Engaging the Public Sphere
A Theological Analysis of Biblical Narratives in Cinema
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62926/jtvd.v6i2.95Keywords:
Bible, Biblical Adaptation, Film, Privatization of Religion, Public Sphere, Public TheologyAbstract
Amid the prevailing tendency to privatize religion in modern society, this paper explores efforts to bring the Bible into the public sphere through film as a form of public theology. Employing a descriptive-qualitative approach and literature review, this study examines how biblically themed films not only retell sacred narratives but also mediate theological messages into the public domain in response to social, political, and popular cultural issues. The findings reveal that film serves as an analytical and critical medium capable of engaging with social structures by bridging personal faith and public involvement. The concept of the Bible as a public book is reinforced through its engagement in moral and justice discourse conveyed through the visual symbolism of film. Thus, film is not merely a medium for visualizing faith, but also a hermeneutical space that invites both the Church and society to reinterpret the message of the Bible in a contextual manner. This paper asserts that engaging in public theology through film represents a strategic means of reaching broader audiences and expanding faith participation in the public sphere.
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