Theology and Prince (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture)

Prince was a spiritual and musical enigma who sought to transcend race and gender through his words, music, and fashion. Raised as a Seventh-Day Adventist and later going door-to-door as a Jehovah’s Witness, he expressed his faith overtly and allegorically, erotically and poetically. Theology and Prince is an edited collection on theology and the life, music, and films of Prince Rogers Nelson. Written for academics yet accessible for the layperson, this book explores Prince’s ideas of the afterlife; race and social justice activism; eroticism; veganism; spiritual alter egos (with a deep dive into the dark character of “Spooky Electric”); a queer listening of the Purple Rain album; the theology of the Graffiti Bridge film (featuring interviews with co-star Ingrid Chavez and other collaborators), and a story from Texas of a Christian worship service designed around Prince’s music in the wake of his passing. Those interested in theology and popular culture; scholars of social justice, racial identity, LGBTQ+ studies, and gender studies; as well as Prince “fams” will find new ways of viewing Prince’s old and new works. Cover Theology and Prince Series Page Theology and Prince Copyright Page Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Chapter 1 “Could Have Sworn It Was Judgment Day” Prince and Theology The Death of Prince The 2018 Super Bowl Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 2 “Dear Mr. Man” “Let Your Body Be Free”: Sex, Race, Democracy, and the Black Prophetic Voice in Prince’s Early Work “Punch a Higher Floor”: Prophetic Voice and Social Commentary from Purple Rain to The  Album “Welcome to the Dawn”: Prince and Black Prophetic Fire from Emancipation to Hitnrun Phase 2 Conclusion Bibliography Chapter 3 “I Am Something That You’ll Never Comprehend” “Let’s Go Crazy” “Take Me with U” + “The Beautiful Ones” “Computer Blue” + “Darling Nikki” “When Doves Cry” + “I Would Die 4 U” + “Baby I’m a Star” “Purple Rain” Notes Bibliography Chapter 4 “Flesh of My Flesh” Indecent Theology Guilty of No Sin Gender Transgression Welcome to the Dawn Notes Bibliography Chapter 5 Parables from the (Animal) Kingdom Notes Bibliography Chapter 6 “Dance with the Devil” The Prince Paradox Infernal Names Sex Fiends and Lesser Demons Accusations of Blasphemy Lands of Sinaplenty Resisting the Resistor “Y’all don’t know who I am!” Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Chapter 7 Graffiti Bridge Notes Bibliography Chapter 8 When God Appears, Everything Changes DEARLY BELOVED When God Appears, Everything Changes Theophany + Prince Let’s Go Crazy Flames of Hope and Acceptance Live 4 Love Ghettos and Flowers Dream, If You Can, a Courtyard Notes Bibliography Epilogue SIDE A: SKINNY, CROOKED TEETH,WITH A HIGH VOICE Side B: Still Speaking Notes Bibliography Index About the Editors and Contributors "Theology and Prince explores theology and the life, music, and films of Prince Rogers Nelson. Topics include Prince's ideas of the afterlife; race and social justice activism; eroticism; veganism; spiritual alter egos; a queer listening of the Purple Rain album, and the theology of the Graffiti Bridge film"-- Provided by publisher