Theophany in Cinema: The Depiction Of God in Movies in The Context Of Christianity

Yasin Öner

Article Details

Theophany in Cinema: The Depiction Of God in Movies in The Context Of Christianity

Authors:

Yasin Öner

Publisher:

Dokuz Eylul University

Main Topics:

Dinler Tarihi

Journal:

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 61, pp.148-168

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353260

pISSN:

1303-3344

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This study deals with the principle of the visualization of God in cinema in the context of Christianity and the reinterpretation of sacred figures in modern cinematic works. The study aims to discuss the ways in which the depiction of God in cinema is influenced by traditional Christian beliefs and the ways in which these depictions challenge religious perceptions. In this context, the study is limited to the series Lucifer 2016-2021 and the films Dogma 1999, The Shack 2017, Bruce Almighty 2003, Evan Almighty 2007 and The First Temptation of Christ 2019. Accordingly, the physical and characteristic features of God in the fictional plane of the films were examined in a theological context. For example, in Lucifer, God is presented as a father figure in complex family dynamics, while in Dogma God is portrayed as a humorous and playful creator. While Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty paint a more humanistic portrait of God acting through human beings, The Shack and The First Temptation of Christ challenge perceptions of gender and authority and portray God from a more marginalized.

 This study deals with the principle of the visualization of God in cinema in the context of Christianity and the reinterpretation of sacred figures in modern cinematic works. The study aims to discuss the ways in which the depiction of God in cinema is influenced by traditional Christian beliefs and the ways in which these depictions challenge religious perceptions. In this context, the study is limited to the series Lucifer 2016-2021 and the films Dogma 1999, The Shack 2017, Bruce Almighty 2003, Evan Almighty 2007 and The First Temptation of Christ 2019. Accordingly, the physical and characteristic features of God in the fictional plane of the films were examined in a theological context. For example, in Lucifer, God is presented as a father figure in complex family dynamics, while in Dogma God is portrayed as a humorous and playful creator. While Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty paint a more humanistic portrait of God acting through human beings, The Shack and The First Temptation of Christ challenge perceptions of gender and authority and portray God from a more marginalized.

 This study deals with the principle of the visualization of God in cinema in the context of Christianity and the reinterpretation of sacred figures in modern cinematic works. The study aims to discuss the ways in which the depiction of God in cinema is influenced by traditional Christian beliefs and the ways in which these depictions challenge religious perceptions. In this context, the study is limited to the series Lucifer 2016-2021 and the films Dogma 1999, The Shack 2017, Bruce Almighty 2003, Evan Almighty 2007 and The First Temptation of Christ 2019. Accordingly, the physical and characteristic features of God in the fictional plane of the films were examined in a theological context. For example, in Lucifer, God is presented as a father figure in complex family dynamics, while in Dogma God is portrayed as a humorous and playful creator. While Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty paint a more humanistic portrait of God acting through human beings, The Shack and The First Temptation of Christ challenge perceptions of gender and authority and portray God from a more marginalized.

 Bu çalışma, Hristiyanlık bağlamında sinemada Tanrının görselleştirilmesi ilkesini ele alarak, modern sinema yapıtlarının kutsal figürleri yeniden yorumlamasını konu edinmektedir. Çalışma, Tanrının sinemada betimlenmesinin geleneksel Hristiyan inançlarından etkilenme biçimini ve bu tasvirlerin dini algılara meydan okuma şeklini tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda çalışma, Lucifer 2016-2021 dizisi ile Dogma 1999, The Shack 2017, Bruce Almighty 2003, Evan Almighty 2007 ve The First Temptation of Christ 2019 filmlerinin örneklem olarak seçilmesiyle sınırlandırılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda çalışmada ele alınan yapımların görsel ve tematik analizleri yapılmış, filmlerin kurgusal düzleminde Tanrının fiziksel ve karakteristik özellikleri teolojik bağlamda incelenmiştir. Örneğin, Lucifer dizisinde Tanrı, karmaşık aile dinamikleri içinde bir baba figürü olarak sunulurken, Dogmada Tanrının mizahi ve oyunbaz bir yaratıcı olarak tasvir edilmesi söz konusudur. Bruce Almighty ve Evan Almighty filmleri, Tanrının insanlar aracılığıyla eyleme geçtiği daha insancıl bir portre çizerken, The Shack ve The First Temptation of Christte, cinsiyet ve otorite algılarına meydan okunarak Tanrının daha marjinal bir perspektifle betimlendiğine şahit olunmaktadır.

Article Details

Theophany in Cinema: The Depiction Of God in Movies in The Context Of Christianity

Authors:

Yasin Öner

Publisher:

Dokuz Eylul University

Main Topics:

Dinler Tarihi

Journal:

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 61, pp.148-168

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353260

pISSN:

1303-3344

History of Religion

Christianity

God

theophany

cinema.Dinler Tarihi

Hıristiyanlık

Tanrı

teofani

sinema.

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Yasin Öner

Publisher: Dokuz Eylul University

Main Topics: Dinler Tarihi

Journal: Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 61, pp.148-168

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001353260

pISSN: 1303-3344

Issues

Authors:

Yasin Öner

Publisher:

Dokuz Eylul University

Main Topics:

Dinler Tarihi

Journal:

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Issue 61, pp.148-168

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353260

pISSN:

1303-3344