Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory

Based on writer/host Randall Balmer's book of the same name, this 3-part PBS series is an illuminating look at what many of us term fundamentalist religion. Although when we think of evangelicalism, we may have in our minds a picture of a weeping Jimmy Swaggart swearing that he will S&M no more and begging for bucks, Balmer's journey shows us that the stereotype is rather wide of the mark. Tracing the history of evangelicalism in America, while visiting current-and often widely divergent-examples of the faith, the programs visit locales as varied as the Willow Creek church in South Barrington, IL (which doesn't have crosses or statuettes of Jesus, but does have an impressive mufti-color lit stage for the concerts during regular service, which lasts exactly 75 minutes) to the True Bibleway Apostolic Church in Natchez, MS, where the congregation provides the singing (and the dancing) as the spirit moves them, and there are no time limits set on the service. As interesting as the numerous on-location shoots are, Balmer's commentary on the evangelical faith is even more so. He deftly chronicles the rise of the faith, the "going into hiding" period which followed the attendant controversy of the Scopes trial, and the re-emergence of the faith into the mainstream during the counterculture movement of the late 60s and 70s (with the "Jesus freaks"), and especially during the Reagan-Bush years. A fascinating series. Highly recommended. (Available from: Vision Video, Box 540, 2030 Wentz Church Rd.. Worcester, PA 19490; (800) 523-0226.)