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Rapture Ready!: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture

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I picked this book up last night expecting an entertaining, snarky take on evangelical Christians and the sometimes very strange pop culture artifacts they've produced. Daniel Radosh provided that, but when I put the book down at one in the morning, I'd been through something much more valuable. What I'd expected was a "Wow, Christians sure are wacky!" tone. And while Radosh certainly encounters plenty of colorful characters (from the Christian professional wrestling troupe to the Christian superhero Bibleman), he's much more interested in really communicating with people and trying to understand where they're coming from.

Radosh's book embraces a complex, nuanced view of evangelical culture, and argues that secular liberals may have much more in common with at least some Christians than they would imagine. For every narrow-minded fundamentalist or weird, misguided extremist, there's a surprise: the encounter with Christian thriller writer Frank Peretti will come as particularly unexpected for anyone who grew up reading his books.

Whether you're a Christian who wants some perspective on the outside world might see you or a non-Christian who wants to see what makes them tick, this book is a must-read. I think it could be a really valuable tool for establishing common ground for a dialogue between the two groups.

I must confess that I bought Daniel Radosh's book Rapture Ready hoping he would deliver a cynical expose on the Christian pop culture industry. I grew up in an evangelical Christian home and as such received my fair share of Christian rock cassettes, David & Goliath action figures, and Bible-themed comic books. Without fail, these sanitized versions never held up to their "secular" counterparts and it always seemed like the whole Christian pop culture industry was based on the imitation, if not outright theft of, other people's ideas, products and logos.

On some levels, Rapture Ready is the cynical analysis of the industry I was hoping for. I think it's impossible for an outsider to look at this kind of industry without a certain wry amusement. I was surprised, though, at just how even handed Radosh's approach was. He talked to people involved at every level (musicians, pastors, writers, fans, critics, etc.) and presented an array of opinions. Radosh doesn't hesitate to point out the flaws, inconsistencies, and downright absurdities of the products, performances, and not so hidden agendas he encounters, but he does it without any malicious intent. He's just as likely to draw attention to the things he finds admirable or effective. Some of his observations are laugh out loud funny, and some deeply personal, but all are well thought out and well written.

Rapture Ready is a great (though no doubt frightening at times) primer for outsiders on the fascinating "parallel universe of Christian pop culture", but more than that the observations and insights presented by both the author and the people he encounters really should be read by anyone who produces or consumes Christian pop culture.

This book is the rare bird that will have you laughing out loud often and stopping to think more than a few times, too. The author has done what alot of us would like to do, but don't dare; go undercover into christian fundamentalist culture. He's not out to risk his life, but is more interested in exploring the dichotomies between the ascetic lifestyle of Jesus, and the much marketed christianity of today. He exposes many hypocrisies, but what is more interesting is seeing how capitalism and big money corporations are manipulating Christians for their own ends. I think most readers of this book will be like myself, pretty much lefties looking for a good laugh, well you'll get that, but you'll also find some surprises that will make you question your own presumptions about christian "wackos." The book is really well written and moves along quite nicely, you'll be sad when it's over!

Daniel Radosh is NOT an evangelical - in fact, he's a Humanistic Jew (his own description) - which for the purposes of this book is a very good thing. One of the pieces of advice you're often given when getting ready to sell your house is to have someone who's never been there come to walk through & look for all the things that need fixing or repainting. There's a reason - you've lived there for so long that you've become used to the imperfections, blemishes & outright broken stuff. Mr. Radosh's book that does just that for Christian pop culture (primarily evangelical pop culture).

I was impressed with the breadth of his knowledge, his willingness to have his pre-conceived notions corrected (or confirmed), and his sense of humor. (Honestly, we evangelicals are a pretty funny bunch sometimes... and occasionally even on purpose.) Particularly interesting is his interview with Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker.

He deals with Jesus junk, CCM, passion plays, Bibleman, Hell Houses, the sad state of Christian fiction, niche marketing for Bibles, "Left Behind" (and not kindly, which I wholeheartedly approve!), abortion politics, Christian comedians (including lots of time w/Dan Rupple), creation science museums, abstinence education & Christian sex therapy... even Christian wrestling. He admits that his coverage isn't exhaustive, but it's still pretty darn good.

His confrontation at Cornerstone with the volunteer at the Rock for Life booth should be required reading for every pro-life person... and I'm one of those people. Daniel Radosh does an amazing job of pointing out one of our biggest blind spots - the very accusation we make (that pro-choice folks treat babies/people as objects) is all too often the way we treat those who do things we think are wrong - we objectify them as "the enemy".

There's really only one clunker chapter in the book - his "fake interview" with Stephen Baldwin reads more like "I'm ticked at this guy for standing me up" than "I've found a humorous way to deal with the fact that Mr. Baldwin is kind of a knucklehead."

Some warnings for those who've lived inside the Christian bubble: the language here can be pretty raw - both from Mr. Radosh & from the folks he's interviewing. There are going to be theological & political things that you disagree with espoused both by the author & by some of the folks he talks to. If you don't like the way your faith is expressed being challenged, this book will make you downright uncomfortable.

But, I think you'll be making a mistake if you don't take this book seriously. We need to see ourselves through the eyes of the secular culture - not so we can change our theology or our faith in God, but so we can stop doing things that keep people from hearing the truth of Jesus Christ because our cultural expressions are shouting too loudly.

Some quotes that stuck out to me:

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"If you are trying to communicate to people, it makes sense that you want to find a common currency, a bridge which you can communicate across." He glanced around. "Now, having said that, you can do it with style or you can do it tackily. But that's true of any endeavor, not just the Christian retailing world."

I nodded. "That's true, but I have to say that from what I've seen, it kind of looks like tacky is winning."

Butcher sighed ruefully. "When you are born again, God gives you a new heart & a new opportunity. He doesn't necessarily give you new taste."

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Cameron Williams is one of "Left Behind"'s two main heroes. His friends call him Buck, "because they said he was always bucking tradition & authority." The other hero is Rayford Steele, an airline pilot. That's right, Buck Williams & Rayford Steele. There's also Steve Plank, Bruce Barnes & Dirk Burton. Apparently, having a porn star name is enough to keep you from getting raptured.

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As I discovered when I asked Christians about it, the secular world's continued fascination with LEFT BEHIND is seen as a sign of how out of touch we are with evangelical culture. Imagine thinking that THE REAL WORLD still defined American TV.

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R.T. asked if he could pray for me, which didn't surprise me. And then he prayed that my book would help Christians see some hard truths about themselves, even if it hurt. Which I hadn't expected at all.

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Escape from the hard work of thinking about everything was, in fact, one of the main reasons I listened to music. Not only is it all right for Christian kids to want that same avenue of retreat, but more non-Christian kids would do well to develop the kind of critical listening skills that Christians bring to secular music. It is to the great credit of evangelical teens that they aren't as thoughtless as the rest of us about such things.

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As Christians make their mark on the mainstream, the rest of us will feel their influence. If our response is hostile, it will only... feed the growth of the most mean-spirited strain of Christian pop culture, and mainstream culture will be warped accordingly. But if we are welcoming, we help nurture a form of Christian culture that can in turn enrich our own.

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NOTE: this review is based on the hardcover edition of the book.

This book is something that Christians need to read. I know. I am one of them. I am a pastor who is trying to lead people to live authentic lives, and impact our community as we walk with God. Daniel holds up an honest mirror up for us to look into.

When I get up in the morning and look in the mirror I see things I need to change (messy hair, eye crusty's etc). I have the choice to change those things or not. Many times when Christians analyze themselves it is from an inside perspective. It's like holding up a mirror that is predetermined to give us the picture that we expect to see.

I don't agree with all of Daniel's assessments, but for the most part I think that he is spot on, and it is apparent that he did his homework. That, and it's just a good read.

As a long-time evangelical Christian, I can vouch for the accuracy of this book. It is obvious that Radosh spent considerable time researching Christian subculture for this work. Though clearly a critic, he is fair and respectful in all things. Conservative American evangelicalism desperately needs to listen to critical voices, and I think Radosh takes an approach in this work that would be well received by many of us.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favorite chapters were the Passion play and the pro-wrestling chapter. I laughed out loud when the Christian pro-wrestler explained that their policy has always been to "not bleed on purpose" (p.241).

I was raised without religion, so my perspective is admittedly skewed, but it is shocking to me that many of these products are conceived, and more importantly consumed, in earnest. Bibleman? Christian theme parks (excuse me, "themed ministry")? Pastel bibles for women? Christian pro-wrestling? It sounds like the making of a great South Park episode. But it's all real, and well worth reading about.

It is no secret that Christians have a subculture all of their own. It is an expansive subculture that for some people can encompass almost every area of life. From music to television, movies to sports, Christians can enjoy all manner of entertainment, all of it "blessed" by one Christian organization or another. While the majority of non-Christians are generally unfamiliar with this subculture, I have come across some for whom it presents something of a fascination. They wonder how Christians could have created a subculture that is so huge and yet so unnoticed by the world around. Daniel Radosh, a writer who is a secular liberal, decided to venture into this subculture and to record his journey and his observations. It has recently been published in the form of Rapture Ready.

As he journeys ever-deeper into the Christian subculture, Radosh comes face-to-face with some of its most bizarre manifestations--Bibleman live events where a Christian superhero fights evil villains while quoting Scripture passages; Christian music festivals where bands are judged not by musical talent but by the number of times they pause to pray during a performance; Christian wrestlers who act out ridiculous and violent plots but who have drawn the line of violence at intentional bleeding; skateboarding and extreme sports events sponsored by Christian ministries. Kudos go to the author for the clever chapter titles relating to the theme of each of these chapters: "For their rock is not like our rock" is a chapter on Christian music and "Give me a man and let us fight each other" is a chapter detailing the world of Christian wrestling. All-in-all, the book offers a strange look at a very strange world.

It bears mention that while the Christian subculture is indeed a parallel subculture, it is one that is parallel to many Christians as well. Though I've been in a Christian context for my entire life, much of this culture is as foreign to me as it is to the author of this book. But what he finds amusing I find just plain embarrassing. For those of us who have never sat through a performance by Bibleman and who enter Christian bookstores only once in a blue moon, for those of us who would never dream of going to a Christian wrestling show or visiting a Christian theme park, this book represents a world we like to pretend does not exist.

While the book is an amusing read, I was not entirely convinced that it is a particularly valuable read. After all, it takes no great skill to analyze and critique a subculture through the lens of your own. And in this case, it didn't seem like Radosh offered a whole lot more than that. Seldom did he find much to appreciate in anything but the Christians who were most like him. He found solidarity with the Christian singers who were willing to cuss and affirm homosexuality as a valid lifestyle. He enjoyed spending time with those who represent the very fringe of this subculture, but found little of value in the substance of the Christian faith. If the book has value, then, is as an outside perspective on the often bizarre and too often embarrassing Christian subculture.

Somewhat to my surprise, I quite agreed with most of Brian McLaren's endorsement of this book, even if it may be just a little bit hyperbolic. "What happens when a secular liberal enters a conservative Christian subculture? Yes, he's grossed out at times, appalled at least once, amused sometimes, and cussin' mad at [other times]--and maybe even a little scared on occasion. But in the end, he offers evaluations and insights that might be considered downright prophetic, and compassionate too. No evangelical insider could have done as good a job as Daniel Radosh. He's a witty, energetic, and insightful writer who grabs your attention and interest on page one and won't let go until he's escorted you to a powerful conclusion in the final paragraphs." I did not find that conclusion so powerful, but I did still enjoy reading the book and would recommend it such that it is. Do note that there are a few occasions where the author uses profanity (and some pretty strong profanity, at that). Taken for what it is, this book is an enjoyable enough read and a bit of a wake up call as to just how weird the Christian subculture can be.

If you're looking for this book to reinforce your belief that all Christians are mindless cattle, indiscriminately consuming whatever cultural drivel is set before them, you're going to be disappointed. Likewise, if you're hoping this book will be a post you can hitch your pro-Christian culture argument to, you'll also be disappointed. That's because this book is surprisingly even-handed, even when dealing with situations that would seem absurd to many people. (Humans riding saddled dinosaurs less than six thousand years ago? Anyone?)

Radosh's book is by no means a comprehensive look at Christian pop culture. Instead, he uses anecdotes and extrapolates to the subculture at large, and he does it quite well. I grew up in the world described in this book -- and make no mistake, it is a world unto itself. I listened to Christian music (and sometimes even threw away Christian CDs if I deemed them "not holy enough"), went to Jesus camp, bought Jesus junk, and read nothing but Christian fiction. My beliefs and politics have changed drastically, but I still had no interest in reading a heavy-handed book that bashed things I used to hold dear. Radosh covers all these topics with sensitivity and grace, always seeming to know how to point out the absurdity of things without feeling as though he's mocking the people behind them.

I think that this book has the potential to get conversations going, to get some people reaching across the aisle, as well as simply inform. I highly recommend it to Christians as well as non-Christians, though for hard-line Christians, some language in the book may offend. (At least it would have offended me back in my Bible-thumping days.)

Throughout this book, I appreciated Daniel Radosh's efforts to understand and engage the people he meets in the evangelical subculture. I've lived in and around it my entire life, and I must admit I wouldn't go anywhere near Bibleman or The Custodial Crippler!

What I most appreciated about the book was the author's suggestion that by nurturing the best of the Christian subculture -- music, books, comedy, etc. -- the worst of it, the mean-spirited Bible-bashing strain of it, just might die out. It was also refreshing to read from a self-proclaimed secular liberal that Christians have something worthwhile to impart to the world.

This openness is in stark contrast to the message of a book such as Hannah Rosin's God's Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America. When Rosin encounters the educational and political subculture of Patrick Henry College, she admits she gets to know and like individual students, but she has no patience for the mission or the message of the institution. She is warning readers against it, not coaxing them to engage it.

I did find Radosh a little harsh with some evangelicals -- Stephen Baldwin and Jerry Jenkins, to name two. And I was surprised that he spent so much time on Christian music and neglected to examine the Christian movie business. What defines pop culture more than the movies? As just one example, Jenkins's son Dallas (Midnight Clear) is a prominent film-maker in the Christian community.

In one seminal moment of the book, Bibleman offers to pray for Radosh, and then proceeds to pray that Christians will recognize some hard truths about themselves while reading his book. I cheered for my fellow Christians then -- openness is a virtue for anyone of any faith. Maybe I should get to know Bibleman after all.