The Gospel According to “The Hunger Games” Trilogy
The authors, father and daughter who are both United Methodist pastors in Western North Carolina, have discovered within The Hunger Games trilogy a number of characters and themes that have parallels to classic Jewish and Christian figures and theology. Pastors and teachers may use the following observations to engage congregational members and students in reflecting on theological themes within the trilogy. We invite you to use the release of the movie “The Hunger Games” in March 2012 and its sequels as teachable moments for highlighting classic biblical understandings.
The Hunger Games and the Gospel (Study Guide Edition): Bread, Circuses, and the Kingdom of God
In a globalized world full of uncertainty and injustice, Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series has captured the imaginations of readers looking for glimmers of hope. The tale of Katniss Everdeen’s journey of survival in the post-apocalyptic country of Panem, where bread and circuses distract the privileged and allow a totalitarian regime to oppress the masses, parallels situations in our world today. At the same time, the series’ themes of resistance to oppression and hope for a better world, portrayed honestly as messy and difficult endeavors, echo the transformative way of life Jesus offered his followers.
The Hunger Games and the Gospel explores these themes in The Hunger Games series that have resonated so deeply with readers by examining their similarity to the good news found in Jesus’ message about living in the ways of God’s Kingdom. Taking the rich statements of the Beatitudes, which serve as mini-pictures of God’s dreams realized on earth as in heaven, each chapter reflects on how those pictures are exhibited both in the narrative of The Hunger Games, and in Jesus’ time, and then explores their significance for our own world. Thought-provoking questions provide direction for personal reflection and group discussion. Readers are invited to allow the inspiration of The Hunger Games help them live in the ways of the Kingdom of God by discovering how they too can work toward the possibility of a better world.
Finding God in the Hunger Games: 30 Devotions to Inspire Faith
The Hunger Games has swept into popularity for good reason—it’s a great series. And though God is never mentioned in Suzanne Collin’s books, there are many spiritual themes that run beneath the story line.
Finding God in the Hunger Games contains 30 devotions based on lessons that can be learned from the Hunger Games series. Written from an evangelical Christian perspective, this book will inspire those who want to grow closer to Jesus Christ and understand Biblical principals as they are illustrated in Collin’s work.
The Hunger Games and Philosophy: A Critique of Pure Treason
Katniss Everdeen is “the girl who was on fire,” but she is also the girl who made us think, dream, question authority, and rebel. The post-apocalyptic world of Panem’s twelve districts is a divided society on the brink of war and struggling to survive, while the Capitol lives in the lap of luxury and pure contentment. At every turn in the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and their many allies wrestle with harrowing choices and ethical dilemmas that push them to the brink. Is it okay for Katniss to break the law to ensure her family’s survival? Do ordinary moral rules apply in the Arena? Can the world of The Hunger Games shine a light into the dark corners of our world? Why do we often enjoy watching others suffer? How can we distinguish between what’s Real and Not Real? This book draws on some of history’s most engaging philosophical thinkers to take you deeper into the story and its themes, such as sacrifice, altruism, moral choice, and gender.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to the Sopranos
The Gospel According to Tony Soprano: An Unauthorized Look Into the Soul of TV’s Top Mob Boss and His Family
The Sopranos has captured audiences and awards with its portrayal of life in an Italian-American crime family. But it is more than just a mob show. It provokes us, excites us, and pries back the exterior to peek into the darkest parts of our souls. The plotlines and characters raise spiritual issues that leave us questioning our own beliefs. The Gospel According to Tony Soprano explores the many reasons why this hit series has connected so deeply with American culture and exposes the mysteries of faith, family, life, and God that permeate the show.
Published to coincide with the debut of the highly anticipated fourth season of the HBO series, The Gospel According to Tony Soprano is a fascinating book that looks through the violence and drama to the deeper moral issues. Spiritual teacher and writer Chris Seay analyzes the characters and their all-too-human behaviors, and helps us evaluate our own humanity, and ultimately our relationship with God.
Accessible, witty, and enlightening, The Gospel According to Tony Soprano is essential reading for every fan of the television show, and for anyone who wants to examine the larger questions of right and wrong.
The Sopranos and Philosophy: I Kill Therefore I Am
This collection of essays by philosophers who are also fans does a deep probe of the Sopranos, analyzing the adventures and personalities of Tony, Carmella, Livia, and the rest of television’s most irresistible mafia family for their metaphysical, epistemological, value theory, eastern philosophical, and contemporary postmodern possibilities. No prior philosophical qualificationsor mob connections are required to enjoy these musings, which are presented with the same vibrancy and wit that have made the show such a hit.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to The Wiz
The Gospel According to The Wiz: And Other Sermons from Cinema
Every Sunday, more than 5,000 people come to hear Otis Moss III preach at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ. According to Common, hip hop artist, actor, and member of Trinity, “A message from Otis Moss III always teaches about love, justice, and commitment to the community. It’s good to have a pastor who’s real and relevant.”
Moss describes himself as, “a jazz-influenced pastor with a hip-hop vibe committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ rooted in love and justice.” And he admits he can talk endlessly about theology, popular culture, and movies. Especially movies.
That’s why he’s based some of his best sermons, collected in this book, on these powerful films:
12 Years a Slave
The Butler
The Book of Eli
The Color Purple
The Wiz
Avatar
Flight
For Colored Girls
Read this book if you love movies and want to find even deeper meaning in them. Discussion questions are included, making it ideal for individuals or groups, movie nights and book clubs.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to Breaking Bad
The Gospel According to Breaking Bad
The Gospel According to Breaking Bad takes a thoroughly Christian look at AMC’s popular and critical TV hit.
Covering such weighty theological issues like identity, death, justice, power, fate, free will, and the gospel itself, readers will be coerced into thinking more deeply about the universal questions Breaking Bad asks. In sections covering the colors and metaphors of Breaking Bad, fans will also come to a further appreciation for one of the most well-done TV series in recent history.
10% of the proceeds of this ebook will be donated to the Oak Ridge Disciple House, “a non-profit, faith-based, Christian character-building ministry geared towards reaching men who are broken from drug and alcohol addictions.”
Breaking Down Breaking Bad: Unpeeling the Layers of Television’s Greatest Drama
Few television shows have won critical acclaim on the level of Breaking Bad, perhaps because few series are as worth deep examination as Breaking Bad. Something about Walter White’s struggle with his inner demons resonated with us. The idea that his foray into meth production was not merely a dalliance with darkness, but was actually a full-blown awakening intrigued us. And most of all, the idea that we came to have no respect for the protagonist of our favorite show utterly fascinated us. We couldn’t look away. Breaking Down Breaking Bad attempts to poke into the dark corners of Walter White’s mind, explore the traits that make this show special, and revels in the joy of what is arguably the best drama ever to appear on television. In doing so, it peels back the layers of what makes characters like Jesse Pinkman tick, explores why we were so drawn to characters like Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut, and relives some of the greatest moments of this already legendary series. Because the show may be gone, but the conversation about it certainly isn’t.
Breaking Bad and Philosophy: Badder Living through Chemistry
Breaking Bad, hailed by Stephen King, Chuck Klosterman, and many others as the best of all TV dramas, tells the story of a man whose life changes because of the medical death sentence of an advanced cancer diagnosis. The show depicts his metamorphosis from inoffensive chemistry teacher to feared drug lord and remorseless killer. Driven at first by the desire to save his family from destitution, he risks losing his family altogether because of his new life of crime.
In defiance of the tradition that viewers demand a TV character who never changes, Breaking Bad is all about the process of change, with each scene carrying forward the morphing of Walter White into the terrible Heisenberg.
Can a person be transformed as the result of a few key life choices? Does everyone have the potential to be a ruthless criminal? How will we respond to the knowledge that we will be dead in six months? Is human life subject to laws as remorseless as chemical equations? When does injustice validate brutal retaliation? Why are drug addicts unsuitable for operating the illegal drug business? How can TV viewers remain loyal to a series where the hero becomes the villain? Does Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty rule our destinies?
In Breaking Bad and Philosophy, a hand-picked squad of professional thinkers investigate the crimes of Walter White, showing how this story relates to the major themes of philosophy and the major life decisions facing all of us.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to Star Wars
The Gospel according to Star Wars: Faith, Hope, and the Force
Star Wars is one of the most beloved movie series of all time, and in this book John McDowell explores the many spiritual themes that weave throughout the six films. From the Force to the dark side, the issues discussed in the films have a moral and spiritual complexity that, if paid attention to, can help us better understand our place in the world and our relation to others and to God. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, did not intend for his films to be mere entertainment, McDowell argues. Rather, he hoped his films would be used as a vehicle for moral education.
Star Wars Jesus – A spiritual commentary on the reality of the Force
101 observations and commentaries on Christian spirituality in the Star Wars movies that chronologically follow the movies. Structured in entry format to make it easy to go directly to your favorite parts of the movies, pick up and put down without losing your place. Winner of Honorable Mention in Writer’s Digest Book Award in the category of Inspiration
Finding God in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: A Spiritual Exploration of the Star Wars Saga
Nothing in Your Life Is Ordinary Your present world isn’t supposed to be this small. You were made for something much bigger. And no, you don’t have to be an astronaut, or even a Star Wars fan, to live it. Finding God in a Galaxy Far, Far Away is not about space travel, or even a movie. It’s about rediscovering your sense of wonder – something we adults have successfully squelched from our everyday lives. But God never meant it to be that way. Timothy Jones, by way of an astounding, eye-opening study of the spiritual parallels found in the Star Wars saga, will make you a kid again. You’ll be marveling at the mysterious, laughing anew at life’s “coincidences,” and remembering above all the Creator for which you were made.
Star Wars and Philosophy: More Powerful than You Can Possibly Imagine
The Star Wars films continue to revolutionize science fiction, creating new standards for cinematographic excellence, and permeating popular culture around the world. The films feature many complex themes ranging from good versus evil and moral development and corruption to religious faith and pragmatism, forgiveness and redemption, and many others.
The essays in this volume tackle the philosophical questions from these blockbuster films including: Was Anakin predestined to fall to the Dark Side? Are the Jedi truly role models of moral virtue? Why would the citizens and protectors of a democratic Republic allow it to descend into a tyrannical empire? Is Yoda a peaceful Zen master or a great warrior, or both? Why is there both a light and a dark side of the Force? Star Wars and Philosophy ponders the depths of these subjects and asks what it truly means to be mindful of the “living force.”
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel according to Oprah
The Gospel according to Oprah
In this book, religion reporter Marcia Nelson explores the spiritual dimensions that are prevalent in all aspects of the Oprah Winfrey media empire. Though Oprah is rarely explicitly religious on her television show or in her magazine, Nelson points out that there are several major Christian themes that weave through these aspects of her life and work: confession, redemption, healing, mission, forgiveness, and salvation. Nelson concludes that Oprah is a “compelling spiritual teacher in a spiritually eclectic and ever-practical America.” This book will appeal both to Oprah fans and people who are fascinated by the intersection of religion and popular culture.
The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy
The Oprah Winfrey Show came to an end on May 25, 2011, after 25 years on television. Arguably the most influential television personality of all time, Ms. Winfrey and her show have had an impact on American culture that cannot be overstated. This beautifully illustrated book will explore and celebrate the legacy of the show using essays and tributes from a stellar group of contributors including Maya Angelou, Bono, Ellen DeGeneres, Nelson Mandela, Toni Morrison, Julia Roberts, Maria Shriver, Gloria Steinem, John Travolta, and more. The book will feature photographs from the Harpo archive, spanning the 25 years the show has been on the air, including the farewell season.
The Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary Collection
The Stars. The Stories. The Moments. An unprecedented six-disc collection celebrating the 20th Anniversary of The Oprah Winfrey Show, one-on-one with Oprah Winfrey herself. See exclusive never-before-seen footage, never-before-heard thoughts and personal revelations, as Oprah takes a candid, open and look back at all the most memorable moments of 20 years of history-making television. Get the inside story on Oprah’s all-time favorite guests, surprises, celebrities and the people that have touched Oprah’s heart forever. Share Oprah’s personal perspective on the stories that made headlines, the interviews she’ll never forget and more! Plus, go on a personal tour of Oprah’s home, watch never-before-seen footage from the beginning years of The Oprah Winfrey Show and take an exclusive look behind the scenes of a day in the life of The Oprah Winfrey Show! Twenty extraordinary years…from Oprah to you. Oprah Winfrey will donate 100% of Harpo’s profits from the sale of this DVD Collection to Oprah’s Angel Network.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to Twilight
The Gospel According to Twilight: Women, Sex, and God
The Twilight saga has become one of the most successful fiction series ever written, with more than one hundred million copies in print and several blockbuster films. Despite the tremendous commercial success Twilight has generated, few readers have analyzed its theological teachings or the messages Stephenie Meyer might be sending to women and teenage girls. This book offers both a feminist critique of Twilight and a theological review of the stories’ ideas about salvation, heaven and hell, power, reconciliation, resurrection, and organized religion.
Elaine Heath writes in an accessible voice, calling attention to both the ‘good news’ of Twilight’s theology and the ‘bad news’ of its gender stereotypes and depictions of violence against women.
The book includes questions for youth and adult groups or for classroom discussions.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to Disney
The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
Religion journalist Mark Pinsky explores the role that the animated features of Walt Disney played on the moral and spiritual development of generations of children. Pinsky explores thirty-one of the most popular Disney films, as well as recent developments such as the 1990s boycott of Disney by the Southern Baptist Convention and the role that Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg played in the resurgance of the company since the mid-1980s.
The Gospel in Disney: Christian Values in the Early Animated Classics
Look at nearly twenty animated Disney classics and use each as a point of departure for discussion of Christian values. Each chapter begins with a biblical quote to set the theme, which the author – Anderson – then develops via the Disney story or character spotlighted. Anderson also employs humorous and touching anecdotes as he shows these sometimes all-too-familiar stories and characters in a new light.
Deconstructing Disney
Demonising Disney is nothing new. Disney films have long been synonymous with a certain conservative, patriarchal, heterosexual ideology, occupying a centre-stage position at the heart of the evil empire. Deconstructing Disney takes issue with knee-jerk polarities, overturning classical oppositions and recognising that, just as the Disney ‘text’ has changed, so too must the terms of critical engagement. This book is a sharply focused deconstruction of the political culture — and the cultural politics — of the Disney canon in the years since the emergence of the so-called New World Order. Eleanor Byrne and Martin McQuillan offer a critical encounter with Disney which alternates between readings of individual texts and wider thematic concerns such as race, gender and sexuality, the broader context of American contemporary culture, and the global ambitions and insularity of the last great superpower. The movies discussed include The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Pocohontas, Snow White, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Dumbo, Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, Hercules and Mulan.
Mouse Morality: The Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film
Kids around the world love Disney animated films, and many of their parents trust the Disney corporation to provide wholesome, moral entertainment for their children. Yet frequent protests and even boycotts of Disney products and practices reveal a widespread unease with the sometimes mixed and inconsistent moral values espoused in Disney films as the company attempts to appeal to the largest possible audience.
In this book, Annalee R. Ward uses a variety of analytical tools based in rhetorical criticism to examine the moral messages taught in five recent Disney animated films—The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, and Mulan. Taking the films on their own terms, she uncovers the many mixed messages they purvey: for example, females can be leaders—but male leadership ought to be the norm; stereotyping is wrong—but black means evil; historical truth is valued—but only tell what one can sell, etc. Adding these messages together, Ward raises important questions about the moral ambiguity of Disney’s overall worldview and demonstrates the need for parents to be discerning in letting their children learn moral values and life lessons from Disney films.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel According to Tolkien
The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-earth
Readers have repeatedly called The Lord of the Rings the most important book of our age–absorbing all 1,500 of its pages with an almost fanatical interest and seeing the Peter Jackson movies in unprecedented numbers. Readers from ages 8 to 80 keep turning to Tolkien because here, in this magical kingdom, they are immersed in depth after depth of significance and meaning–perceiving the Hope that can be found amidst despair, the Charity that overcomes vengeance, and the Faith that springs from the strange power of weakness. The Gospel According to Tolkien examines biblical and Christian themes that are found in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. Follow Ralph Wood as he takes us through the theological depths of Tolkien’s literary legacy.
Tolkien’s Sacramental Vision: Discerning the Holy in Middle Earth
One of Tolkien’s great appeals to readers is that he offers a world replete with meaning at every level. To read and reread Tolkien is to share his sense of wonder and holiness, to be invited into the presence of a “beauty beyond the circles of the world.” It is to fall in love with a universe that has a beginning and an end, where good and bad are not subjective choices, but objective realities; a created order full of grace, though damaged by sin, in which friendship is the seedbed of the virtues, and where the greatest warriors finally become the greatest healers.
A correspondent once told J. R. R. Tolkien that his work seemed illumined “by an invisible lamp.” That lamp is the Church, and its light is the imaginative sensibility that we live in a sacramental world. This new book by the author of The Trial of Man examines in depth the influence of Catholic sacramentality on the thought and work of Tolkien, with major emphasis on The Lord of the Rings, but including his literary essays, epistolary poem “Mythopoesis,” short story “Leaf by Niggle,” and The Silmarillion. Here is a signal contribution to a deeper understanding of Tolkien, whose mythological world is meant to “recover” the meaning of our own as a grace-filled place, pointing toward its Creator.
On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis
The world of J. R. R. Tolkien is filled with strange creatures, elaborately crafted lore, ancient tongues, and magic that exists only in fantasy; yet the lessons taught by hobbits and wizards speak powerfully and practically to our real lives. Courage, valor, trust, pride, greed, and jealousy–these are not fictional virtues. This is the stuff of real life, the Christian life. Professor and author Louis Markos takes us on the road with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, with looks at selected classic works of literature as well, to show how great stories bring us so much more than entertainment. They inspire and convict, imparting truth in unforgettable ways.
Rediscover the virtue of great storytelling and the power of fantasy to transform our reality.
The Christian World of The Hobbit
In his beloved story The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien takes readers into a world unlike any other, yet so much seems familiar. As Bilbo journeys there and back again, glimpses of the spiritual are seen.
The Christian World of The Hobbit does what no book has done: it brings Tolkien fans new delight by introducing a side of Tolkien that is rarely explored but vitally important to his writings—especially The Hobbit. Written by internationally regarded Tolkien-scholar Devin Brown, this approachable, witty, and highly entertaining book offers up fresh perspectives to fans of The Hobbit, both the book and the film adaptation.
Devotional Materials based off a Tolkien’s Middle Earth
Walking With Frodo: A Devotional Journey Through the Lord of the Rings
Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings epic tale has long captivated readers with its parallels to biblical truth. And now, Walking with Frodo looks at the biblical themes found in the classic Lord of the Rings trilogy. The 18 devotions pair choices and characteristics (deception vs. honesty, light vs. darkness, good vs. evil) displayed by characters in The Lord of the Rings and bring to light what the Bible has to say. A must-have for longtime and new series fans.
A Hobbit Devotional
If you enjoy J. R. R. Tolkien–even if you’re new to his classic stories–you’ll love A Hobbit Devotional featuring 60 humorous, challenging, and encouraging devotionals. Now, this tale of humble folk who overcome fear, discouragement, and despair through steadfastness, courage, and hope forms the basis of a brand-new devotional book. Each reading sketches a scene from The Hobbit, relates it to a contemporary life situation you might experience yourself, and brings in the teaching of a relevant Bible story or verse.
The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Ring
While nothing can equal or replace the adventure in reading Tolkien’s masterwork, The Lord of the Rings, Peter Kreeft says that the journey into its underlying philosophy can be another exhilarating adventure. Thus, Kreeft takes the reader on a voyage of discovery into the philosophical bones of Middle earth. He organizes the philosophical themes in The Lord of the Rings into 50 categories, accompanied by over 1,000 references to the text of Lord. Since many of the great questions of philosophy are included in the 50-theme outline, this book can also be read as an engaging introduction to philosophy. For each of the philosophical topics in Lord, Kreeft presents tools by which they can be understood. Illustrated.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
The Gospel according to The Simpsons
The Gospel according to The Simpsons, Bigger and Possibly Even Better!
The Simpsons is one of the longest running, funniest, most irreverent, and, according to some religious leaders, the most theologically relevant show on television today. Journalist Mark Pinsky explores the religious and spiritual aspects of Bart, Homer, and the rest of cartoon’s first family––a show strongly denounced by many conservative Christians back in 1989, but now viewed favorably by fans from all across the theological spectrum.
Pinsky looks at the use of God, Jesus, heaven and hell, the Bible, prayer in the Simpson household, the evangelistic next-door neighbor Ned Flanders, and the town’s church and pastor, Rev. Lovejoy. He also discusses whether the character of Lisa is the voice of Jesus, and explores the many moral dilemmas that the characters, in particular Bart and Homer, face. Pinsky concludes with a discussion that suggests that, on the whole, The Simpsons is supportive and not subversive of faith. This is must reading for any Simpsons’ fan, and an insightful exploration of how religion and faith influences popular culture.
The Gospel according to The Simpsons, Bigger and Possibly Even Better! Edition: Leader’s Guide for Group Study
Introducing a complete revision of the study guide to the best-selling book The Gospel according to The Simpsons, complete with new studies on episodes of The Simpsons as well as studies for discussing other popular animated comedies such as Family Guy, King of the Hill, and Futurama.
The Springfield Reformation: The Simpsons, Christianity, and American Culture
Initially shunned by many in the Christian community when it made its television debut almost twenty years ago, after four hundred (and counting) episodes, and a feature-length film, few can deny that The Simpsons exhibits an astute understanding of Christianity in American culture. Its critiques of that culture are worth studying in detail. Jamey Heit’s The Springfield Reformation investigates how The Simpsons blends important elements of contemporary American religious culture with a clear critique of the institutions and individuals that participate in and uphold that culture. Though The Simpsons is clearly a product of American popular culture, its writers offer up a well-planned, theologically informed religious climate in the cartoon world of Springfield. This world mirrors America in a way that allows the show’s viewers to recognize that Christianity can hold together a family and a town that is rife with “sin,” while at the same time exposing these very shortcomings.
Heit focuses on distinct topics such as: god, the soul/the afterlife, prayer, the Christian ethic, evangelism, science versus religion, and faith (particularly in response to the question of why bad things happen to good people). He also explores the connections between various episodes, discussing how these connections, manifest an honest critique of Christianity in America. Engagingly written and guaranteed to appeal to smart, religiously curious fans of the show, Heit maintains that The Simpsons is not only a legitimate theological voice, but also that this voice offers a valuable addition to discussions about Christianity in America.
The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’oh! of Homer (Popular Culture and Philosophy)
This unconventional and lighthearted introduction to the ideas of the major Western philosophers examines The Simpsons — TV’s favorite animated family. The authors look beyond the jokes, the crudeness, the attacks on society — and see a clever display of irony, social criticism, and philosophical thought. The writers begin with an examination of the characters. Does Homer actually display Aristotle’s virtues of character? In what way does Bart exemplify American pragmatism? The book also examines the ethics and themes of the show, and concludes with discussions of how the series reflects the work of Aristotle, Marx, Camus, Sartre, and other thinkers.
Exploring religion in film, the spirituality of television shows, and meaning found within popular culture.
Disclaimer: Images and videos of movies, television shows, books, album covers, actors and/or singers are the sole property of the media’s respective production company, distribution company or artist. SSOL-POP and SSOL makes no claim of ownership of these images or videos and encourages users of SSOL to purchase these items from legitimate retailers.
