Jesus Goes To Hollywood

Jesus Goes to Hollywood is a fast-paced, headlong dive into one man's true story of addiction, madness, homelessness, alienation, and ultimately redemption. In a story that is by turns heartbreaking and hilarious - sometimes both simultaneously - Tom Matte offers a front-row seat on a harrowing journey. Once an owner of a successful Atlanta ad agency, devoted father and husband, Tom's life was upended by cocaine addiction that led to mental illness, sparking a cross-continent journey careening through rehab stints, 5-star hotels, Skid Row and jail. Most people who have lost their mind never find their way back to tell the tale; this story gives some insight into the experiences of people whose voices will never be heard.Jesus Goes to Hollywood is an unflinching look at the devastating effects of mental illness and addiction. It is an unforgettable story of one family's implosion, heartbreak, forgiveness, and reunification. And it's a fascinating look at how, after finding his way back to health and sobriety, the way Tom's brain works changed fundamentally and for the better, in ways that doctors, neuroscientists, and researchers are just beginning to understand.

Cancel your plans for the next 24 hours and buckle up; you're embarking on a breathtaking ride that will be hard to peel yourself away from, even for snacks. Jesus Goes to Hollywood is a fast-paced, headlong dive into one man's true story of addiction, madness, homelessness, alienation, and ultimately redemption. In a story that is by turns heartbreaking and hilarious - sometimes both simultaneously - Tom Matte offers a front-row seat on a harrowing journey.Once an owner of a successful Atlanta ad agency, devoted father and husband, Tom's life was upended by cocaine addiction that led to mental illness, sparking a cross-continent journey careening through rehab stints, 5-star hotels, Skid Row and jail. Most people who have lost their mind never find their way back to tell the tale; this story gives some insight into the experiences of people whose voices will never be heard.Jesus Goes to Hollywood is an unflinching look at the devastating effects of mental illness and addiction. It is an unforgettable story of one family's implosion, heartbreak, forgiveness, and reunification. And it's a fascinating look at how, after finding his way back to health and sobriety, the way Tom's brain works changed fundamentally and for the better, in ways that doctors, neuroscientists, and academic researchers are just beginning to understand.First-time author Tom Matte brings a fresh, honest and wickedly insightful voice to a difficult topic. If you read only one book this year, make it this one.

Since the advent of the cinema, Jesus has frequently appeared in our movie houses and on our television screens. Indeed, it may well be that more people worldwide know about Jesus and his life story from the movies than from any other medium. Indeed, Jesus' story has been adapted dozens of times throughout the history of commercial cinema, from the 1912 silent From the Manger to the Cross to Mel Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ. No doubt there are more to come. Drawing on a broad range of movies, biblical scholar Adele Reinhartz traces the way in which Jesus of Nazareth has become Jesus of Hollywood. She argues that Jesus films both reflect and influence cultural perceptions of Jesus and the other figures in his story. She focuses on the cinematic interpretation of Jesus' relationships with the key people in his life: his family, his friends, and his foes. She examines how these films address theological issues, such as Jesus' identity as both human and divine, political issues, such as the role of the individual in society and the possibility of freedom under political oppression, social issues, such as gender roles and hierarchies, and personal issues, such as the nature of friendship and human sexuality. Reinhartz's study of Jesus' celluloid incarnations shows how Jesus movies reshape the past in the image of the present. Despite society's profound interest in Jesus as a religious and historical figure, Jesus movies are fascinating not as history but as mirrors of the concerns, anxieties, and values of our own era. As the story of Jesus continues to capture the imagination of filmmakers and moviegoers, he remains as significant a cultural figure today as he was 2000 years ago.

A Deep Dive into America's Complex Relationship with Jesus There's no denying America's rich religious background–belief is woven into daily life. But as Stephen Prothero argues in American Jesus, many of the most interesting appraisals of Jesus have emerged outside the churches: in music, film, and popular culture; and among Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and people of no religion at all. Delve into this compelling chronicle as it explores how Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, has been refashioned into distinctly American identities over the centuries. From his enlistment as a beacon of hope for abolitionists to his appropriation as a figurehead for Klansmen, the image of Jesus has been as mercurial as it is influential. In this diverse and conflicted scene, American Jesus stands as a testament to the peculiar fusion of the temporal and divine in contemporary America. Equal parts enlightening and entertaining, American Jesus goes beyond being simply a work of history. It’s an intricate mirror, reflecting the American spirit while questioning the nation's socio-cultural fabric.

"Jesus Now and Then" engagingly traces the changing images of Jesus in scholarship and popular culture from the time of the early church to the present day. Who did Jesus think he was? Did the early church take a man and make him into God? Was Christianity actually invented by Paul? How has Jesus been treated in the centuries since? What contemporary views are compatible with a traditional understanding of Scripture? Richard Burridge and Graham Gould leave no stone unturned in detailing Jesusb life and legacy. They start with the evidence about Jesus found in the New Testament and then go on to explore the early-church debates as a way of tackling contemporary issues. They also discuss how the figure of Jesus has been portrayed through history, how his teachings have been understood, and how he has come to be worshiped by Christians around the world. This essential historical information sets current questions and controversies about Jesus into context and helps to explain the many different views and interpretations of him now on offer.

Pop music is now an ever-present force shaping citizens in the West. Even at funerals, pop music is often requested over hymns. But how does popular music work? And what roles does it play for listeners who engage it? This new addition to the critically acclaimed Engaging Culture series explores the theological significance of the ways pop music is listened to and used today. The authors show that popular music is used by religious and nonreligious people alike to make meaning, enabling listeners to explore human concerns about embodiment, create communities, and tap into transcendence. They assess what is happening to Christian faith and theology as a result. The book incorporates case studies featuring noted music artists of our day--including David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Sigur Rós, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, and Lady Gaga--and includes practical implications for the church, the academy, and daily musical listening. It also includes a foreword by Tom Beaudoin, author of Virtual Faith.

The Blackwell Companion to Jesus features a comprehensive collection of essays that explore the diverse ways in which Jesus has been imagined or portrayed from the beginnings of Christianity to the present day. Considers portrayals of Jesus in the New Testament and beyond, Jesus in non-Christian religions, philosophical and historic perspectives, modern manifestations, and representations in Christian art, novels, and film Comprehensive scope of coverage distinguishes this work from similar offerings Examines both Christian and non-Christian perspectives on Jesus, including those from ethnic and sexual groups, as well as from other faiths Offers rich and rewarding insights which will shape our understanding of this influential figure and his enduring legacy