If photography had been invented two thousand years ago, would the church find it easier or harder to preach the Gospel?
	If there had been a video camera there when the stone rolled from the entrance to Jesus's tomb, would people find it any easier to believe in the resurrection? Or would there always be reasons for disbelief? Christian theologians emphasize that belief is as much to do with an inner experience (the Holy Spirit) as it is to do with external evidence. Cinema is thought of as the 20th century art form. But has film shown itself able to cope with the Jesus story? Why are so many religious films frankly so bad and so deserving of parody? Is it down to the Hollywood lowest-common-denominator factor? Or is there something in the form itself that doesn't work with religious narrative and this sort of inner experience? There are several sites devoted to Christianity and the cinema. A good start can be made at the Jesus: Real to Reel site at:       http://post.queensu.ca/~rsa/realreel.htm#Online Dr Mark Goodacre's site also has a page devoted to Jesus and film.       http://www.ntgateway.com/
	Discuss the students' experience of Christianity on film. If possible, find some examples to show the students - Mark Goodacre's site has details of which films are available (and is linked to Amazon!). Monty Python's Life of Brian - a good one to round off any discussion of Jesus and Hollywood - is available on both video and DVD.