Terry Lindvall is C. S. Lewis Chair of Communication and Christian Thought at Virginia Wesleyan College. He is the author of Sanctuary Cinema: Origins of the Christian Film Industry and God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert.

"Lindvall provides his readers with the largely untold story of the beginning decades of the Christian film industry. Now, almost a hundred years later, message movies with a religious core are re-emerging. To understand their current pitfalls and promise, Sanctuary Cinema is important reading. Its also great fun!" - Robert K. Johnston,Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue "Lindvalls book provides a wonderful and wonderfully readable history of this important period. Issues that churches and those interested in communication, culture, and religion wrestle with today turn out to have appeared almost 100 years ago. Anyone interested in film, religion, theology, and culture should read this book." - Paul A. Soukup,S.J., Santa Clara University "Provides a masterful and fascinating survey of the history of the Christian silent film industry and its demise." - John Lyden,author of Film as Religion: Myths, Morals, and Rituals "Lindvall offers a history of the Protestant Churchs role in making and promoting Christian movies, from the very beginning of the industry (circa 1895) through the end of the silent era. . . . This well-researched book is recommended for large academic and theology collection." (Library Journal XPress) "It is an engaging story of cooperation, conflict and critique, one that contributes significantly to contemporary studies of religion, popular culture, and the media." (Journal of the American Academy of Religion) "Thoroughly researched and free of jargon, this book fills the gap in film history." (Choice)

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 The Brazen Serpent 2 Sanctuary Cinema3 Divine Shows 4 Better Films Conclusion: Film as Religion NotesBibliography Index About the Author

Terry Lindvall is C. S. Lewis Chair of Communication and Christian Thought at Virginia Wesleyan College. He is the author of Sanctuary Cinema: Origins of the Christian Film Industry and God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert.

"Lindvall provides his readers with the largely untold story of the beginning decades of the Christian film industry. Now, almost a hundred years later, message movies with a religious core are re-emerging. To understand their current pitfalls and promise, Sanctuary Cinema is important reading. Its also great fun!" - Robert K. Johnston,Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue "Lindvalls book provides a wonderful and wonderfully readable history of this important period. Issues that churches and those interested in communication, culture, and religion wrestle with today turn out to have appeared almost 100 years ago. Anyone interested in film, religion, theology, and culture should read this book." - Paul A. Soukup,S.J., Santa Clara University "Provides a masterful and fascinating survey of the history of the Christian silent film industry and its demise." - John Lyden,author of Film as Religion: Myths, Morals, and Rituals "Lindvall offers a history of the Protestant Churchs role in making and promoting Christian movies, from the very beginning of the industry (circa 1895) through the end of the silent era. . . . This well-researched book is recommended for large academic and theology collection." (Library Journal XPress) "It is an engaging story of cooperation, conflict and critique, one that contributes significantly to contemporary studies of religion, popular culture, and the media." (Journal of the American Academy of Religion) "Thoroughly researched and free of jargon, this book fills the gap in film history." (Choice)

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 The Brazen Serpent 2 Sanctuary Cinema3 Divine Shows 4 Better Films Conclusion: Film as Religion NotesBibliography Index About the Author