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The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Significance of Popular Culture
While a large percentage of Americans claim religious identity, the number of Americans attending traditional worship services has significantly declined in recent decades. Where, then, are Americans finding meaning in their lives, if not in the context of traditional religion? In this provocative study, the authors argue that the objects of our attention have become our god and fulfilling our desires has become our religion. They examine the religious dimensions of six specific aspects of American culture—body and sex, big business, entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technology—that function as "altars" where Americans gather to worship and produce meaning for their lives. The Altars Where We Worship shows how these secular altars provide resources for understanding the self, others, and the world itself. "For better or worse," the authors write, "we are faced with the reality that human experiences before these altars contain religious characteristics in common with experiences before more traditional altars." Readers will come away with a clearer understanding of what religion is after exploring the thoroughly religious aspects of popular culture in the United States.
250 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 9, 2017
Powerfully convicting for those of us (all of us?) who find ourselves falling into some form of idolatry at one point or another, The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Experience of Popular Culture by Juan M. Floyd-Thomas, Stacey M Floyd-Thomas, and Mark G. Toulouse exposes six aspects of American culture as altars and religions. The book’s chapters follow these aspects: (1) Body and Sex, (2) Big Business, (3) Entertainment, (4) Politics, (5) Sports, and (6) Science and Technology. Using Ninian Smart’s seven dimensions of religion as outline in The Religious Experience of Mankind, the authors demonstrate each of the aforementioned by including supporting data for the following: mythology, doctrine, ethics, ritual, experience, institutions, and materiality.
The authors write, “Rather than trying to debunk these altars in any fashion, we believe it is important to recognize that these altars naturally connect with our human desire to locate the religious impulse in something we perceive to be greater than ourselves” (p.7). Just as the apostle Paul did not deny the perceived existence of many gods (1 Cor 8:5), the authors do not want us to deny that these exist and turn a blind eye to those that pull at us (or have completely taken hold, as the case may be). The authors continue:
While their overall approach does not attempt to delineate those experiences as true or not true, the authors certainly make their opinions known when subjects concern their respective theologies. However, regardless of how these are read, it is important to take the book for what it is and as it is intended: describing six aspects of American culture in religious terms. Readers may find themselves convicted by an entire chapter(s), or perhaps just a few tidbits here and there. While it may be easy for some of us to recognize some things as merely practical participation in a thing without a necessary connection to a religious experience, these again should be understood as parts of a whole that support the way each of these greater culture aspects can—indeed do—very much function as altars and religions.
There’s a lot of good food for thought here, and I’m sure others will continue to find the same things in other aspects of their respective cultures.
*I received a temporary digital copy for review from Westminster John Knox Press via NetGalley.
The authors write, “Rather than trying to debunk these altars in any fashion, we believe it is important to recognize that these altars naturally connect with our human desire to locate the religious impulse in something we perceive to be greater than ourselves” (p.7). Just as the apostle Paul did not deny the perceived existence of many gods (1 Cor 8:5), the authors do not want us to deny that these exist and turn a blind eye to those that pull at us (or have completely taken hold, as the case may be). The authors continue:
We want to make clear that our approach is not interested in trying to define which religious experiences are true and which are not. In the chapters that follow, we examine six aspects of American culture that function essentially as “altars” where Americans gather to worship and produce meaning for their lives. At these altars, Americans reconcile themselves to a “serviceable God” who promises to meet their every desire. By examining the major players, fads, trends, movements, and events associated with each of these altars, each chapter will examine the religious inner workings of the popular cultural phenomenon associated with them. (p.13)
While their overall approach does not attempt to delineate those experiences as true or not true, the authors certainly make their opinions known when subjects concern their respective theologies. However, regardless of how these are read, it is important to take the book for what it is and as it is intended: describing six aspects of American culture in religious terms. Readers may find themselves convicted by an entire chapter(s), or perhaps just a few tidbits here and there. While it may be easy for some of us to recognize some things as merely practical participation in a thing without a necessary connection to a religious experience, these again should be understood as parts of a whole that support the way each of these greater culture aspects can—indeed do—very much function as altars and religions.
There’s a lot of good food for thought here, and I’m sure others will continue to find the same things in other aspects of their respective cultures.
*I received a temporary digital copy for review from Westminster John Knox Press via NetGalley.
January 20, 2025
When Jesus declared how one cannot serve both God and Mammon, or money, in Matthew 6:24, He not only warned against covetousness and greed, but validated a whole imaginary: to understand idolatry not merely in terms of prostrating before statues or things which people call gods, but as anything one might serve or to which one might dedicate one’s life.
In this same vein stand the authors of The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Significance of Popular Culture (galley received as part of early review program, but full book read).
The authors began by speaking of their experience on a popular game show and the appreciation they gained for how those shows can create a kind of ecstatic and communal experience which one used to get in religious contexts. And that experience provided a good illustration for the concept: one can profitably consider many of the pervasive themes in American society in religious terms. And so they explore the body and sex, business, entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technology in these kinds of terms. Each gets introduced and then explored in terms of their “mythologies” (the stories they tell about themselves in terms of their origins, aspirations, goals, etc.), “doctrines” (the core agreed upon tenets advancing their fields), “ethics” (the rules by which they have agreed to operate), “experiences” (how the field is experienced, or the experience of the field), “rituals” (various practices they go through), “institutions” (the organizations and premises which uphold the field), and “materiality” (where we interface with it). They conclude by considering the costs of worship without sacrifice as embodied in modern American society.
The work is from 2016, but everything that has happened since has only served to validate the arguments and premises presented herein. It’s not as if Americans have any less fervor about various ideas and practices: it’s just that their “religion” has less to do with Christianity or some other “organized religion,” for their “churches” and “altars” involve the body/sex, business, entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technology, and they are fully dedicated to their stories and service, perhaps even more than people were to religion of old.
A compelling work which is worthy of consideration.
In this same vein stand the authors of The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Significance of Popular Culture (galley received as part of early review program, but full book read).
The authors began by speaking of their experience on a popular game show and the appreciation they gained for how those shows can create a kind of ecstatic and communal experience which one used to get in religious contexts. And that experience provided a good illustration for the concept: one can profitably consider many of the pervasive themes in American society in religious terms. And so they explore the body and sex, business, entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technology in these kinds of terms. Each gets introduced and then explored in terms of their “mythologies” (the stories they tell about themselves in terms of their origins, aspirations, goals, etc.), “doctrines” (the core agreed upon tenets advancing their fields), “ethics” (the rules by which they have agreed to operate), “experiences” (how the field is experienced, or the experience of the field), “rituals” (various practices they go through), “institutions” (the organizations and premises which uphold the field), and “materiality” (where we interface with it). They conclude by considering the costs of worship without sacrifice as embodied in modern American society.
The work is from 2016, but everything that has happened since has only served to validate the arguments and premises presented herein. It’s not as if Americans have any less fervor about various ideas and practices: it’s just that their “religion” has less to do with Christianity or some other “organized religion,” for their “churches” and “altars” involve the body/sex, business, entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technology, and they are fully dedicated to their stories and service, perhaps even more than people were to religion of old.
A compelling work which is worthy of consideration.
October 13, 2018
This was an exceptional book. But this was not an "easy" book. Indeed, I don't think I've read anything as dense or deep since I was in graduate school. Because of that, it's easy to get bogged down in the philosophy, theology and methodology of this work. I doubt anyone would consider this "light reading" and needs to approached more as study and work than a fun escape.
The authors note the ancient idea that we "worship" that to which we invest our lives. Using a classic academic tool of religious analysis, they examine a number of elements of American culture as if they were religions. To no surprise, they expose how many individuals "bend the knee" with time, money and sacred reverence to: body and sex, big business, entertainment, politics, sports and technology. With searing insight, they display how Americans (Christians and secularists) put their identity into these things or and above all other things. For example, think of the people who will stand in line for hours, pay virtually any price and tenderly hold a new iPhone. There is little difference with reverent worship with how some treat a sports team or athlete.
The authors note, not all of this is bad. It may give individuals a sense of purpose or drive. But we should not fool ourselves into thinking we put a spiritual God above any of these. Of note, in a day of tribal politics, the "worship" of a politician or party is easy to see.
If one is academically or theologically minded, this would be a worthwhile read. If one is looking for a fun story-telling monograph or desire a more spiritually uplifting and heart focused work, you'll likely loathe or be bored with it.
The authors note the ancient idea that we "worship" that to which we invest our lives. Using a classic academic tool of religious analysis, they examine a number of elements of American culture as if they were religions. To no surprise, they expose how many individuals "bend the knee" with time, money and sacred reverence to: body and sex, big business, entertainment, politics, sports and technology. With searing insight, they display how Americans (Christians and secularists) put their identity into these things or and above all other things. For example, think of the people who will stand in line for hours, pay virtually any price and tenderly hold a new iPhone. There is little difference with reverent worship with how some treat a sports team or athlete.
The authors note, not all of this is bad. It may give individuals a sense of purpose or drive. But we should not fool ourselves into thinking we put a spiritual God above any of these. Of note, in a day of tribal politics, the "worship" of a politician or party is easy to see.
If one is academically or theologically minded, this would be a worthwhile read. If one is looking for a fun story-telling monograph or desire a more spiritually uplifting and heart focused work, you'll likely loathe or be bored with it.
August 5, 2022
Solid analysis of popular culture *as religion* - that is, as an arena in which religious impulses are being expressed and fulfilled; as a “substitute,” so-to-speak, for traditional religious communities and practices. I found this book to be well-researched, wide-ranging, and a refreshing break from the slew of books simply analyzing pop culture through a theological lens, or looking for explicitly religious / theological / spiritual themes in pop cultural texts, or using pop culture to illustrate doctrinal concepts. Instead, the authors take the religious, or quasi-religious, phenomena of pop culture seriously on their own terms, without moralizing or critiquing. While very much focused on the North American context (and really primarily USA), I appreciated the diversity of perspectives represented in the co-authors. Good choice for a graduate level seminary or religious studies course, or for pastors or scholars interested in the topic.
January 19, 2018
Well-researched book, but it is also very dry and shall I say it, boring at times, especially when the authors take pages upon pages to explain their methodology. It wouldn't hurt if it were just at the beginning (the book actually starts around 13% in, if I recall correctly), but this is emphasized all the time, making you want to skip and tell them to get to the heart of the matter already if possible.
Still, the subject matter is good, but the execution could've been less super-dry textbook and more readable prose.
Still, the subject matter is good, but the execution could've been less super-dry textbook and more readable prose.
January 29, 2019
Some chapters were better than others, but the concluding statements tied this book together perfectly. Really thought provoking, but I think it could have gone just a bit farther.
December 21, 2016
We have heard a great deal about secularizing trends in our culture. It is true that religious communities have observed a decline in membership and participation in the last half-century. It’s well documented by scholars, and experienced with a bit of chagrin by religious leaders. While it is true that organized/institutionalized religion is struggling, is the religious impulse really in decline? Or, is it shifting elsewhere, finding its sustenance in popular culture? When we look at sports and entertainment, business and politics, we do see signs of religious activity. Go to any stadium or ballpark in America, and you will find great numbers of devoted worshippers. We make pilgrimages to stadiums and Halls of Fame. I myself finally made it to Cooperstown (not to be enshrined, but to visit), and I can attest to have a sacred moment as I stood before monuments to my heroes. It is this religious element present in popular culture that is explored with care and insight in The Altars Where We Worship.
The opening lines of the introduction to this book read like this: “Religion is important to Americans. But the religion we practice is often not the religion we confess” (p. 1). There is great truth in these sentences, which get fleshed out in the book under review. The authors of the book once were colleagues at Texas Christian University/Brite Divinity School. The book was conceived when the authors were in Texas, and more than eight years later it has appeared in print. Perhaps at the right moment in time.
Two of the authors, Juan and Stacey Floyd-Thomas are married to each other. Juan is Associate Professor of African American Religious History at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Stacey is Associate Professor of Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt. Mark Toulouse is Principle and Professor of History of Christianity at Emmanuel College, Toronto. I’ve not met the Floyd-Thomases, but am friends with Mark (he wrote forewords to two of my books). I will assure you that our friendship doesn’t influence my review. For ease in speaking I’ll use first names in the review. What I can say about the book at the front end of the review, is that this is a very insightful book. It’s readable, thought-provoking, scholarly but accessible.
continue reading -- http://www.bobcornwall.com/2016/12/th...
The opening lines of the introduction to this book read like this: “Religion is important to Americans. But the religion we practice is often not the religion we confess” (p. 1). There is great truth in these sentences, which get fleshed out in the book under review. The authors of the book once were colleagues at Texas Christian University/Brite Divinity School. The book was conceived when the authors were in Texas, and more than eight years later it has appeared in print. Perhaps at the right moment in time.
Two of the authors, Juan and Stacey Floyd-Thomas are married to each other. Juan is Associate Professor of African American Religious History at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Stacey is Associate Professor of Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt. Mark Toulouse is Principle and Professor of History of Christianity at Emmanuel College, Toronto. I’ve not met the Floyd-Thomases, but am friends with Mark (he wrote forewords to two of my books). I will assure you that our friendship doesn’t influence my review. For ease in speaking I’ll use first names in the review. What I can say about the book at the front end of the review, is that this is a very insightful book. It’s readable, thought-provoking, scholarly but accessible.
continue reading -- http://www.bobcornwall.com/2016/12/th...
February 10, 2017
The decline of participation in organized religion has many asking, what is happening with religion, spirituality, and worship? This book explores several areas where people may be finding their "religious" needs met: Body and Sex, Big Business, Entertainment, Politics, Sports, and Science & Technology. Each of these has its own chapter. Within each chapter the authors describe how each area can be considered religious by examining the way essential elements of religion exist in each: a mythology, doctrines, ethics, ritual, experience, institutions, and materiality (i.e., relics and artifacts). Each of these areas are equipped to attempt to provide meaning and purpose for it adherents, much like traditional religions have claimed to do for millennia.
The book is very United States-centric. It incorporates events and stories all the way into late 2016, including its politics. Nevertheless, the principles and overall themes carry over more broadly.
I found the book interesting and informative. Sports-as-religion is a common idea (especially Super Bowl Sunday), and the religious have often accused the non-religious of idolizing and worshiping science. But to clearly articulate how these and the other areas included in the book can be considered religions is something that I had not seen before and found enlightening. I found particularly fascinating the sub-sections on mythology, doctrine, and ethics.
The book is descriptive. It does not attempt to offer solutions or answers to the problem faced by traditional religion. It does describe why these alternatives are so appealing to modern people. It is a (large) exercise left to the reader to determine the ways in which to address the issues facing traditional religion.
The book is very United States-centric. It incorporates events and stories all the way into late 2016, including its politics. Nevertheless, the principles and overall themes carry over more broadly.
I found the book interesting and informative. Sports-as-religion is a common idea (especially Super Bowl Sunday), and the religious have often accused the non-religious of idolizing and worshiping science. But to clearly articulate how these and the other areas included in the book can be considered religions is something that I had not seen before and found enlightening. I found particularly fascinating the sub-sections on mythology, doctrine, and ethics.
The book is descriptive. It does not attempt to offer solutions or answers to the problem faced by traditional religion. It does describe why these alternatives are so appealing to modern people. It is a (large) exercise left to the reader to determine the ways in which to address the issues facing traditional religion.
May 27, 2017
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Well researched and is accurate in so many ways. Highly recommended.
Well researched and is accurate in so many ways. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews