Abstract
Three recent films, The Sixth Sense, The Matrix, and American Beauty, richly illustrate numerous classical Christian doctrines, including themes in ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and aesthetics. The Sixth Sense offers powerful metaphors for original sin and conversion. The Matrix portrays an Ecclesiastes-like linkage between wisdom and sorrow and features a potential model for a strong view of divine providence. And belief in strong providence is actually endorsed in American Beauty in the form of a Leibnizian aesthetic theodicy. Whether consciously or not, the makers of these films develop themes that have significant potential for illuminating key elements of Christian theology.
Recommended Citation
Spiegel, James S.
(2002)
"Cinematic Illustrations in Christian Theology,"
Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 6:
Iss.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol6/iss2/4