Washington National Cathedral

The Sunday Forum: Critical Issues in the Light of Faith

The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, host

How is Christian faith being articulated through popular culture? What messages are getting across? Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III and author Greg Garrett examine expressions of Christianity in popular culture, from movies to the music of U2.

Although Christian content is not necessarily found in rock music, it can be there, Garrett says. He finds Augustinian themes in U2’s early hit song, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”; three members of U2 are professed Christians. Lead singer Bono “is very serious about his reflection and his belief,” Garrett says. Unlike many other rock stars, Bono has quoted theologian Jürgen Moltmann in magazine interviews.

The books of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and J. K. Rowling have yielded highly popular fantasy films with a broad range of discernible Christian messages. Garrett mentions that the Harry Potter books are sometimes considered non-Christian because of the very obvious use of magic; but Rowling is a practicing Christian, who has pointed out her use of particular Bible verses and Christian themes.

Garrett describes his own experience of popular culture as “not a complete transformation but a rescuing moment.” A popular song, for example, might capture a nation’s grief. The action film The Matrix features a messiah-like main character; this archetype appeals to something that moviegoers recognize. The movie also meets viewers where they are, and its messages hint at places where they might go to explore religious themes more deeply.

“How do we know what will be good for our souls?” Garrett asks. He supplies the answer that “your soul will tell you.” Discomfiting films with theological material include Magnolia and Pulp Fiction. Magnolia has a miracle at the end, but viewers might find themselves writhing until it happens.

Lloyd asks whether violence or other challenging content might undermine any spiritual value of a film. Garrett recommends that viewers know and respect their own tolerance for potentially objectionable material.

For a list of reading and web resources, click here »

About Greg Garrett

Greg Garrett is professor of English at Baylor University, where he teaches fiction, screenwriting, film, and literature, as well as a popular speaker and spiritual retreat leader. He is the author of the novels Free Bird, Cycling, and Shame (2009), as well as the non-fiction books The Gospel Reloaded (with Chris Seay), The Gospel According to Hollywood, Stories from the Edge, and We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2 (2009), among others. His many recognitions include Outstanding Baylor Faculty Member (1994), a Pirate’s Alley William Faulkner Prize for Fiction, a regional CASE gold medal for nonfiction, and election to the Texas Institute of Letters for lifetime literary achievement (2005). Garrett is a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church.