St. Paul at the Movies: The Apostle's Dialogue with American Culture [Paperback]

Robert Jewett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Star Wars, Amadeus, A Separate Place, Tender Mercies, Grand Canyon, Tootsie, Ordinary People, Empire of the Sun, Pale Rider, Red Dawn, and Dead Poets Society--all these movies show concern for deep human issues also treated in the Bible. The films provide evidence that many of the apostle Paul's themes in his New Testament letters are relevant for today. Contemporary movies, according to Robert Jewett, influence many Americans more than their formal education or religious training. And, since Paul interpreted the gospel on other people's turf, Jewett believes that today his forum would involve the movies, a primary source of discovering and debating important moral, cultural, and religious issues. Jewett treats film and biblical passages with equal respect. He brings their ideas and metaphors into relationship so that new insights emerge about both the ancient texts and the American cultural situation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Jewett is Visiting Professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Westminster / John Knox Press; 1st edition (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664254829
• ISBN-13: 978-0664254827
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a great idea, but misses, August 24, 2000

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Kat (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: St. Paul at the Movies: The Apostle's Dialogue with American Culture (Paperback)

Jewett's chapters examine a Christian context of 11 movies of the '80s, offering a fresh look at both the movies and New Testament theology. Clint Eastwood is the basis for a chaper on vengence while racial reconcilation is equated with the Jews and Gentiles in "Grand Canyon." The selection of movies is great in Jewett's book (Star Wars, Amadeus, Ordinary People, and Dead Poet's Society) but the relativism to the scriptures he choses is often weak and farfetched. This is a book to start one thinking about movies already seen, a starting point for discussion as the credits roll, but not great book for independent examination. A fine effort, but at times it just misses.