In The Faith - A Chronicle of the Christian Faith » Jesus takes new place in our modern pop culture

Jesus takes new place in our modern pop culture

Posted on December 29th, 2003 by Anthony K. Valley

Canada.com discusses the profound influence of Jesus Christ in the world’s secular humanist culture.

MONTREAL —One figure you don’t expect to find in contemporary pop culture is Jesus Christ. Or at least, you may not have expected to bump into him there in the past.

But, in the past couple of years, Jesus has been showing up all over the place. Just days after his birthday seems a fitting occasion to mention a few places where he’s been in view:

On the big screen, in new films like The Gospel of John and Mel Gibson’s controversial The Passion of Christ.

In the best-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code, where he appears as the secret husband of Mary Magdalene and the father of their family.

In a series of books about modern culture, including The Gospel According to Tolkien, (more surprisingly) The Gospel According to the Simpsons and (most surprisingly of all) The Gospel According to Tony Soprano.

In rock music, where Christian faith underlies not just the great songs of the venerable U2 but also the music of newer groups like P.O.D. (Payable on Death).

Years have sped by since U2 first sang about “looking for to fill that God-shaped hole” and “looking for the baby Jesus under the trash.” And whether it be gospel music or the Chronicles of Narnia—in which the God-shaped hole is filled by a talking lion—Christianity has always maintained a presence in the secular arts.

The article poses the question, “So what’s new about the phenomenon in the 21st century?” And then replies in respect to the fact within the past two generations, Christianity has moved from it’s place as America’s “default religion.”

The answer, paradoxically, may be rooted in the shrunken importance of Christianity and all faiths in the secular culture of our time. A generation or two ago, North Americans could take it for granted that Christianity was the bedrock faith of society. Jews—and to a lesser extent Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and other faith groups—had a place here. But in schools, courts and legislatures, Christianity was the norm. It was, if you like, our default religion.

That has changed, partly because of the pressure of widespread immigration from non-Christian countries and partly because of the increasing lack of belief among native-born Canadians and Americans. Christianity is, in official terms, just one religion among several.

[ Full Story @ Canada.com ]