If you think you have heard enough of the Nativity Story whenever Christmas season comes around, “Zeitgeist, The Movie” (www.zeitgeistmovie.com) might just provide you some unsettling insights into the origins of Christian beliefs.

Since the movie’s launch and free distribution over the internet through Google Video in late June this year, the two-hour “mythumentary” has been viewed more than 5 million times online. 

Its popularity stems from its contrary perspective of widely held beliefs that challenges religion, the United States government and widespread mass consumerism spawned by prosperity. 

As stated in its official website, producer Peter Joseph has a seemingly innocuous aim “to inspire people to start looking at the world from a more critical perspective.” 

But questioning the symbolism of Christianity is just a starting point for its grand narrative that is broadly segmented into three parts and capped with a startling conclusion. 

In the first part, the story of Jesus Christ is scrutinised to be a “plagiarism” of ancient Egyptian religion that dates back to circa 3000 B.C. 

More pointedly, the fabled Christian symbolism of Dec. 25 is dissected and explained to actually contain astrological and pagan references that originated from observations of the constellations made by bygone civilisations. 

In parts two and three, this documentary becomes more American-centric as modern-day conspiracy theories regarding the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the quasi-governmental role of the United States Federal Banking Reserve are examined. 

The general conclusion drawn from these two parts is that the United States government aided the 9/11 attacks in an “inside job” to consolidate support from the public and to justify going to war with Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Furthermore, a shadowy group of rich and powerful elites running the financial sector is in cahoots with the United States government to create a “one-world government,” and this group has been influential in bringing America into the fray in past wars. 

These stunning revelations are nothing new. They are conspiracy theories that have been floating around the Internet but never talked about in any mainstream media that prides itself on being “objective” and “truthful.” 

It is understandable that the mainstream media would shy away from such speculation, because they still want to be taken seriously and would not want to lend credence to unsubstantiated claims. 

Perhaps the greatest fallacy is that “Zeitgeist” tries too hard to causally link apparently unrelated pieces of evidence, and its reliance on interpretation makes it more opinion than factual recounting. 

As much as this weakness is obvious due to a crucial lack of contextualisation of evidence presented, the questions asked are legitimate. 

And although some of the information presented as facts can be disputed for their accuracy, particularly about religion into which research is an evolving discipline that lacks an objective empirical “truth,” the context of questioning still remains valid. 

And it is this spirit of questioning that packs the greatest punch. 

It is an age-old philosophical challenge to question what we know, especially when reality as we know it today has become altered and supplanted by a series of media messages that are carefully controlled and managed. 

Executive editor and columnist Charles Shaw of realitysandwich.com called the film a tool to “demythologise the mythic structures we have worshipped for so long.” 

The acceptance of “truth” has become so easy because we trust the idiot box too much and we forget to ask why. 

Take for example, the knowledge of global events, in particular, coverage on conflict by the media. 

Singaporeans can know as much as Americans about the “realities” occurring in Iraq and Afghanistan if we watch the same channels and read the same newspapers as the Americans. 

We do not even need to be there. We just need to tune in. 

However, the most poignant point made is that the media is guilty of diverting audiences’ attention away from issues of importance and critical analyses. 

The news media does not speculate on conspiracy theories but report “objective” news, while the entertainment media is constantly second-guessing celebrity pregnancies and divorces and obsessed with entertainment news. 

As a collective whole, they serve the purpose of keeping audiences informed. 

For discerning audiences though, the relevance and quality of information can and should be persistently questioned. 

Mass consumption is promoted by savvy advertisers, and it is easy to see just by strolling down Orchard Road. 

The tradition of Christmas gift-giving would never be lost, but the origins of Christmas has. 

As the old maxim goes, the Devil is in the details. For conspiracy theory buffs, “Zeitgeist” is a treasure trove of loose ends and fractured leads that can be researched to produce other voluminous projects. 

For non-conspiracy theorists and general audiences, it could be an unsettling experience to be provided with information one is not familiar with and thought and believed to know. 

Perhaps it can spark some soul-searching during this festive season or get your friends talking about its contents. 

That would be a credible achievement for a movie that proposes unpopular theories.