This documentary sounds like a fascinating project. I welcome it and think it will help the general lack of understanding of our Church. I’ve always thought – even before I was a member – that the story of our Church is interesting simply as a historical phenomenon. It’s always annoying to introduce yourself as a Mormon and get the polygamy question. I have no illusions about that changing anytime soon, but maybe this documentary will inform a few people?
The Millennial Star
I am very nervous about this one, as I remember another PBS program about Mormon missionaries that was not too kind. On top of that, PBS is very liberal and anti-religious in its national programming – especially “Frontline.” Nope, I probably will not see it. The good news is that very few people watch PBS anymore.
Terryl Givens and Will Bagley both consulted for the project. Should be interesting.
I thought PBS’s production on Joseph Smith was pretty good.
Jettboy – Considering HBO’s brilliant track record with dealing with similar topics, I think we should all give thanks with the approach PBS is taking.
Do you have another medium in mind that would do a better job than PBS (and that has the same reach that PBS has)?
I think this might (just maybe) fall under the category of “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Or, as Brigham Young is reported to have said “You can only kick this church upstairs.”
Kyle’s right, the Joseph Smith production was excellent. Jettboy has fallen for the PBS are liberal/communists that love terrorists hype.
Terryl Givens and Richard Bushman were extensively consulted and interviewed for the project and both expressed real excitement and optimism about it. Helen Whitney made “Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero,” probably the most stunning documentary I’ve ever seen (also, incidentally, of the Frontline franchise). No one watching that could possible think that it disparages religious faith. I’m afraid I’m with jjohnsen here: Jettboy’s been drinking the liberal-media-conspiracy koolaid. This will probably be the fairest, most thought-provoking examination of Mormonism from the outside in a long time (if ever). If nobody really watches PBS, it’s a shame for those of us who hope that “this documentary will inform a few people.”