Godawa on Stand To Reason: Storytelling, Imagination, Apologetics in the Bible

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The brilliant and very friendly Brett Kunkle interviewed me on the Stand To Reason Podcast here.

We talked about some heavy stuff. Guaranteed to fascinate you. The need for Christian artists to be theologically informed and the need for theological Christians to be artistically informed from the Bible. Art, aesthetics, beauty are not merely acceptable, they are necessary to knowing God properly. But also, did you know God used artistic imagination to defend the faith? Did you know God used subversion to redeem pagan imagination and pagan art?

This is the book we talked a lot about: God Against the gods.

Here is the video presentation of God Against the gods.

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Hollywood Worldviews: Horror, A Biblical Genre

Check out this YouTube video on Horror: A Biblical Genre.

Some people think the Bible is a Veggie Tales cartoon, or Little House on the Prairie – safe, and family friendly “Christian” genre. But they’re wrong. Bloody gore, bone chilling fear, serial killers, Vampires, zombies, werewolves and other mutant monsters are in the Bible. No, this is not an exaggeration for a headline. See for yourself. I prove it in this presentation.

In this condensed version of my talk, I explore the genre of horror and explain the 4 ways that horror is used redemptively in the Bible and in movies. Horror reveals man’s sinful nature, exposes the consequences of sin, uncovers man’s spiritual pride, and expresses social commentary. Powerpoint visuals.

This is a shortened version without film clips. Get the full version here, complete with film clips.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

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Hollywood Worldviews: Redemption in the Movies

Check out this YouTube video on Redemption in the Movies.

This is like a condensed class on how to watch a movie. I explain the 9 basic elements of story structure used in movies and the Bible to communicate redemption. Examples from the movie Braveheart illustrate these 9 elements of story and how they lead the audience toward the worldview of the storyteller. Powerpoint visuals and film clips.

This is a shortened version. Get the full version here, complete with lots of film clips.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

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Hollywood Worldviews: Jesus Told R-Rated Parables

Check out this short YouTube video on Jesus Told R-Rated Parables.

Some people think that the Bible only describes sex and violence with an historical “reporting” kind of purpose.
Boy, do they have a problem with Jesus, the master storyteller, who used extreme violence in fictional parables to communicate the Kingdom of God. And learn how Revelation’s and Daniel’s visions are virtual feasts of cinematic gore and depravity. There is a holy purpose to depicting disgusting evil in storytelling. Learn how it can be redemptive without being exploitative.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

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Hollywood Worldviews: Profanity in the Bible & in the Movies

Check out this short YouTube video on Profanity in the Bible and in the Movies.

God uses profanity in his holy Word when making important spiritual accusations. I am not exaggerating to make a headline. Some believers just don’t realize that the Bible does not fit the “Christian film” category of storytelling. It does not receive a Dove Award for being family friendly. But that doesn’t justify gratuitous cussing. Learn the difference here.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

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Hollywood Worldviews: Sex in the Bible & in the Movies

Check out this short YouTube video on Sex in the Bible and in the Movies.

The Bible is not shy when it comes to describing sexuality of all known kinds, marital, adulterous, heterosexual, homosexual, rape, fornication and more. Ezekiel 16 and 23 are R-rated sexually violent symbolic fiction. The Song of Solomon is undeniably erotic literature. Learn the reason why God is not as prudish as some of his believers when it comes to depicting sexuality in the Bible. And learn the difference between exposing evil and exploiting it in storytelling.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

Hollywood Worldviews: Violence in the Bible and Movies


Check out this short YouTube video on Violence in the Bible.

The Bible is quite explicit at times in its depiction of gory, gross or disgusting acts of evil.
Learn why it is important to God that evil be depicted accurately in stories, or the redemption of the story will not be believable.

The Bible is Rated R. Parental Discretion is advised.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

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Hollywood Worldviews: Subversion in the Movies. How Story Changes Your Mind.

Check out this short video of Subversion in the Movies.

I’m the guy whose post on the movie Noah went viral, and angered the Hollywood heavyweights and their bullying religious sycophants. Because I uncovered the true subversive meaning of the movie. In this presentation, I explain what subversion is in storytelling, and how it can be used for good or evil. In fact, I show how God uses subversion in his storytelling. And if you get the full version, you will see my explanation of the movie Noah, complete with film clips. Good and bad examples.

This is a shortened version. Get the full version here, complete with lots of film clips.

You can find out more about the series here, including buying the downloads.

Hollywood Worldviews: Worldview in Movies. It Affects You More Than You Realize.

Check out the short YouTube video.

Every worldview is a story that has a narrative of Creation, Fall and Redemption.
Every movie has a worldview.
I explain the components of a worldview and how they are incarnated within a story in movies.
This will help you understand the underlying meaning of movies.

Get the full version of this lecture, complete with film clips here.

You can find out more about the series here.

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