Cinematic Scripture

Film has the capacity to function as cinematic
scripture for Christian audiences. Cinematic
scripture means that films are authoritative for
audiences in the same way as written scripture. In
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, this new form of
scripture works as equipment for living by being
interpreted by Christian audiences as a call to go to
war against evil through the structure of the film s
biblical themes of bifurcation, redemption, and
millennialism. These fantasy themes culminate in a
rhetorical vision of war that emerges when Christian
bloggers describe how they use the films. From the
usage of The Lord of the Rings, two functions of this
example of cinematic scripture surface: the films are
canonical, and they are militant. Because the films
are militant, they foster zealously nationalistic
attitudes at the expense of prophetic realism.

Autorentext

Brent Yergensen's research interests include the rhetorics ofscience, religion, and popular culture. He currently resides inLincoln, NE and is raising his family with his wife and bestfriend, Celeste.

Klappentext

Film has the capacity to function as cinematicscripture for Christian audiences. Cinematicscripture means that films are authoritative foraudiences in the same way as written scripture. InThe Lord of the Rings film trilogy, this new form ofscripture works as equipment for living by beinginterpreted by Christian audiences as a call to go towar against evil through the structure of the film'sbiblical themes of bifurcation, redemption, andmillennialism. These fantasy themes culminate in arhetorical vision of war that emerges when Christianbloggers describe how they use the films. From theusage of The Lord of the Rings, two functions of thisexample of cinematic scripture surface: the films arecanonical, and they are militant. Because the filmsare militant, they foster zealously nationalisticattitudes at the expense of prophetic realism.