Genesis: A Living Conversation with Bill Moyers

Comments about PBS Genesis: A Living Conversation DVD:

Imagine getting together a disparate group of selected individuals with no training, experience, belief in the object of the discussion, or perhaps even interest in this topic, or worse yet, a real hostility to the focus of the discussion and then expecting some kind of rational, enlightening, or even helpful reason for further exploration of the discussed issue -- and this program purports to benefit the listener somehow?

It's like getting together a welder, concert pianist, stock broker, store clerk, minister, counselor and dentist and asking them to comment on nuclear physics. The stock broker doesn't believe in atoms because he's never seen one, the pianist doesn't put much stock in physics because it changes so often, the counselor sees everyone's position and thinks they are all wrong, the minister doesn't believe in science - it's far too human. Only one or two have any confidence or familiarity in the course text and others see it as a work of fiction that isn't very interesting.

I found most of the group ignorant of the discussion text, a philosophy based on a personal agenda more important to the participant than the subject under discussion, hostility to subject of the discussion generally, and insufficiently familiar with the subject matter to make connections with the specific issues under discussion from other parts of the text.

I watched the program and purchased the book from which I formed the above observations. It is ironic, considering the subject matter, that the person who made the most sense and the person with whom I most agreed -- was a Muslim.

Comments about PBS Genesis: A Living Conversation DVD:

I apologize for using the review forum to ask questions about the DVD package that is being offered here. When I saw that it is a Bill Moyers project about the Book of Genesis, and that he had convened a panel of experts in different Religious, Theological, Philosophical, Anthropological, Archeological - I'm sure I missed some fields - but that he has convened all these experts to speak about Genesis; I almost had a metaphorical stroke! Bill Moyer's interviews with Joseph Campbell changed my life; I am hoping this series effects me as much and as powerfully. But do they only speak on Genesis? there are 570 minutes, which equates to 9 1/2 hours!!
I guess I will just have to wait until I receive the series... Yet I feel like a child who cannot wait to open his presents on Christmas morning!
Well, thank you for your time... in a way, this is a review of Bill Moyer's reputation for putting together series that are enlightening, ecumenical, and inclusive of everyone.
(Carl Rove made a negative comment about one of his PBS shows, and after that, I always knew I was in the right place! Enjoy, friends.)