The World Transparent
A Catechesis at the Movies
- Arts & Literature
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2021
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Publisher's Description
The World Transparent examines the spiritual themes that have populated our Western and Christian tradition for many centuries. From a sacramental standpoint, and using forty well-loved films as illustrations, The World Transparent endeavors to guide the reader through a process of formation and towards a mature understanding of the Christian faith; not only as an intellectual exploration, but as a spiritually lived experience. Its focus is on the virtues, as they help to form us to live purposeful lives and attain happiness; on conscience, as it directs our judgment and moral actions; on grace, as it lifts up our nature and works to perfect it; on the sacraments, as they confer the graces that enable us to meet life's struggles; and on the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, as they immerse us in the order of grace and direct us to the source of our redemption in Christ. Each of these sacred themes is augmented by beauty and by the sacramental qualities found in great art, in powerful stories, and shot through, eminently, by classic, masterful film.
Endorsements (4)
“In The World Transparent, Nina Butorac selects themes from the works of profound Christian thinkers, from St. Paul to St. Augustine to Thomas Merton, and illuminates these themes by way of classic and top-drawer movies. . . . What emerges for the reader is an understanding of the powerful relevance of Christian thought to the universal plight of humanity. For the restless heart, the essential message of hope through Christ’s two great commandments, love of God and love of neighbor, resonates on every page of this beautifully crafted work.”
“A well-written work that utilizes the movies as modern-day parables to illustrate the many principal themes in our Christian faith. Nina Butorac presents a faithful interpretation of church teachings while daring to go to the heart of sacramental theology. Our Christian identity, as sacramental bearers of Christ, is the essential theme that is named, challenged, and celebrated in the pages of this book. . . . I highly recommend this work to teachers, students, pastors, parents, and individuals wishing to share and grow in their faith.”
“We make so many decisions based on instincts and imagination, and only then use reason to justify them. We need a new engaging reflection that breaks us out of our bubbles. Nina Butorac’s The World Transparent uses the language of movies to enlarge our reflection on life as it is and to enrich it with the richness of the Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition.”
“An excellent analysis of the art form of storytelling through movies and the way in which cinema can ‘hold up a mirror’ to the world and the human condition. Butorac exhibits a deep knowledge of the tradition of the Catholic Church with respect to the arts, sacraments, virtues, and other theological matters and how they are treated in the world of film. . . . Movies have an outstanding ability to tell stories that show the ways in which the divine is bursting forth into the world, and The World Transparent is an excellent resource for those who are interested in film studies.”
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