Art and religion are no strangers. Since the beginning of history, there have been countless songs and works of art dedicated to higher beings.

So it should come as no surprise that the pairing of religion and film has been making its way into mainstream cinema.

Thomas Beell, professor of journalism and communication with an emphasis in film, says there has always been a part of the industry that makes films specifically for religious audiences, many of which go straight to video. For the most part, however, these films have stayed out of the mainstream.

“Hollywood has always had trouble identifying a solely Christian audience,” Beell says.

Although this has been the case in the past, Beell says new Christian- and religious-themed movies are being made to be shown to larger, more general audiences.

The reason for the varied success that religious films have had, Beell says, is most likely the country’s religious makeup and people’s differing levels of devotion.

“Surveys show that large numbers of people claim to be Christian,” Beell says. “Whether they are or not is a different story.”

The large Christian population has enabled filmmakers to produce movies with Christian themes that will appeal to larger audiences. Movies like 2002’s “Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie,” 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ” and the latest Christian film to hit Ames, “Therese: The Story of Saint Therese of Lisieux,” are evidence of the new trend.

Beell says he thinks the reason there hasn’t been much of a demand for mainstream religious films until recently is the fact that most people separate their beliefs from what they want to see in movies.

“People tend to sort out their religious views between being in church and what they do on the outside,” Beell says. “In the case of what people want for entertainment, most people want action or edgy comedies.”

Another popular trend in film, Beell says, which has made more of a presence than strictly religious films, are movies dealing with people coming back from the dead in spirit form, people speaking to the dead and Jesus coming back to Earth in different forms.

“There is definitely an attraction to the metaphysical in our society and in the film industry,” Beell says. He says that although the popularity of Christian and religious movies has increased, he doesn’t think that they will ever be a substantial focus of the film industry.

“I don’t see studios spending too much time or money on religious movies,” Beell says.

Gary Schmalz, staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ, says he is glad to see movies that are portraying Christian messages.

“I think people have a desire to have more than what is normally presented to them,” Schmalz says. “I think people want to know more about Christ and how his teachings affect their lives.”

Paul Sabino, director of The Salt Company, says he enjoys seeing people use their talents to spread God’s message.

“I’m excited that there are people in the arts who shine a spotlight on God and teach his message,” Sabino says.

Sabino says he thinks there is an emptiness in people’s lives when there is an absence of religious influence.

“Within a culture that has large spread confusion and hate, people want to know the answers to the big questions,” Sabino says. “People are asking the questions, and Hollywood is responding to that.”

The Salt Company, which is part of Cornerstone Church, 56829 U.S. Highway 30, actively uses the arts to proclaim the Christian message, says Sabino.

He says The Salt Company recently produced a Christmas musical about the story of Jesus’ birth taking place in modern Chicago. It was titled “Word on the Street,” and it sold out every one of its multiple performances.

“‘Word on the Street’ was a show that was to a level almost of a Broadway musical that helped bring the gospel message to a diverse audience,” Sabino says.

Although he is happy to see Christianity in the arts, Sabino says there is little to be gained from “religiously watered-down” movies and TV programs.

“To the degree that [movies and TV shows] are just muddying the waters, I don’t get excited about that,” Sabino says.