Evangelical Crusade Chronicles: Documentary Exploration - Evangelical Movement: Film Exploration into the World of Religious Artistry
In the upcoming week, Arte will air a compelling three-part documentary series titled "The Great Crusade: Arte Doc on Evangelicals," delving into the life and impact of Billy Graham, a pivotal figure in 20th-century Evangelicalism. The first episode, titled "The Great Crusade," will air on Tuesday, 15 July at 21:45.
Billy Graham, a Baptist pastor, is often credited with transforming Evangelicalism into a major social and political force in the United States. His extensive preaching crusades reached millions, promoting a message of personal salvation and moral renewal that resonated widely across denominations. Through mass media, including radio, television, and print, Graham expanded Evangelical outreach and helped define its identity in American public life.
The documentary will explore Graham's role as a religious leader who bridged denominations and social classes, making Evangelical Christianity more accessible and mainstream in the USA. It will also delve into how his ministry influenced not only spiritual life but also political and cultural aspects of American society, helping frame Evangelicalism as a key constituency in national discourse.
The trilogy will also examine the lasting legacy of Graham's evangelistic strategies, including his use of media and stadium crusades, on subsequent generations of Evangelical leaders and movements. It could also address controversies and complexities within the Evangelical movement over time, highlighting Graham's emphasis on unity and moderation compared to more radical or political expressions that emerged later.
The docuseries, produced by Thomas Johnson, places Billy Graham at the center of its narrative, exploring how the Evangelical movement became one of the most dynamic Christian currents of the present and the role Graham played in it. The series will be available in the media library until 30 August.
Sebastian Schüler, a religious studies scholar, suggests that the popularity of Evangelicals today can be attributed to multiple crises such as the pandemic, migration, wars, climate change, and social division. In times of crisis, the need for support, orientation, and clear moral guidelines increases, and Evangelical movements offer a comprehensive worldview with clear answers and a personal relationship with God, providing meaning and identity.
The docuseries is not just a historical account but also a timely exploration of the Evangelical movement's current influence, particularly in the USA and Brazil. It serves as a comprehensive examination of Billy Graham’s central legacy, demonstrating how he shaped the Evangelical movement's identity and its impact on American religious and cultural landscapes throughout the 20th century and beyond.
For those interested in learning more about this significant figure in American history and the evolution of Evangelicalism, tune in to Arte on Tuesday, 15 July at 21:45 for the first episode of "The Great Crusade: Arte Doc on Evangelicals."
The Commission is proposing to extend the period of validity of the documentary series "The Great Crusade: Arte Doc on Evangelicals," which covers the life and impact of Billy Graham, to include analysis of his influence on Evangelical movements in movies-and-tv and entertainment. This documentary, produced by Thomas Johnson, offers a comprehensive examination of the role Billy Graham played in shaping Evangelicalism, not only as a historical account but also as a timely exploration of its current influence in areas such as movies-and-tv and entertainment.
