Innovative religious studies courses aimed at making faith more accessible and relevant to society have attracted more than double the normal first-year intake.

Some people even see the internet as a religious experience

Chris Deacy, course lecturer

Students at Trinity College, Carmarthen, have signed up for courses such as Rock of Ages and Holy Hollywood to study the influence of religion on contemporary music and in films.

The college, which is the only one in the UK to offer religion and pop music, is also using the internet as a research tool in a module on God in Cyberspace.

Rock of Ages looks at religion in music from gospel through to modern pop.

Lecturer Chris Deacy said: "Elvis Presley was heavily influenced by gospel music and Robbie Williams - who professes to be a Buddhist - has released Angel and Jesus in a Camper Van."

Some of the most popular Hollywood films have strong religious imagery.

Mr Deacy added: "Superman is one obvious example of a being who comes as a man to earth to save the planet.

Religion is put in a modern context

"He has powers which transcend those of humans.

"The character John Coffey in The Green Mile - has the initials JC and performs miracles.

"He tries to help people but is wrongly accused of a crime and suffers a horrible death."

The classic children's film, ET, tells the tale of an alien which comes into our world, is rejected and eventually returns to the heavens.

Religious experience

Star Wars is seen as a futuristic version of the struggle of good versus evil.

The God in Cyberspace module shows how students can use the internet as a research tool to access information on different faiths and religious groups.

Chris Deacy said: "Some people even see the internet as a religious experience, an omniscient presence which is accessible any time and any place.

"We want to show that religion has role in modern society and is helpful to anyone in a vocational sense."