Category: Michael D


Christology on Film

It is not far to Jerusalem now. You can’t make out the city walls in the distant, but the story about the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth is meandering to its conclusion. Dusty, dry days remain before followers of Jesus, then and now, will have choices to make.

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar,
Do you think you’re what they say you are?

Murray Head, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar, “Superstar.” 1970.

Christology is that part of theological inquiry that focuses on the nature and person of Jesus. Christ and Culture, H. Richard Niebuhr’s important work remains a relevant conversation partner as one works to make sense of their beliefs and the place of Christianity or Christ within a culture. But, it presupposes one has come to understand the difference between calling the pesky peasant from Galilee Jesus of Nazareth or claiming him as Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, or Jesus, the Christ. Your Christology matters and provides a glimpse into how one imagines, identifies, or tells the story of the Holy One (G*d or YHWH) in relationship with and to creation and humanity.

Many years ago, my companion was the Hebrew bible professor at Lexington Theological Seminary. While she was there we offered “dinner and a movie night” to a small group of seminarians and their significant others who wanted to dig a bit deeper into their belief system. The films listed below are those we viewed, and continue to watch, to explore Christology and claims about Jesus. Any of these would be good for your Lenten journey. We always ended the Lenten season with good Friday movies: “Jesus of Montreal,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” Sometimes we showed “The Last Temptation of Christ,” but it is 3+hrs and we would begin much earlier in the day.

None of these are “christian” movies. Many are rated “R,” but much of life is or at least PG-13.

Here are a few more films that we didn’t show, but would be interesting conversations about Christology.

  • Free Guy (2021)
  • Harry Potter, specifically, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2 (2010-2011)
  • WALL-E (2008)
  • The Iron Giant (1999)
  • Babette’s Feast (1987)
  • Starman (1984)
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Jesus’ way of living leads to a Truth about the divine in creation and all humanity; and that Truth brings meaning to life. It can be (is) life giving here and now; and in what dreams may come.

, 03/27/2025. No Comments on Christology on Film. Category: Film & Book Reviews, Michael D.

The Cell Phone Effect

I’ve been searching for an image that captures our post-Covid cell phone social media attention economy culture. This short clip from Batman Forever (1995) is a way of understanding what Facebook, X (Twitter), Google, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat, Amazon, or whatever your favorite media addiction is doing to our brains and our personal information. You can add ‘influencer’ to the list.

Like Edward, Big Tech is soaking up our brain and our ability to socialize with people we know and don’t know. It has deepened the divide in our Nation and around the world with meme think, meme insult, and digital mob mentality. It has normalized “alternative facts.” I’m a GenX’er. They thought TV would rot the brain.

Do yourself a favor. Digital detox or rehab. Oh, it’s not lost on me that one must rely on a screen to read this scribbling. I’m suggesting set limits to who you give access to your attention and brain. You’ll be better for it.

, 03/17/2025. Category: Culture, Michael D.
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