The more documentaries I watch, the more I learn. And I'm not the only one, because that's what documentaries are pretty much supposed to do.
Ultimately, I think documentaries are worth your time too. Here's why:
1. Documentaries make you a more critical thinker.
I do not believe everything I watch. Cowspiracy left me with some intriguing thoughts, but its blatant vegan-only slant left a bitter taste in my mouth. Not only that, but I was eager to see others' responses to this film and so I read some fascinating pieces from Beef Magazine and various agro-ecologists critiquing it. I walked away with a balanced view of an issue I had never considered before.
2. Documentaries open your eyes.
Watching The True Cost changed how I view buying (and selling) clothes. Again, I've admitted that every documentary has a bias and an agenda, but that doesn't mean they can't dispel your ignorance about topics. Girl Rising opened my eyes to the female struggle for education in many parts of the world.
3. Documentaries make you a more responsible citizen.
The more you study, the more you learn. You are more equipped to engage in the cultural issues of our day and make responsible choices for yourself. Forks Over Knives and Hungry for Change really did inspire me to make wiser food choices. Bite Size pressed me to become more active. Documentaries force you to reckon with some amount of knowledge (even if it's small).
4. Documentaries give you a bigger vision of the world.
Documentaries remind me that I don't live or serve in a vacuum. God's plan is bigger than my life here in Canada. He is watching over His people in Nepal and New Zealand and Nigeria. Documentaries give me a bigger vision of the world and, consequently, of God.
So the next time you're mindlessly scanning Netflix, why don't you hop over to their documentary section? And prepare to have your stereotypes challenged, your ignorance vanquished, and your perspective shift.
As you do so, you can test every film against the Word of God and grow in godliness through new knowledge.