BETHEL — A documentary film will be shown on Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at Gould’s McLaughlin Auditorium. It’s called ‘The Religion Move’ and it’s part of the Faith and Film series that has been ongoing in town, where films with spiritual themes are screened and discussed.

The filmmaker, Alan Kryczak, will be present and will lead a discussion following the film. The film is ‘a walk through the footsteps of several major religions, those who are drawn to religion, and those who are repelled by it.

The first-person accounts of the faithful and the unaffiliated, from Maine to Massachusetts, explore the practices of democracy and theocracy and what lies between.’ I’ve attached a poster about it and also a description of the film written by Kryczak:

‘A priest, a Rabbi, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Vedic, an Atheist, and a Pagan all walk into a film. Bartender says…’

This film is dedicated to the victims of faith as well as those gracious enough to share their positive beliefs with us. One lesbian couple experiences unexpected acceptance in church, while another couple is disowned by their parents due to Christian beliefs; A Native American tribe wrestles with the desire to forget a building that harbors more than a symbol of faith.

This film is especially dedicated to gender-targeted victims. LGBTQ stories include a trans retiree and a gay teen told he’s going to hell; and a female cellist already there, whose beautiful face is a death sentence from god-fearing men in Iran.

With the growing collisions between religious values brought into laws affecting citizens who do not adhere to those beliefs, the 18th Century topic of Democracy versus Theocracy has re-emerged, altering civil rights, women’s rights & the right to read a book.

This film asks parties on both sides of the debate, what they believe & whether the ‘separation of church and state’ is still valid, as the U.S founders envisioned.