Movies Are Prayers -- Josh Larsen

Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Movies Are Prayers

How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings

by Josh Larsen

Josh Larsen, co-host of the WBEZ/NPR podcast Filmspotting, brings his cinematic expertise to a new book with InterVarsity Press titled Movies Are Prayers. In his role with Filmspotting and as editor of Think Christian, a digital magazine on faith and culture, Larsen has influenced the minds of moviegoers on the applicability of stories to real life, spirituality, and faith for years. Movies Are Prayers explores how modes of prayer—praise, confession, lament—are modeled by all types of films. In this fashion, the book illuminates the richness of both cinema and prayer. | read more»

Buy The Book

About the Book and Author

Movies Are Prayers explores how modes of prayer—praise, confession, lament—are modeled by all types of films. In this fashion, the book illuminates the richness of both cinema and prayer. | read more »

Read an Excerpt

Field of Dreams, in which Iowa stands in for heaven, depicts one man’s spiritual journey of prayerful obedience. Given a vision of a baseball diamond, Ray decides to build a full-scale field on his farm, complete with bleachers and lights. | read more »

Praise for "Movies Are Prayers"

"There's a lot of writing on film and theology, but a perspective like Larsen's—fresh, insightful, and interesting for anyone—is a rare gift to cinephiles and more casual movie viewers alike." —Alissa Wilkinson, film critic, Vox.com | read more »

The Church of Cinema: A Q&A With Josh Larsen

"I know what it means to read a psalm of lament in church, and often that is a powerful experience of prayer. But sometimes a movie that is lamenting the brokenness of the world can function in the same way - and be equally as powerful." | read more »

"Movies Are Prayers" by Josh Larsen

Josh Larsen, Co-Host of Filmspotting, on "Movies Are Prayers"

Featured Blogs

Evangelical

Don't waste your trial: Learning lessons from your hard place

David Rupert

Your pain, your trial is real. But this time in your life...

Evangelical

Losing the cultural battle? Here's an idea -- Let's sing

David Rupert

Do you think that your identity is being sucked away by...

Book Roundtable: Continue the Conversation with our Bloggers

Praying with Films: A Response to Josh Larsen’s “Movies...

In her forties, my mother went back to school to be...

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos