Pop Goes The Gospel

This three-volume collection demonstrates the depth and breadth of evangelical Christians' consumption, critique, and creation of popular culture, and how evangelical Christians are both influenced by—and influence—mainstream popular culture, covering comic books to movies to social media. Evangelical Christians and Popular Culture: Pop Goes the Gospel addresses the full spectrum of evangelical media and popular culture offerings, even delving into lesser-known forms of evangelical popular culture such as comic books, video games, and theme parks. The chapters in this 3-volume work are written by over 50 authors who specialize in fields as diverse as history, theology, music, psychology, journalism, film and television studies, advertising, and public relations. Volume 1 examines film, radio and television, and the Internet; Volume 2 covers literature, music, popular art, and merchandise; and Volume 3 discusses public figures, popular press, places, and events. The work is intended for a scholarly audience but presents material in a student-friendly, accessible manner. Evangelical insiders will receive a fresh look at the wide variety of evangelical popular culture offerings, many of which will be unknown, while non-evangelical readers will benefit from a comprehensive introduction to the subject matter.

Analyzing complex social and political issues through their manifestations in popular culture, this book provides readers a strong foundational knowledge of the 1960s as a decade. 1969 went out in a way that could never have been imagined in 1960. While the president at the end of the decade had been vice president at the start, the intervening years permanently changed American culture. Pop Goes the Decade: The Sixties explores the cultural and social framework of the 1960s, addressing film, television, sports, technology, media/advertising, fashion, art, and more. Entries are presented in encyclopedic fashion, organized into such categories as controversies in pop culture, game changers, technology, and the decade's legacy. A timeline highlights significant cultural moments, while an introduction and a conclusion place those moments within the contexts of preceding and subsequent decades. Attention to the decade's most prominent influencers allows readers to understand the movements with which these figures are associated, and discussion of controversies and social change enables readers to gain a stronger understanding of evolving American social values.

Whether you're a regular attender, a leader, or have yet to step foot in a church, you may have questions about church that aren't being answered. How can the church remain relevant while communicating the unchanging integrity of God's truth? Author Tim Stevens makes an inspiring case for leveraging pop culture to reach out to people in the language of their lives. He offers a new perspective that gives relevance and impact to the church by using pop culture, meeting people in the real world with words, sounds and images that speak to them. He encourages us to get out of our comfort zones and look people in the eyes, meeting them wherever they are, relating to their problems and society's challenges, even celebrating pop culture, where there are exciting signs of spiritual seeking. Pop Goes the Church will open your mind to church in a way that breaks down walls, engages the culture and speaks to a generation that needs to hear good news.

"First published in 1985, this pioneering work on religious dance was written in response to the paradoxical attitude of many Christians who express an interest and enthusiasm for the arts as part of Christian worship, yet retain a suspicion, even a dislike, of dance. Dance and the Christian Faith examines what the bible says about both dance and worship, and relates it to an understanding of what dance is and how it can be used in the church and in education today. Martin Blogg relates his faith to his profession of teaching dance drama and his non-verbal approach to Christian dance opens up new avenues for the expression of the faith, complementing the more traditional forms of speech, music and sacrament. The book is a critical discussion, both theoretical and practical, of the nature and conditions of religious dance, as explored through the disciplines of scripture, education and dance as art. At the same time, Dance and the Christian Faith is a call for Christians to embrace dance as a means to prayer and worship, outreach and renewal. Although centred on dance within a religious context, much of the discussion is directly relevant to dance education and the performing arts in general. With a Foreword by the Rt Revd Maurice Wood, former Bishop of Norwich."

Books that blend explorations of pop music with a coming-of-age memoir have become bestsellers for authors like Nick Hornby and Chuck Klosterman. I take the concept one step further in my proposed book, "Reel to Real by Reel," which features uncut interviews--collected during my days as a music journalist. As the interviews are arranged in chronological order, the book offers two unique reading experiences at once: a look at the uncensored thoughts of touring musicians; and the life story of the author who conducted the interviews: a music fan since birth, a performing musician in his own right, a Christian who often struggles with questions about faith, and an OCD sufferer who finds some relief in music. • Robyn Hitchcock • Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) • Mike Peters (the Alarm) • Charlie Gillingham (Counting Crows) • Buddy Cage (Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Stir Fried) • Bruce Cockburn • Sean Kelly (the Samples) • Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love) • Tim Finn • Dug Pinnick (King's X) • Alex Lifeson (Rush) • Matt Slocum (Sixpence None the Richer) • Neil Finn (Crowded House) • Michael Sweet (Stryper) • Steve Taylor • Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) • Ray Davies (the Kinks) • Jon Auer (the Posies)