The Issue of Entrance of Theology to Cinema: investigating the experience Christian Theology

Cinema, the youngest art form, is now the most powerful in all of history. Since the birth of this art form, theology has always found itself in challenge with it and has not been able to escape the clutches of its secular critiques and representations. As much as cinema is interested in sensing transcendental affairs, theology believes that keeping the transcendent affairs secret enhances its divine function. The subject of the present dissertation is the study of the experience and how Christian theology deals with cinema. Theology in the face of cinema has gone through five important and fundamental approaches to avoidance, caution, prescription, dialogue, and divine confrontation. Cinema as a threat to the authority of the Scriptures, the Church, theology, and Christian morality, as well as a factor in the sanctification of theological teachings, by dramatizing transcendental and invisible concepts, representing the Bible, and portraying the mission of Christ and the moral traditions of service.

Cinema always reminds theology that it is a discipline responsible for the emotional, social and religious aspects of human beings. To answer the problem, the author has reviewed authoritative books on theology and cinema, books on major films, and analysis of films on theological themes and concerns. The research findings indicate that theology in the face of cinema, from a hostile and pessimistic position to a prescriptive, interactive and conversational position. The reason for this change in approach is that cinema, despite its fears and challenges to theology, has benefits that theology cannot easily ignore. Cinema has served theology by challenging transcendental concepts, bringing the church to the negotiating table, and requiring them to meet the needs of modern man. Communication with cinema has given theology the opportunity to harmonize with modern culture and has made theology dynamic. The film’s use of theological concepts highlights the importance of the social and popular dimension of Christian theology and makes it more tangible and practical.