INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES

Name: INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES
Item: INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES
Author: Review

"Prayer Has a Healing Effect"

Family Content: +3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

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What You Need To Know:

INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES is a documentary on the Christian Broadcasting Network. CBN journalist Billy Hallowell is assigned an odd task. He travels to investigate miraculous medical cases of prayer. Though a Christian himself, Billy considers himself a skeptic of modern miracles. His research takes him to investigate three clear cases of miracles happening, with evidence to prove it. Along with his journey, various experts also in interview fashion give information that is relevant but outside each story of miracles. These experts include bestselling Christian author and renowned defender of the faith Lee Strobel, Dr. Sam Storms and Dr. Corne Bekker. Eventually, Billy recognizes that there’s precedence for the healing power of Christ in people’s lives, even today.

INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES is incredibly well made. The story and the acting capture the emotions of each individual case. The raw emotion and power of prayer is clearly portrayed throughout the movie. On top of that, a variety of experts give important filler information. INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES has a strong Christian worldview that’s inspiring. The content is appropriate for all ages.

Content:

(CCC):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

The dominant worldview is Christian, about the proof behind modern medical miracles and the healing power of prayer, and every single person who Billy interviews is giving not only their testimony of prayer and faith, but the medical proof needed to show how impossible their recoveries are, the documentary shows both answered and unanswered prayers but only God knows why;

Foul Language:

Implied profanity of a young man;

Violence:

No violence;

Sex:

No sex;

Nudity:

No nudity;

Alcohol Use:

No alcohol use;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

No smoking or drugs; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Nothing objectionable.

More Detail:

Have you ever heard someone tell a story of a medical miracle that seems to defy nature, but at the same time is true because of hard evidence. Skeptics find themselves giving excuse after excuse. However, the documentary INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES entertains the idea of the healing power of prayer. In this story of healing, prayer, and miracles all told from the perspective of a reporter with some insight from the miracle cases as well as other experts of divinity and miracles.

The documentary follows CBN reporter Billy Hallowell, who’s given an assignment of looking into the so-called miracle cases by talking to experts. Billy mentions right out at the beginning how he is a Christian, but he has always been a bit of a medical skeptic when it comes to the modern cases of the healing power of prayer. He didn’t at first know how effective this story was going to be, but he decided to look into the study of these miracles and the many cases of them. Along with his journey, various experts also in interview fashion give information that is relevant but outside each story of miracles. These experts include bestselling Christian author and renowned apologist Lee Strobel, Dr. Sam Storms and Dr. Corne Bekker.

The first place where Billy travels us to Bloomington, Indiana, home to two of the leading experts in studying miracles. These experts happen to be a married couple, Dr. Joshua Brown and his wife, Dr. Candy Brown. Josh is a neuroscientist, and Candy is a historian. Both study a variety of cases for miracles from the perspective of their respective field, risking their reputation and apparently their lives at times. They talk about how they themselves have gone through many medical histories and seen miracles happen themselves.

The main reason for their passion was a miracle that happened to Josh. Josh was diagnosed with a deadly tumor that was going to kill him in two years. So, through faith, he and Candy went to many places and many talks. They asked for healing and prayer from many people. Almost 20 years later, Josh is not only alive and symptom free, but his tumor disappeared. So to them, their research is not only important but deeply personal.

After the interviews with the Doctors Brown, Billy gets a couple new leads to investigate. The second story has Billy visiting Brian and Meg Lapoo, in North Haledon, New Jersey. Over a decade ago, Brian had a slip accident which broke the C4 and C5 vertebrae in his neck, causing the entire right side of his body to become paralyzed. He spent a good amount of time going to prayer and conferences and asking for prayers and healing. The doctors said he would not walk well again, at least not without a brace, and he wouldn’t be able to open his hand and move his arm.

After living like this for a decade, Brian is brought to a conference where a pastor called for healing, during which he stood out of his chair feeling compelled to walk to a young lady who prayed for his healing. He fell to the floor and could walk and open his hand and arm. He went to the doctor, who couldn’t believe what happened.

Ten years later, Brian provides medical records for his 10 years of paralysis and 10 years since, believing he himself is proof enough of miracles.

The final story Billy investigates is that of Dr. Crandall, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Crandall is apparently well known for praying with patients for healing, due to his relationship with God. Dr. Crandall’s Christian faith started when his son got leukemia, and he prayed for his life. His son tragically passed away, but Dr. Crandell still held onto his faith. Then one day a man named Jeff Markin came to the hospital and suffered a heart attack and ended up dying. Dr. Crandell pronounced him dead but felt a call from God to try resuscitating Jeff one more time. After one shock, Jeff’s heart returned to normal, and three days later was awake with no brain damage.

All these stories in INVESTIGATING THE SUPERNATURAL: MIRACLES show how miracles and healing happen through faith in God. The movie’s worldview is incredibly Christian and sends the message that prayer does in fact have a healing effect. Sometimes the lesson to learn is patience and compassion. However, these miracles have years of modern medical history to support them. They are interesting to watch for almost any and all audiences.