Film and Faith: Modern Cinema and the Struggle to Believe

Film and Faith: Modern Cinema and the Struggle to Believe examines religious themes in contemporary film with a focus on recent depictions of religions continuing manifestations in a secularizing age. The contributors are students of philosophy, political theory, and theology who offer a scholarly yet accessible consideration of contemporary films exploring the problem of faith in the modern world. The chapters cover cinema that are important in different ways, representing different genres, and explore religious themes such as sin and judgment, the experience of grace and reconciliation, and confrontation with radical evil.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

Film and Faith: Modern Cinema and the Struggle to Believe delves into the exploration of religious themes in contemporary film, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing manifestations of religions in a secularizing age. The contributors to this book are students of philosophy, political theory, and theology, who examine religious and philosophical ideas in commercially and artistically significant modern films. Their objective is to offer a scholarly yet accessible exploration of contemporary films that delve into the problem of faith in the modern world, employing a balanced approach that is sympathetic yet not uncritical.

While the contributors are religious believers, they are also established scholars trained in mainstream academic disciplines. The chapters in this book cover a diverse range of cinema, representing different genres and significance: from the art films of Terrence Malick to the more conventional but serious dramas of the Coen brothers and Frank Capra, to popular action blockbusters like the Dark Knight and the Marvel films. By drawing on these cinematic works, the authors explore religious themes that remain relevant and important even in a time when religion may seem to be in decline. These themes include sin and judgment, the experience of grace and reconciliation, and the confrontation with radical evil.

Through their insightful analysis, the contributors shed light on the ways in which modern cinema engages with religious ideas and offers a platform for meaningful dialogue and reflection on these important themes. Film and Faith: Modern Cinema and the Struggle to Believe is a valuable contribution to the study of religion and film, providing a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex relationship between these two realms.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 236 x 159 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666934045