TVSquad

This is the first in a 376-part series* in which I try to better myself, and in turn better the rest of you, by turning to the font of information known as television, courtesy of this other font of information known as the internet.

It is my belief that everything we need to know can be learned from television. We have relied too heavily on books for too long, and it's time we stopped reading and started accepting everything TV tells us.

Today, let us all learn about Christianity, one of the three Abrahamic religions along with Judaism and Islam:

Here's a few shows coming down the pike from PBS and National Geographic:

Tonight at 9 p.m. (but check listings) on PBS, "Hijacked" will be shown on American Experience. The film tells the story of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine whose members hijacked four commercial aircraft and commandeered a fifth in 1970 to attract attention to their cause. Six hundred people were taken hostage, four planes were blown up, but no one was killed. The documentary will explore both the parallels and differences between terrorism then and now.

Documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, who also directed the doc about the Presidential campaign of George W. Bush Journeys with George, tackles evangelicals in Friends of God, an original film for HBO. It's a startling look deep inside the conventions, beliefs, and personalities that make up this larger than you would think demographic in the United States, which contains an estimated 50 to 80 million Americans.

Some of the subjects in the film are some wrestlers who describe what they do as "Taking TV wrestling, cleanning it up, and putting Jesus in it," and a minister who brags about the amount of sex he has with his wife. He also dubiously claims that evangelicals have "The most satisfying sex lives out of any group." He also asks two of his constituents how often they have sex with their wives, and they both claim every day. Two times a day, sometimes ... and they climax every time. Wow. Not exactly what you'd expect to see in a documentary about evangelicals, and that's what makes this look appealing.

HBO is developing a very topical mini-series about the Third Crusade, the 12th century battle where European Christians attempted to reconquer the Holy Land occupied by Muslims. It's an exciting story that includes death, love and betrayal-- all important elements in great storytelling (a synopsis of the Third Crusade is at Wikipedia). HBO and co-producer Channel 4 will tell the story through the eyes of the leaders on both sides, Saladin and Richard the Lionheart.

Writing the series is Kario Salem, who wrote Don King: Only in America and The Rat Pack for HBO. The series is Salem's idea-- he pitched HBO with a 100-page, thoroughly-researched outline. HBO agreed to the project, but asked him to cut it down from his projected ten hours to eight. Salem will write the first four hours and Don McPherson will write the final four.

No air date has been announced.

It is said one cannot toss a dead squirrel in the air without it landing on a Christian, what with there being so many of them. Do we really know all about the origins of this religion, though? With the Christmas season upon us, CNN will be airing a two-hour documentary, CNN Presents: After Jesus – The First Christians, which will examine the early days of Christianity, including the persecution of early Christians and debates over the direction the religion should take even among its own followers.

I consider myself a non-religious person who's still interested in learning about religion. While I don't subscribe to the Christian faith, I'm always interested in learning about the history behind things, and to fill in what I forgot from my college religion courses. Based on the press release, this sounds like it could actually be rather informative, so I'm looking forward to it. It will air December 20 at 7 and 10 pm, and re-air December 23 and 24 at 7 and 10 pm also.

You know you've really made it to the big leagues when an infamous religious zealot pins you as a big reason why half of humanity won't make it to Heaven. Congratulations, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert! Fred Phelps just put you two on his personal "Dead to Me" board. Let's rain down some fire (and confetti) to celebrate.

Yeah. Apparently, Reverend Fred Phelps didn't enjoy Jon and Stephen's little presentation during this year's Emmys. He put his rant in video form, bashing the two for making God's wrath a joke. I tried putting all my concentration into watching the rant in its entirety, but I had to keep pausing to remind myself that Phelps isn't kidding. Catch the video after the jump.

(WARNING: Listening to Fred Phelps for more than two consecutive minutes may cause one to lose faith in all humanity)

[via CC Insider]