OT: Has anyone seen the Arrivals?

A muslim friend has asked me to watch this internet documentary about the coming of the antichrist/dajjal. I only got as far as episode 4 or so because frankly it's absolute rubbish - poorly made, very badly argued, and openly anti-semitic. Although they touch on some interesting issues they ignore these in favour of conspiracy theories about the freemasons indoctrinating you so they can prepare the way for the anti-christ. The greatest irony of this thing is that they warn you about mind control in every installment, but everything they say comes across as a form of mind control too. They don't back up any of their claims with evidence, and expect you to agree with them on the basis that you already have the same sentiments, particularly an aversion to sex, alcohol, and the west. Despite claiming that this documentary is for all cultures and religions, it seems like it only caters to a specific type of Muslim. I think it's both a stupid and dangerous thing, casting an even worse light on an already besieged religion.

I know a bit about Islam as I went a school that was predominantly Muslim and I'm dating a Muslim (the friend in question is his sister). My boyfriend and I will probably end up discussing the Arrivals with his family over the holidays (they all like it), and we'd like to speak to them honestly about it without offending anyone. Attempts to talk to my boyfriend's sister about it led nowhere - she couldn't, or wouldn't answer my questions.

I'm hoping there's a Muslim or simply a fan here who is more willing to talk about it. Has anyone seen the Arrivals? If you liked it can you explain why? From the page on Facebook it's obvious that this 'documentary' and it's successors are extremely popular. Why? How? I'd really appreciate any responses :)

I'm not a Muslim, and have not seen the film myself so cannot comment. I was curious, though -- Can you provide any links to/about the movie? Who made it, and where was it made?

Edited to add: From your post, it almost sounds like a Muslim equivalent to the infamous "Left Behind" movies/books/etc. (Ugh.) Is it reminiscent of that?

You can find the whole thing (about 50 10-minute installments) on their facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Arrivals/40497487822?ref=search&sid=697710...

It used to be on YouTube, but turned out to be too controversial even for them and they took it off. If you google it you can probably find it on other sites.

It's made by two guys who call themselves 'truth seekers' and they've also made follow-ups called The Divine Book and Phase 3, although I haven't seen those. I don't know where they're based, and you can't tell from the videos, as they seem to be made almost entirely of clips from movies, documentaries and ads, etc.

I'm not familiar with Left Behind, so I can't really comment on that I'm afraid.

From the silence I have to conclude that this is an obscure film, at least to Muslims on LT.

I’m an American Muslim, and I once heard similar eschatological claims made by a young Muslim I met overseas. He was a young, enthusiastic British convert. I responded skeptically to his Last Days speech and suggested he keep these ideas in proper perspective. For instance, none of this is from the Quran, but only from weak traditions that are difficult to distinguish from folklore.

I have yet to hear any other Muslims discuss these ideas or profess to believe them. So yeah, i think the comparison to Left Behind: a novel of the earth's last days is valid, except that “The Arrivals” has not been nearly as influential on Muslims as the skillfully marketed Left Behind series has been in some Christian communities. (I’ve read one book in that series; it was about the most un-Christian novel I’ve ever read.)

Thanks for the link. I may watch it if I can do it without “liking” the Facebook page.

Hello, well I guess I'm a couple of years late in responding to this. I haven't seen 'The Arrivals' but I have heard a great deal about it because it swept through my students a couple of years ago like a tidal wave. Alas far too many of them were impressed and taken in by many of its conspiracy theories and even those who saw through the hokier elements (freemason plots etc.) felt other points it raised had substance. I completely agree with you that it is a terrible influence and dangerous. I briefly toyed with the idea of actually watching the thing so that I could sit down and actually develop reasoned and informed refutations of its assertions but at the end of the day, felt life is too short to devote to this rubbish.

I was hoping the popularity of the confounded thing would die down but I'm not sure that it has. I was wondering, how did your conversation turn out?