Same God

2020 • 95 minutes

About this movie

In December 2015, the political rhetoric against Muslims was escalating. Dr. Larycia Hawkins, an African-American political science professor at Wheaton College-a prestigious evangelical school outside of Chicago-wanted to show support for Muslim women. She posted a photo of herself in a hijab on Facebook. "I love my Muslim neighbor," she wrote, "because s/he deserves love by virtue of her/his human dignity... we worship the Same God." Within days, Wheaton's Provost suspended Dr. Hawkins, eventually moving to terminate her tenure. Were the school's actions a move to protect its Christian theological purity, as it insisted? Or was it, as some suggested, the result of racism and Islamophobia? SAME GOD, directed by Wheaton alumna Linda Midgett, follows the journey of Dr. Hawkins while exploring the polarization taking place within the evangelical community over issues of race, Islam, religious freedom and Donald Trump.

Ratings and reviews

I haven’t see it yet. However I am intrigued by the topic. I grew up to choose my own religion. I am Half Yemeni and American. My father and his culture had no influences in my life. I had no interest in Islam until 2018, when I found myself examining my relationship with God. I found myself living inside a church. I opened the Quran to find that yes, it is the Same God. I still had my own relationship and experiences with God and it doesn’t have a religion.

“The work of the soul is difficult work and may we all die standing for what is right and good and true,” says Dr. Larycia Hawkins. This is the message of Same God. The documentary traces the actions and repercussions of Dr. Hawkins’ minority advocacy and acts of embodied solidarity with Muslim women. Her call to action stands true, particularly in today’s political and social strife.

It’s a documentary that exposes the tensions created by people’s different views on politics and religion. It’s messy. It’s thought provoking. It’s real. I fully appreciate the bravery of those that came together to Shed light to Larycia Hawkins’ courageous act to challenge the status quo. These kind of films I want to see more.