Pollard on Film

This programme, which includes clips from the film, explores Charles Darwin's changing belief in God.

Two crucial questions are posed -  Why is it that you believe what you do? and What would it take to make you change your mind?

Published: 4th September 09
Length: 06.00

Sorry - because of the terms of our agreement with the film distributor, this Pollard on Film video is no longer available.

Other downloads

More clips are available free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription.

Present your own version

Download the editable script of this Pollard on Film, modify it as appropriate for your needs, then download the video containing the clips and the trailer to show when presenting your script (free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).

 Suggestion for use

1. Show the first part of the programme. Then freeze frame on the question 'A belief you hold firmly - Why do you believe it? What would change your mind?'
2. Invite people to share their answers with one another.
   
3. Invite feedback and discuss what our answers tell us about:
   
   • Our view of truth: how do we decide what is true? Do we base this decision primarily on experiences or evidence?
   • Our view of faith: how do we react to others' beliefs when they conflict with our own? Are we willing to test our beliefs, to see if they hold up to scrutiny?
   • Our view of God: to what extent is the existence of God a reasonable belief? How might we justify this belief, either by experiences or evidence?
   • Our view of life: how do we respond to experiences that challenge our beliefs? How do we respond to our beliefs that challenge the way we live?
4. Show the rest of the programme.
5. Deliver a short talk lifting off from the suggestion to look at biblical ideas of evidence, belief and searching. You could look at 1 Thessalonians 5:21 and 1 Peter 3:15-16 think about the importance of testing our beliefs and examining the evidence for ourselves, perhaps illustrating these ideas with contemporary quotes about evidence, belief and searching (NB these links into the large collection of relevant Bible references and contemporary quotes are free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).

Background reading

Before using this programme you may find the following helpful:

• The Culturewatch article Talking about . . . Darwin (by Tony Watkins)