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Risen, Katie Turner

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Risen (2016), directed by Kevin Reynolds.

Dr. King And The Image Of God: A Theology Of Voting Rights In Ava Duvernay's Selma, Marcos Norris

Journal of Religion & Film

This article argues that Ava DuVernay’s 2014 film Selma develops a theology of voting rights by staging a conflict between President Lyndon B. Johnson and political activist Martin Luther King, Jr. Though many reviewers fault the film for its besmirching portrayal of LBJ, DuVernay’s (mis)representations of Johnson establish a link between the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and King’s theological anthropology. In King’s view, mankind was created in the image of God, endowed with free will and the capacity to reason. The denial of Black voting rights, while literally depriving African Americans of their political agency, also represented the disavowal …

The Roles Of Violence In Recent Biblical Cinema: The Passion, Noah, And Exodus: Gods And Kings, Kevin M. Mcgeough

Journal of Religion & Film

When The Passion was released, its extremely graphic violence horrified critics and scholars of religion although its success at the box office indicates that this, if anything, made the story of Jesus more appealing for viewers. Now that more time has passed and expectations surrounding levels of acceptable violence in cinema have changed, it is worth reconsidering how cinematic violence is used as reception strategy in Biblical cinema. Considering The Passion with more recent Biblical films, Noah and Exodus: Gods and Kings, it becomes apparent that violence is not only used to expand laconic Biblical narratives but to invest …

Hollywood Biblical Epics: Camp Spectacle And Queer Style From The Silent Era To The Modern Day, Kent L. Brintnall

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Richard Lindsay, Hollywood Biblical Epics: Camp Spectacle and Queer Style from the Silent Era to the Modern Day (Denver, CO: Praeger, 2015).

“Aftertones Of Infinity”: Biblical And Darwinian Evocations In Terrence Malick’S The Tree Of Life And To The Wonder, Gregory Allen Robbins

Journal of Religion & Film

In this article I argue that in The Tree of Life and To the Wonder Terrence Malick continues to explore, on an epic scale, a theme that permeates the previous four (Badlands, 1973; Days of Heaven, 1978; The Thin Red Line, 1998; The New World, 2005): innocence to experience. I suggest that Malick’s oeuvre reflects a recurring evocation of and commentary on the primeval, biblical stories of Genesis 1-11. The title of his 2011 installment betrays, however, a more encompassing vision. Viewers whose gaze is oriented by biblical studies will associate “the tree of life” …

2016 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav, Carl Savage, Kate Raphael, Vanessa Workman, Kenneth M. Bensimon, Nicolae Roddy

Field Reports

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Confines Of Tolerance In Rachid Buchareb’S London River: Theological Discussion And Educational Approach To An Open Ended Film, Panayiotis A. Thoma Pth

Journal of Religion & Film

The article discusses Rachid Buchareb's film London River both from a theological and an educational point of view. Therefore I argue that this film may be of great use in the lesson of Religious Education (or other subjects that concern multicultural and inter-religious affairs), for it raises some crucial existential issues, mainly: how do people of different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds truly connect to one another especially in cases in which these exact differences may be the cause of extreme suffering. This is actually the thematic concept of the film. Based on the teachings of the Bible and particularly, …

An Evil Threat To Marriage, Children And The Future: Queer Theory, "The Passion Of The Christ," And Evangelical Political Rhetoric, Richard Wolff

Journal of Religion & Film

This article employs queer theory to analyze Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ (2004) for its portrayal of queer characters (Satan and Herod) in contrast with non-queer (Pilate and Claudia, Seraphia, Simon the Cyrene, and Mary, Christ’s mother), and how it depicts the former as evil and the latter as good. In particular, these contrasts involve self-indulgent or predatory sexual expression versus a healthy marital relationship, and evil versus loving influences over children, who represent hope for the future. Finally, the article looks at the film’s heavy marketing to American evangelicals and how the symbolic representations in the …

2015 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav, Carl Savage, Nicolae Roddy, Gregory C. Jenks, Vanessa Workman, Kenneth M. Bensimon

Field Reports

The 2015 excavation season at Bethsaida took place during May 28th to July 3rd, 2015. Seventy six faculty, students and volunteers joined this season. The expedition was hosted in Ginosar Village, Kibbutz Ginosar. We are very grateful for the kind and efficient hospitality Ginosar team and members, provides us for more than 20 years.

Sundance London 2014, Vaughan S. Roberts

Journal of Religion & Film

This report on the Sundance Film Festival in London in April 2014 includes seven film reviews and observations on the religious themes in them, as well as how the films connect to the notion of place.

The Virgin Mary On Screen: Mater Dei Or Just A Mother In Guido Chiesa’S Io Sono Con Te (I Am With You), Timothy J. Johnson, Barbara Ottaviani-Jones

Journal of Religion & Film

Guido Chiesa’s Io Sono con Te (I Am with You) offers a unique, albeit controversial take on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Filmed in Tunisia, and subject to criticism by Italian Catholic authorities and film critics alike, Io Sono con Te presents a rich anthropological-theological reflection on religion, culture, gender, and sacrifice. Not surprisingly, Chiesa draws on René Girard’s scapegoat theory throughout his film as he fashions Mary as the forceful protagonist in a familiar yet controversial story.

2014 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav, Kate Raphael, Carl Savage, Nicolae Roddy, Toni Fisher, Gregory C. Jenks

Field Reports

The 2014 excavation season at Bethsaida took place during May 18th to July 5th. One hundred and twenty five faculty, students and volunteers took part in the expedition. The expedition was housed for four weeks at Kibbutz Hukok and two weeks at Kibbutz Ginosar. We are very grateful for the extraordinary hospitality that we have had in the two places.

Christians In The Movies: A Century Of Saints And Sinners, Bryan Polk

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Peter Dans' Christians in the Movies: A Century of Saints and Sinners (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2009).

Homeric Heroes In Ethan And Joel Coen's The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), The Big Lebowski (1998) And No Country For Old Men (2007), Vaughan S. Roberts

Journal of Religion & Film

This paper explores how the Homeric trope of the ‘hero’ appears in three films by the writer/directors Ethan and Joel Coen – The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), The Big Lebowski (1998) and No Country for Old Men (2007). It will identify the classical traits of hero and anti-hero, mapping them onto characters in these movies. The paper concludes by examining how the ways in which the Coen brothers' play with the notion of the 'hero' connects with recent thinking on culture and myth in the work of Graham Ward, William A. Dyrness and Robert N. Bellah.

Satanic But Not Satan: Signs Of The Devilish In Contemporary Cinema, Adam L. Porter

Journal of Religion & Film

Scholars have paid much attention to identifying and analyzing Jesus and Christ-type characters in film. The parallel cases for Satan and satanic characters have been less studied. Some attention has been paid to examining Satan/Lucifer/the Devil as a character (akin to movies about Jesus), but I could find no systematic typology of satanic traits, that would parallel the well-developed Christ-typologies. This article examines six films to begin the process of describing what makes a character "satanic" without being Satan.

2013 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav, Kate Raphael, Carl Savage, Nicolae Roddy, Toni Fisher, Gregory C. Jenks

Field Reports

The 2013 excavation season at Bethsaida took place between May 21 and June 28. About 120 faculty, students and volunteers participated in the excavation. The expedition was housed for the first two weeks at Kibbutz Hukok and four weeks at Kibbutz Ginosar. We are very grateful for the extraordinary hospitality that we have had in the two places.

2012 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

The 2012 season of excavations at Bethsaida took place during May 21th and June 28. There had been altogether 120 students and faculty working at the site. As every year the expedition was housed at Kibbutz Ginosar and we are very grateful for the long standing extraordinary hospitality that has been consistently shown to the expedition since 1994.

Job Of Suburbia? A Serious Man And Viewer Perceptions Of The Biblical, David Tollerton

Journal of Religion & Film

In the short period since its release in 2009, the notion that A Serious Man represents a retelling of the Book of Job has gained great currency. This is the case despite the film’s makers, Joel and Ethan Coen, denying that the biblical tale was their inspiration. This article considers the relationship between Job and A Serious Man and the motivations that may lie behind the assertion of parallels between the two. It is ultimately suggested that the relationship between film and text is more substantial if we look beyond the partial plot similarities to the theme of theological absurdity …

2011 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

The excavation season of 2011 consisted of two sessions of two weeks each in the month of June and an early bird week in the end of May.

As usual the expedition was housed in Kibbutz Ginosar. We are very grateful for the extraordinary hospitality that has been consistently shown to the expedition since 1994.

Prevention Of Child Abuse And Neglect Through Church And Social Service Collaboration, Erin Olson O'Neill, Jodi Gabel, Stephanie Huckins, Jeanette Harder

Social Work Faculty Publications

been a historic disconnect between the two institutions concerning child abuse prevention efforts. All too often, criticisms and mistrust tend to characterize the way in which the two interact. This qualitative investigation examines the perceptions of both Christian leaders and social service providers on the church’s role in preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect. Researchers interviewed 36 church leaders and social service providers of varying Christian congregations and specialties. Interviews focused on both current and potential church programming and activities, as well as beliefs and values held by both parties concerning child protection and real or potential collaboration. …

2010 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

The excavation season of 2010 consisted of two sessions of two weeks each with an extended week at the end of the second session. Altogether the excavation extended from May 23 until June 25. Ninety-seven students and faculty members participated in the dig. As usual the expedition was housed in Kibbutz Ginosar. We are very grateful for the extraordinary hospitality that has been consistently shown to the expedition since 1994.

2009 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

Two sessions of excavations were carried out in 2009. About one hundred faculty and students took part in two sessions which lasted from May 23rd to June 19th.

2008 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

Four areas were excavated during this season at Bethsaida. Area A West, east of the city gate, Area A city gate, Area A plaza and Area C.

This area includes remains of early Roman residential area adjacent to the temple and some fragmentary walls dating from the Middle Ages.

Nemo News, Volume 4, Issue 2, Uno Library Science Education

NEMO Newsletter

This issue of NEMO News features Announcements, Advice from the Frontlines from Theresa Jehlik, Alumni Spotlight on Rebecca Wymer, Student Spotlight on KArin Dalziel, Hot Topics: ALA, and Final Thoughts.

2007 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

Thirty two loci were excavated in 2007 in areas A. They are located at the courtyard, the paved road to the city and probes in chamber 3. Area A-West, was designated as a separate area. It is located west of the city gate and includes the plaza and the immediate areas near the gate. Area C was excavated for only 8 days and revealed further segments of the Hellenistic Roman residential quarter. All these areas yielded rich finds and enhanced our understanding of the site.

2006 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

Excavations in Area A concentrated in four different areas. The purpose was to learn more about the road approaching the city dating from Stratum 5 and tombs excavated into it dating from Stratum 2, Stratum 6 city gate and west of the city gate which is now called Area A West.

Epiphany Of The Throne-Chariot: Merkabah Mysticism And The Film Contact, Antonio Sison

Journal of Religion & Film

I first review the features of Merkabah Mysticism emerging from the Jewish Hekhalot literature. I then get into an open-minded, creative exploration of what I see as cinematic allusions to Merkabah motifs in Contact through a consideration of thematic and stylistic patterns. I graft onto the scholarly efforts to bring out deeper aspects of meaning-making in film using the discursive framework provided by biblical theology.

2005 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

The 2005 excavation season was concentrated in three main areas, two locations in Area A, and one in Area C. The purpose of the excavations in Area A was to obtain further data on the Roman and Hellenistic levels south of the Roman temple. For this report, this area is called Area A West. This area surrounding the Roman temple is important in understanding the temple. The temple has been excavated in the previous seasons and it is identified with the Roman Imperial cult, built by Philip, the son of Herod, in the year 30 CE.

Chamber 2 at the …

2004 Bethsaida Field Report, Rami Arav

Field Reports

The excavations this season concentrated in two main areas, the gate – Area A and the Hellenistic Roman residential section, area C. A total of 23 loci were excavated in Area A and 3 in area C. Since the first excavations season, the excavation system of Bethsaida suggests replacing locus numbers as soon as changes in the terrain are noticed this in order to reduce the possibility of getting pottery mixed from more than one deposit. Some of the loci will consolidate in the process of the final report.

"Angels Carrying Savage Weapons:" Uses Of The Bible In Contemporary Horror Films, Mary Ann Beavis

Journal of Religion & Film

As one of the great repositories of supernatural lore in Western culture, it is not surprising that the Bible is often featured in horror films. This paper will attempt to address this oversight by identifying, analyzing and classifying some uses of the Bible in horror films of the past quarter century. Some portrayals of the Bible which emerge from the examination of these films include: (1) the Bible as the divine word of truth with the power to drive away evil and banish fear; (2) the Bible as the source or inspiration of evil, obsession and insanity; (3) the Bible …