Review by Amos Lassen
Rating:
“Fish Out of Water”

WOW!!!!!!!!!!

Amos Lassen

Those of you who know me or read my reviews know that I am particularly interested in the subject of homosexuality and religion and I literally devour anything about it. Well, along comes “Fish Out of Water”, a new documentary by Ky Dickens and I am in a state of awe. This is an absolutely beautiful, touching and sensitive film that says a great deal in a very short period of time and everything about it is perfect.

Basically the film is about Dickens’s coming out to her friends when she was a student at Vanderbilt University but on the deeper level it is an exploration of seven Biblical passages that have been used to condemn homosexuality and justify heterosexual marriage. We see an analysis of arguments against homosexuality presented in a way that is enlightening and easy to understand. It is quite simply a look at why people hate us and why this hate has no basis in the Bible.

We are all aware how difficult and challenging coming out of the closet can be and many times it is fundamentalist Christians and religious zealots that make the process so hard and painful. Many use the Bible as a way to condemn the way we live and the film shows us that very few people understand what the Bible really says on the issue. Using animation, interviews and analyses, “Fish Out of Water” shows us exactly what people have misinterpreted for so long.

The title “Fish Out of Water” says a great deal about what the film is about and how we are forced to behave when faced with those who will not accept us. We feel we are excluded from society, religious institutions and, in many cases, family. More surprising is that the fish symbol came into being to represent unity and belonging in the early Church and something that the modern church does not want us to feel.

We see interviews with those who give us their personal experiences with homosexuality and scripture and they are presented as a diverse sampling of the GLBT community. We also meet a group of theologians who share their knowledge with us. Discussing religion is difficult for most people (except those who evangelize) and when homosexuality is added to the discussion, it becomes even more difficult. Dickens also gives us a very personal look at her own experiences. She learned that the seven Biblical passages (four from the Old Testament and three from the New Testament) are taken out of context and used for whatever political reasons that are necessary. Dickens took it upon herself to show how misinterpreted these passages are. It is interesting to note that one of the conclusions that the film draws comes from John Shelby Spong, a liberal Christian theologian and Bible scholar and retired Episcopal bishop is that the Bible will lose some of its validity as a tool of faith and will turn people away from the church because it is so filled with hate–as some claim. The church cannot be discriminatory, he says, and he maintains that discrimination is hateful. Another preacher, John Fellers, from Texas, has spent his whole life fighting on the issue of gays and religion but this film caused him to lose that fight.

I simply cannot recommend this film highly enough. My rabbi and I watched it together and we both were shedding tears throughout. Dickens has given us a wonderful gift with this film but we must pass this gift on. Here is a film that must be seen and not only seen but savored, talked about, and lauded.

Review by Billy C. Tune
Rating:
This movie examines scriptures which are most often used to condemn homosexuality, and points out the difficulties with any “philosophy” of Christianity that choses to exclude people from the body of Christ due to sexual orientation. It is serious, but not heavy-handed, and can be used as an effective education tool to help people better understand the scriptures and how they relate to Jesus’ teachings of love and acceptance.

Review by Sam Drew
Rating:
How can anyone watch this and still do not understand the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish i can by a copy for everyone who do not believe in equality for there GLBTQ family members.