The Relationship of Film and Theology in the Context of Theological Education in Asia: An Adventistt Perspective
Abstract
Film is becoming an important art form. Studies on the relationship between film and theology have become a growing discipline. Film and its religious significance need to be further recognized as a valid means to understand and interpret society’s particular concerns and beliefs. Clearly enough, theology needs to address these same possibilities. There is of course, a need to further examine the force of film in the light of its potential to serve as an avenue for religious experience and insights. This essay stressed the value of exploring the relationship between film and theology as a means of understanding and interpreting religious experiences and in contextualizing theological education in Asia.This essay argues that film can become an important source for doing theology as a people continue to search for fresher perception and articulation of their understanding of God as processed through the text of filmic expression. In three ways, this argument is developed: (1) Film can be a repository of religious contents, beliefs and understanding of given culture or society; (2) Film affects our religiosity as a people in that its narrative schema contains elements that are religious in nature. Art reflects the deeper structures with the human heart; and (3) Film in itself becomes the avenue for religious experience and divulges a religious dimension.
References
Adams, D., & Cappadona, D. A. (1993). Art as religious studies. New York, NY: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1993.
Birds, M. (1982). “Film as hierophany.†In John
R. May and Michael Birds (Eds.), Religion in film (p. 322). Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press.
Brown, D. (1997). Film movies and meanings. In Clive Marsh, & Gaye Ortiz (Eds.),
Explorations in theology (p. 19). Oxford, England: Blackwell, Publishing, Ltd.
Brown, R. M. (1972). The pseudonyms of God. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press.
Brown, R. M. (1992). Persuade us to rejoice: The liberating power of fiction. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press.
Bryant, M. D. (1982). “Cinema, religion, and popular culture.†In John T. May (Ed.),
Religion in film (p. 112). Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press.
Clayton, J. (1980). The concept of correlation: Paul Tillich and the possibility of mediating theology. New York, NY: De Gruyter Press.
Cooper, J. C., & Skrade, K. (Eds.). (1970).
Celluloid and symbol. Philadelphia, PA:
Fortress Press.
Eichenberger, A. (1997). “Approaches to film criticism.†In John R. May (Ed.), New images of religious film (p. 7). Kansas City, MO: Sheed and Ward.
Gaebelien, F. (1985). The Christian, the art, and the truth. Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1985.
Graham, D. J. (1997). “The use of film in theology.†In Clive Marsh and Gaye
Ortiz (Eds.), Explorations in theology and film (p. 42). Oxford, UK: Blackbell Publishers Ltd.
Greeley, A. (1988). God in popular culture. Chicago, IL: Thomas Moore Publishing.
Hoekstra, H. (1997). “Film education in Christian perspective: Some contemporary approach. In John R. May (Ed.), New images in religious film (p. 190). Kansas City, MO: Sheed and Ward, 1997
