Popular Culture

Stephenie Meyer's bestselling Twilight saga took the young adult fiction world by storm. Although by no means dominant or even particularly overt, Meyer's use of religion nonetheless provides for some intriguing interpretive possibilities. Topics from young love, to abstinence, to the value of family and friends are infused in the stories. Love as an agent of change and a motivational impulse for self-sacrifice also receives significant emphasis. Could Eve and Mary be a pattern for Bella? What about Edward--could he be seen as a Christ-figure?

From Twilight to Breaking Dawn assists readers in thinking about the religious themes and images found throughout the Twilight saga. A single Twilight character or issue is discussed in each chapter and concludes with discussion questions for individual or group study. This book includes ideas from Judaism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and Mormonism. From Twilight to Breaking Dawn is perfect for parents wanting to discuss these books with their children or for Twilight lovers interested in pursuing the deeper meaning that lies at the heart of these books.

Since the early 1960s, music fans have found Bob Dylan's spirituality fascinating, and many of them have identified Dylan as a kind of spiritual guru. This book, written by a scholar who is a longtime fan, examines Dylan's mystique, asking why audiences respond to him as a spiritual guide. This book reveals Bob Dylan as a major twentieth- and twenty-first-century religious thinker with a body of relevant work that goes far beyond a handful of gospel albums.

In this inspiring consideration of the spiritual themes in the popular Harry Potter series, well-known Christian author and Harry Potter fan Connie Neal explores the world of magic and mystery created by J. K. Rowling alongside the stories and grand themes of the Bible. Contrary to those who reject the series as a threat to the Christian faith, Neal demonstrates how the lessons in Harry Potter not only echo many of the stories in the Bible but reinforce the central messages of Christianity. This revised and expanded edition explores all seven installments in the Harry Potter series.

(This book has not been prepared, endorsed, or licensed by any person or entity that created, published, or produced the Harry Potter books or related properties.)

While Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang have enjoyed the kind of success most cartoon characters can only dream about--becoming pop culture icons of the highest order and entering the global consciousness practically as family members--Robert Short's The Gospel According to Peanuts also has found a place in the hearts of many readers, with sales now totaling more than ten million copies. This anniversary edition features a new cover, a new interior design, and a new foreword by Martin E. Marty. Whether coming to the book for the first time or taking a second look, a delightful experience awaits in this modern-day guide to the Christian faith, fully illustrated with Peanuts.

What's Christian about Star Trek? Nothing. That's the way most people see it and that certainly seems to be the way the franchise is intended. There's no question that the Trek universe is based on a doggedly humanistic world view and is set in a future time when religion has essentially vanished from Earth. If that's the case, how can there even be a ""gospel according to Star Trek""?

In The Gospel According to Star Trek: The Original Crew, you'll discover how the continuing voyages of Kirk and company aboard the Enterprise--from the original series to the Abramsverse--tell us more about our human quest for God than you ever imagined. You'll learn how Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's own spiritual quest informed the franchise, what he and the series really have to say about God and religion, and the amazing image of Christ contained in Star Trek's most popular character.

You'll also see how Star Trek can help us recover a deeper, more fully human gospel that embraces our humanity instead of denigrating it and echoes the call of both Spock and Christ: ""Live long and prosper!"" (John 10:10). ""You hold in your hands a treasure. So don't read this endorsement; instead, read this book, which we are fortunate to have. The proof of this endorsement is to be found in reading Kevin's book. The 'eyes of your heart' may be opened too."" --David Naugle, Distinguished University Professor, Dallas Baptist University; author of Worldview: The History of a Concept (2002) ""Don't be scared off by the title, Trek fans. Whether Christian, pagan, atheist, or any other corner on the global 'higher power' scale, you'll find plenty of new insights into 'the human adventure' amid the dots Kevin C. Neece connects in The Gospel According to Star Trek. Kevin looks at Star Trek's love-hate relationship with paradises, god-things, baby-steps humanity, alien deities, and even the wacky implications of the animated series, and finds something to intrigue everyone."" --Larry Nemecek, author, Star Trek Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library; Founder, Trekland's Portal 47 ""If you thought there was little Christians could learn from Star Trek, Kevin C. Neece will show you another way into a rich theological frontier in the Star Trek universe. This book is not only helpful for seeing connections between Christian Faith and Star Trek but also a great example of faithful engagement with culture."" --Vincent Bacote, Associate Professor of Theology, Wheaton College ""Star Trek may or may not have been 'Christian, ' but it was highly spiritual. Star Trek and religion ask many of the same questions. Doing good, being honest, helping others, understanding, friendship, self-sacrifice, loyalty--these are all Star Trek themes. They are also the main tenets of Christianity. The Gospel According to Star Trek is a smart and engaging book and Kevin C. Neece's passion for the subject matter and excellent research make for a fascinating read!"" --BarBara Luna, Actress, Star Trek episode ""Mirror, Mirror"" (role of Marlena Moreau) ""Stories do more than entertain. They subtly shape our loves, beliefs, and what we think is possible. Stories are written by someone from somewhere, so the better we understand that person and his worldview, the better we can appreciate how his stories work on us. This is why Trekkies need to read Kevin C. Neece's penetrating and winsome study on Gene Roddenberry and his Star Trek series. They will be challenged and pleasantly encouraged."" --Mike Wittmer, Professor of Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary ""Kevin C. Neece reveals the innumerable ways Star Trek parallels the Christian story of love, sacrifice, peace, and justice, while demonstrating how this gospel connection is why Star Trek resonates with so many people on such a deep level. In a Christian subculture that often focuses on how pop culture is 'anti-Christian, ' The Gospel According to Star Trek is

Readers have repeatedly called The Lord of the Rings the most important book of our age--absorbing all 1,500 of its pages with an almost fanatical interest and seeing the Peter Jackson movies in unprecedented numbers. Readers from ages 8 to 80 keep turning to Tolkien because here, in this magical kingdom, they are immersed in depth after depth of significance and meaning--perceiving the Hope that can be found amidst despair, the Charity that overcomes vengeance, and the Faith that springs from the strange power of weakness. The Gospel According to Tolkien examines biblical and Christian themes that are found in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. Follow Ralph Wood as he takes us through the theological depths of Tolkien's literary legacy.

If God is the greatest mystery of them all, then why not, in pursuit of God, consult the greatest detective of them all? In this imaginative and surprisingly profound book, Stephen Kendrick reveals Sherlock Holmes as spiritual guide.

Drawing on the teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, and Judaism--as well as a host of thinkers as varied as Albert Einstein, Gandhi, and Vincent van Gogh--Kendrick explores the stories of Sherlock Holmes and finds remarkably prescient religious insights. He shows us the link between careful observation of clues and the Buddhist concept of "Bare Attention." He illuminates the parallel between the great sleuth's pursuit of justice and God's actions on the scene of the first murder, when Cain slew Abel. And in the detective's open, engaged mind, Kendrick finds a model for uniting the principles of science with a sincere spiritual quest. The result is a book of inspiration for the modern, skeptical searcher--and an entertaining work that sheds new light on the methods of the world's greatest detective.

This breezy and engaging book will delight the Dr. Seuss fan in all of us. Robert Short looks at spirituality in the stories of children's book author and illustrator Theodore Dr. Seuss Geisel, arguing that Geisel was a first-class Christian thinker. The book explores Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and others.

Short writes in the introduction, When I first became acquainted with his books and was struck by the many parallels I saw between his work and what is said in the Bible and by Christian faith, I considered these similarities to be merely 'happy accidents.' Today I still see these parallels as 'happy, ' but I'm now convinced that they are not merely 'accidents.'

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale captivates readers with its disturbingly prescient vision of the future and haunting insights into the world as we know it. Religion--especially elements of the Christian faith--pervades every inch of the world as Atwood imagines it. Gilead's leaders use perverse forms of Christianity to sustain their authority and privilege, making understanding religion an integral part of understanding Gilead. In the face of the inextricable role of religion in the novel, readers are left to puzzle out religious references and allusions on their own.

From the significance of names to twisted uses of religion to the origins of the Ceremony, this book answers all the questions you might have about religion in this prophetic novel. For anyone who's ever googled a biblical precedent or religious phrase after encountering Atwood's dystopia, this essential guide explains it all and gives readers a fascinating look into the novel and its world. Read it and understand The Handmaid's Tale like never before.

On April 2, 1739, John Wesley realized that the pulpits and sanctuaries were closed to him. If he wanted to follow God's call, he had to give up the stuffy trappings of a Church of England priest and an Oxford don and go to the people. He famously wrote, "At four in the afternoon, I submitted to be more vile and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation." Today we are proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation--and the other things that come with church--with comics.

Wesley Bros Comics is an online world where historical church figures all exist at the same time, in today's world, not unlike the communion of saints where past, present, and future collapse into a moment. For the first time ever, these "webcomics" are collected in printed form with new group-discussion guides to help lovers of John and Charles Wesley find a little humor in the present state of the church, and learn a lot about church history, theology, and Methodist identity.

Perfect for youth groups, small groups, and even college and seminary classes, Submitting to Be More Vile uses the comic book format to communicate Wesleyan/Methodist theology, history, and practice.