The purpose of this study was to investigate response to the film, "Parable," a 20-minute color film which depicts a clown in a circus setting and which has no dialog but evokes strong emotional/affective reactions. Postviewing reactions to the film by 141 adults from age 20 to 70 of United Methodist churches in southern Indiana were researched. Although the film is more frequently shown to youth, adults were queried because it was felt that adult theological belief systems are more fully developed. The study attempts to describe their reactions and relate the reactions to patterns of theological belief. Theological belief was measured by having participants complete Lee's (1965) Religious Belief Inventory before they watched the film. Emotional/affective reactions were measured by (1) previewing and postviewing completion of Buros' Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (1972), and (2) postfilm semantic differential responses to 11 film-related stimuli. Despite the film being subject to various interpretations, it was concluded that most people who are conversant with the Christian tradition see the film as an obvious allegory in which the clown represents Jesus Christ and the circus represents the world. (The film "Parable" is available from the Council of Churches of the City of New York, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 456, New York, N. Y. 10027.) (Author/ND)