Bible and Film: The Basics: The Basics

by Matthew S. Rindge

Bible and The Basics is a concise, accessible, and illuminating introduction to the study of Bible and Film. The book introduces non-specialists to the essential content in Bible and Film, and to some of the most common and important methods Bible and Film scholars use. Questions asked throughout the book This book examines various types of interplay between film and the Bible. The theme of ‘Bible on film’ is explored through Hebrew Bible epics including The Prince of Egypt and Noah, and Jesus films such as The Last Temptation of Christ and Son of Man. The theme ‘Bible in film’ is analyzed through films including Mary Magdalene, Magnolia, Pulp Fiction, and The Book of Eli . Films that ‘reimagine the Bible’ include Ex Machina, mother! , and The Tree of Life ; unusual Jesus figures in Pan’s Labyrinth, Dogville, and Donnie Darko are also explored . ‘Film as Bible’ considers films such as To the Wonder, Silence, and Parasite . A conclusion examines television shows such as Dekalog , The West Wing , The Handmaid’s Tale, and God on Trial. With a glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading throughout, this book is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a full introduction to religion and film, bible and film, bible and popular culture, and theology and film.

222 pages, Hardcover

Published July 22, 2021

About the author

Matthew S. Rindge (Ph.D., Emory University) is Professor of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University where he teaches "Bible and Film," "Religion and Film," "Life and Teachings of Jesus," and "Critics of Christianity." He previously taught at Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary, and in many Asian, European, and Latin American countries.

Dr. Rindge's most recent book is Bible and Film: The Basics (Routledge), appearing in July 2021. He is also the author of Profane Parables: Film and the American Dream (Baylor University Press, 2016) and Jesus' Parable of the Rich Fool: Luke 12:13-34 among Ancient Conversations on Death and Possessions (Society of Biblical Literature, 2011).

He has published scholarly articles on diverse topics and has also written for public outlets such as The Washington Post.

In 2011, Dr. Rindge was honored to receive the Paul J. Achtemeier Award in New Testament Scholarship, and in 2012 and 2018 he received Gonzaga University Exemplary Faculty awards.

Reviews

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go, Dr. Rindge! This was perhaps the most religiously illuminating book that I have ever read. It challenged my perceptions of the Bible, like the idea that God always does good, that the Bible is consistent in its message, that Jesus was sinless and always obedient to his Father, etc. The ultimate tool of this text was context: reading the books of the Bible carefully, their translations and original texts, and viewing them within the lens of different genres of modern cinema. It showed the ancient Bible as it truly is with today's media–contradictory, existential, anthological, and challenging to modern cultural conceptions, especially those of America. I especially loved his discussion of the context of one of the "clobber passages" used to justify homophobia. This was expressed in the context of a scene in the HBO series The West Wing wherein the principal character asks a homophobic radio host if he is going to follow the punishment described for gays in Leviticus (cited by the host), then should he also host a small family gathering while he burns his mother alive for wearing two different threads at the same time? Matthew Rindge brilliantly uses The West Wing (seen here as within the film family though it is a television series) as a vehicle to describe "an inconsistent hermeneutic" in contemporary American thought. It's incredible–I have gone to Catholic school my whole life and I have never heard of so much of the content examined in this book like Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) and Job, or even the intrinsic nature of the synoptic Gospels like Mark. It's sad, but also an excellent remark on the one-sidedness of contemporary private Catholic education (even today, Catholics, unlike Protestants, do not read or critically examine the Bible). Regardless of my personal experience, this book does not feel like a textbook and expresses fascinating insights about so many acclaimed films (Dogville, The Matrix, El laberinto del fauno, etc.) and television shows (The Handmaid's Tale, The West Wing, etc.). It will also rock your theological world.