that there was an overly intense emphasis on religion and how that effected Markie’s family.  I believe that what her parents and brother have is not a religion, it is a relationship with God.  This differs tremendously from simply having a religion.  Having a relationship with God is so much more than going through the motions and strictness of a religion.  It is not just going to church and trying your hardest to follow all the rules.  It is a strong belief and conviction that what the Bible says is true and desiring to live a life that is glorifying to the LORD.  It has to be done on a heart level, not just on a head level.  It is a transformation that takes place. 
I was quite bothered by the statements that Mike made about his childhood and how it was not normal and that he lost a lot of this time in his life because of the religion.  I do not believe that their childhood was not normal, nor did he lose half of his life.  That seemed to be to be somewhat delusional and completely taking the role of a martyr.
It also bothers me that to Markie thought that her family was wrong and she was right.  Why is that the case?  Why isn’t it that her family is right and she is wrong?  They apparently judge her for her lifestyle, but she is no different.  She judges them just as much, if not more, for the lifestyle that they choose to live.  She too blames religion for all the things that have gone wrong in her life.  The truth is, she only went through the motions of it and never really believed. If she had truly believed her life would have been much different in a positive way.
I noticed at the end that she made the statement that she was born again.  That is definitely taken out of context for the way that it truly means.  Markie may have chosen to live her life in a manner different from what her upbringing suggested, but in no way is she born again in the Biblical and true way. 
It deeply saddened me that Markie believes that when this life is over you are simply done.  What is the point? Why are we here if we just die and that’s it? Life can only be good through Christ and eternity will be even better than we could ever imagine. 
I too will be praying for Markie and that she one day can see God for who he really is. Maybe one day Markie will live life abundantly and truly be born again.

Thanks Markie for the great film! 
Your brother is an alcoholic and really needs help or his health will deteriorate quickly.  He can escape only as far as his next drink.  He really will have to face his problems head on or his deception will catch up and destroy him. 
The upbringing that your parents gave you and their continued prayer chain around the world is actually a covering and is protecting you.  Their love for you makes me jealous in that there is true communion and love in faith, that my heart ached for.  You are really naive and ungrateful into thinking your life was harmed by your parents. You probably don’t have to go far to find real hurting families with real abusive lifestyles because of selfish parents. Try doing films about that.  I’ve worked in the medical profeaaion for 30 years and I’ve seen the real child abuse and murder.
This is all temporal and how quickly life flashes by. 
We wish you well and also do pray that you find true Shalom with G-d.
In Messiah’s Love,
Steve & Jan
http://www.myspace.com/StevenJanice

If you drink yourself drunk on alcohol everyday, you’ll ruin your liver and die. That is a scientific FACT. “God will judge the earth with all of its institutions, and those who rejected and contradict his salvation will suffer the consequences” is an irrational OPINION, not based on any fact, scientific or otherwise. The God you describe, Thomas, who would punish or inflict consequences on this woman for living her life as a gay woman is in direct conflict with the teachings of Christ. But I’m sure you already knew that.

The idea that “maker of the film has more trouble accepting her family�??s religious beliefs than her family has accepting her lack of belief.” isn’t the point nor is it accurate. The fact is her family can’t except who she is, without believing she is damming herself to hell. Her family has put her in a position of either living her life as a lie, ie acting like she is straight when she is gay, or going to hell in their eyes. It is the family who can choose what they believe about her soul, not Markie who can choose to be gay or not. And it should be the family who answers to why they should believe such awful things will befall someone they supposably love. Their beliefs originate in one old book bursting at the seams with every 2000 year old prejudice and superstition an ancient cave man could imagine. Expecting them to take “the word” with a good dose of skepticism would only be natural. It is their belief that is beyond reason-Markie isn’t judging their souls, like they are hers.

I found this film quite interesting. I am a Christian. I was curious about this film. After viewing it, I really feel the maker of the film has more trouble accepting her family’s religious beliefs than her family has accepting her lack of belief. She seemed to want to place the blame for anything and everything that was not as she wished on religion. How unfair and sad. She obviously has loving and understanding parents who love her unconditionally. But it seems to be not enough for her. She also seems to want her family to accept her lifestyle and beliefs as correct and acceptable, even if that means going against their own beliefs. Why are they being portrayed negatively for simply being themselves? I thought tolerance was very important to her? Does she really believe that if not for her family’s religious beliefs, they would have some type of perfect relationship? No relationship is perfect, even with shared beliefs. Family relationships are complex and affected by many things. To blame religion for all her family woes is a cop out. She cannot force her family to accept what they do not accept. I really feel she needs to learn respect for her family’s beliefs even if she does not share them. As for her parents, they seemed to have done what most good parents do. They raised their children in a way consistent with what they believe to be true. Parents are not perfect and do make mistakes. They realize as adults their children will make their own decisions. They may agree with these decisions or not. They may be happy about them or they may not. The film maker cannot expect her family to change the way they feel to make her more comfortable. That would be denying who THEY are. I really don’t feel her story is about religion as much as about tolerance and unconditional love. Her family’s and HERS.

If you drink yourself drunk on alcohol everyday, you’ll ruin your liver and probably die from that. no one argues with that because we understand what consequences are and the law of cause and effect. Then why we have a difficult time understanding that the spirit is no different. God will judge the earth with all of its institutions, and those who rejected and contradict his salvation will suffer the consequences.
If you don’t give a plant water, it will dry up and perish.
God is NOT religion. the same way your parents are not religion and you love them and know who they are to you in your life. (If that matters to you).....God is not a old bearded man. He is spirit. He creates from nothing.You can chose to be with him in your life or not. the same way you can chose not to drink yourself drunk everyday. But, There’s the consequences

A good documentary. Unfortunately, the lack of tolerance by some atheists in the comments section seems to indicate that atheism may not be anymore tolerant than fundamentalism. There appears to be a type of atheism that is fundamentalist in its outlook, even interpreting the Bible in a fundamentalist fashion. These fundamentalist atheists have more in common with fundamentalist theists than they might think.

Let’s get one thing straight, there are no such thing as Christians and if there are they belong in prison or a mental health facility. Anyone who belives they should discipline their children by beating them with rods or that if they disobey their parents they should be stoned to death. Or how about painting blotches on two white dogs and thinking that somehow when they mate they’ll make a cow. How about bats are birds and insects have 4 legs. the earth is flat and the sky is a cutain with holes poked in it. This could go on forever. Don’t take this crap from them anymore, speak up everyone.

as a “born again"or as the bible properly translates"born from above” i have come to end explanation and conclusion that it is religion that is the problem in our lives and not Christianity. own92

question 1 (for mb): How can a being who plans for his own death then blame others for it?
#2: Where is there any evidence for the person of Jesus of Nazareth, let alone any evidence he was a god?
#3: Archaeologists tell us that Nazareth did not exist at the time Christ was have supposed to, so how does that fit into your history of the world?
#4: If Christ/goD is so forgiving why did his character creat the concept of hell?

Oh lord, please save me from your believers!  : )

I have not seen the film as my connection is too slow. I do however comment in the same vein as gaton ,not having seen the film. the comments made by christians never fail to show me that you are delusional.

“Big deal.  As if there is any glory in falling away from truth and settling into your lustful perversions.”

Give me a ###### break. Read your bible , really read it , apply some reason and ask yourself. Do I really beleive this? If you do get some help.

Weeping and wailing , gnashing teeth, torments......I hope you don’t have kids

It’s just incredible the amount of love that gushes from you intolerant Bible Thumpers. I’m so glad Jesus loves us so much that he will “crush you benieth his mighty glory”.

‘You can safely assume that you have created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” Anne Lamott, American Novelist”

Since you all love quotes so much-here are some more from AFTER the enlightenment (a period that seems to escape many of you):

“There once was a time when all people believed in God and the church ruled. This time was called the Dark Ages."-Richard Lederer, America Linguist

“If the concept of a father who plots to have his son put to death is presented to children as beautiful and as worthy of society’s admiration, what types of human behavior can be presented to them as reprehensible?"- Ruth Hurmence Green, American Author, The Born-Again Skeptics Guide to the Bible.

‘If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion"-Edmond de Goncourt

Losing faith in the utterly unbelievable isn’t a failure, it’s a triumph over ignorance and fear. Believing beyond reason is the biggest failure of humanity.

I did notice throughout this documentry there was alot of blame placed towards your parents. so therefore Markie there is lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the ulimate translation of love. One of the very last things Jesus did before he gave up the Ghost Markie, was forgive the very people who murdered him so that you could live. There has never been a single day in my christian walk were i can master it or even contiplate walking in my own strength. Jesus was surrendered completley to the Father because he knew it was the way it had to be so that we could live. And i do know one thing Markie only Jesus can touch down in the bottom of your soul and crush you benieth his mighty glory. No man can save you… and hey we can’t even save ourselves.

So Markie, you think you are the first, or only, to lose their faith? 

As the scriptures say “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John 2.19)

I will watch the documentary once I have the ability (not at my computer, and stumbled across it).  But I have a sense that it is the same old story.  Someone thinks that they had a faith, but when faced with their lusts, the faith dies out, and they feel relieved.  Big deal.  As if there is any glory in falling away from truth and settling into your lustful perversions. 

If you are God’s child, He will get to you.  If you are not, then you are one of the masses on the broadway, which always seems to make sense to the ungodly, to hell.  The bad part is that you will likely not understand the utter foolishness of your decisions until it is too late.  And the pleasure you pursue in this life, will be lost to you for all eternity where you, and those like you, will weep and wail and gnash teeth your teeth in your torments.  There is still time to change.  Forgiveness is available by Jesus Christ.

What if commenter Christopher is the devil?  What if commenter Christopher likes to eat gravel?  What if, what if… Someone could pose silly questions all day long, where does it get anyone? 

And Christopher, in regard to the shallow answer to the question posed by your daughter regarding satan, the Bible does contain an answer.  You apparently haven’t taken the time to research it.  I’m sure the answer won’t please you, but the almighty, sovereign, eternal and Holy God of the Bible has never made any mistakes, and is really beyond your finite understanding.  You either believe Him or you die.  He is not playing games with you.  And you are absolutely no challenge to Him.  You will go to stand before Him one day, and answer for everything about yourself.  Prepare yourself.  And what’s worse, you will be held accountable for what you have done to your daughter in leading her to hell. 

The Lord be merciful to your soul.

I think this film was a fascinating point of view of the family dynamics that evolve out of fundamental ideologies. The interactions between each familial member based upon divergent ideologies in their own evolution was also interesting.

I would say that Markie Hancock’s body language towards her family does show me various forms of tension and even aggression at times. I think there is more that went on in her past than what is presented in this film. In regards to her past, I do not necessarily think something sexual happened, but I do feel confident in saying that there was some event around her time in Princeton Seminary that created the change in her towards her beliefs and subsequently her family too.

Religious zealotry have always seemed opposed to free-thinkers. I do think this film, and many others, poignantly show the defiance of the religious zealots towards rationale, reasonable discussions concerning beliefs. Most of the deontological-type people rely on circular based logic and false premise or cause-and-effect type reasoning to argue their viewpoints.

Someday, we may evolve into a position where we can civilly discuss different viewpoints in a logical, reasonable manner. However, after 2,000+ years of religions that permeate society at large indoctrinating with radical reason-defiant viewpoints; I am not holding my breathe.

~JDM

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,,AND LOVES YOU VERY MUCH !!!,,,"SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND ,,KNOCK AND THE SHALL BE OPEN”.

What if Zeus is the real God. What if the Biblical god was actually an evil god, that was tricking all of Christianity? What if God was Imaginary. What if the world realized that there wasn’t any great afterlife and that this world and the people Alive on it Now were all that there really was?

As an advertiser I admire religion for it’s marketing genius. Convince the consumer that they are profoundly and fundamentally flawed (by original sin) and that this invisible flaw will lead to an eternity of hell, then offer your “solution” (redemption through the church) in order to correct this unseen Flaw. All that is require is a lifetime commitment (and 10% of your earnings). All the while convincing them that your right, by quoting from the ‘User Manual” (bible) that god gave to a select few special people.

My children will receive a religious education, but not the kind I received. When my daughter first asked me what the “devil” was and I told her that it was an angel that god made who became bad. She asked me “why would God make the devil?”

To which I replied to her (and all christians) “That’s a great question, I don’t know Honey-it’s just a silly story that doesn’t really make much sense”

There is a growing population of religious people in this world who are openly hating this life and too eager to move into the next-I say feel free to move on and leave this life for the rest of us who really want to live it, please.

Great work Markie-Loved the film and you for making it! (friend of Olivier)

Salin, I can’t scare anyone into believing.  Believing is a free gift of God.  He gives faith to whomever he chooses:

Acts 16:14
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Acts 11:18
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith�??and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God�?? 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

In the film maker’s family some were given faith and some were not.  None deserve God’s gift of faith and so God has no obligation to give it to anyone, but gives it freely to whom He chooses.  However, His gift of faith does divide families as we see in the film and as Jesus predicted:

Luke 12
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

I can’t scare anyone into believing, only God can give faith, however fear is not all bad:

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Steve:  “What if?...” How about “So what?”

Are you trying to scare people into believing?  What’s your point?

What if the Bible is true?

What if it really is the inspired Word of God?

What if the prophets really were inspired by God to deliver His message to the world?

What if Jesus really is the Savior prophesied by Isaiah, who would be born of a Virgin, would be God, and would die for the sins of His people? (Isaiah chapters 7, 9, and 53)

What if all mankind really cannot set themselves free from the indwelling sin that enslaves them and which manifests itself in every kind of sin including homosexuality and alcoholism as depicted in this film?

What if God has power to set sinners free from the indwelling sin that enslaves them by His Almighty Spirit?  What if millions of people already testify that He has done this for them?

What if God has no obligation to free anyone from the sin that enslaves them and the consequences of it which is eternal separation from God in a place of eternal torment, the just penalty for rejecting God and loving sin?

What if God really is sovereign over His creation and powerful to draw anyone He chooses to Himself, indwelling them with His own Spirit of love, joy, and peace, and setting them free from the sin which would have sent them to eternal torment in Hell?

What if His indwelling Spirit is a free gift that He gives freely to undeserving sinners whom He chooses, removing the blindness of sin that enslaved them, and drawing them irresistibly to Himself, the One who is perfect in every way?

What if God really is totally free to save whomever He desires while passing over the rest since no one is deserving of His love and salvation because of their sins, but rather are deserving of His punishment as a just penalty for their sins?

What if Jesus really is the Son of God and His Words are true? 

�??And Jesus said to them, �??I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.�?� �?? 
(John 6)

What if the Bible is true?

What if it really is the inspired Word of God?

What if the prophets really were inspired by God to deliver His message to the world?

What if Jesus really is the Savior prophesied by Isaiah, who would be born of a Virgin, would be God, and would die for the sins of His people? (Isaiah chapters 7, 9, and 53)

What if all mankind really cannot set themselves free from the indwelling sin that enslaves them and which manifests itself in every kind of sin including homosexuality and alcoholism as depicted in this film?

What if God has power to set sinners free from the indwelling sin that enslaves them by His Almighty Spirit?  What if millions of people already testify that He has done this for them?

What if God has no obligation to free anyone from the sin that enslaves them and the consequences of it which is eternal separation from God in a place of eternal torment, the just penalty for rejecting God and loving sin?

What if God really is sovereign over His creation and powerful to draw anyone He chooses to Himself, indwelling them with His own Spirit of love, joy, and peace, and setting them free from the sin which would have sent them to eternal torment in Hell?

What if His indwelling Spirit is a free gift that He gives freely to undeserving sinners whom He chooses, removing the blindness of sin that enslaved them, and drawing them irresistibly to Himself, the One who is perfect in every way?

What if God really is totally free to save whomever He desires while passing over the rest since no one is deserving of His love and salvation because of their sins, but rather are deserving of His punishment as a just penalty for their sins?

What if Jesus really is the Son of God and His Words are true? 

�??And Jesus said to them, �??I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.�?� �?? 
(John 6)

What if the Bible is true?

What if it really is the inspired Word of God?

What if the prophets really were inspired by God to deliver His message to the world?

What if Jesus really is the Savior prophesied by Isaiah, who would be born of a Virgin, would be God, and would die for the sins of His people? (Isaiah chapters 7, 9, and 53)

What if all mankind really cannot set themselves free from the indwelling sin that enslaves them and which manifests itself in every kind of sin including homosexuality and alcoholism as depicted in this film?

What if God has no obligation to free anyone from the sin that enslaves them and the consequences of it which is eternal separation from God in a place of eternal torment as the just penalty for rejecting God and loving sin?

What if God really is sovereign over His creation and powerful to draw anyone He chooses to Himself, indwelling them with His own Spirit of love, joy, and peace, and setting them free from the sin which would have sent them to eternal torment in Hell?

What if His indwelling Spirit is a free gift that He gives freely to undeserving sinners whom He chooses, removing the blindness of sin that enslaved them, and drawing them irresistibly to Himself, the One who is perfect in every way?

What if God really is totally free to save whomever He desires while passing over the rest since no one is deserving of His love and salvation because of their sins, but rather are deserving of His punishment as a just penalty for their sins?

What if Jesus really is the Son of God and His Words are true? 

�??And Jesus said to them, �??I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.�?� �?? 
(John 6)

Great film!  Except for the part of Markie not believing in God, this is MY story too!  So much hurt to overcome--so much conditional love....how can others profess to “love” us and yet their actions are exclusionary?  I don’t expect family to “accept” me or my partner (it just won’t happen) but I do expect them to follow what the Bible teaches and that is to “love one another....” and this “love” is not conditional.  Wouldn’t it be great if our families would “love us back to the Lord” instead of segregating us into the world of unbelievers and not have much to do with us?!  Didn’t Christ associate with sinners in an effort to “love them” into the fold?  But, I’m just rambling.....Great movie!

Hey you sound even-handed to me… haha j/k
Enlightening movie, with pertinent questions regarding why a person believes, and to what extent.

Joshua L.
http://theist.com

The attitude is attributable to humans and everything we do.  It’s not just religion.  Even the most cynical and skeptical among us has some kind of belief system, even if that belief system is called science...and we ridicule and despise people who do not agree with our beliefs.  Until people change getting rid of religion will not fix the problem, and evolution happens slowly.  Give us a million years...maybe then.

Very powerful.  Truth does that.  I recommend this film to everyone.

Josh Nankivel
http://non-theist.com

This one here, it hit close to home.

What a fine document and family portrait. The overwhelming problem with most if not all religions is the attitude:My God is greater than your God...OR My God is the only God!...God is a man and there is only one way TO God.

this film told me that you were a sheep that wanted to be a goat the grass was green on the other side of the fence and you went with the world .... the name you were given at birth put you on the path to be gay ... i looked up the symbols in your name and you have a lot of perversions in the name you were given ...your name has a dark circle and its keeping you in the box ... the dark box and square way of thinking .. keeping you in darkness .. much love to you sister your life is not over yet ...

This film is close to my heart for more than one person in my family has come to this conclusion. I too was a born again for a period of time in my young life, then I found my heart and knew there is no place for believing only one way to the same moutain. A moutain has many side to climb and the only way up the moutain is where you start the climb. Each person works their way up and finds that the sight is just as beautiful as the ascent. Lessons learned and beautiful aha moments which bring to ones heart the beauty of love, for love is all that maters in the end. Is there an end, and do we have the right to say what that end is? Tolerance is most important in our changing times. WE all need to remember to love on another period.

This is in response to Bob (and any Christian who wonders why there are “recovering Christians.")
Sooooo many others do not question their faith, they refuse to think, they become “sheep” or “children,” they simply believe, which, true, is an admonition of the Bible.  Unfortunately most Christians do not study their religion, if they did they would find that the bible was written by men, and rewritten, and rewritten, and that the basis for their religion is just as based in historical problems as any other religion.  Not all are chosen to close off their minds to reason, love, and kindness, not all are chosen to believe that others are going to a wicked wicked place because a book that was written by powerful white men tells them so.  Want to find some recovering Christians--look at seminary students, biblical historians, divinity students, and generally anybody who has actually studied Christianity

I hope this lady can reconcile her relationships with family and God.

It’s sad when the older brother had said he’s not sure if his sister and brother are going to heaven.  That’s the way I feel I have two sister’s and a brother.  And they also have kids.

Interesting film.  Why do people like this woman, and Bart Ehrman turn from their Christian roots when sooo many others do not?  Perhaps an answer is found in the biblical admonition to make sure of your faith - that it is real and not fake.  For these people I have to really believe that it is (was) never real tho it seemed so because of their upbringing.  Is it perhaps better to come to your faith instead of being brought up in it?  Probably not, but the point is that each individual needs to come to their faith whether brought up in it or not.  Not all are chosen even if they are brought up as if they were.

Well, this was good all in all. It explians what an iron-fisted conservative to the max evangelical family can do to someone who has never had a chance to go outside of the box. As a christan, it’s hard for me to see her parents and her brother not try to be more involved in her life, after all chrstianity is about relationships. I know if it were my daughter, I would be tempted to travel to the ends of the earth and spend as much time as possible. The disscusion between her brother and her was the best, it is at the core of it all. The divide is there but it is not great. It is a simple yet fundamental one. So many issues in this movie and so little time. I think that Markie was at least trying to give her all to the Lord and her guilt nor anything else could convince her that the Lord has forgiven her of her sins and that her life could be spirit lead if she understood the implications of God in the grand scheme. I just know I like sex and food to make indulgent lifestyles out of them and damage me and my familes relationship, also friends...it would not be worth it. But, that’s my personal story and this is hers.

This is not just a film about division from an evangelical family, it’s a strong examination of just some of the things that can divide any family. I was brought up in a right wing Republican Catholic household and somehow managed to morph out of that world into becoming a moderately liberal democrat today. Fortunately for me, my parents accepted, respected and celebrated my individuality (although my Mother will still never understand my support for any democrat ). I saw many parallels in this film with my life, and while I am able to celebrate the diversity among us, this film serves as an important reminder that there are still those conditional “dividers” that continue to plague so many families. Wonderful film.

I just finished watching _Born Again_ and, as someone raised fundamentalist (Southern Baptist) I want to thank you for making your film. I had a hard enough time (a) getting out of religion and (b) getting religion out of me--not to mention telling my Ma I had done so--that I can barely imagine the added difficulty of conducting these discussions on film--even without the further complication of sexual identity. (I think my parents would have pretty much disowned me entirely had I been gay. It seems weird how high up on their hierarchy of sin homosexuality is.) But anyway, thank you again and best of luck with your life and family.

I just finished watching _Born Again_ and, as someone raised fundamentalist (Southern Baptist) I want to thank you for making your film. I had a hard enough time (a) getting out of religion and (b) getting religion out of me--not to mention telling my Ma I had done so--that I can barely imagine the added difficulty of conducting these discussions on film--even without the further complication of sexual identity. (I think my parents would have pretty much disowned me entirely had I been gay. It seems weird how high up on their hierarchy of sin homosexuality is.) But anyway, thank you again and best of luck with your life and family.

I’m a Christian and I also see the divisions it makes in society. I sometimes feel I’m in a constant conflict with acceptance of myself and sometimes others.  I feel at “odds” with myself alot....

This film is powerful as it shows the ramifications to family when beliefs are not in sync.  Markie does an amazing job at showing the disconnect in her family but finally finds her own family.  Very genuine.

A powerful film about the affects of religion/culture in one’s view of sexual orientation. I like how Markie takes you to the cliff of when religion serves to divide rather than to include. The unease and unwillingness of the parents and the brother towards the acceptance of who she is, along with the resentment of the other brother towards their born again upbringing creates the wonderful [sic] living dialogue of the importance of how we bring up our children, of the results of this upbringing, and the perpetual consequences that ensue.

Nicely done, I couldn’t agree more.