Popular Culture

Welcome to the spiritual neighborhood of Fred Rogers

"I like you as you are
Exactly and precisely
I think you turned out nicely
And I like you as you are."

Fred Rogers fiercely believed that all people deserve love. This conviction wasn't simply sentimental: it came directly from his Christian faith. God, he insisted, loves us just the way we are.

In Exactly as You Are, Shea Tuttle looks at Fred Rogers's life, the people and places that made him who he was, and his work through Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. She pays particular attention to his faith--because Fred Rogers was a deeply spiritual person, ordained by his church with a one-of-a-kind charge: to minister to children and families through television.

Tuttle explores this kind, influential, sometimes surprising man: the neighborhood he came from, the neighborhood he built, and the kind of neighbor he, by his example, calls all of us to be. Throughout, Tuttle shows how he was guided by his core belief: that God loves children, and everyone else, exactly as they are.

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.

This book for youth leaders, pastors, and parents looks deep into the mirror of pop and church culture and asks the difficult, and often maddening, question, "Are those things we produce and consume defining us?" Author Stephen Ingram explores these themes of moralism, deism, meism, consumerism, pluralism, and therapeutic religion of pop culture, as well as current sociological and psychological data.

Hollow Faith separates the values of the gospel from the cultural norms that have domesticated them including:

How we believe we should act (The Andy Griffith Show)

How we want to be known (Facebook)

What we aspire to become (the American Dream)

Ingram says that once we recognize these serious shifts in our faith, we can begin to have discussions, develop plans, and form actions to reclaim the vibrant, life-giving faith of the Bible. Includes a Parents Guide in the back.

Dexter is fantastic entertainment. Moreover, it s simply great art. All the key elements are in place: a riveting serial plot line, fast-paced storytelling, engaging and humorous dialogue, and dynamic character development. There is actually something deeper going on in this show that keeps people coming back episode after episode, season after season. There is an element in the story of Dexter himself that resonates profoundly with all of our stories. We find a central theme in his fictional life present in the nonfiction of our everyday longings, failures, dreams, and disasters. Dexter Morgan is a broken man. Hollow and deeply stained. Yet, this book aims to explore a possibility beyond this fact: that in the midst of Dexter s brokenness, something is being redeemed. Even though he can t help it, perhaps there is actually a choice that Dexter is making in the midst of his inability and despite his damaged state - a choice that is taking him from where he is toward something better, perhaps even beginning to restore the very thing that makes him truly human.

Praying the Movies II brings together the ancient tradition of praise and prayer with a contemporary passion for the movies. Noted author and speaker Ed McNulty presents another collection of thirty-one devotionals--one a day for a month--that connect movies with the spiritual life of moviegoers. Each devotional contains passages from Scripture, an introduction to a scene from a popular film, a description of the scene, and a meditation on the themes in the scene and Scripture. Also included are questions to encourage further reflection, a suggestion for a hymn, and a brief prayer. Ideal for individual or group study, Praying the Movies II will bring the seemingly disparate worlds of the Bible and film together, helping readers to understand each in new ways.

Robert L. Short, author of the best-selling The Gospel According to Peanuts, presents a book of biblical meditations on everyday life. Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, Woodstock, and friends consider their religious beliefs, and the resulting cartoons offer some delightful insights into life. Short seizes the opportunity to explore these insights one step further, to help us laugh at our own foibles and learn from our own collisions with reality.