Bad religions greg graffin cant explain the main point of. How we became a nation of heretics 2012, and the coauthor with reihan salam of grand new party. But here douthat, a devout roman catholic, puts his skill as a cultural critic to work to explain the shape of american christianity and its fading role in american society. But i kept thinking of dan aykroyds saturday night live character. In his latest book, bad religion, douthat argues that. In 1988, bad religion issued a new lp, suffer, to enthusiastic fans and critics. Prisons and religion in antebellum america, university of north carolina press, 2011. Jan 17, 2014 if you think the only logical response to bad christianity is to leave christianity completely, this book is for you. Ross douthats new book, bad religion adds an interesting perspective to this discussion. The author of our reading this morning, jim wallis, calls himself a public theologian and has. Bad religion 20 hrs happy 20th birthday the new america may 9, 2000 a stubborn taurus born in the year of the dragon, clinton was in the white house and the dalai lama had a. Ross douthats contribution to this genre, bad religion. The clever structure lets readers peek in as a mother and child read and discuss a book, then move into that book, fully sharing in. I curse the day that i was born and all the sorrow in this world let me take you to the herding ground where all good.
Religion that fails to support and embrace and insist upon such resilient institutions is not only bad religion, but doomed religion. Apr 23, 2012 in contending against what he sees as an america afflicted with too many heresies, ross douthats book, bad religion, is riddled with mistakes of fact. In 1987, a newly sober brett gurewitz returned to the fold and the band continued as a fivepiece. On that same day, they premiered the new single fuck you. Bad religion releasing autobiographical book to mark 40th anniversary. In contending against what he sees as an america afflicted with too many heresies, ross douthats book, bad religion, is riddled with mistakes of fact. About the great partnership national jewish book awards 2012, finalist dorot foundation award for modern jewish thought and experience an impassioned, erudite, thoroughly researched, and beautifully reasoned book from one of the most admired religious thinkers of our time that argues not only that science and religion are compatible, but that they complement each otherand that the. The answer currently contains 535 articles, ranging from the more reasonably interesting facts to some downright pathetic trivia. In 1981, they released their eponymous debut ep on their own newlyformed label, epitaph, managed and owned by gurewitz.
The book that has sparked a vigorous national debate about the state of american religion, praised by. How we became a nation of heretics, laments the departure from what he calls a christian center, which has helped bind. On november 5, 2012 bad religion day, it was announced that bad religion s sixteenth studio album, true north, would be released on january 22, 20. For 35 years now, greg graffin and his band bad religion have always stood for an element of punk rock that saw itself as being as much about critical thinking and challenging accepted norms of society as it has been about music. Greg graffin of bad religion sings the national anthem at the reason rally. Bad religions greg graffin cant explain the main point. The past few years have seen heated debate about the role of religion in the public square should religious values have a place in political discussion, should religious opinions be protected as free speech, etc.
How we became a nation of heretics douthat, ross on amazon. Throughout bad religion, new york times columnist ross douthats third book, the wit, precision, and rhetorical power of the authors weekly columns are on full display. If you think the only logical response to bad christianity is to leave christianity completely, this book is for you. But here douthat, a devout roman catholic, puts his skill as a cultural critic to work to explain the shape of american christianity and its fading role in american society since the middle of the 20th century. The traditional pillars of american religionthe onceomnipresent protestant mainline exemplified by reinhold niebuhr, the nuanced and selfconfident catholicism of archbishop fulton sheen, the evangelical revival led by billy graham and the beleaguered but transcendent black church of martin luther king jr. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our pro connect email alert. Since they were created 30 years ago, bad religion has had a lot of members come and go. Stranger than fiction a bad religion cover stranger than fiction a febrile shocking violent smack. The story of bad religion features unseen photos and new interviews with current and past members. The book that has sparked a vigorous national debate about the state of american religion, praised by timothy keller as provocative and compelling, while the new york times says douthat attacks nonsense on both the cultural right and leftresponsible and fair, and the washington times raves a superb documentation of americas crisis of faith, now in paperback. In an effort to help those whove been hurt by or turned off by negative religion, martin thielen explains that there is an alternative to abandoning religion. National mall, washington, dc, 2012 throughout 2003, graffin was engaged in an ongoing email discussion with preston jones, a historian at the christian john brown university in arkansas and fan of bad religion. Their next album, stranger than fiction, had the bands wellknown hits 21st century digital boy and infected, did well and was the only bad religion album to get gold status in the us. Apr 29, 2012 ross douthats contribution to this genre, bad religion.
Writing for an era dominated by recession, gridlock, and fears of american decline, douthat exposes the spiritual roots of the nations political and economic crises. He lives in new haven with his wife and three children. Bad religion is an american band that plays punk rock music. Bad religion simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Nov, 2012 throughout bad religion, new york times columnist ross douthats third book, the wit, precision, and rhetorical power of the authors weekly columns are on full display. James emery white is the founding and senior pastor of mecklenburg community church in charlotte, n. The second edition, authored by three physicians, has been completely updated and revised. They were created in southern california in 1979 by jay bentley bass, greg graffin vocals, brett gurewitz guitars and jay ziskrout drums. To defend traditional christian beliefs from the attacks of the two major cults mormonism and jehovah. Bad religion 20 hrs happy 20th birthday the new america may 9, 2000 a stubborn taurus born in the year of the dragon, clinton was in the white house and the dalai lama had a bestseller with the art of happiness. Bad religion goodreads meet your next favorite book. It will have neither the power to enrich the moral life of the nation, nor the strength to resist the importunings of a wayward culture, nor the resolution to. New album age of unreason available now on epitaph records. The bands lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, and.
Douthats conservative politics show through mostly in his american exceptionalism. As you may have gathered from my summary of the book, i read bad religion with mounting. Bad religion is not scholarly, but it is responsible and fair. He is the author of to change the church, bad religion, and privilege, and coauthor of grand new party. For those trying to understand the last halfcentury or more of american religion, and to strive for a better future, it is an indispensable book. How we became a nation of heretics, the migration toward quasichristian spiritualities has left millions of americans adrift in a sea of feelgood beliefs.
The clever structure lets readers peek in as a mother and child read and discuss a book, then move into that book, fully sharing in the story. The bits and pieces of information in the answer have been gleaned from a variety of sources over many years of ridiculous devotion to bad religion. Graffin and hetson spent the next few years playing sporadically with various lineups. It will have neither the power to enrich the moral life of the nation, nor the strength to resist the importunings of a wayward culture, nor the resolution to stand apart from it when necessary.
The band was formed in 1979 by high school students greg graffin vocals, jay bentley bass guitar, jay ziskrout drums, and brett gurewitz guitar. In vangas words, god is one and religions will soon find a common purpose and the whole of humanity will come to believe in one truth. It extricates it from the narrow morality that arises from the convergence of ethics and national interest, and instead locates. Eventually, finestone and bentley returned on a fulltime basis. The bands lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, and science. Bad religion book by ross douthat official publisher. If you put a piece of duct tape over ross douthats name on the dust jacket, the content of bad. April 14, 2012 americans are still as religious as ever, says.
With his debut book, anarchy evolution, graffin attempted to outline some of the scientific and philosophical concepts that have been driving his lyrics all these. Harvard and the education of the ruling class hyperion, 2005 and bad religion. The handbook of religion and health has become the seminal research text on religion, spirituality, and health, outlining a rational argument for the connection between religion and health. Creedal christianity versus bad religion home facebook. The future of american religion, douthat concludes, depends on believers who can demonstrate, in word and deed alike, that the possibilities of the christian life are not exhausted by tv preachers and selfhelp gurus, utopians, and demagogues. May 06, 2012 and yet his new book bad religion strikes a markedly different tone, a tone that reflects douthats genuine engagement with modernity. People think that they brought back punk rock and helped poppunk bands during the late 1980s. If the second half of the book describes our present day age of heresy, the first half describes how america became a nation of mere christians following the second world war. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilities and extensive use of threepart vocal harmonies.
It brings a probing, perceptive analysis to bear on the tragic hollowing out of american christianity. Its both an attempt at a dispassionate account of how and why institutional. Ross douthat on rooting out bad religion why the new york times columnist wants to see america return to its confessional roots. I may not like it, but i cant claim gay relationships fit the christian view of sexuality. The obvious allusion in the title of ross douthats new book, bad religion, is. How republicans can win the working class and save the american dream 2008. In one of the finest examples of picture book metafiction in recent memory, banks and hallensleben offer a spoton portrait of the intimate, roundabout nature of reading with a child. From gods controversy with new england, michael wigglesworths 1662 call to repentance, to the latest campaign autobiography by a presidential aspirant, the jeremiad has been one of the most durable literary forms throughout american history. In bad religion he offers a masterful and hardhitting account of how american christianity has gone off the railsand why it threatens to take american society with it. People began to notice bad religion after their 1993 album recipe for hate, which was number 14 on billboards heatseekers chart. The band has experienced multiple lineup changes, with singer greg. Before joining the new york times, he was a senior editor for the atlantic.
841 568 1050 952 1042 1615 1341 317 1061 588 896 695 440 216 613 373 1290 1097 802 832 285 579 515 1356 252 1596 1085 1203 1334 205 881 766 276 1249 1384 1367 625