This book is an intriguing narrative of the interplay between American religion and patterns of American culture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. R. Laurence Moore considers the ways nationalism, the separation of church and state, democratic pluralism, and shifts in boundaries between secular and sacred practice have shaped American religion for the past two hundred years.

"VERY GOOD!" BookReview.com Featuring Yes, My Best Friend Was a Dreamer- Narrator David Horton recounts a powerful love-hate relationship with his own personal superhero, and in the process outlines the suspicious circumstances surrounding the heros life and recent disappearance. "(In these three novellas) the author demonstrates the inner makings of being male. [This] is good writing." BookReview.com "[This novella] is clearly a mans book, or maybe... a glimpse into the world of man for women." BookReview.com

The American landscape is host to numerous works of religious architecture, sometimes questionable in taste and large, if not titanic, in scale. In her lively study of satire and religious architecture, Margaret Grubiak challenges how we typically view such sites by shifting the focus from believers to doubters, and from producers to consumers. Grubiak considers an array of sacred architectural constructions—from "Touchdown Jesus" at the University of Notre Dame to the Wizard of Oz Mormon temple outside Washington D.C. to the renamed "Gumby Jesus" of the Christ of the Ozarks statue in Eureka Springs, Arkansas - and how such constructions are confronted by the doubt and dismissiveness articulated by the more skeptical of their viewers. These responses of doubt activate our religious built environment in ways unanticipated but illuminating, asking us, at times forcefully, to consider and clarify what it is we believe. Opening up new avenues of thinking about how people deal with theological questions in the vernacular, Grubiak’s book shows how religious doubt is made manifest in the humorous, satirical, blasphemous, and popular culture responses to religious architecture and image in modern America. Midcentury: Architecture, Landscape, Urbanism, and Design

Hitler believed the Lance of Longinius, or the spear used to pierce the side of Jesus while he hung on the cross, would make him immortal. Michael Ude believes it contains the actual DNA of Christ. When that DNA is stolen, the delivery of a single video tape sets the faith based community on its head. The tape claims to contain footage of a woman who is carrying the Jesus Seed, or Christs clone. But that is just the beginning of an all out war on Christianity. It begins when a suicide fighter pilot files a supersonic jet into the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil. Then a woman named Mary is infected with the deadly Ebola virus under a giant cross in Illinois. Suddenly suicide bombers target Notre Dame, in Paris, the National Cathedral and Mormon Temples in Washington, D.C. But these terrorists arent Islamic. Theyre faithful Christians. Behind it all, a billionaire bent on revenge and a Catholic Cardinal, both convinced the Apocalypse is already happening. The Jesus Seed is set against a factual backdrop that says human cloning is not only possible, but probably has already happened. The Jesus Seed examines what would happen if science brought about the Apocalypse as called for the in the book of Revelations. The Jesus Seed is a head on battle between science and faith. Its a life and death race against a centuries old biblical deadlinethe birth of Christ. Will history repeat itself? Three decades after the cloning of Dolly the Sheep, and Baby Louise Brown, is it really possible to clone Jesus? What role will race play? These are just some of the questions explored in Del Walters explosive follow to The RACE and Wereth, the Black Parade, The Jesus Seed.

Jesus is as American as baseball and apple pie. But how this came to be is a complex story - one that Stephen Nichols tells with care and ease. Beginning with the Puritans, he leads readers through the various cultural epochs of American history, showing at each stage how American notions of Jesus were shaped by the cultural sensibilities of the...

Swallowtail, a collection of poetry by Brenna Twohy is a deep dive into the dissection of popular culture, and how the brightness and horrors of it can be mirrors into the daily lived experiences of women in America.

A groundbreaking memoir from professional NFL player, writer, and advocate R.K. Russell, who made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual. In 2019, R.K. Russell broke the mold when he came out as bisexual in an essay for ESPN that ignited the sports world. Now, in his powerful memoir, THE YARDS BETWEEN US, he shares his story and explores his love of football, men and women, walking the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality secret, the tension between his private and public lives, and the importance of crashing through barriers. One part inspirational journey and one part coming of age as an athlete struggling to break a mold, THE YARDS BETWEEN US follows in the footsteps of moving, impactful sports memoirs like Agassi's OPEN, Misty Copeland's LIFE IN MOTION, and Megan Rapinoe's ONE LIFE. Told through the people and moments that have shaped him, Russell traces the highs and lows of his life in and out of football, from his early life as a shy kid struggling with the expectations on a Black boy and the pull between his quiet nature and his athletic ability, to being drafted by his hometown team the Dallas Cowboys, and then on to seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills. And as his time in the sport comes into full bloom, Russell realizes that keeping his secret in the NFL is easier than in college when life and football are so much more connected to social worlds. Through being cut, injured, and frustrating setbacks, Russell's confidence lags as the secret of his sexuality weighs heavier and heavier. And when that frustration is combined with the devastating loss of his best friend and sole confidant, the darkness that follows also brings a deep understanding that perhaps it's time to make a change. In Los Angeles, against the backdrop of the swaying palm trees and warm sands of Malibu, Russell falls in love and it's the final push he needs to stand up for every part of himself—a professional athlete, a writ

You've heard them on the radio, listened to them on repeat for days, and sang along at the top of your lungs—but have you ever wondered about the real stories behind all your favorite country songs? Nashville Songwriter gives readers the first completely authorized collection of the true stories that inspired hits by the biggest multi-platinum country superstars of the last half century—recounted by the songwriters themselves. Award-winning music biographer Jake Brown gives readers an unprecedented, intimate glimpse inside the world of country music songwriting. Featuring exclusive commentary from country superstars and chapter-length interviews with today's biggest hit-writers on Music Row, this book chronicles the stories behind smash hits such as: Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind" Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," "Southern Voice," and "Real Good Man" George Jones's "Tennessee Whiskey" Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" and "Cowboy Casanova" Brooks & Dunn's "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" Lady Antebellum's "We Owned the Night" and "Just a Kiss" Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires," "We Danced," and "I'm Still a Guy" Luke Bryan's "Play It Again," "Crash My Party," and "That's My Kind of Night" The Oak Ridge Boys's "American Made" George Strait's "Ocean Front Property" and "The Best Day," Rascal Flatts's "Fast Cars and Freedom," and "Take Me There" Kenny Chesney's "Living in Fast Forward" and "When the Sun Goes Down" Ricochet's "Daddy's Money" Montgomery Gentry's "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" The Crickets's "I Fought the Law" Tom T. Hall's "A Week in a County Jail" and "That Song Is Driving Me Crazy" Trace Adkins's "You're Gonna Miss This" David Lee Murphy's "Dust on the Bottle" Jason Aldean's "Big Green Tractor" and "Fly Over States" And many more top country hits over the past 40 years!

The Dynasties: Long Island High School Football is the first in a series of books about the top high school sports teams on Long Island. The first, a look at the best grid iron squads of all-time, breaks down the historical backgrounds behind the top 10 programs and the next 11 honorable mention schools. Through anecdotal stories and recaps of the biggest games in the history of every program, The Dynasties: Long Island High School Football is truly a one-of-a-kind piece of literature. No one has ever written about the history of Long Island high school football and Vaccaro categorizes the best schools by going deep into the foundation of every major team, player, year and game of each program. He considers a dynasty a program that has been consistent from day one, not just a school that won for a few years in a row. In this book youll learn why high school football is a major fabric of any community and how football on Long Island is a special brand of sport, more so than other parts of the country. Advanced Praise Vaccaros book captures some of the special moments about the top teams in Long Island high school football history. Its a must read for every high school football fan on Long Island! I couldnt put it down once I started reading it. Andy Slawson, Newsday This book puts a much-needed spotlight on a realm of sports that doesnt get the attention it deserves. Finally, there is a book that strings together the glory of the programs, players, coaches and administrators of Nassau and Suffolk football that have cultivated and enriched its history to this day." James J. Parziale, Queens Tribune