Call me the seeker : listening to religion in popular music

-One of very few books on religion and popular music -Covers a wide range of musical styles, from heavy metal and rap to country, jazz and Broadway musicals -The essays are written by academics and informed by their enthusiasm for the music Many books have explored the relationship between religion and film, but few have yet examined the significance of religion to popular music. Call Me The Seeker steps into that gap. Michael Gilmour's introductory essay gives a state-of-the-discipline overview of research in the area. He argues that popular songs frequently draw from and "interpret" themes found in the conceptual and linguistic worlds of the major religions and reveal underlying attitudes in those who compose and consume them. He says these "texts" deserve more serious study. The essays in the book start an on-going conversation in this area, bringing a variety of methodologies to bear on selected artists and topics. Musical styles covered range from heavy metal and rap to country, jazz, and Broadway musicals. Michael Gilmour's Introductory Essay Gives A State-of-the-discipline Overview Of Research In Popular Music. He Argues That Popular Songs Frequently Draw From And Interpret Themes Found In The Conceptual And Linguistic Worlds Of The Major Religions And Reveal Underlying Attitudes In Those Who Compose And Consume Them. He Says These Texts Deserve More Serious Study, As Insight And Profundity Can Be Found Not Only In The Traditional Canons, Religious Or Otherwise, But Also In Unexpected Places. The Essays In The Book Start An Ongoing Conversation In This Area, Bringing A Variety Of Methodologies To Bear On Selected Artists And Topics.--jacket. Religious Sources Behind Popular Music -- Religious Themes In Popular Music -- Religion And Popular Music's Audiences. Introduction. Radios In Religious Studies Departments : Preliminary Reflections On The Study Of Religion In Popular Music / Michael J. Gilmour. Religious Sources Behind Popular Music. Shekhinah A Woman : Kabbalistic References In Dylan's Infidels / Daniel Maoz -- I Ain't Got No Home In This World Anymore : Protest And Promise In Woody Guthrie And The Jesus Tradition / James Knight -- The Prophet Jeremiah, Aung San Suu Kyi, And U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind : On Listening To Bono's Jeremiad / Michael J. Gilmour. Religious Themes In Popular Music. Suffering And Sacrifice In Context : Apocalypticism And Life Beyond Les Miserables / Karl J. Mcdaniel -- Comic Endings : Spirit And Flesh In Bono's Apocalyptic Imagination, 1980-1983 / Brian Froese -- Faith, Doubt, And The Imagination : Nick Cave On The Divine-human Encounter / Anna Kessler -- Metallica And The God That Failed : An Unfinished Tragedy In Three Acts / Paul Martens -- The Nature Of His Game : A Textual Analysis Of Sympathy For The Devil / Harold Penner -- God, The Bad, And The Ugly : The Vi(t)a Negativa Of Nick Cave And P.j. Harvey / J.r.c. Cousland -- Pulling Back The Darkness : Starbound With John Anderson / Randall Holm. Religion And Popular Music's Audiences. God's Smiling On You And He's Frowning Too : Rap And The Problem Of Evil / Angela M. Nelson -- Transcendent Trancer : The Scholar And The Rave / Tim Olaveson -- Under The Shadow Of The Almighty : Fan Reception Of Some Religious Aspects In The Work And Career Of The Irish Popular Musician Sinéad O'connor / Andreas Häger -- Planet Rock : Black Socioreligious Movements And Early 1980s Electro / Thomas Nesbit -- Spirituality Through The Science Of Sound : The Dj As Technoshaman In Rave Culture / Melanie Takahashi -- Jesus, Mama, And The Constraints On Salvific Love In Contemporary Country Music / Maxine L. Grossman. Edited By Michael J. Gilmour. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.