In God We Tru$t

The narrative unfolds in a modern era dominated by mass media, televised sermons, and road‑traveling ministries. It portrays a contemporary US landscape where salvation and sponsorship are marketed side by side. The presence of a mobile church bus and urban settings places the events in a time of shifting religious influence and media sensationalism.

Scenes jump between the neon glare of Hollywood and the solemn walls of a monastery. Hollywood serves as the playground for con artists, televangelists, and flashy religious schemes, while the monastery anchors the story in faith and tradition. The Church of Divine Profit signals the film's critique of monetized faith, and the monastery offers a counterpoint rooted in spiritual duty.

💰 Money and Faith

The plot centers on the monetization of salvation, with the Church on Wheels and a mortgage certificate driving the quest for funds. Televangelists promise divine favor in exchange for donations, revealing how money can shape religious authority. Ambrose’s innocence clashes with Thunderbird’s greed, underscoring the commodification of faith. The film uses humor to expose the tension between spiritual ideals and financial incentives.

🎭 Satire

A naive monk is drawn into Hollywood’s ecosystem of con artists and showmanship, highlighting the gap between pious intent and public performance. The satire targets televangelism, religious marketing, and opportunistic leaders who trade on faith for profit. Through jokes and farce, the film uncovers moral ambiguity and the performative nature of belief. It ridicules the spectacle of modern religion without fully abandoning its humanity.

🤖 Technology and Morality

G.O.D., a sophisticated computer, becomes a battle between a machine’s cold logic and human religious intuition. The device speaks with Thunderbird and, at times, guides Ambrose toward generosity rather than greed. The moral consequences of algorithmic decisions are shown as wealth is redistributed in surprising ways. The film uses the AI deity to critique reliance on systems over faith.