IN ’S NAME An International Feature Film, VR, Video Game & Media Outreach Project The Persecution of Christians – Real Untold Stories – A Survival Conversation with Hope

Magnetic Arts, LLC 214 East Seventeenth Street New York, New York 10003 A local Christian prays in the ruins of a church [email protected] destroyed by ISIS in Syria’s Hasakah. 212-979-1471 Image: Valery Melnikov / Sputnik, from Christianity Today IN GOD’S NAME An International Feature Film, VR, Video Game & Media Outreach Project The Persecution of Christians – Real Untold Stories – A Survival Conversation with Hope

Projection Set VR Game

With the goal of hope, coexistence and peace - we will film a group of five adults and five teens/20-somethings in a giant 3-D globe that becomes a techno time-machine. We virtually experience scenes of discrimination, ethnic cleansing, forced-migration, torture and genocide. At the same time, we will be filming a set of short VR pieces allowing viewers to also enter these scenes. A companion platform will offer video games where the object is to put down weapons, dialogue for points, and eat together with enemies — fostering empathy and non-violent solutions.

2 IN GOD’S NAME An International Feature Film, VR, Video Game & Media Outreach Project The Persecution of Christians – Real Untold Stories – A Survival Conversation with Hope

If they persecuted me, they will And you, of tender years, persecute you… Can’t know the fears that your elders grew by, in fact, the time is coming when And so please help them with your youth, anyone who kills you will think they They seek the truth before they can die. are offering a service to God. Teach your parents well, Their children’s hell will slowly go by, – Jesus Christ, John 15 & 16 And feed them on your dreams The one they pick, the one you’ll know by. Don’t you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry, So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

– written by Graham Nash. Performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

The targeting of Christians can never be justified in the name of any religion, creed or conviction. What we are witnessing is the uproot- ing not only of a religious minority, but of an entire civilization. The extermination of women and children for any reason whatsoever – much more so in the supposed name of religious conviction – is the elimination of the future. It must be characterized as nothing less Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence (Christian heroes and martyrs, 1895) than genocide.

– Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

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hristianity was birthed in persecution. Yet who could have " Our mission imagined that the persecution of Christians in the twenty-first is century would eclipse that of any other century. Or that our to teach the children of Cgeneration would face mass genocide in the Levant—including Palestine our world how to foster where Christ was born; Antioch where the disciples were first called empathy, Christians; Anatolia where the embryonic Christian church flourished; and understanding and peace. " Damascus where Paul experienced his dramatic conversion.

In the December 2018 cover story of Harper’s magazine, “The Vanishing: The Plight of Christians in an Age of Intolerance,” Yale’s Janine di Giovanni rightly noted that “virtually all Christians in the northeast [of Syria] have left, taking with them a rich cultural tradition that dates to the earliest days of the faith.” And that tragically, this vanishing not only in Syria but throughout the Levant—indeed the world—remains squarely in the blind spot of the West.

What has remained largely out of sight will be brought to the attention of the world in the international feature film and media outreach projectIn God’s

Name—moderated by Dr. Norris J. Chumley and Jonathan Jackson, both Battle Of Inab (also named Ard al-Hatim), "Passage outremer", 14th century, by Jean Colombe and Sebastien Momerot EMMY award-winning filmmakers.

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The daily reality for Christians throughout the Holy Land, Middle East and in twenty countries worldwide is vulnerability, repression, intimidation, persecution… and genocide. Not just now, but these almost unknown yet ongoing Christian holocausts have continued for millennia. While Americans enjoy the gifts of freedom and security in the practice of their faith, Christians from Istanbul to Izmir, from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, from Antioch to Aleppo, face humiliation and annihilation. Yet, this story has largely escaped the attention of westerners. Until now.

In God’s Name will vividly report and document the moderated by Dr. Norris J. Chumley and Jonathan Jackson, harrowing stories of Christian persecution and genocide both EMMY award-winning filmmakers and presenters. from multiple perspectives engaged in a filmed dialogue In five short sections, In God’s Name will cover the between five adults: an historian, a religious scholar, a history of the persecution and genocide of Christians, theologian/clergy member and one or two people who describe contemporary situations, and end with the have personally experienced persecution– and five young young participant’s ideas of what can be done for future people: ages 12-25. This moderated conversation will be generations. richly illustrated by film footage, historical animations and three-dimensional collages, as if the participants The persecution of Christians can be historically traced and viewers are in the actual locations. The dialogue will from the first century of the Christian era based on be filmed with multiple cameras in 5K high-resolution the biblical account of Jesus’ persecution and ultimate utilizing green-screen technology, and in VR (Virtual crucifixion, to contemporary times. Early Christians were Reality) for a totally immersive media experience. There persecuted for their faith at the hands of both Jews from will be elements of culture, geography and religion whose religion Christianity arose and the Romans who behind each moment of the story: music, art, poetry controlled many of the lands where early Christianity and prose. The film and VR program framework is being spread. Christian missionaries as well as converts to written by Hank Hanegraaf, known to millions of radio Christianity have been the targets of persecution ever since listeners and readers as “The Bible Answer Man,” and the emergence of Christianity, often to the point of being

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martyred for their faith. The schisms of the Middle Ages In more recent times, the Christian missionary and especially the Protestant Reformation often provoked organization Open Doors (UK and USA) estimates that severe conflicts between Christian denominations to the approximately 215 million Christians face persecution, point of persecuting one another. In the 20th century, particularly in Middle Eastern countries such as Pakistan Christians have been persecuted by various groups, and Saudi Arabia, at the hands of ISIS and various Muslim including the Islamic Ottoman Empire in the form of the extremists. There is active persecution of Christians in the Armenian Genocide, the Assyrian Genocide and the Greek United States to this day. Christian academics, students, Genocide, as well as atheistic states such as the Soviet social groups, churches and outspoken religious believers Union and North Korea. During World War II members are regularly demeaned, debased and targeted. of some Christian churches were persecuted in Germany for resisting Nazi ideology. For seventeen centuries, The persecution, forced migration, denial of legal status despite the world-wide recognition of the status of His and extermination of Christians across the world is All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as the worse today “than at any time in history,” and Western spiritual leader of all Orthodox Christians, the government governments are failing to stop it, a report from the Aid of Turkey will give no legal standing and status, nor allow to the Church in Need organization states. The treatment property ownership to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the of Christians has worsened substantially in the past two historical Holy Center of Orthodox Christianity at the years compared with the two years prior, and has grown Phanar, in Istanbul, Turkey. more violent than any other period in modern times. “Not only are Christians more persecuted than any other faith group, but ever-increasing numbers are experiencing the very worst forms of persecution,” the report said. The last decade has had more than one-half of all persecutions, some 20 million believers according to Open Doors. The time is NOW to report the realities and to seek answers towards solutions. 6 IN GOD’S NAME Brief Summary

Our goal in making this film is simple: teach the historic with an enemy and being empathic of their problems and and current realities of religious persecution of Christians life challenges. to children and youth, so that they can envision and actively create a new future. Learning history and the mistakes from the past provides a context from which to understand themselves and others. Historical critical context learning through real stories empowers young people to form their identity, improves decision making and judgment and provides models of good and responsible citizenship. The last one-quarter of the film will feature the ideas of the young people; their dreams and creative thoughts towards dialogue, understanding and peace.

Gustave Doré (1832-1883), Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople We are designing the truth to be told utilizing all media: film, television, audio – and highly interactive websites, In God’s Name will be a highly emotional, experiential podcasts, and an app for iPhones and Androids. We will journey through the past and present of persecution – endeavor to tell the stories of many persecuted people, revealing painful stories and horrific truths that absolutely from multidisciplinary and multicultural perspectives must never happen again. Join us in creating a future of from history, and 3-5 contemporary shared first-person reconciliation, forgiveness and peaceful harmony. Help us accounts. An app-based video game will be the opposite tell the largely untold story that must be told. of “shoot-em-up” games. The player earns points by not shooting and killing. Extra points for laying down their After all, our children: their religious freedom and their weapons. One wins the game by starting a conversation safety ARE the future.

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Content Points Crucifixion of St. Peter by Luca Giordano, circa 1660

HISTORIC

— Jesus confrontations. Crucifixion. — – Nero — Peter martyred. Polycarp.

Series: The Life of St Catherine of — St. Catherine Alexandria, British Museum — The Crusades — Byzantium / Fall of Constantinople — French Revolution — Reformation era

Persecution of the Christians at Rome by Nero. — Greek, Assyrian, Armenian Genocides Illustration for The Pathway of Life by T Dewitt Talmage (Johnson, 1890). — Ottoman Empire: European tensions, Wallenstein: A Scene of the Thirty Years War (oil on canvas), Crofts, Ernest (1847–1911) / Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds Art Gallery) U.K. / Syria, Bulgaria, Turkey The Bridgeman Art Library.

Copperplate engraving of execution of Louis XVI by Georg Heinrich Sieveking 8 IN GOD’S NAME

Content Points

CONTEMPORARY

Dynamiting of a church in Shanxi province's Linfei city, China. — Ecumenical Patriarchate / — Soviet/ Billion Bibles. JAN 9, 2018

Communist countries: Russia, China, The video of the executions of Coptic Christians, who'd immigrated to Libya from Egypt in search of work, has sparked an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council. , Poland, Hungary, By Corky Siemaszko, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, FEB 17, 2015 Lithuania

— Nazi Germany

Africa: Alarming Rise Of Christian Persecution. — Cyprus By UZAY BULUT/GATESTONE INSTITUTE, JUNE 27, 2019 — Egypt/Coptics — North Korea — India — Africa — Israel/Palestine

— Asia: Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam

A man prays in a destroyed church — USA in Hungary. VATICAN NEWS, OCT 30, 2019 (Photo: All India Christian Council/Wikimedia/CC) Remains of a church property burnt down during wide-spread attacks on Christians in the Indian state of Orissa. CHRISTIANITY DAILY, SEP 15, 2016 9 IN GOD’S NAME Care & Support

Seeking initial seed development funds towards full production and distribution support. All donations are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas. (https://fundraising. fracturedatlas.org/in-god-s-name)

Support Us

10 IN GOD’S NAME Creative Team

Executive Producer/Host Executive Producer/Director/Host Head Writer Norris J. Chumley, Ph.D. Jonathan Jackson Hendrik "Hank" Hanegraaff otherwise known as produced, wrote and hosted Mysteries of the Jesus is a five-time Emmy Award winning actor, musician ‘The Bible Answer Man’ Prayer, a feature documentary film and travel- and director who from 2012–2018, portrayed Avery is chairman and president of the Charlotte, NC- ogue on Christian asceticism and prayer. Initially Barkley in the ABC/CMT musical drama series, based Christian Research Institute (CRI). Hane- released as a theatrical feature film, it is currently . Since 2004 Jonathan has also been the graaff is the author of over twenty books, including distributed worldwide in all media: Video-on-De- lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the rock The Prayer of Jesus and Christianity in Crisis, and mand (VOD), digital streaming, network PBS public band Jonathan Jackson + Enation. Jonathan started is probably best known as the host of the Bible television, three interactive websites, a monthly his acting career as ‘Lucky Spencer’ on the hit soap Answer Man radio program. His show, on which digital newsletter, a companion book (HarperOne) opera . He also has substantial he discusses Christian apologetics and Biblical and online study guide. Chumley has served as feature film work, most notably on such films as hermeneutics, is nationally syndicated and can Adjunct Professor, Film and Television, New York Columbia’s Deep End of the Ocean (with Michelle be heard on numerous radio stations as well as University, and Executive Producer/Host of the na- Pfieffer), Disney’s Tuck Everlasting (with Sir Ben on the Internet. Through his ground-breaking The tional public radio series, Rethinking Religion from Kingsley and William Hurt) and Warner Bros. Apocalypse Code: What the Bible Really Teaches about Columbia University’s Institute of Religion, Culture Insomnia (with Al Pacino, directed by Christopher the End Times and Why It Matters Today, as well and Public Life, which won the Wilber Award Nolan). Jonathan is also a writer. His current books as the thriller Fuse of Armageddon and historical for Outstanding Radio Series from the Religious are entitled, Book of Solace and Madness, and The fiction The Last Disciple Series, Hank exposed the Communicators of America in 2015. He has created Mystery of Art: Becoming an Artist in the Image of dangers of both Christian and secular Zionism. In and produced numerous film, television, podcasts God. Jonathan recently portrayed Elder Joseph the Has God Spoken? Hank provided memorable proofs and national radio specials, including Getting the Hesychast, the revered Athonite Monk, in a docu- of the Bible’s divine inspiration. Additional works Love You Want with Oprah Winfrey and Drs. Helen drama bearing the same name. The documentary include The Legacy Study Bible, The Covering: God’s Lakelly Hunt and Harville Hendrix (PBS) and The won five awards at the London Greek Film Festival Plan to Protect You from Evil, The Creation Answer Gospel According to Jesus (HBO/Cinemax and PBS). including Best Actor. Jonathan Jackson converted Book, and After Life: What You Need To Know about Dr. Chumley has been honored with numerous to Antiochian Christian Orthodoxy in 2011. Heaven, the Hereafter and Near-Death Experiences. awards including the EMMY for his PBS special, His recent book is M-U-S-L-I-M: What You Need to Grand Central Dances and holds two master’s Know about the World’s Fastest Growing Religion, and degrees and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Early his newest, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Christianity, Theology and the Arts from Union Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life have Theological Seminary, 2008. He converted to Greek become bestsellers. Hanegraaff converted to Greek Orthodox Christianity in 2008. Orthodox Christianity in 2017. 11 IN GOD’S NAME ADVISORY PANEL(in formation)

His Grace Bishop Angaelos Coptic Orthodox Church, United Kingdom

George E. Demacopoulos, Ph.D. Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies Co-Director, Orthodox Christian Studies Center Professor of Theology, Fordham University

Alexandros Kyrou, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Director, Program in East European and Russian Studies Department of History, Salem State College

Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Metropulos, D.Min. Founder and President, OCN, Orthodox Christian Network

Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Ph.D. For more information: Visiting Associate Professor Please contact Dr. Norris J. Chumley Program in Negotiation & Conflict Resolution The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy Magnetic Arts, LLC Tufts University [email protected] 212-979-1471

David Curry www.NorrisChumley.com President and CEO, Open Doors USA

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