Watching the complete series of John Safran vs. God was the first time I got in contact with this peculiar Aussie. Although religion as a subject might be a difficult one to make a series on, John carries out his task diligently. He tries out several religions, some of them being well-known such as Zen Buddhism and Hinduism while other religions might be less known. How about a church where peyote, a a cacti which contains the psychedelic substance mescaline, is in the centre of religious practice? How about cursing "priests" in Mozambique of whom are accused of Australia's football team's weak performance due to a curse cast 30 years ago? There is a lot more to this series than this as John tries out several ways of reaching a higher spiritual state of mind. John has a sort of sarcastic approach to his search for enlightenment and he frequently mixes the footage of his experiences with a heavy dose of irony and rants about religious practice in the context of hypocrisy, I would say.Although I do not regret that I watched the series as some of the episodes are great, I must stress that John at times becomes a bit silly about his rants. Yet the series is worth to give a shoot.6/10

After seeing "Music Jamboree', I laughed my arse off when I first heard about 'John Safran vs. God'. The title itself is great, only outdone by the brilliant opening.Probably the best thing about the show is the research that went into it, followed by the ordeals John himself goes through for our entertainment.SPOILERS! Some of the things he finds is amazing, like how many products these days are linked with Nazi Germany. And some of the rituals and ordeals he undertakes is brilliant, like buying magic Morman underpants, getting covered in chicken blood to undo a curse on the Australian soccer team, and even being exorcised by Bob Larson.SPOILERS END If you haven't seen this show, watch it the next chance you get.Bring on 'Speaking in Tongues'.

Having just seen the final episode of 'John Safran Vs. God', I'm pleased to conclude that this series is as equally entertaining as his previous show, 2002's 'Music Jamboree' (despite being two episodes shorter). While religion is perhaps a risky topic on which to base a television show, Safran manages to explore the subject in his usual unique style by placing himself at the centre of his stories. While this might have been a less appealing method had the show featured somebody more subdued, it is Safran's personality and the situations he is willing to place himself in that makes the series as entertaining as it is informative.Oh, and the final episode is one of the most riveting conclusions to a television series I've seen in a long time.The DVD, released in late October 2004, looks to be a worthwhile purchase.

A Jewish boy from Australia with a sharp attitude gives many surprising twists as he savors the smorgasbord of religious diversity available to the curious and the committed. John Safran has been spoiling to debunk just about every sacred cow in religion throughout this series. He dabbles with many different religious ceremonies, and usually ends up being involved in them, sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes out of pure rebellion.At times John is willing to have a scoffing attitude, but when you REALLY end up taking on God, who will win? Scoffers beware!John ends up providing the viewer with a fantastic spiritual journey that keeps you wondering, "What next, John?" After seven episodes of 'travelogue' journalism, where John generally enjoys himself in his role of entertainer and humorist, we find the last episode to be the most provocative and personally honest experience in John's career and life.He must have decided to leave the episode with the exorcist until last, knowing that there would definitely be some demons that needed exorcising. The truly amazing part of this episode is that with what seems like total honesty and trust, Mr. Safran gives himself over to be exorcised. He then goes through an incredible deliverance from demonic spirits that were inhabiting his person.This final episode must be the most remarkable piece of experiential, expose or investigative journalism that has come out of Australia for a long time! For those who doubt the supernatural, the paranormal or just whether God or demons exist, John Safran can now no longer doubt! He has gone through an experience that has liberated his soul from all the demonic and idolatrous spirits in a most public way, embracing Jesus as his Messiah, and deliverer.Not since Bob Dylan made the public aware that he had become a Messianic Jew (a Jew who believes Jesus as his Messiah or Christ) has a Jew in the entertainment industry been so honest and public about faith fulfilled in Jesus Christ.Jewish people as well as followers of all other religious streams of thought will be confronted with the demonic and religious prostitution that is considered tolerable and acceptable throughout the world.The exorcism John Safran goes through tears down the facades that cover the host of spiritual darkness found in the idolatrous religions that do not give Jesus Christ his rightful place as the One and Only Lord God. It is only through submission to Jesus Christ and repenting of spiritual unfaithfulness that John Safran, you, or I, could ever be truly set free and delivered from the enemy of our souls, Satan.Like Bob Dylan, after publicly declaring Jesus Christ as his Saviour, John Safran may also find himself a pariah in the media and entertainment industry. This will not occur due to the quality of his work, but because of the industry's generally idolatrous infatuation with itself and because it promotes the embracing of any form of religion other than the personal life-changing Christianity as experienced by John Safran.If no other work becomes available, the man who exorcised the demons has at least offered John a job as an evangelist when he tours Australia in the future. Now THAT could be some genuine reality TV! Bravo, John Safran and the ABC.