Pop Culture in Seminary Courses

In a seminary class in Ohio, students discuss Superman comics. In another in Oklahoma, they view films such as “Star Wars” or “Blade Runner.” And in Denver, students clip out magazine ads to be used as a basis for discussions.

Such activities, commonplace in college and university courses in popular culture or mass communications, are increasingly turning up in theology courses in seminaries around the country.

Experts say the activities are far from isolated but reflect a trend toward integrating studies of popular culture into curricula. Such efforts are the catalyst for a new organization, the Assn. for Communication and Theological Education, which was formed at a symposium this week at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Conn.

The Rev. William F. Fore, who lectures on communication at Yale, said he and 30 participants from more than a dozen theology schools and seminaries agreed that “critical reflection on the culture,” as portrayed in various forms of communication, is “integral to the whole job of the seminary.”

Fore said one part of the program--a sharing of course descriptions--surprised everybody.

For example, participants learned that Superman comics are part of a course on mythology and morality taught by Michael Lachat, professor of Old Testament at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Lachat’s students examine ancient forms of mythology and relate it to popular mythologies today, as reflected by Superman or even John Wayne films.