Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation

by Rodney Clapp

Holiness and hedonism. Lonesomeness and community. Tradition and progress. Highly regarded commentator on Christianity and popular culture Rodney Clapp argues that these great tensions form the bedrock of American history and our current culture. Utilizing the life and music of Johnny Cash to illustrate these and other American contradictions, he probes these phenomena with sharp theological questions--seeking the language and knowledge that will enable us to reach across political and cultural divides and encourage a more graceful and constructive negotiation of current contradictions.

Genres: Music, Cultural, Nonfiction, Pop Culture

184 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2008

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really good insights, but the overarching thesis was confused.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like this quote then you will probably like this book.

"A few months after the events of September 11, 2001, a couple visited our church for some Sundays. They liked much of what they saw and heard, and we're considering making our parish their worship home. In a visit with our priest, they voiced one major concern. American citizenship, they said, should be more prominently affirmed in the church's worship. Add more patriotic hymns, they suggested, and why not recite the pledge of allegiance during the liturgy? After pointing out that the corporate prayers of the people include intercession specifically for the United States, as well as its leaders of both federal and state government, our pastor counseled: "And we say the pledge of allegiance--the church's pledge of allegiance. It's called the Nicene creed." He was, as we Americans might say after the British, spot on. If we take seriously our baptisms and the Christian tradition, we are not first and foremost Americans, but Christians."

-Rodney Clapp (Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the battle for the soul of the nation)

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is hardly about Cash. Johnny Cash is used more as a framing devise for the various points the author wants to explore and I think it's a disjointed mess. I honestly skimmed great portions of it, simply because it was so boring.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Country singer Johnny Cash is symbolic epitome of US cultural changes in latter part of 20th Century. Although the South lost Civil War militarily it has won culturally. Voting patterns since 1980 are illustrative. From its origins the nation has never been physically communitarian, but that may be changing with new forms of community being formed via internet. Author begins with incisive commentary but fizzles toward end.

[Jeff Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading Clapp's, "Families at the Crossroads" & "Tortured Wonders" I was really looking forward to this one. Some good food for thought, but maybe I was just looking for a little more Johnny Cash.

[Matt Wisdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this short book to be pretty uneven and many of the connecting lines drawn by Clapp to be tenuous at best, but it was still an interesting read.

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, with some good insights into American culture and the Christian church.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great title, not-so-great book.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read combining an analysis of country music, American culture, and Christian identity.