Sorry for the anonymous post, but I was trying to do some research on the Zeitgeist films when I ran across this thread. I do wish to respond to a few
points.
1. Something that is beginning to annoy me considerably is this "all or nothing", "black and white", "us vs them" absolutist mentality that is
becoming ever more prevalent in this society. The question that should be asked is whether or not the movies have inaccuracies, does it still present
a valid MESSAGE? Personally I think it does.
2. I don't think that Zeitgeist or Addendum were ever intended to be "scholarly" works to begin with. For those who have watched films like
America: Freedom to Fascism or some of the Alex Jones material, it is obviously clear that Peter Joseph is building upon existing works and
information, and he gives credit to those sources at the end of the film. Nothing wrong with that, and that the Zeitgeist movies should be taken for
what they are... an overview. If anybody disagrees with points made in the film, look at the sources that Peter Joseph is drawing from, and then find
out where THOSE sources are getting their info. That's how research is done.
3. I'm sorry, but some of these sites that claim to debunk Zeitgeist, especially the site
www.conspiracyscience.com... are laughable. My
personal observation is that this particular site makes too many straw men and appeal to ridicule arguments to give it a real credibility problem IMO.
The whole "Hate Mail" section was just childish again in my opinion. Personally I switched off when that particular site was attempting to link
Zeitgeist Pt III to antisemitism in the conclusion, or where the author is implying that Peter Joseph is trying to profiteer off of his film. GEEZ! Of
course this is just one example.
For very similar reasons, I really don't pay much attention to Christian sites either any longer. I will be honest and say that I haven't looked
that closely at what the Christians have had to say about the Zeitgeist movies (I generally just scan it over), but there is a reason for this. In the
past, I have looked over many Christian sites/talked with other Christians/gone to church on other subjects, ranging from the war in Iraq, satanic
conspiracy, Mormonism, heavy metal music, Conversations with God, evolution, etc. In the end, it really comes down to one underlying theme, and that
there is an assumption on their part that their core beliefs (or most organized religions for that matter) are the correct ones despite any and all
evidence to the contrary, and that the religion in question will fall back on this assumption. This assumption is EXACTLY what this film along with
others like "The God Who Wasn't There" is trying to challenge. Generally when this happens, one of three things will follow. First, they will focus
in and nitpick certain details in an attempt to discredit while ignoring the overall picture. For example, the concept of a transposed deity is only
ONE argument out of MANY, nor is it a new one. Second, many of their counter-arguments end up being little more than appeals to faith, ridicule, or
ad-hominem attacks usually with little supporting evidence. Third, if all else fails, then it is a matter that the person challenging their beliefs is
either not a True Believer, satanically inspired, or some other such nonsense. Thing is what commentary that I have run across regarding the Zeitgeist
movies gives me little reason to think it is going to be any different this time around. Again, my personal experience... the reader's mileage may
vary! LOL!
I still say that both movies are definitely worth watching, but as always the viewer should do their own research and form their own opinion.