What Is Bad Faith About?
The premise of Bad Faith in 310 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
A nation stunned by violence at the heart of its democracy becomes the unsettling backdrop for this probing documentary, which turns its lens not on the chaos itself, but on the beliefs that brought so many to the Capitol steps on January 6, 2021. With crosses, flags, and signs proclaiming “Jesus Saves” visible among the crowds, the film poses a deeply uncomfortable question: what threads of faith and political identity drew these participants together, and how did those threads reach so far back into American history?
Rather than offering a simple explanation, the documentary traces a long and tangled history, beginning with the resistance to desegregation in Southern religious communities and moving through decades of political realignment. It challenges the widely held assumption that the religious right was born solely from the abortion debate, suggesting instead that the roots run deeper — tangled with questions of race, power, and the role of government. The tone is investigative and reflective, more concerned with understanding than condemning, inviting viewers to sit with uncomfortable historical truths.
As the film moves through the decades, it maps the quiet architecture of movement-building — the alliances formed, the institutions shaped, and the slow erosion of democratic norms that followed. Figures like Paul Weyrich and Jerry Falwell emerge not as caricatures but as strategists who recognized the political potential of merging faith with a broader cultural grievance. The documentary weaves together archival footage, expert analysis, and historical context to paint a portrait of a movement that saw itself as righteous, even as its methods raised troubling questions about the future of pluralism in America.
Ultimately, the film serves as a cautionary examination of how ideology, money, and faith can intertwine to reshape a nation’s political landscape — and how the warning signs, in hindsight, were visible long before the world watched the Capitol breach unfold on television.
What Happens in Bad Faith?
The complete story of Bad Faith, from the first scene to the last, in 557 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 20 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
The landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education successfully desegregated public schools across the nation, yet this progress faced fierce opposition within the Southern United States. This resistance was particularly prevalent among certain Christian religious groups who stubbornly maintained the practice of segregation within religious educational institutions well into the 1970s. While conventional wisdom often suggests that the politically motivated religious right in America was born out of a reaction to abortion, many historians and journalists argue that this narrative is actually a myth.
Instead, the film posits that the true catalyst for the emergence of the religious right as a formidable political force was the 1971 case of Green v. Connally. In this instance, the court ruled that private schools operating under racially discriminatory policies were ineligible for tax-exempt status, striking a blow to the financial foundations of segregationist religious schools. It is noted that when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, the majority of non-Catholic evangelicals did not initially oppose abortion; the issue did not become a central pillar of their identity until the late 1970s and early 1980s, occurring years after the ruling and initially drawing very little public outcry from the Christian community.
The documentary suggests that Paul Weyrich, a Republican political operative and Christian nationalist, strategically galvanized these religious pro-segregationists. He redirected their existing anger toward the federal government to create what the film describes as a “Trojan horse”—a new, powerful voting bloc designed to ensure the Republican Party (GOP) won elections. The ultimate goal was to subvert American democracy and promote a theocratic government, all while using the guise of concern over abortion to mask the original motivations. To achieve this, Weyrich and Jerry Falwell established the Moral Majority and constructed a vast political network that eventually paved the way for the election of Ronald Reagan.
Weyrich further expanded this influence by building a strategic coalition with oil billionaires. Although these wealthy donors were not necessarily religious, they were united by a shared desire for lower taxes and decreased government regulation. This alliance provided the necessary funding for several influential organizations, including the Heritage Foundation, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and the secretive Council for National Policy.
Through the insights of individuals such as Elizabeth Neumann, Steve Schmidt, and Russell Moore, the film illustrates how these groups waged a sustained, long-term culture war against the United States. This campaign culminated in the gradual weakening of democratic norms and institutions, the eventual election of Donald Trump, and the undermining of democratic elections during the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. The film links these events to the policy blueprints of Project 2025, which seeks to fulfill the 40-year objectives laid out in Weyrich’s original manifesto:
“Our strategy will be to bleed this culture dry…Make no mistake about it: We are talking about Christianizing America…We will weaken and destroy the existing institutions.”
The narrative is further supported by the perspectives of Eboo Patel, Jim Wallis, and Randall Balmer, while the story is guided by the voice of the narrator, Peter Coyote. The film also draws upon the contributions of Linda Gordon, Lisa Sharon Harper, John Marty, Anne Nelson, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Katherine Stewart, Samuel Perry, Brent Allpress, William J. Barber II, and Ken Peters, alongside archive footage of figures like Jim Jordan, Strom Thurmond, and Mallory McMorrow.
Bad Faith Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Brown v. Board of Education Desegregates Public Schools” to “Project 2025 Fulfills Weyrich's Forty-Year Goals”. 8 events name a place, across 3 locations.
- 1
Brown v. Board of Education Desegregates Public Schools
The Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The landmark decision desegregated public schools across America but was met with fierce opposition throughout the Southern United States.
When:1954 Where:United States
- 2
Religious Schools Continue Practicing Segregation
Some Christian religious groups, particularly in the South, refused to comply with desegregation and continued practicing segregation in religious private schools. This resistance persisted well into the 1970s, nearly two decades after the landmark ruling.
When:1950s-1970s Where:Southern United States
- 3
Green v. Connally Ends Tax Exemptions for Discriminatory Schools
The court ruled in Green v. Connally that organizations operating racially discriminatory private schools were ineligible for tax-exempt status. Many historians and journalists believe this ruling, rather than abortion, was the true catalyst for the formation of the religious right as a political force.
When:1971 Where:United States
- 4
Roe v. Wade Decided Without Evangelical Backlash
The Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion nationwide. Surprisingly, most non-Catholic evangelicals did not oppose the ruling at the time, and it drew little public opposition within the Christian community.
When:1973 Where:United States
- 5
Abortion Becomes a Significant Evangelical Issue
Abortion did not become a significant issue for evangelicals until years after the Roe v. Wade ruling. The film argues that the conventional wisdom blaming abortion for the rise of the religious right is a myth, as opposition only emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
When:Late 1970s - Early 1980s
- 6
Paul Weyrich Redirects Segregationist Anger
Republican political operative and Christian nationalist Paul Weyrich galvanized the religious pro-segregationists and redirected their anger away from desegregation and toward the federal government. According to the film, this was a calculated move to build a new political movement.
When:1970s
- 7
The Trojan Horse Strategy Is Conceived
According to the film, Weyrich's aim was to create a Trojan horse: a new voting bloc to help the Republican Party win elections. Concern about abortion served as the public-facing guise for the true intention of subverting democracy and promoting theocracy.
- 8
Weyrich and Falwell Found the Moral Majority
Paul Weyrich and Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority, fusing evangelical Christianity with Republican politics. The organization helped form a new political network that mobilized religious voters into a cohesive electoral force.
When:1979
- 9
Election of Ronald Reagan
The newly formed religious right political network helped propel Ronald Reagan to the presidency. This marked a major victory for the movement Weyrich and Falwell had built around their newly created voting bloc.
When:1980 Where:United States
- 10
Coalition Built with Oil Billionaires
Weyrich built a coalition with oil billionaires who were not necessarily religious but shared aligned political interests. These wealthy donors wanted lower taxes and less regulation, matching their financial goals with the religious right's agenda.
Show the other 5 events of Bad Faith Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Funding of Right-Wing Institutions
The oil billionaires' money helped fund the Heritage Foundation, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and the secretive Council for National Policy. Together, these organizations formed the institutional backbone of the conservative political movement.
- 12
A Long-Term Culture War Against the United States
Combined, these groups waged a long-term culture war against the United States that spanned decades. The campaign gradually culminated in the weakening of democratic norms and institutions across the country.
Where:United States
- 13
Election of Donald Trump
The movement's decades-long efforts culminated in the election of Donald Trump, which the film frames as the fulfillment of Weyrich's political strategy. The religious voting bloc cultivated since the 1970s proved decisive in his rise to power.
When:2016 Where:United States
- 14
January 6 United States Capitol Attack
Democratic elections were undermined with the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. The film presents this event as a culmination of the movement's long-running effort to subvert American democracy.
When:January 6, 2021 Where:United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
- 15
Project 2025 Fulfills Weyrich's Forty-Year Goals
Policy blueprints for Project 2025 emerged, which would fulfill Weyrich's 40-year goals as expressed in his original manifesto. The manifesto declared: 'Our strategy will be to bleed this culture dry... Make no mistake about it: We are talking about Christianizing America... We will weaken and destroy the existing institutions.'
Quiz
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