Harry Potter; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and the Left Behind series are but the latest manifestations of American teenagers longstanding fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal. In this groundbreaking book; Lynn Schofield Clark explores the implications of this fascination for contemporary religious and spiritual practices. Relying on stories gleaned from more than 250 in-depth interviews with teens and their families; Clark seeks to discover what todays teens really believe and why. She finds that as adherence to formal religious bodies declines; interest in alternative spiritualities as well as belief in "superstition" grow accordingly. Ironically; she argues; fundamentalist Christian alarmism about the forces of evil has also fed belief in a wider array of supernatural entities.Resisting the claim that the media "brainwash" teens; Clark argues that todays popular stories of demons; hell; and the afterlife actually have their roots in the U.S.s religious heritage. She considers why some young people are nervous about supernatural stories in the media; while others comfortably and often unselfconsciously blur the boundaries between those stories of the realm beyond that belong to traditional religion and those offered by the entertainment media. At a time of increased religious pluralism and declining participation in formal religious institutions; Clark says; we must completely reexamine what young people mean--and what they may believe--when they identify themselves as "spiritual" or "religious."Offering provocative insights into how the entertainment media shape contemporary religious ideas and practices; From Angels to Aliens paints a surprising--and perhaps alarming--portrait of the spiritual state of Americas youth.
#1712756 in eBooks 2015-04-08 2015-04-08File Name: B00VOK2FB2
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent information perspectives to engage the reader and encourage great conversations!By Nora Moore LloydCity Creatures is an extraordinary compilation of stories visuals describing the human / non-human relationship that exists in an urban environment in a unique; thoughtful and thought-provoking way.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I often wonder what it would be like to host a dinner for them allBy Joe PhillipsAs an urban farmer; I often bump into people who exude a passion for wildlife in the city environment. The weekend birder; the feral cat advocate; the amateur photographer on nightly marauds hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive urban coyote. These folks always strike me as loan wolves among the pavement pounders; always with a keen eye out for the secret life of untamed animals around us. I often wonder what it would be like to host a dinner for them all; just to hear their stories and to see the world through their eyes.City Creatures takes me to that place in a beautiful way. Through stories; poems; visual art; and photographs; Chicagos mysterious wildlife is revealed with such breadth that the volume feels like a kind of impressionistic encyclopedia of the animal world that lurks just under our noses. Regardless of whether you live in the windy city or another dense urban area; you will gain a new perspective from this book that is not unlike the childlike revelation that happens when one picks up a brick in the yard to expose a tiny universe of wiggling; squirmy insect life.City Creatures is an invitation to become curious. It lifts the veneer and invites us to slow down and listen to our non-human neighbors.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A modern-day classic on cities and natureBy theobromaThis book sets a fantastic banquet for anyone interested in Chicagorsquo;s natural and cultural diversity -- from people who are new to the city to long-term residents who think theyrsquo;ve seen it all.This is not a standard field guide to plants and animals of the Chicago region -- itrsquo;s something much richer and more interesting. The bookrsquo;s greatest strength lies in the breadth of its components and contributors; from scientists to visual artists to conservationists to historians to community activists. By cultivating such a diverse range of contributions from such a diverse guild of authors; the editors provide readers with an inspiring reminder of all the different ways that people connect to nature in the Chicago region. Open the book at random and yoursquo;re likely to find something that changes the way you think about the city -- regardless of whether youre a nature lover or not.City Creatures is a visually stunning volume; and likely a front-runner for most-desired-book-of-the-year among Chicago residents for the next decade. It seems to me that this book would work equally well as a text book for a high school or college-level course; as a birthday present for a grandparent or a grandchild; and as a coffee table book in a living room or an office. It also makes a perfect choice for a Chicago area book club; since every member will find a few chapters that resonate with their interests and spark discussion. In short: this is a classic that Chicagoans will be dipping into and talking about 20 years from now.
