The God in Film Podcast

Under the Banner of Heaven - Are Mormons really Christians?

Today, we're looking at ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’. The 2022 Disney+ series based on the book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. We’ll be looking at complementarianism, wiping the dust from your feet, safeguarding against dodgy prophecies and how we decide who’s really a Christian or not.

 

Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 28.49

The Fabelmans - What is a biblical divorce?

For this episode, we’ll be looking at ‘The Fabelmans’. Steven Spielberg’s fictionalised version of his early life. We're joined by Lucy Heyes and we’ll be looking at Biblical rationals for divorce and what it’s like to want to be holy, when you are an exceptionally horny teenager. 

Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 34:41 (it's a long one guys!)

Here's some of the places I used for research:

https://www.gotquestions.org/divorce-remarriage.html

https://lifesavingdivorce.com/abuse-in-bible/

https://biblethinker.org/marriage-divorce-remarriage/page/2/

The Eyes of Tammy Faye - What is the prosperity gospel?

For International Women's Day, we're looking at 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' the 2021 biopic about Tammy Faye Bakker, played by Jessica Chastain. We're joined by evangelist and film critic, Andy Godfrey and we’ll be asking, where did televangelism come from? What is the prosperity gospel? And what can we learn from the way Tammy Faye’s treated people with AIDS. 

Finding the Faith in The Film begins at 23:00

Dune - How do you manufacture a messiah?

In this, our first episode of season 6, we're looking at ‘Dune’ the 2021 sci-fi epic directed by Dennis Villenueve adapted from the first half of Frank Herbert’s seminal 1965 novel of the same name. We speak to film journalist and massive Dune fan, Ryan Gaur to tell us about the series and we're joined by Queen of the Nerds, Julia Hall who is taking over co-hosting duties for awhile. We’ll be looking at Islam’s influence on the 'Dune' as well as what a military messiah looks like and how to go about manufacturing one.

Finding the Faith in the film begins at 27:18.

Bonus: RE Podcast Giles interview

For this special bonus episode: I gave an interview to the RE Podcast a few months back. RE Queen Louisa Jane Smith was doing a series on 'Losing My Religion' and for a counter-balance, she did a series on 'Finding My Religion', so she asked me to come and talk about how I became a Christian.

It’s a bit different from our normal kind of episode, but I thought you might appreciate this as it might give you a little bit of an insight into my background and how I approach things. I hope you enjoy it. 

Little Women - What’s the greatest Bible fan fic ever?

For this Christmas special, we're be looking at Little Women, Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of the classic American novel by Louisa May Alcott in 1868. We'll be learning about transcendentalism, how Gerwig's version differs from earlier film adaptations and finding out what is the most influential Bible fan fiction ever? We're joined by author and film critic Sarah Cooke who will be telling us why this version is so special. 

Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 31:38.

Bonus: Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special - Is being Jesus’ disciple like being a Doctor’s companion?

In honour of the 60th anniversary, we're revisiting Doctor Who, the longest running sci-fi show of all time. Yes, I know we've covered it before, but honestly, there's so much in this show that we simply weren't able to cover the first time, from the Ninth Doctor's first trailer all the way to the 'Timeless Child'.

We're joined by the Gilesian equivalent of Sarah Jane Smith; Natalie Minaker, and time-travelling adventurer Claire Gough. Our special guest is Big Finish writer, podcaster and OG Whovian; Caleb Woodbridge to fill us in on the stuff we missed the first time. 

 

Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 12:36.

Fireman Sam - We need to talk about Norman...

For this very special Bonfire night episode, we’re gonna be looking at Fireman Sam, the seminal children’s cartoon that started in 1987 and was revived in the early 2000s. We look at the origins of Fireman Sam, the allegorical parallels of man's temptation to cream cakes, and we need to talk about Norman. Plus a very special guest... 

 

Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 11:52.

 

Bonus: Taylor Swift - What does Miss Swift believe?

For this very special bonus episode, we’re focusing on the works of one Taylor Alison Swift. We start with her 2020 documentary ‘Miss Americana’ and look at her songs. Going aaaaalllll the way back to the start of her career and finishing at her Midnights 3am tracks. We’re joined by fellow dyed in the wool Swiftie, Kat Bullock from Finger Guns in order to fully geek out about one of the greatest song writers of our time.

Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 9:32

Bonus: God in Music - What are the Top 10 mainstream songs with a God connection?

For this very special episode from our Patreon vaults, we’re going to mix up our format a little bit. We’re going to look at the best that mainstream music has to offer and see if we can find any parallels with the gospel, or any other Bible stories. We're joined by our very own, Wakandan Ambassador, Sefa Ahiaku-Aggrey as we look through, pop, rock, country, and hiphop to find the songs that have something to say about God.