The Signs of the Times

This book delves into the dynamic interplay of popular culture and political theology, examining three key areas of interaction: engagement with liturgy and scripture, film and television, and music. From depictions of Jesus in South Park and Family Guy to Beyoncé's Lemonade, from cinematic scandals to portrayals of atheists and holy fools in film, from Islamic pop music to Bible-themed cookbooks and church yoga practices, this book explores how religious individuals and communities incorporate popular culture into their political theologies across diverse sets of beliefs and practices. In this way, the book heralds a renewed focus on popular culture's theological potential and its impact on the collective imagination. This volume will captivate researchers in theology, religious studies, cultural studies, media studies, and sociology of religion, as well as general readers intrigued by religious themes in contemporary culture.

Chapter 1. Introduction: The Signs of The Times at the Intersection Between Popular Culture and Political Theology. - Chapter 2: Popular Culture and Official Religion: Perspectives from Studies of Christianity in Denmark. - Chapter 3: Jacob s Lentils and Sarah s Bread: Bible Reception in Bible Cookbooks. - Chapter 4: The Politics of Scandalisation: Religion as Skandalon and Religious Agents as Scandalisers in Cinematic Scandals. - Chapter 5: Representing Atheism in Films . - Chapter 6: Hypocrites and Holy Fools: Christian Characters in American Films and Television. - Chapter 7 The Figure of Christ in South Park and Family Guy: A Formative Embodiment of American Religiosity. - Chapter 8: Spirituality and Beyoncé s Lemonade. - Chapter 9: Ethical Empowerment and Contemporary Islamic Pop Music.