Secular Steeples 2nd edition : Popular Culture and the Religious Imagination

Conrad Ostwalt

ISBN 10: 1441156178 / ISBN 13: 9781441156174

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sep 2012, 2012

About this Item

Neuware - An exploration of secularization in America, this book provides students with an innovative way of understanding the relationship between religion and secular culture. In Secular Steeples, Conrad Ostwalt challenges long-held assumptions about the relationship between religion and culture and about the impact of secularization. Moving away from the idea that religion will diminish as secularization continues, Ostwalt identifies areas of popular culture where secular and sacred views and objectives interact and enrich each other.The book demonstrates how religious institutions use the secular and popular media of television, movies, and music to make sacred teachings relevant. From megachurches to sports arenas, the Bible to Harry Potter, biker churches to virtual worship communities, Ostwalt demonstrates how religion persists across cultural forms, secular and sacred, with secular culture expressing religious messages and sometimes containing more authentic religious content than official religious teachings.An ideal text for anyone studying religion and popular culture, each chapter provides questions for discussion, a list of important terms and guided readings.

Seller Inventory # 9781441156174

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Secular Steeples 2nd edition : Popular Culture and the Religious Imagination
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sep 2012
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1441156178
• ISBN 13: 9781441156174
• Binding: Buch
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 234W x 156H x 19D millimeters 234 millimeters width by 156 millimeters height by 19 millimeters depth
• Weight: 645 grams

About this title

Synopsis

An exploration of secularization in America, this book provides students with an innovative way of understanding the relationship between religion and secular culture. In Secular Steeples, Conrad Ostwalt challenges long-held assumptions about the relationship between religion and culture and about the impact of secularization. Moving away from the idea that religion will diminish as secularization continues, Ostwalt identifies areas of popular culture where secular and sacred views and objectives interact and enrich each other.

The book demonstrates how religious institutions use the secular and popular media of television, movies, and music to make sacred teachings relevant. From megachurches to sports arenas, the Bible to Harry Potter, biker churches to virtual worship communities, Ostwalt demonstrates how religion persists across cultural forms, secular and sacred, with secular culture expressing religious messages and sometimes containing more authentic religious content than official religious teachings.

An ideal text for anyone studying religion and popular culture, each chapter provides questions for discussion, a list of important terms and guided readings.

About the Author

Conrad Ostwalt is Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Appalachian State University, USA.