» Ethics in Film Series Continues Friday

Ethics in Film Series Continues Friday

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

marjoe-film The New York Society for Ethical Culture (64th and Central Park West) is hosting a continuing series of interesting films that spark conversations on ethics, and this Friday continues with a fascinating documentary. Marjoe, the 1972 film directed by Howard Smith and Sarah Kernahan based on the life of Marjoe Gortner, will be screened, followed by a lively discussion of the issues raised, led by Chris Everett. Marjoe Gortner was a precocious child preacher with extraordinary talents, immensely popular in the South, whose parents earned large sums of money from his preaching until he outgrew his novelty. Later in life, he spent his time using his fame and status as an evangelist to defraud those who believed his message out of a small fortune through both large tent revivals and televangelism. Eventually, Gortner suffered a crisis of conscience and decided to renounce his former ways, offering the film’s crew unrestricted access to him during his final revival tour, repeatedly admitting on camera that he was a con artist and revealing the tactics he and other evangelists used to swindle money from people. Entry to the screening and discussion includes popcorn and soft drinks. A $5 donation is suggested.