Liv Tyler defends new film against 'anti-Christian' criticisms

The upcoming movie “The Ledge” has been labelled anti-Christian due to its negative portrayal of Christianity and favourable view of atheism. But according to its protagonist, Liv Tyler, the movie isn’t anti-religious.

The thriller deals with the age-old battle between theology and philosophy between a fundamentalist Christian and an atheist.

Liv Tyler’s character had a problem with drugs and prostitution but when she meets Patrick Wilson’s character, a born again evangelical Christian, he saves her life and they get married. Later, she meets an atheist, played by Charlie Hunnam, whom she falls in love with and engages in an affair with regardless of her effort not to give into temptation.

The movie centres on her husband’s jealousy and his willingness to kill them both for their betrayal, all before asking God for guidance. He gives the atheist an ultimatum where he asks him to jump off the ledge or he will kill his wife.

The premise of the movie could be summed to atheism’s banal attempt to relegate Christian values and portray Christians as crazy fundamentalists who defend their actions with what God or the Bible says. But according to Tyler, that’s not what it’s about at all.

In an interview with PopEater, she said, “The message I got from making this film, that the world especially now with the Internet, we're so quick to judge people based on their clothing, sexual preference, religion, food they like. I guess I came to realise from this is that you really don't know what people have been through unless you find out.”

The 33-year-old single mum shared that although she doesn’t consider herself religious, she believes in something bigger than herself. She added that she enjoys talking to people about their beliefs.

“I definitely have some kind of belief in something bigger than myself. I almost feel like it's the universe and the earth and mother nature and that feeling when you go to the beach or stand on top of a mountain and look around and go, 'God this is not about me,’” she said.

“I feel quite clear about that in my own heart. I'm definitely curious and enjoy talking to different people about their beliefs.”