50 Book Challenge 2011 55/50
Rapture Ready!: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture
by Daniel Radosh
310 Pages
I really got a lot out of this book about Christian pop-culture. I think it helps that I am an American as this focuses on the American aspects of Christian pop-culture.
The author, who happens to be Jewish, looks at phenomenon such as Christian skateboarding parks, Christian music festivals, Christian raves, The Creation Museum, passion plays and just your general Jesus oriented knickknacks that you can buy in stores (commonly known as “Jesus Junk” or from the clothing aspect, “Witness Wear”).
This book isn’t mocking, although it is humorous, and it does examine how some Christians just want to be like everyone else, but have a Christian spin on what they buy.
Christian industry is worth about $17 BILLION and this figure is constantly growing. It’s a huge industry and everyone is trying to cash in - some with more sinister motives than others.
My favourite chapter is on the Christian sex/relationship industry. You can buy Christian vibrators, but they take the photos off the packaging so that you won’t lust after someone other than your husband!
Some of the topics are serious and reveal the narrow mindedness (and downright scariness) of the people interviewed, while some show that some Christians are more liberal than you would think.
Some of the stuff is pretty ridiculous, however. Bible Man? Christian Wrestling? The Caped Chistian?
The book was well written and was written with humour and insight.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rapture-Ready-Adventures-Parallel-Christian/dp/159376281X/
by Daniel Radosh
310 Pages
I really got a lot out of this book about Christian pop-culture. I think it helps that I am an American as this focuses on the American aspects of Christian pop-culture.
The author, who happens to be Jewish, looks at phenomenon such as Christian skateboarding parks, Christian music festivals, Christian raves, The Creation Museum, passion plays and just your general Jesus oriented knickknacks that you can buy in stores (commonly known as “Jesus Junk” or from the clothing aspect, “Witness Wear”).
This book isn’t mocking, although it is humorous, and it does examine how some Christians just want to be like everyone else, but have a Christian spin on what they buy.
Christian industry is worth about $17 BILLION and this figure is constantly growing. It’s a huge industry and everyone is trying to cash in - some with more sinister motives than others.
My favourite chapter is on the Christian sex/relationship industry. You can buy Christian vibrators, but they take the photos off the packaging so that you won’t lust after someone other than your husband!
Some of the topics are serious and reveal the narrow mindedness (and downright scariness) of the people interviewed, while some show that some Christians are more liberal than you would think.
Some of the stuff is pretty ridiculous, however. Bible Man? Christian Wrestling? The Caped Chistian?
The book was well written and was written with humour and insight.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rapture-Ready-Adventures-Parallel-Christian/dp/159376281X/