1st Edition
Theology Goes to the Movies An Introduction to Critical Christian Thinking
Drawing a comparison between religion and cinema-going, this text examines a range of contemporary films in relation to key theological concepts. Cinema as a religion-like activity is explored through cognitive, affective, aesthetic and ethical levels, identifying the religious aspects in the social practice of cinema-going.
Written by a leading expert in the field, Theology Goes to the Movies analyzes:
- the role of cinema and Church in Western culture
- the power of Christian symbols and images within popular culture
- theological concepts of humanity, evil and redemption, eschatology and God.
This is an ideal text for students seeking a new way into the study of theology.
Acknowledgements Introduction How to use this book Part One: Contextualizing Theology in a Media Age 1. Theology in a Chaotic Climate 2. Doing Theology in a Media Age 3. Theology and the Christian Religion Part Two: A Systematic Theology through Film 4. God 5. Human Being 6. Spirit 7. Redemption 8. Sacraments 9. Church 10. The End 11. A Christological Postscript Part Three: Christian Theology in Practice 12. Theology and Life 13. Theology and God Index of Films Index of Names and Subjects
Biography
Clive Marsh teaches in the Department of Theology at the University of Nottingham and is also Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church. He is a well-respected writer and teacher, and his previous books include Cinema and Sentiment: Film’s Challenge to Theology, Paternoster Press 2004 , and Explorations in Theology and Meaning, Blackwell 1997.
'By starting from issues explored in particular films, the book helps to ground theological debates in relation to human questions and experience. This really helps to bring the discipline of theology alive, and I wish this book had been available when I was a theology student.' – Gordon Lynch, Senior Lecturer in Religion and Culture, University of Birmingham, UK
'Marsh is correct! Theology is not just cognitive, but affective, aesthetic and ethical. And film has become a primary resource. Here is a helpful work-book for culturally-savy theology students and theologically-interested film-lovers.' – Robert K. Johnston, author of Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue
