(October 3, 2008, New York) - It's a place where Heavenly Gear Athletic Shoes with gold embroidered praying hands and "God Bless" stitched on the side cost $49.95 ...where God is presented 'much like a manipulative boyfriend or girlfriend who tests you to see how much you really love him or her'...and where televangelists preface a point by saying, "The Bible is really clear."
Author Nadia Bolz-Weber - who defies anybody to read a book in the Bible "and say everything seemed clear" - has been there, and invites us to join her on a theological odyssey into the around-the-clock world of Christian television in her new book:
Salvation on the Small Screen: 24 Hours of Christian Television
Nadia Bolz-Weber $17.00 6X9 Paper 165 pages ISBN: 978-1-59627-086-2
Seabury Books, September 2008
From 5am November 2 to 5 am November 3, 2007, Nadia watched the Trinity Broadcasting Network for 24 consecutive hours to gain a theological perspective on Christian cable TV - plus to chronicle its star televangelists, prosperity gospel fare, use (and occasional misuse) of the Bible, and product offerings. She invited 28 contributors, including biblical scholars, a gay Unitarian, a non-religious ex-boyfriend, several Jews, her Evangelical parents, Lutheran pastors, and her 9-year-old daughter, to drop in and comment. The result is a high-octane narrative, frequently hysterical, often insightful, and occasionally totally surprising.
"Turn off your TV and read this book. It's enlightening and entertaining and it doesn't emit any radiation whatsoever." -AJ Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically
"The concept is as clever as it is brave: Spend 24 hours watching 'Christian television' programming, and bring friends. Talk about what you see. Let hilarity and poignancy ensue!" -Mike Morrell, TheOoze.com
"Will invite, provoke, and soothe those seeking to find Christianity in the midst of televised faith." -Doug Pagitt, author of A Christianity Worth Believing
Nadia Bolz-Weber is the mission developer at House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado, an emerging liturgical community. She holds a bachelor's degree in religious studies from the University of Colorado and a master of divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology. Check out her blog at http://www.sarcasticlutheran.com
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