Met. Saba Warns Against Uncritical Viewing of Religious Films
Met. Saba warns that religious films often distort sacred truths and urges believers to approach cinematic portrayals of faith with critical discernment.
ENGLEWOOD, NJ — His Eminence Met. Saba (Isper) has cautioned believers against uncritical consumption of religious films, warning that modern cinema often distorts faith and undermines spiritual reverence. In an article on religious cinema, the hierarch noted that the rapid expansion of film and television, combined with powerful visual technology, has made religious themes increasingly common but frequently problematic.
He stressed that religious art is rarely neutral and often reflects the ideology, beliefs, or agendas of producers, whether private companies or institutions. According to Metropolitan Saba, cinematic depictions of sacred figures can diminish reverence, replace prayerful imagination with an actor’s image, and spread inaccurate or fabricated ideas that linger in viewers’ minds.
Citing examples such as controversial portrayals of Christ in modern films, he warned that cinema can shape false impressions of doctrine and history. Met. Saba urged believers to remain discerning and informed, emphasizing that truth is safeguarded not by censorship, but by knowledge, vigilance, and critical engagement with modern media.
Previously, the UOJ reported that The Kennedy Center had screened El Tonto Por Cristo, a black-and-white art film inspired by Orthodox spirituality.
