In his new documentary Contradiction, Jeremiah Camara raises interesting questions about how religion is perceived in the black community. Camara recently spoke with rolling out about the basis of his film. Be one of the first to see the new documentary “Contradiction” at the World Premier Tuesday October 8th at Porter Sanford Art Center in Decatur Georgia 3181 Rainbow Drive.
When did you decide to explore religion in the black community through film?
As African Americans, questioning our faith is not something we’re accustomed to doing. In the South especially, it’s not uncommon to recruit others to join our churches and spend our Wednesdays and Sundays worshiping and fellowshipping. It was within this religiously charged atmosphere that I decided to write two books, create the Slave Sermons video series and later create a documentary dealing with the psychological impact of faith in the Black community.
Why has the black community always relied on the black church?
There was a time where the only place that Blacks could turn to was the institution of the church. However, it was not the inherent properties of religion that helped Blacks gain various ground in America but religion’s ability to unite people in fighting a common cause. Understandably, the church is like an old friend that has served Blacks well throughout times when nothing else did. But, despite this legacy, there comes a time when Blacks must be open to meeting new friends such as the “institution” of logic, reason and freethinking.
Do the majority of blacks have a true sense of what they are worshiping and why they are doing so?
Study and research has repeatedly indicated that believers are less knowledgeable about their religious faith than non-believers. I’ve asked hundreds of people about the origins of their beliefs and very few actually knew. There are only four basic factors in determining one’s beliefs: geographical location, tradition, historical circumstances and accessibility. Essentially, we believe what we do because our enslavers, who practiced Christianity, demanded that we adopt their faith.
How has religion been used to divide and conquer?
Religion is the transport system into the psychology of people. It appeals to our greatest fears and hopes, so it’s relatively easy to manipulate people through their beliefs. Currently, there are approximately 100,000 predominately Black churches in the United States but there is practically no business ownership in any of the surrounding areas. There are really no Black communities (only Black neighborhoods) in the U.S. and Blacks own less than one-half of one-percent of the entire wealth of this nation. Religion teaches people that individual salvation is more important than group salvation. We are conditioned to have “personal relationships” with God. This is the antithesis of the African axiom that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
What are the most positive things that religion has done for the black community?
While enslaved, Blacks needed to construct monuments of hope. Religious faith was once a vital ingredient. Having the hope that one day a savior would come to the rescue and eliminate all the suffering was a psychological necessity. But, there’s an Asian proverb that says, “To maintain a spiritual belief system that once served you in the past is to carry the raft on your backs after you have crossed the river.”
What is the overall goal for this film?
In making the film, my intent was never to convert, proselytize or change believers into non-believers. One of the main objectives was to present the information with a spirit of respect — not being condemnatory towards anyone’s beliefs. I think we accomplished that. Despite this approach, there is no doubt that many viewers will feel the discomfort of cognitive dissonance. I think Contradiction is an important film because it creates a historical and cultural context to better understand the effects of religion in modern society. Contradiction forces us to confront many nonsensical aspects about our beliefs while challenging our assumptions and fostering a long overdue dialogue about faith.
Contradiction Movie Trailer: [jwplayer mediaid=”524885″]
