Most movies today are made to entertain, and not to bring up serious questions however upon closer examination of many movies it can easily be seen that they do, in some particular spots, prompt deeper thinking. Many movies encourage this deeper thinking by, in some way, referencing religion. There are many great examples of this, but some include The Boondock Saints, The Dark Knight, and The Lion King. All of these movies make their viewers ponder a different idea and makes them see connections that are at first hard to discern, but become more visible the deeper the viewer looks.
The Boondock Saints explores an interesting concept about what God really is saying to us. The movie begins with a preacher telling a very powerful story and then summing it up with the line, "But there is another evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men." The movie plays with this theme and makes the viewer think about if that is really what God intended or if that is a twist in the reading of God's word. The movie is entertaining even without the thought provoking question however it is that question that makes the movie valuable.
A very recently popular movie, The Dark Knight, is also a very entertaining movie at face value however it is the end that the viewers are left with a theological question/reference. At the end Batman leaves and chooses to be the person that everyone goes after. It is just like Jesus in essence where he is the people's savior but many do not choose to accept him, and instead they go after him and want to hunt him down.
Another favorite, perhaps a more classic movie, The Lion King, references theology in two different and distinct ways. It first presents some similarities. Like, for example, when King Mufasa dies in order to save his son it can be compared to Jesus dying for his children, use. However, the bulk of the movie is used in contrast to normal biblical teachings, and this makes the viewers consider more in depth what God really teaches us to do.
Sometimes, theological references occur in the most unlikely situations, however they are used to make the viewer consider something new and interesting. They also add to the movie's theme. Next time when you watch a movie, instead of just enjoying it at face value try and find a deeper meaning. Try to look for something more. Try and look for a theological reference.
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Awesome post Stephanie. I think every story (movie, TV show, book, or even gossip that people pass along) is on some level promoting a worldview. If we don't actively try to figure out what is being promoted (and then consciously think about whether we agree with that worldview), we might find ourself being passively influenced without realizing it.
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