Jesus is everywhere—in our bookstores, churches, museums, concert halls and theatres. Many of us, Christians and non-Christians alike, have encountered Jesus most vividly on the silver screen. Yet the Jesus movies do much more than tell us about Jesus' life and times. Indeed, what the Jesus movies do best is mirror our society’s fears and anxieties, our comforts and joys, our beliefs and values. In this lecture, we will sample mainstream movies about Jesus, and consider what they might tell us not only about Jesus but also about ourselves.
Adele Reinhartz
Dr. Adele Reinhartz is Associate Vice-President Research at the University of Ottawa, where she also holds an appointment in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies. Her most recent work is Jesus of Hollywood (2006). A biblical scholar, she also wrote Scripture on the Silver Screen (2003). From 2002–2005, she was Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Wilfrid Laurier University. Dr. Reinhartz received her BA in Religious Studies from the University of Toronto and her MA and PhD from McMaster University.
Funds for this lecture came from the School Boards’ Lecture fund, created by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the Grey-Bruce Catholic District School Board and the Brantford-Norfolk Catholic District School Board.
This lecture is part of the joint-venture between the CBC and St. Jerome's University. Every year, CBC Radio One will air one of our lectures on the IDEAS program. This year Dr. Reinhartz’s lecture will be aired.