Sunday Superposition #32

Uncovering the gospel in Tron

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Uncovering the gospel in Tron

Imagine revisiting some of the movies that colored your childhood, only to discover they were subtly teaching you about faith all along. Even when Christianity isn’t front and center, the message can be there, woven into the fabric of the story. Ralph Wood, in his insightful book, The Gospel According to Tolkien, highlights why this approach is so potent:

Tolkien’s work is all the more deeply Christian for not being overtly Christian. He would have violated the integrity of his art—and thus the faithfulness of his witness—if he had written a 1,200-page novel to illustrate a set of ideas that he could have expressed apart from the story itself. This is a principle not only of good art but also of good theology.

This invites us to embark on a treasure hunt for these spiritual Easter eggs in cinema. Given Christianity’s deep roots in Western culture, it’s no surprise that these messages subtly seep into our entertainment, sometimes so seamlessly it feels like they’re part of the cultural DNA. But occasionally, the allegory is so vivid, the intent is undeniable.