For the Bible Tells Me So (2007)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
A timely and poignant examination of gays, their families and religion.
For the Bible Tells Me So” is a documentary that tackles the issue of homosexuality and religion. While some critics found it imperfect, others praised it for its thought-provoking and emotionally sweeping message. The film takes a witty and compassionate view of what coming out in a religious family feels like, both to adult gay kids and their bewildered parents. It reveals how inaccurate interpretations of the Bible cause widespread despair and the destruction of lives. Overall, it’s a necessary and masterfully crafted work that could spark much-needed conversations. Plus, the animation sequence is a bit weird, but we’ll let it slide.
Production Company(ies)
Atticus Group Vision Quest Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary/Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
documentary, LGBTQ+, religion, conservative Christians, homophobia, families, gay son, gay daughter, religious leaders, values, interpretation, Bible, equal rights, director, Daniel G Karslake, writer, Helen R Mendoza, box office, gross USA, $309.1K, Gene Robinson, Victor Robinson, Brenda Poteat, David Poteat, reviewed by Hank Sartin, Melissa Anderson, J.R Jones, Jessica Reaves, Marrit Ingman, Sara Michelle Fetters, David Lamble, Mattie Lucas, Jennifer Merin, Michael Sragow, Pablo Villaça, Phil Villarreal, produced by, MPAA rating, English, 1h 35m, runtime
Worldwide gross: $312,751
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $448,037
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,761
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 48,859
US/Canada gross: $312,751
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $448,037
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,350
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,412
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,618
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,691
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Victor Robinson – Self
Brenda Poteat – Self
David Poteat – Self
Daniel G. Karslake – Director, Writer
Director(s)
Daniel G. Karslake
Writer(s)
Daniel G. Karslake, Helen R. Mendoza
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (1)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Melissa Anderson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Progressive clergy provide enough historical context to neutralize the handful of Bible verses prohibiting homosexual acts, but Karslake never confronts the broader issues of sexuality and procreation that bedevil even moderate Christians.
January 11, 2008
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This is a compelling, thought-provoking portrait of a quiet challenge rising within America’s churches.
November 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Jessica Reaves
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
If imperfect, the film is also necessary.
October 27, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
For the Bible Tells Me So is a great documentary and an even better motion picture, and as a testament to faith and family I can’t imagine a finer example than this.
October 26, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
The documentary takes a witty and compassionate view of what coming out in a religious family feels like, both to adult gay kids and their bewildered parents.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
A masterfully crafted, deeply moving work that could spark much needed conversations.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Karslake reveals ways Scripture has been used to discriminate against homoexuality, and shows how inaccurate interpretations of the Bible cause widespread despair and the destruction of lives.
June 9, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Jennifer Merin
About.com
July 16, 2008 | Rating: B+
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun
Excessivamente convencional em sua estrutura e contendo sua parcela de graves tropeos (a seqncia em animao), este filme ainda assim merece aplausos pela eloqncia de seus entrevistados, pelo teor de sua mensagem e pela paixo com que a defende.
March 19, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
One message rings clear throughout the occasionally muddled but always emotionally sweeping film: A true abomination is twisting the words of Scripture to match bigotry.
January 17, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
“For the Bible Tells Me So” is a documentary that explores how conservative Christians use their interpretation of the Bible to deny equal rights to homosexuals, following five families with openly gay children and interviewing religious leaders.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with various religious leaders and five families with openly gay children.
Daniel-G.-Karslake.jpg
