Links film history with church history over the past century, illuminating America's broader relationship with religious currents over time Moments of prayer have been represented in Hollywood movies since the silent era, appearing unexpectedly in films as diverse as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Frankenstein, Amistad, Easy Rider, Talladega Nights, and Alien 3, as well as in religiously inspired classics such as Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. Here, Terry Lindvall examines how films have reflected, and sometimes sought to prescribe, ideas about how one ought to pray. He surveys the landscape of those films that employ prayer in their narratives, beginning with the silent era and moving through the uplifting and inspirational movies of the Great Depression and World War II, the cynical, anti-establishment films of the 60s and 70s, and the sci-fi and fantasy blockbusters of today. Lindvall considers how the presentation of cinematic prayer varies across race, age, and gender, and places the use of prayer in film in historical context, shedding light on the religious currents at play during those time periods. God on the Big Screen demonstrates that the way prayer is presented in film during each historical period tells us a great deal about America's broader relationship with religion.

If prayer has ever felt frustrating, complicated, laborious or even useless to you, this book has the potential to give you a fresh perspective on the heart of prayer. The author shares her experience of crying out, "Lord, teach me to pray " and the Holy Spirit's response to her cries. Included are six lessons about the principles of prayer and the author's gained insight into why prayer is a necessity; the very heartbeat of a believer. These insights can move you into a place of simplicity and rest in prayer and reveal that prayer is not something you do, but rather someone you become; a pray-er.