Religion in Film

References
Reel Spirituality, Theology and Film in Dialogue,   Johnston, Robert K., 2001
Religion in Film, May and Bird, 1982
Screening the Sacred, Religion, Myth, and Ideology in Popular American Film,   Martin, Joel W 1995
Widening experience: seeing through film, Wall, James M , Christianity Century, Oct. 20, 1993 v110 n 29 p1003
Reel Faith(Can Hollywood Teach And Inspire?), Dart, John, Christianity Century, March 22, 2003 v 120, i6 p9
Preachers Guide to the Movies, Younger Brett, Review and Expositer, 99 Winter 2002 p51

Canon of Selected Films

The Return – Andrey Zvyangintsev (2004)
Cast Away – Robert Zemekis (2000)
A Beautiful Mind – Ron Howard (2001)
Time of the Wolf – Michael Haneke (2004)
Cool Hand Luke – Stuart Rosenberg (1969)
Shashank Redemption – Frank Darabont (1994)
Shane – George Stevens (1953)
Sparticus – Stanley Kubrick (1960)

Other selections to be considered
Touching the Void (2004)
Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind – Michel Gondry (2004)
Second Hand Lions -

Going to the movies is what we do when we have a free evening. A video is what we rent for our children when we are going out. A few people consider film a waste of time, or at best one leisure time option among many. It is hardly the staple of our lives. But for many, movie watching is a as natural to their daily routine as eating, sleeping or using a computer. Yet though we watch movies, we seldom try to relate what we have seen to theology. After all, theology is one thing film is another.

Film is an extraordinarily popular medium today, but films do much more than simply entertain. Films, as with other culture forms, have the potential to reinforce, to challenge, to overturn, or to crystallize religious perspectives, ideological assumptions, and fundamental values. Films provide more than "just entertainment" they provide a key means for millions of Americans to grapple with religious issues, and fundamental concerns. By looking critically at films, we... [continues]

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