Theology and Mass Communication

Theology and Mass Communication explores the notion that although global communication has been taken seriously by sociologists, political theorists and economists, it has been largely neglected by theologians and in the study of theology. The book is then of great interest to those students and readers interested in the study of theology and the media and theology and mass communication.

This book provides a clear introduction to the main problems and opportunities presented to theology by the mass media environment. The first part examines the current situation by, for example using Vietnam and the Gulf War as examples of the media's power. Here the authors highlight the ability of the media to 'sell' war and the Churches' inability to respond adequately, inexperienced as it is with sophisticated communication techniques. The second part of the book goes on to suggest ways in which the Church needs to rethink its role in the modern world to cope with this challenge. In doing so they use the theological tradition to illuminate secular problems.