{"product_id":"9780826428950","title":"Springfield Reformation The Simpsons(TM), Christianity, and American Culture","description":"\u003ch1\u003eSpringfield Reformation\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eThe Simpsons(TM), Christianity, and American Culture\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eJamey Heit\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerforming Arts \/ Television \/ History \u0026amp; Criticism\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eInitially shunned by many in the Christian community when it made its television debut almost twenty years ago, after four hundred (and counting) episodes, and a feature-length film, few can deny that \u003ci\u003eThe Simpsons \u003c\/i\u003eexhibits an astute understanding of Christianity in American culture. Its critiques of that culture are worth studying in detail. Jamey Heit's \u003ci\u003eThe Springfield Reformation \u003c\/i\u003einvestigates how \u003ci\u003eThe Simpsons \u003c\/i\u003eblends important elements of contemporary American religious culture with a clear critique of the institutions and individuals that participate in and uphold that culture. Though \u003ci\u003eThe Simpsons \u003c\/i\u003eis clearly a product of American popular culture, its writers offer up a well-planned, theologically informed religious climate in the cartoon world of Springfield. This world mirrors America in a way that allows the show's viewers to recognize that Christianity can hold together a family and a town that is rife with \"sin,\" while at the same time exposing these very shortcomings. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeit focuses on distinct topics such as: god, the soul\/the afterlife, prayer, the Christian ethic, evangelism, science versus religion, and faith (particularly in response to the question of why bad things happen to good people). He also explores the connections between various episodes, discussing how these connections, manifest an honest critique of Christianity in America. Engagingly written and guaranteed to appeal to smart, religiously curious fans of the show, Heit maintains that \u003ci\u003eThe Simpsons \u003c\/i\u003eis not only a legitimate theological voice, but also that this voice offers a valuable addition to discussions about Christianity in America.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 May 2008\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContinuum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9780826428950\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e208\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13.76\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51515270168716,"sku":"9780826428950","price":121.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9780826428950","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}