The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film

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Edited by John C. Lyden

Type

Studies

Subject

Sociology

Keywords

religion

Publishing date

2026 (March 04, 2026)

Publisher

Routledge

Collection

Routledge Religion Companions
2nd edition

1st publishing

2010

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 524 pages
6 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches (17 x 24.5 cm)

ISBN

978-1-032-63121-9

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Book Presentation:
The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film brings together a lively, experienced, and diverse team of contributors to introduce students to the key topics in religion and film, and to investigate the ways in which the exciting subject of religion and film is developing for more experienced scholars. This second edition includes 17 new contributors and 10 new topics, including those that deal with the ways in which film relates to Native American Religions, African Religions, Chinese Religions, Atheism, Gender, and Race. The Companion:

• Considers film production and technique, marketing, distribution, and audience reception as stages that affect how we understand the interaction of religion and film
• Examines films from around the world and the ways in which they reflect diverse cultures and religions
• Utilizes multiple methodologies to explore religion and film
• Includes study of how online streaming has changed both the content and the distribution of films
• Analyzes religious themes in films such as Sacrifice, Redemption, Apocalypse, and Christ Figures
• Includes consideration of films as varied as The Passion of the Christ, Midsommar, and Malcolm X.

This thoroughly-updated second edition provides a cutting-edge and accessible resource to this emerging field. The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film continues to be an indispensable guide to religion and film for students of Religion, Film Studies, and beyond.

About the Author:
John C. Lyden is Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at the University of Nebraska Omaha, USA.

Press Reviews:
"This impressive book builds on the first edition with many new selections written by a marvelous group of scholars, most of whom are new for this edition. It sets the standard for new scholarship, and becomes indispensable as both a textbook for courses in religion and film, and as a key resource for scholars."

- Amir Hussain, Past President, American Academy of Religion and Professor of Theological Studies (Loyola Marymount University)

"From Hollywood to Nollywood, arthouse to transmedia, Christianity to Chinese religions, formal analysis to queer readings, the Religion and Film Companion offers theoretically sophisticated and contextually grounded analyses of an impressively diverse range of films and issues. Both a map of the current state of the field and indicating exciting avenues for future research, this is a wonderful resource for students, scholars, and cinephiles."

- Stefanie Knauss, Professor of Constructive Theology (Villanova University)

"To borrow from Mark Twain, reports of the death of religion have been greatly exaggerated, and one might say the same of cinema. This illuminating collection stands as evidence for both assertions, advancing critical dialogue regarding how religion and film have always been linked in myriad, complicated, and important ways. John Lyden hosts a generous conversation, here, between an impressive list of scholars from a wide range of theoretical and cultural perspectives. For those interested in the critical intersection of belief, culture, and moving images, this book will prove an essential foundation and catalyst for years of future discussion."

- Joseph G. Kickasola, Professor of Film and Digital Media (Baylor University)

See the publisher website: Routledge