Religion in American Film Essay -- Essays Papers

Religion in American FilmAmericans nation-wide did a disbelieving double take when they were heard that Jim Carrey was going to be playing the role of God in Universal Pictures summer 2001 movie Bruce Almighty. Millions of Americans have found themselves near-obsessed with the engrossing epic Lord of the Rings, doctrine has been wel maked into the Cult Films Hall of Fame, and Mel Gibsons The Passion stirred an overwhelming come up of religious, cultural, and ethnic criticism. When reckoning at the recent array of films that either show or suggest religious themes whether it be allegorically, evangelically, or satirically we recollect ourselves asking the question why now? Is the reason for this upsurge sociological, psychological, philosophical, or historical? Is there perhaps a political or stinting reason as to why Americans today are so eagerly consuming films that are looking at the without end battle between good & evil, questioning organized belief systems, or presen ting religion in new and contemporary ways? From critical summary and research done on this subject, as well as lots pondering and theorizing, it could be said that the question of why now is to a greater extent philosophical, and value oriented, than anything else. The religious content that is present in modern American films is indicative of a more general discussion & questioning of set and resonates with the post-modern, religiously pluralistic mindset that Americans have come to embody. It is a common mis-conception that films are merely entertainment, and serve no separate purpose than to provide for the viewer a two-hour escape from reality. This is a unplayful under-estimation of the power, purpose, and potential of film, because film, upon reflection, revea... ...garet R. Seeing and Believing Religion and Values in the Movies. capital of Massachusetts Beacon Press, 1996. Johnston, Robert K. Reel Spirituality Theology and Film in Dialogue. inflated Rapids Baker Academi c, 2000.Stone, Bryan P. Faith and Film Theological Themes at the Cinema. St.Louis Chalice Press, 2000.Valenti, F. Miguel. to a greater extent Than a Movie Ethics in Entertainment. Colorado Westview Press, 2000Detweiler, Craig, and Barry Taylor. A intercellular substance of Meanings Finding God in Pop Culture. Grand Rapids Baker Academic, 2003.Putnam, Robert D. roll Alone The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York Simon & Schuster, 2000http//www.hollywoodjesus.com/bruce_almighty.htmFor the purposes of this study, it is helpful to look specifically at the way in which Christ and Christianity are universe presented, through the various methods, in contemporary film.