What others are saying about Vital Visions Incorporated:
Praise for “Hearts Divided:”
Hearts Divided records an even sadder chapter of the Protestant experience in the Nazi era. Its subject is the betrayal of true Christian values by the so-called “German Christians” and particularly their attempt to root out all Jewish influences and elements from the church. These pro-Nazi forces, led by their Reich Bishop Ludwig Mueller and by such theologians as Walter Grundmann, argued that only a Germanized Christianity could attract their fellow Germans back to the churches, and restore the church’s credibility by following Hitler’s political lead against the pernicious effects of Jewry. Church archives were therefore diligently searched to discover long-lost Jewish ancestors and to treat these Jewish-Christians as second class, expel them from leadership roles, or even turn them over to the Gestapo. Only a few brave souls stood out against this heretical tendency. Among them was Pastor Martin Niemöller who early on recognized the centrality of the issue of baptism. If the church capitulated to Nazi demands and excluded baptized Jews, then the Gospel’s validity would be destroyed. But the majority of German Protestants placed their national loyalties above sympathy with their fellow Christians of Jewish origins. The film’s commentators are undertandably indignant at this lamentable capitulation to Nazi pressures, which they rightly see as a deplorable breach of faith and a warning to others.
John Conway Association of Contemporary Church Historians
Praise for "Theologians Under Hitler:"
The film is an excellent introduction to understanding how the church failed. It is well researched and presented and I highly recommend it. The video was also shown and discussed at The 35th Annual Scholars' Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches in March in Philadelphia. It was given high marks for its scholarship and ability to recognize the failure of the church during Nazism - when too few theologians resisted.
Professor Marcia Sachs Littell, Director
Master of Arts Program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Our Historical Context class at Brentwood United Methodist did your "Theologians Under Hitler" pilot course, expanding it into an eight month study, in 2006-2007. We found the course particularly meaningful in the context of current political/religious issues in the U.S.A. We remain very grateful to you for what we learned from the book and DVD and from how that learning applies to our daily lives. In our subsequent studies, we often reference concepts we learned from the study. Thank you.
Linda Sherman, member
Brentwood United Methodist Church
Brentwood, Tennessee
For people who thought Dietrich Bonhoeffer represented the mainstream of German Christianity in the Third Reich, this film is a rude awakening. And it is a cautionary message in a society where nationalism, patriotism, and Christian faith may be coming too closely connected in some circles. This is an excellent title for university, seminary, and large public libraries looking for important additions to their Holocaust collections.
Jean Flanigan, Associate Director of Libraries & Media Center
East Tennessee State University,
Johnson City, Tennessee
Praise for "Islam in America After September 11th:"
Dear Producers and KQED,
I just finished watching "Islam in America After September Eleventh." Its airtime was Thursday, December 19, 2002 from 11:00pm to midnight, and the filmmakers were Steven D. Martin and Michael Pinner. I watched it on KQED here in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is the best show that I have ever seen about Islam on television. I'd like to thank the producers for doing such an outstanding job and PBS for broadcasting it. Once again, thank you all very much.
Yours,
Uzma Husaini,
Oakland, CA
This workshop helped me to appreciate the complexity of the multi-cultural/religious dynamics involved in issues involving persons of the Islamic tradition. My level of understanding and acceptance of Muslims increased dramatically through the sensitive and expert leadership of the presenters.
Rev. Larry Ousley
Intentional Growth Center
Lake Junaluska, NC