Religion and Popular Culture : Rescripting the Sacred

Often considered to be in opposition, American popular culture and popular religion are connected, forming and informing new ways of thinking, writing and practicing religion and theology. Film, television, music, sports and video games are integral to understanding the spiritual, the secular and the in-between in the modern world.

In its revised second edition, this book explores how religious issues of canonicity, scriptural authority, morality, belief and unbelief are worked out not in churches, seminaries or university classrooms, but in our popular culture. Topics new to this edition include lived religion, digital technology, new trends in belief and identification, the film Noah (2014), the television series True Blood, Kanye West's music, the video game Fallout and media events of recent years.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Richard W. Santana is an associate professor of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He lives in Honeoye Falls, New York.

Gregory Erickson is an associate professor of interdisciplinary studies at the Gallatin School of New York University, where he teaches courses on religion, literature and popular culture. He lives in New York.