Bubblegum and Bibles

I've moved!

2012-01-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I've moved! Please update your bookmarks (cuz you've totally bookmarked my blog, right?) I'm now on Wordpress at www.bubblegumandbibles.wordpress.com.
Thanks for visiting, and keep reading!

Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Rapture

2011-05-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

All this talk of the Rapture has turned me into a giddy, culture-obsessed freakazoid. The fanfare on both sides is a barrel of crazypants fun: will you be sporting a Rapture Veteran t-shirt, or will you be signing your pet up for a new owner once you’re whisked away to Heaven? (All pet rescuers are certified atheists!)

Past Judgment Day prophecies may not have been real -- but they have made a very real impact on American history. This interesting Christian Science Monitor article shows how failed Rapture predictions of the past have given way to new religious movements, psychological research and even more Rapture predictions. For example, the Seventh Day Adventist movement grew out of a failed prediction called the “Great Disappointment” of 1844.

End Times prophecies have also impacted social psychology. Dianetics follower named Dorothy Martin convinced a group of followers in 1954 that End Times believers would be rescued by flying saucers. Psychologist Leon Festinger snuck into the group of believers and documented their belief systems as part of his study of what is now known as cognitive dissonance.

Paul Boyer talks more about the Rapture's social and cultural ripples in his interesting essay, "Doomsday: A User's Guide." In his essay, he mentions how even NASA engineers have jumped on the Rapture boat. Edgar Whisenant sold several million copies of a 1988 book detailing 88 reasons the world would end that year.

I’m not clearing my social calendar for the nearing apocalypse, but I am planning a low-key day of eating ice cream with my two rock and roll besties, Blondie and Siouxie!

There’s also this great slideshow of shoot ‘em up, disease-ridden apocalypse movies to pop in your DVD player.

What are you doing for the Rapture? Let me know!

The Last Fiesta

2011-04-24T13:11:00.001-07:00

Detail, "The Last Fiesta," via Pale Horse Design

Happy Easter!
Although this Last Supper post is about 40 days overdue, I thought Pale Horse Design's work needed a spotlight before Easter ended. (Thanks to Dan for sending me the original link!) "The Last Fiesta" is part of the "Saints and Sinners" exhibit in St. Petersburg, FL. Chris Parks' bold, tattoo-style portrait collections are inspired by Dia de los Muertos and Luchador culture. He also uses images of feudal Japan and other Eastern influences (check out this cool muay thai/Buddha hybrid here.)

I've been crazy-busy with my column lately, and I'm also starting to do some preliminary research on America's Christian hardcore and metal music scenes. I'm swimming in a vast ocean here (a Blood Ocean, even?) Any recommendations of bands, books or specific music scenes to check out?

Islam's All-American authors

2010-12-01T21:01:00.001-08:00

There's the one about the guy in love with WWE wrestling and punk music. Then there's the one about the only non-Catholic girl in Catholic school who wished she could be the Virgin Mary in the Christmas play. Then there's the Boulderite who moved to Cairo and found the love(s) of her life.
In the past few months, I've come across three beautiful, hilarious and eye-opening memoirs written by American Muslims. One reason I've been drawn to these stories is sort of selfish: the authors are young, based out of cities I'm familiar with and grew up in with the same kind of pop culture I'm familiar with.
My second reason for seeking out these books is because Islam is a religion that is constantly in the news, but often as a big, nebulous "other." I get the feeling that Islam isn't always viewed as a "real" American religion. Numbers vary, but the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life estimates 2.5 million of us Americans are Muslim. A big chunk, and a big chunk of stories.
The best part? At least three of them have written really hilarious/personal/great books that you should read!

I loved "The Butterfly Mosque" by G. Willow Wilson. The Boulderite moved to Cairo to teach English, but she had no idea she would fall in love with a religion, a city and a man all at once. She gives an honest, grounded account of her conversion, her marriage to a deeply devout person and her adjustment to a society that sees women, religion and independence in a much different light. Plus, she was just 27 when she wrote this (it was published this year!)

"Impossible Man" by Michael Muhammad Knight was a much different story that was just as page-turning. Knight was barely a teenager when he found Islam in a book about Malcom X. In Knight's book, he spares us no details of his his trailer park youth, his messed-up family life and his initially rigid view of Islam and the West. I can't wait to see his film "Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam."

I have to admit, I haven't read this one yet, but I met Asma Gull Hasan, author of "Red, White and Muslim," just tonight at a panel discussion. She's a lifelong Coloradoan who often has to explain her religion to people who have never met a Muslim before. Her descriptions of growing up Muslim in a Catholic school, her close-knit relationship with her mom and her trials with online dating had me laughing uncontrollably. Check her work out here.

What are you reading? Got any great religious memoirs (of any religion) to share?

Hard Rock Baptisms

2010-08-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

Tim Kanelos was baptized at Union Reservoir with the roar of a hardcore band in the background.
During Saturday's Heaven Fest, a Christian music festival in Longmont, almost 40,000 people visited to hear pop, rock, indie hip hop and metal bands on 7 stages.
Kanelos came for the music, too. Then he saw the tent at the edge of the reservoir with one word stenciled on the side: "Baptism."
"I always wanted to get baptized in water. I already got baptized in the spirit, but it didn't affect me the way I wanted," he told me, still dripping from his dunk in the cold water. A line five people deep waited for their turn. "I feel like a more complete Christian, and Jesus was baptized this way."
Northern Hills Christian Church in Brighton, CO, started offering baptisms during the first Heaven Fest three years ago. Last year, baptism organizer Darlene Nelson said 59 people took up the church's offer. By the middle of the day Saturday, just halfway through the festival, 125 people had already taken the plunge.
Participants with piercings, tattoos and band t-shirts waited in line, nodding their heads in revenrence as they stepped into the water. After a pastor murmured a prayer and dunked them, most returned to shore with beaming smiles.
The loud music and huge crowds didn't bother Kanelos, who said the baptism was the important part, not the location.
"I was just trying to focus on the moment," he said.
While Kanelos toweled off, 12-year-old Mike McBridd stood in line for his turn. His mother, Erin McBridd, told me the family had talked about the possibility of him getting baptized, but it was Mike's idea to follow through at Heaven Fest.
"I just thought I'd get it over with, and today was a good day," he shrugged. "It's my first baptism."

The idea of getting baptized in a reservoir during a rock concert might sound weird, but I remember earning extra money as a lifeguard in high school by staying after hours so churches could baptize newly converted members in our community pool. There had to be a lifeguard on duty at all times while the pool was open, so my only job was to sit on the bench with a guard tube and watch the ceremony. It was awkward, but strangely touching.

Any readers out there have unique baptism stories? I'd love to hear it!

Image via Chicaco International Christian Church

My last 6 months? Mountain towns, meditation and Christian rock

2010-08-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty busy these past few months! There has been tons to explore in the deeply weird and wonderful cross-sections of religion and pop culture.
In May, I visited Crestone, CO, a remote town in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range known for its ashrams, meditation retreats, convents and new age communities. In June, I tried out mindfulness meditation with some great folks in Boulder's Jewish Renewal community. In July, I even went to the Lady Gaga concert, where I got to see her controversial use of religious imagery firsthand. (More on that in a few.)
This past weekend, I spent time at Heaven Fest, a giant Christian music festival in Longmont, CO. Almost 40,000 people braved the 98 degree heat and rock out with Christian rock, hip hop, hardcore, folk and indie bands. You can see my preview on the festival here.
I'm back to blogging and I have plenty to share from my travels, so stop by again soon! You can always reach me at bubblegumandbibles@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter.

Spreading the faith, not the flu

2009-11-12T14:30:00.001-08:00

AP reported that the number of Colorado swine flu cases has gone down this week, but that hasn't stopped congregations worldwide from tweaking their religious rituals to stop the spread of germs. Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail wrote a great story about some techniques.
One idea came from an Italian inventor, who made an electronic holy water dispenser that squirts a little onto worshippers' hands so they don't have to put their fingers in communal bowls swimming in germs. Then there's the church who passed out communion bread on toothpicks. A Rabbi in Montreal gives visitors an elbow bump instead of a handshake and asks them not to touch or kiss the Torah as it is carried through the temple. Some imams ask worshippers to take extra care when carrying out their ritual hand and face cleaning.

Get weirded out when shaking a ton of hands after mass? (I did too-- I was a blossoming germaphobe as a kid in church.) What do your churches, mosques, temples or meditation areas do to keep germs at bay as you pray?

On my book list

2009-11-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

To add to my overflowing reading list: "My Jesus Year" by Benyamin Cohen. Cohen writes about how his struggle to keep the oomph in his Jewish faith leads him to spend a year exploring the pull of Christianity. According to descriptions I've read, he takes it to the limit by jumping into the mosh pit in a Christian rock concert, seeing himself on the jumbotron at a megachurch and attending a Christian wrestling match. What does the son of an Orthodox rabbi learn from his Christian excursions? Well, you can ask him yourself when he visits Boulder 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the JCC, 3800 Kalmia Ave in Boulder.

Miss his talk but want more one-on-one time with rad Jewish authors? Cohen's talk is just one of the many the JCC will host as part of 2009 Festival of Books and Culture. See the whole schedule here.

My sale-rack bedside table is literally buckling from being piled with books, but I just gotta ask anyway: any suggestions for other books I should be adding to the stack? I'm on a humorous-memoir-about-faith kick, apparently.

Music's bloodline

2009-10-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Photo by Chrissy Piper, via Pitchfork
I was so excited to read Pitchfork's in-depth interview with John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats. The new album, "The Life of the World to Come," uses Bible verses as the base for Darnielle's part-autobiographical, part-introspective, part-musing lyrics. The result isn't always saintly-- in fact, it's at turns dark, doubting and hopeful.
This isn't the first time Biblical themes have seeped into Darnielle's lyrics, but it's the first interview I've read where Darnielle gets so specific about his faith and how it influences his music. One of my favorite excerpts:

"If you're into music, you're into religion, somehow or another.
Religion, that's the bloodline of music. The whole reason, I'm pretty
sure, we have music on notation is to preserve chant, to transcribe
what was going on, which we're singing in order to describe the
experience the divine."

That got me thinking about music history and the way faith has shaped the types of music we listen to today. What do you think? Do you see the influence of hymns, devotionals or other "religious" music on the stuff you're playing on your iPod?
Here's an impromptu list of some of my recent-and-past-favorite songs that fit that description for me.

-Black Soul Choir-- 16 Horsepower
-Freedom Hangs Like Heaven-- Iron and Wine
-Children of the Lord-- Slim Cessna's Auto Club

Despite heavy Biblical imagery, I wouldn't consider these songs to be "church songs." In fact, I hear a sort of irony, darkness and artisticness to them that I've tried to explain a little better here and here.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Now back to our regularly-scheduled blogging...

2009-10-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

So I promised myself I would never post one of those “sorry for not posting” messages here, but it looks like the ole blog has gotten a little dusty since I’ve been gone. I’m back, though, and armed with lots of news to tell you.
First off, I recently got a job as the Faith columnist for the Daily Camera in Boulder. So far, I’ve meditated with Buddhists, chatted about the Bible in a comic book store and listened to Jewish toddlers sing adorable Shabbat songs. That’s right, I actually get paid to write about religion now!
I’ve even been able to address pop culture in my recent column. R. Crumb, the comic book artist responsible for some crazy, weird, sexed-up, drugged-up underground comics in the 1960’s, has taken on a totally different project: the Bible. The Book of Genesis, to be exact. It’s definitely a departure from his past work, but the book—a “straight illustration job” depicting the book word for word—still has R. Crumb’s personality written all over it. Check it out at your local comic book or bookstore!

I’ll still be on Bubblegum and Bibles to talk about the weirdo fringes of religion and pop culture, a topic that seems to get broader and weirder every day. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!

St. Christopher, patron saint of surfers

2009-07-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

I am in St. Christopher's waters.
I'm vacationing in Laguna Beach, a paradise of salty air and a ridiculously accessible view of the Pacific Ocean. From my balcony, I can watch skilled surfers navigate huge waves. On a recent shopping trip, I saw an array of Saint Christopher medals for sale on thin chains. When I asked the salesperson why St. Christopher, she didn't know.
A frustrating Internet search ensued. I found out that he is supposedly the patron saint of lots of things--mariners, travelers and surfers-- but I found nothing that explained why. I always knew that St. Christopher was the patron saint of travel (I had two former boyfriends with medallions pinned to the sun visors in their cars), but the surfer/mariner thing was new to me. I'm a tourist here-- anyone know where the St. Christopher thing comes from? Do surfers wear the medallions when surfing? What's St. Christopher's role, and is it a big one for those who pray to him? In the meantime, I think I'll just keep watching the ocean...

www.surferscreed.com

Sizzlin' hot image of the Virgin Mary appears on a griddle

2009-05-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

After a cook in Calexico discovered what he thought was a sacred image of the Virgin Mary on a restaurant griddle, people drove in from as far as San Diego (about 125 miles) just to get a glimpse. Visitors included these two lucha libre wrestlers, who said her image was "a true miracle" according to the Imperial Valley Press. (The photographer who took this picture must love me and want me to be happy--this is probably my favorite picture EVER.)
I am a serious dork for supposed "sacred sightings." There's nothing like the mix of fervent excitement, guaranteed national media attention and campy reverence for things like a 15-year-old piece of toast. I personally don't believe that a face on a griddle is a sacred message from God, but hey-- if it is, he's certainly got a sense of humor. There's nothing funnier than seeing people getting worked up over a Cheeto.
Check out this slideshow of "sightings" found on silly objects like melons, paperweights and X-rays.

Pimp My Swine Flu Mask

2009-05-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Fun Mexican pop culture site Guanabee posted this excellent photo essay of some of the most creative ways people are weathering the Swine Flu scare. Even St. Jude's safe from germs!

Lights, camera, churches

2009-04-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

Image via NAB Show

Tailored to houses of worship, the audio/visual technology industry has its own niche that focuses on sound systems, projectors and lighting for religious services.
During last weekend's trip to Vegas, I crashed the NAB Show, a National Association of Broadcasters convention for digital media professionals. With the help of a map of the vast convention hall and Matt's spy skills (he was actually registered) I chatted with professionals about technology's role in the "worship experience."
As churches grow, congregations are adding energy to church services with sound systems and video projections, said Michelle Makariak of Technologies for Worship Magazine. TFWM follows the AV industry for upgrades that will work best in churches.
It's not just megachurches who are eyeing projection systems and flashy lighting, she said. Even smaller churches are upgrading so worship bands sound better and pastors can record sermons to post online. At the conference, businesses offered projection systems for worship lyrics, acoustics installation, portable stages and lighting concepts.
Churches are also looking for ways to communicate outside the walls of the church. They're talking about establishing successful blogs and using "virtual churches" to reach congregants around the world.
Streaming Church is a Web portal that allows churches to post videos of services, provides chat rooms for congregants attending from home and keeps track of visitors around the country. President Steve Lacy said Streaming Church is designed to ease people into new churches and keep them connected outside Sunday services.
"Those who are intimidated might be more willing to check it out online before going through the doors not knowing what to expect," he said.
Online, people can watch services, chat, follow the pastors on sites like Twitter and even donate money with the click of a button. If they like what they see, hopefully they will attend the church regularly in person, he said.
"We don't want them spending most of their time online, unless they can't physically be there," he said.
Some of Streaming Church's U.S. clients have used the platform to reach African communities, who set up outdoor churches and follow the streaming services with the help of a projector and computer monitor.
“It’s still about getting people together,” he said.

Our Lady of Guadalupe... Vegas style

2009-04-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a funny souvenir kiosk we saw on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. The framed art was actually flashing and changing colors-- apparently, even Mary and Jesus get the Vegas treatment there.

Sunday in Sin City

2009-04-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! I just got back from Las Vegas, where I spent a fun weekend with friends and even won some money! ($2.34, to be exact.)
After two days of Vegas-y action, Matt and I decided to venture off the strip for a different experience. Along the way, we stopped at this church on the strip whose services were just getting out.
On an impulse, we walked in. As soon as I smelled that church smell, I realized it had been a long time since I'd gone to church at all. After all that time, church smell is kind of comforting: a mix of air conditioner, old lady perfume and clean carpet.
I went into the alcove to light a candle for my grandmother who passed away when I was in high school--something I seem to do only when traveling. During my trip to Prague, I lit a candle for her at the epically gorgeous St Nicholas Church, where the ceilings dripped with gold. This time around, the church was much more plain but had its own sense of flair: in true Vegas fashion, traditional prayer candles were replaced with electric flames you switch on with a toggle! The alcove looked like its own Las Vegas casino sign with the rows of lit up electric candles.
The experience was a little ironic given Vegas's reputation as Sin City, but in a city of 558,880 people, there have to be a few who don't hold church down at the bar.

A lazy Saturday with the Virgin Mary

2009-04-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

I had an uncommon and serendipitous experience at my neighborhood bar a few weekends ago: I talked religion and pop culture with a stranger as we sipped beers and tried to ignore bad 90's rap blasting from the speakers.
The topic of conversation? The powerful image of the Virgin Mary. Oft-featured in ironic, reverent, fucked-up and inspired ways, the Virgin Mary is instantly visually recognizable. My new drinking companion put it best when he said that no matter what an artist does to her--tie her up, cut her or place roses at her feet -- her presence makes the image a powerful statement that goes beyond merely "religious."
I've been seeing some beautiful, unusual Virgin Mary art on Etsy, the online marketplace of handmade goodies designed by talented folks who often work out of their bedrooms and home offices.
I'm particularly in love with this image from Illustrated Ink, a bevy of tattoo goodness with a focus on Dia De Los Muertos designs.
Some of my other favorite shops to find Virgin Mary jewelry and iconography include Sweetheart Sinner (whose bold pendants also feature Edgar Allen Poe and David Bowie) and Jammerdesignz, who paint designs on each image with teeny-tiny brushes.

Heeb's Fauxlocaust contest ends April 1!

2009-03-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

Image via heebmagazine.com
Frustrated by the increasing number of Holocaust memoirs penned by frauds such as as Binjamin Wilkomirski and Herman Rosenblat, Heeb Magazine is fighting back "the only way we know how—with a self-aggrandizing and somewhat offensive publicity stunt."
Enter the Fake Holocaust Memoir Competition and your totally bogus Holocaust survival story could end up published in Heeb. Simply come up with a shameless tear-jerker, write it down and send it off by April 1. Get the full details here.

Heeb says the contest is a way to make fun of the assholes who have used the tragic event for profit, but some readers have boycotted the contest, saying it perpetuates and glorifies fraud. Others say the contest is hurtful to anyone who has had family members who endured Nazi torture and internment.

What will ultimately happen when Heeb publishes the winning stories? I haven't seen the editors take back the offer, but it would be wrong for them not to address the boycott, regardless of their feelings about it.

So is Heeb's contest an effective satire, or just a cruel joke?
Heeb says the contest is a way to reclaim a phenomenon that has been hurtful to the worldwide Jewish community-- and in light of the Pope's recent snafu with a Holocaust-denying bishop in Argentina , their aim is even more timely. But with faux memoirs and Holocaust revisionsists filling headlines in just the past few weeks, these issues show that the Holocaust is still producing cultural, political and religious shock waves almost 70 years after its first victims were imprisioned.
As usual, I'm torn. I'm not Jewish, but I like the idea of throwing insincerity back in the faces of those who have tried to use it for profit. But I can't help wondering what Heeb will look for when choosing the winner: an essay that uses suffering and pain as humor? If I've been reading the right articles in that magazine, I suspect an essay that involves gay Nazis, copious pop culture references and an occasional appearance from Sarah Silverman might make the cut instead.

New B&B goodness!

2009-03-22T15:35:00.001-07:00

Thanks for visiting my under-construction site. I'll be getting a fabulous new look soon thanks to talented designer (and totally swell boyfriend) Pete Holm!
Also, thanks to everyone who e-mailed me about commenting snags. It should be fixed now so anyone can leave a comment. My favorite part of this blog is reading ad responding to what you have to say, so please let me know what's on your mind!

Happy Sunday!

Man of God, metal god

2009-03-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Pete for alerting me to Fratello Metallo, a metal band led by a Capuchin brother who lives in a friary in Italy!
Cesare Bonizzi got a lot of media attention when his band opened the Gods of Metal concert in Bologna last June (it's the biggest metal concert in Spain.) Boing Boing recently posted a rad video of him strutting his stuff.

Other than the obvious novelty of a man of God also being a metal God, I think Fratello Metallo's music is novel in the way it challenges stereotypes that metal music is categorically evil.

Sure, there are plenty of metal bands with a murderous, church-burning wrap sheet (like Mayhem and Emperor, for example), and there's no other genre so saturated with pentagrams, blood and 666 imagery. The metal genre, however, still has its share of bands whose music is chock-full of epic battles, struggles against evil or just good old cheesiness (I think Dragonforce fills all three of those categories nicely.) And metal/hardcore bands such as Zao, Underoath and As I Lay Dying are self-described Christians with a raw, powerful sound.

What it all comes down to is the way metal can express emotion in a visceral, in-your-face way. That emotion could have ties to heaven or hell. In Bonizzi's case, ''Metal is the most energetic, vital, deep and true musical language that I know'', he said in this article written before he was to perform at the Gods of Metal concert. His music is not about "religious messages, but themes of faith that have a bearing on life and which are experienced musically in a secular key''.

The good ole reading stack

2009-03-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible! by Jonathan Goldstein comes out in April.

Thanks to my stellar "secret source" at Boulder Bookstore, I am the proud owner of many interesting-looking uncorrected proofs. I also have many generous friends who have recently lent me books even though they know (or now know) it will be a long time before I return them. (Please e-mail me if you can't wait for me to get to your borrowed book-- I'll totally understand.)
On top of my stack is Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible! by Jonathan Goldstein, a frequent This American Life contributor. It's a collection of cheekily re-vamped Bible stories that balance between hilarious, bittersweet and ridiculous. I like it so far, but I'm only halfway through. One thing I'd say is that Goldstein seems to be navigating a space where he's being funny, but he's also trying not to offend anyone. As a result, some of the stories could be a little flashier-- I mean, if you're going to inject some humor into the Bible, I'd go big. More updates as I read further!

In other news, here's a taste of my reading lust... I mean reading list:
No God But God by Reza Aslan
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America by William Lobdel

Book suggestions? Send 'em my way!

Unlikely sanctuaries

2009-03-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

What makes a sanctuary, a church, a chapel, a mosque? Is it the walls and stained-glass windows or the people or something else entirely?
I had that question after reading an essay from A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, a brainy, fun and complex selection of non-fiction essays by David Foster Wallace. In his title essay, Harper's pretty much pays the him to take a cruise and write about his reaction. Being both semi- neurotically describes the impeccably dressed but creepily robotic staff, the heifer-like movements of large crowds of tourists and the fluffy bathroom towels "you could marry."
My favorite snippet is when he decides to attend mass on ship one Sunday. Here's a taste:

Genuflecting at sea turns out to be a tricky business. There are about a dozen people here. The Father's backlit by a big port window, and his homily is mercifully free of nautical puns or references to life being a voyage. The communal beverage is a choice of wither or wine or Welch's -brand unsweetened grape juice. Even the Nadir's daily mass's communion wafers are unusually yummy, biscuitier than your normal host with a sweet tinge to the pulp it becomes in your teeth. (Footnote: If Pepperidge Farms made communion wafers, there would be them.)

Wallace touches on a few absurdities of a mass-at-sea. The luxury cruise ship's communion wafers, normally papery-tasting and dull, have a hint of their own luxury, and kneeling to make the sign of the cross becomes a balancing act as the ship tilts in the waves. Despite this, the Mass itself stays exactly the same as it would be on land in a normal church anywhere: the communion, homily, etc are still present.

I chose this paragraph because it really illustrates what I believe about sacred spaces-- at any level of grandeur or crumminess, they still serve the same purpose: to reflect on a higher power in an area that is special to that act. Ironically, though, a sacred space's grandeur or crumminess reflects a truly human side of a practice that is meant to reflect divinity.

Take, for example, the trucker's chapels nationwide. Truckers who spend their lives on the road can stop by an ugly, ungainly trailer for Sunday services. It's gritty and utilitarian, but it reflects a lifestyle only truckers can appreciate. With a few short hours between deliveries, truckers don't have to worry about wasting time to don their Sunday Best. It's a "come as you are" approach that focuses less on the trappings of faith and more on the act of worship. Cuz when you get down to it, praying and reflecting is the goal--not primping.
Don't get me wrong, I love the splendor of famous churches and the awe-inspiring art inside--it's all meant to honor God's divinity. But in front of God, in God's house, you're still human no matter how pretty you dress up or how good you smell. Visiting an uncommon place like a truck stop chapel or cruise ship chapel calls that fact to mind even more for me.

What are your favorite sacred spaces? Do you drive up to the mountains to reflect and recharge?Do you love the traditional worship service? Or do you find solace with groups of friends at a bar? I'd love to hear about the places-- fancy and unfancy-- you call sacred.

Image via Transport for Christ , a group that provides church services for the trucking community.

Stuff to (not) give up for Lent

2009-02-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Ash Wednesday to the Catholics out there and happy regular Wednesday to everyone else! If you're the type to give something up for Lent, consider sparing beer from the potential list.
This past weekend I went with my fabulous friends to Avery Brewing Company in Boulder for a mid-afternoon tasting and tour. Our awesome tour guide, decked out in bike pants and Crocs, gave us the skinny on the most "outta control" and "whacked out" beers on tap. That includes beer from their "Holy Trinity" series, which features some saintly-tasting brews. Hog Heaven Barleywine Ale (surely the most whacked out, in this guy's opinion) is super-super hoppy and is responsible for turning the tanking Avery into a happening, nationally-known brewery. The Reverend Belgian Ale is made with specialty malts and a hint of cherry/molasses goodness. On the lighter side, Salvation Strong Ale has a light, sorta peachy taste (like heaven!) I walked away with a bomber of Salvation, so come on by and share it with me!
Not to be outdone, Hell is equally represented in Avery's "Demons of Ale" series. Dark and tasty-looking (I haven't yet tried any) Samael's Ale, The Beast and Mephistopheles' Stout brings in darker flavors like chocolate and anise. They're also whallopingly strong-- 14 to 16 percent alcohol.
Check out Avery's Strong Ale Festival Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28 to sample 60 strong-ass beers. $25 at the door gains you entry, a commemorative tasting glass, and sixteen 2oz pour tasting tickets.

Telling Stories Feb. 20 and 21!

2009-02-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Telling Stories, a super-fun collection of FREE live music and essay readings, returns 7 p.m. Friday, Feb 20 in Boulder and Saturday, Feb. 21 in Denver. This month's installment is "Finding Our Religion," an exploration of spirituality through a collection of creative musical and written art.

Word on the street is that there will be essays about bathroom graffiti, the Midwest and the ghost of Cab Calloway. There will also be a host of electric guitars, marimbas, cellos, zarbs and clarinets.
Telling Stories features young classical musicians and writers, but the group aims to "leave the stuffy concert hall behind." Full disclosure: I'm a contributing writer for the event, and this event is far from stuffy. I followed a gorgeous and unconventional flute piece at the last event, I managed to drop the F-Bomb on stage as I read my essay.

If you're in the Boulder area, check out Telling Stories Friday at Old Main on the CU campus. For the Denver crowd, check out Telling Stories at 910 Art Gallery, 910 Santa Fe. Both events are FREE and start at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit tellingstoriesmusic.org.

Rock out with (Jew)elry

2009-02-03T18:47:00.001-08:00

Image via jewishrosaries.com

I always get a little too excited when I get another free issue of Nylon in my mailbox. (Thanks free trial offers!)It's all so silly: the neon fashion trends! The ugly but somehow irresistible shoes! The long-haired guys with jeans so tight they look like grungy ballet dancers!

I was especially excited when I saw a small feature on Carlen Altman's Jewish Rosaries that seem to be slung around everyone's necks these days (the guys from MGMT, English model Agyness Deyn, musician Adam Green, are just a few of the usual hipster suspects). And the likes of Elle, InTouch and Heeb have all found a place in their pages for the jewels.

Some priests in the Catholic church have said they're disappointed to see traditional rosaries used as a fashion statement, but the trend made popular by Madonna seems to be going as strong as ever. Now that there's a Jewish equivalent, even I want one-- and I'm not even Jewish. They remind me of the super-pretty beads my grandma had (and the sky-blue one I kept tangled in my sock drawer with my rarely-used prayerbook.)

I can see the Catholic church's caution against using the beads as a date-night accessory. When you think about it, the fashion angle can detract from rosary beads' spiritual and practical use the same way decorating with prayer flags in Boulder detracts from their actual sacred purpose. But the let's-play-dress-up side of me wonders why rosaries have to be so darn gorgeous if they have to stay zipped in a carrying case or Sunday-best pocket.
Check out Altman's spazzy, tongue-in-cheek Web site here for the full scope of her awesome rosary madness.

Hey mommy, is Islam the light?

2009-02-03T17:57:00.000-08:00

Remember all those horror movies with the talking dolls whose only mission was to kill humanity in gruesome and fucked-up ways? Needless to say, I've never been one for talking toys. In fact, as a child, I preferred to come up with my own voices for my baby dolls. That's why I never had this odd problem: several parents who bought the "Little Mommy Cuddle n' Coo" doll say the baby declares the phrase "Islam is the light!" in a garbled, creepy voice.
Some parents have complained about the same problem with the Baby Pals game for Nintendo DS.
So what really happened? Was it simply a cheap recording malfunction that cobbled together the word "mama" too many times? Or is some toymaker really, really dead-set on converting the world's young population with a single electronic phrase?
Neither Nintendo nor Mattel take responsibility for the error. Nintendo backed away from the issue by saying the game is manufactured by a third party, and Mattel said the compressed audio files can sometimes get corrupted. Sounds like a conspiracy to me!
I personally can't see how someone happened to get access to change the audio on these toys to add a religious message, but if you really want to hear it for yourself, check out the news story here.
And if that DID happen? Hey, if you know the guy who manipulated the audio, send him my way so I can indoctrinate children with a healthy fear of zombies.

Ask a Muslim!

2009-01-28T14:40:00.001-08:00

Image from the Houston Chronicle
I like having "a guy." You know-- friends and acquaintances I call up when I need a special job done. I've "got a guy" (or gal) for when I need to translate something into Spanish, get a free meal, jump my car, figure what's wrong with my computer or get into the bar when I've forgotten my ID.
Yeah, I like having people.

On my "I've got a guy" wishlist is a guy who can answer my dumb questions about religious tenets without making fun of me for those four years I spent studying in the Religious Studies department at CU. Luckily, for questions about the world's second-largest religion, I can call 1-877-WHY-ISLAM.

With lots of post-9-11 misinformation still connecting Muslims with terrorism, Ask A Muslim seems like a pretty simple way to clear up basic questions about mosques and Mohammad and tackle larger issues such as what the Koran says about jihad.

According to a recent Houston Chronicle article, the call center fields 1,000 queries a month. You can also go online to www.whyislam.org, where people can e-mail questions, get in on discussion forums, get free copies of the Quran or find a nearby mosque.
“The idea was to help answer the questions that people have about Islam,” Islamic Circle of North America board member Hanif Harris was quoted in the article. “This way, they’ll get the answers directly from Muslims.”

ICNA says the Web site and hotline are meant is to spread information to non-Muslims and promote multi-faith dialogue without converting anyone, but not everyone is happy with the idea. On just the Houston Chronicle's Web site alone were plenty of idiotic tirades about how the tuuurrrrists are just trying to indoctrinate innocent callers with their violent ways and "take over our country."
Gee, guess I'll have to call the number and ask a Muslim if that's true!
So much for interfaith dialogue.

Silly, snarky church signs

2009-01-14T15:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Seth for alerting me to this fun blog Crummy Church Signs, where I can indulge in some laughable church signs across the country!

Church signs are such a haiku-like phenomenon. With little space to spare and the occasional shortage of necessary letters (3’s instead of E’s, upside-down W’s standing in for M’s), saintly messages are transformed into an awkward art that’s really just a by-product of enforced brevity.

As a kid, the church where my brother’s Boy Scout troop met usually had some great messages on their signs, like “God has a job for you—inquire within.”
What I love about the signs (other than the cutesy sayings) is the way they reflect the community and culture around them. A sign will reference technology (“Need to reboot? Remember, God saves!”) consumerism (“Walmart isn’t the only savings place”) or flash-in-the-pan slang (“Jesus is the rizzle for the sizzle.”) The perfect formula for a hilarious church sign? A combination of vaguely threatening language coupled with awkwardly misspelled words: "God hates whoremongers."

When driving my brother to Boy Scouts, I never paid much attention to the cheesy words that greeted me as I pulled into the parking lot where his friends fiddled with their pocket knives and played football before meetings. Now, I can’t help wanting to start my own collection of double-entendre-laden, snarky and silly phrases that are designed to reach out to people in a contemporary way. If only the sermons were so consistently witty…

If you're a church sign lover like me, you can also get your fix with coffee table books chock-full of church sign photos such as Donald Seitz’s “The Great American Book of Church Signs” or Steve Paulson’s “Church Signs Across America.” Buy local—ask your neighborhood bookstore for details!

Diner-lovers, drunk Pentecostals and one big plastic Jesus

2009-01-07T12:10:00.001-08:00

Now that the holidays are over and I’m just about out of energy to party, I’m making a list of movies to watch as I snuggle on my new couch and listen to the annoying Chinook winds blow outside my window. There’s a few embarrassing favorites (Pretty in Pink, more Pretty in Pink) but also a long list of documentaries and dramas I can’t wait to get my cold little hands on.

One gorgeous documentary I can’t stop talking about is Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus, an absorbing road trip film that follows alt-country singer Jim White through the American South. White drives through small towns, bayous and forests with a life-sized plastic Jesus in his trunk. He ruminates about what it means to live in an environment where the ideas of eternal damnation and faith are constant companions-- and constant inspiration for writers and musicians. Along the way, he meets drunk Pentecostals, enthusiastic preachers, diner-loving locals and at a handful of folks who claim their brother’s cousin’s best friend was dragged into hell.

Interviews with locals and scattered shots of church scenes offer context for the film, but what cast a spell on me was the built-in soundtrack sung on the edge of lakes, in the middle of roads and in the back of greasy spoon diners. I’m a blossoming alt-country fan, so it was an awesome treat to see performances by the Handsome Family, banjo player Lee Sexton and guitarist Johnny Dowd. These musicians show up at the corners of the story and slowly turn the lonely landscape into organic concert halls for their impromptu performances. In my favorite scene, David Eugene Edwards of 16 Horsepower sits alone in the forest, singing the haunting traditional hymn “Wayfaring Stranger” on his banjo. As he sings, a kid pushes his bike toward him, stops to listen for a minute, then pushes his bike away.

The simplicity of each shot and the unhurried, thoughtful tone of Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus convinced me that there is creative and spiritual inspiration at every turn--even when inspiration comes from dirty truck stop bathrooms and cramped, hot barber shops. White’s view of the South may be crusty, imperfect and full of contradiction, but that’s what he loves so much about it. His outlook reminds me that the crusty, imperfect corners of my own landscape are just as valuable and just as packed with inspiration.

Modern breakups + ancient Indian epics = awesome-looking

2009-01-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

I’m marking my calendar for two screenings of “Sita Sings the Blues,” a color-saturated, gorgeously animated film by Nina Paley.
U.S.- born Paley melds the storyline of the Indian epic Ramayana with her own autobiographical account of getting dumped by her husband via e-mail after he moves to India for work. It’s set to the music of 1920’s jazz artist Annette Hanshaw, adding an even more contemporary touch.
I don’t know much else about the film yet, but I do know the Ramayana packs in some serious action, adventure and soap-opera style betrayal, loss and greed. (I’ve only read parts of it because it’s made up of seven books—anyone know of an abridged version I can get my hands on?)

“Sita Sings the Blues” has gotten international accolades from film competitions in Holland, Melbourne, Taipei and Warsaw. Check out the trailer and official Web site here, then catch the flick 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 7 at the Starz Film Center, 900 Auraria Parkway in Denver. If you miss the Denver showing, catch a screening February 12th through the 15th at the Boulder International Film Festival

Moving to the music-- and the message

2008-12-29T14:45:00.000-08:00

Image via Westword.com
Check out this week’s issue of Westword for Adam Clayton-Holland’s absorbing article “Choosing My Religion.” It’s about Red Door, a twice-monthly melting pot of electronica and spirituality. As the article says:

“The Red Door is for people who want a sense of spiritual connection to a community," says (Paresh) Rana, who describes his role as that of peacekeeper. "It's for people who don't necessarily care for any specific dogma; it's for people who want to be moved by the music. The Red Door is for people who want to experience their bodies as an instrument."

With topics such as “the Primal Self” and Transforming Fear into Love,” I’m hoping to check out Red Door myself and report back in the coming months.

Heard about a counterculture hangout known with a spiritual undercurrent? Let me know!

Ring in the New Year with Slim Cessna's Auto Club

2008-12-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

What are you doing this New Year's Eve?
Take this compatibility test below to determine your New Year's Eve plans:
A.) Are you cool?
B.) Do you enjoy alt-country with a slightly creepy, apocalyptic, dirty-south snake-handling theme?
C.) Do you like drinking champagne with Jello Biafra?
D.) Do you enjoy local music?
E.) Do you prefer your musicians to look like 1930's gravediggers and freakishly tall cowboys?

If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you should get your bad self to the Bluebird Theater in Denver for Slim Cessna's Auto Club's annual New Year's Eve show Tuesday, Dec. 30 or Wednesday, Dec 31st.

For those not in the know, SCAC is a well-established Denver band with a unique sound that turns the description "alt-country" on its head. Slim and Munly riff off each other in preacher-convert, good cop bad cop style, singing in ragged and melodic voices about everything from American conquest, smallpox vaccinations, Jesus, the Devil and unusual ways to murder your sweetheart.

To call SCAC a "religious" band isn't really accurate, despite the thick religious imagery in their songs. It's more of a fascinating, dark canvas from a world that exists only in their songs. Where else would you find stories about cross-dressing country folk, prairie pirates and open invitations to Jesus to come crash at their house?

If this doesn't convince you, hopefully some songs from their MySpace will. And if you like what you hear, I'd recommend you go to SCAC's Wednesday show insted of their Tuesday show. Most years, Jello Biafra (of Dead Kennedys fame) has been on hand to douse the crowd in cheap champagne when the ball drops. The band's on Jello's label, Alternative Tentacles.

I'm looking to profile a few good bands with great music and an interesting backstory in faith. Got a good one? Drop me a line here or e-mail me at bubblegumandbibles@gmail.com

For those about to rock, we salute... Jesus

2008-12-22T18:58:00.000-08:00

I try to make it a tradition each year to bring home some new Christmas albums when I visit my folks for the holidays. In the past, I've dug up a classic Frank Sinatra album, a collection of Jazz songs and a CD of international carols. My family has dutifully put them all into Christmas day rotation. This year, however, I am pretty sure my little bro and I will be the only fans of these two gems.
8-bit Jesus is a collection of Christmas songs done totally in video game music. The artist is super-creative Dr. Octoroc, who has tweaked all the classics to sound like a Super Mario Bros. Christmas special. And what's better than titles like "Have Yourself a Final Little Fantasy" and "O Come All Ye Vampires" ? I'll tell you-- you can download this sucka for FREE, but hey, it's Christmas, so make a donation, wontcha?

When we were kids, my family would take my brother and me to Christmas Eve mass, where we'd get to sing some of the more churchified holiday carols like "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." I never thought I would hear some of these saintly songs sung by devil worshippers like Ronnie James Dio and Alice Cooper! (Just kidding.) Those carols sound much better with a healthy dose of metal-- just grab a copy of We Wish You a Metal Christmas... and a Headbanging New Year and listen for yourself. Bad fucking ass.

Thanks to Pete for finding me these albums!

More gifts for every sinner on your holiday list

2008-12-19T17:58:00.001-08:00

Time's running out to get all your favorite people some fabulous religious gifts that will shock and amuse them--if not downright offend them. There's tons of options for those with a love for all things holy (or just kitschy).

Take this Virgin Mary toast stamper, for instance. Why gaze at your morning breakfast for signs of the Mother of God when you can engineer her presence yourself? Last I heard, these tongue-in-cheek stampers were available from Urban Outfitters.

Virgin Mary apparel is a pretty rad gift if you ask me. If you happen to be Christian, you might see Mary as a selfless or inspirational figure. Maybe you just admire art that happens to include her image. Either way, Mary is a total badass and a great present.

For those who enjoy Mary iconography for purely artistic purposes, I'd check out All-Pop, a treasure trove of kitschy oilcloth bags, cutesy stickers and throwback toys. They've also got a healthy dose of Virgin Mary merchandise including this adorable Our Lady of Guadalupe onesie or a collection of cheap insta-art litho prints.

I'd personally enjoy expressing my love for the holy virgin with a Phat Pimp "Mary is My Homegirl" shirt.

For those with a twisted sense of humor and an adventurous sexual appetite, there's always the Virgin Mary dildo from Divine Interventions. I spent some time on this Web site checking out their wares, which also include models such as the "Diving Nun," the "Judas" and "The Devil." (I'll leave it to you to comment...)

Stay tuned for one more installment of the Bubblegum and Bibles gift list!

Gifts for every sinner on your holiday list

2008-12-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

Still in the thick of your holiday shopping? I've got the perfect list of wildly inappropriate and vaguely sacrilegious gifts for everyone in your family! Tune in this week for the cream of the crop, or send me your suggestions at bubblegumandbibles@gmail.com.

Best gift for your hipster terrorist friends:
Got hipster friends who love controversy? The keffiyeh s the perfect gift!

In May, bubbly Food Network show host Rachael Ray got in hot water when she appeared in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial wearing a black and white keffiyeh scarf. The patterned scarf is worn mostly in the Middle East, and different combinations of colors have been associated with different nations. Lately it's become the accessory of choice for skinny-jeans wearing, ironic-moustache sporting hipsters.

Unfortunately for Ray, some angry viewers took the scarf to be a symbol of terrorism, not fashion. Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin called the scarf "hate couture" and "jihadi fashion" that mimics religious extremist terrorists and anti-Israeli racists. (See some of her posts here and here. You can see Ray's scarf looked similar to the Palestinian style.
Personally, I couldn't find a reliable source to tell me exactly what's so terrorist about the keffiyeh. The real problem is this: for all I've read, I can't seem to pinpoint exactly what the keffiyeh even represents, and Malkin can't seem to , either. Her statement about terrorism and hatred seems overboard and reactionary, fueling our image as a nation chock-full of misconceptions about Middle Eastern culture.

One thing Malkin does get right is our nation's ignorance about the whole issue.What we need here is more perspective. In the U.S., we have limited context to tell us whether or not the scarf is culturally and religiously insensitive. In fact, most keffiyeh-wearers were totally in the dark about the possible repercussions before the Dunkin' Donuts fiasco.

Uber-trendsters Urban Outfitters agreed to stop carrying the scarves to smooth out the confusing controversy, but you can still find rainbow-colored versions at other stores. So why not roll the dice and buy one for your friends and loved ones? There's so many ways to wear it! They can hang it loosely around their neck to show how big of a terrorist they are, or they can wrap it artfully to broadcast how much they hate Israelis. Or they can just say "fuck it" and wear it because it looks purdy. (* coughsarcasmcough *)

Seriously, though: I'll stay away from wearing one until I can get the full scoop on the "keffiyeh kerfuffle," but I won't judge my friends who are holding onto their hot-pink scarf cuz the weather in Colorado has been in the negatives lately.

I'd also love to know what you think. Is it insensitive to wear a keffiyeh as a fashion statement, or has the pattern lost its its cultural significance in this country?

FoCo does the holiday mash-up thing

2008-12-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

What's with everyone trying to erase Christmas (and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa) around here?

That's what residents in Fort Collins, CO griped about last year when a city task force recommended that city buildings get rid of all holiday symbols and replace them with white twinkle lights. Boring!

But this year, the city has reversed their decision, allowing Christmas trees, menorahs and Santa Clauses to co-exist together in front of the city's museum. To prove their willingness to embrace all faiths and cultures around the holidays, organizers included educational information about Yule, the Scottish Hogmanay festival, the Polish Wigilia celebration, the Indian Diwali festival and several others.

All the effort seems to have soothed some residents' anger, but others think the whole "include everyone" thing is getting a little out of hand. As for me, I happen to think the awkwardly PC combination of religious holidays is something we can only enjoy in America. For a perfect example of the awesomess that is the holiday mash-up, visit www.christmukkah.com. (Photo is from this Web site.)

Read the full story at the Denver Post here. The Fort Collins Coloradoan has some great op-ed pieces about the debate here, but I couldn't link to the original article because it's been archived already.

Got thoughts? Send me some bubblegum love at bubblegumandbibles@gmail.com.

Santa's the odd man out in holiday displays

2008-12-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

Image via the Chicago Tribune

Ah, Santa. That jolly, selfless old guy who squeezes his fat ass down the chimney to bring joy to every little girl and boy. We always seem to be feeding him, asking him for favors and forgetting about him as soon as Christmas is over.

But who is this Santa guy, really? Is he a religious symbol, an icon of commerce or just a creeper who knows how to break into our houses? After so many years of Christmas imagery dominating storefronts and commericals, there's been an increased push from governments and businesses and to take any and all religious symbols out of Christmas in an effort to include non-Christians. (I hear we call it "The Holidays" now). That means one little Santa can make the difference between being "culturally sensivite" and being "too religious."

So which is it?

Golden, Colorado wrestled with this debate when local Rabbi Levi Brackman asked City Council for permission to put up an 8-foot menorah on one of Golden's intersections. City council disagreed, voting to ban religious symbols on city property. Angry protestors found the ruling unfair, pointing out the fact that City Council had no intention of taking down the Santa Claus deocration that perches on Golden's famous "Howdy Folks!" arch downtown. That Santa display was a religious symbol because Santa is an incarnation of Saint Nicholas, a Catholic bishop from the fourth century.

Despite loud protests from residents, City Council voted to keep the Santa display because of its historical appearance on the arch and Santa's role as a commercial symbol. They plan to re-examine their policies on holiday decorations after the season is over.

Read the whole story here at the Golden Transcript, and check out the Denver Post's follow-up on the meaning behind other holiday-season symbols.

Or, check out Wonkette's dispach on Santa, the supposed Marxist, here. Hilarity!

silly and sacrosanct

2008-12-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

It's a weird religious world out there.

Underneath all that churchy seriousness there's an undercurrent of spiritual people not content with the traditional expressions of faith. Sure, going to church is great, but it's not exactly creative. And why not spread the word of God with a rap instead of a standard hymn?

This is a world full of crunk churches, Bibles that look like teen magazines, Jesus-loving tattoo artists, Jewish graffiti artists, religion-themed microbrews and extreme sport ministries.

Some are meant to celebrate God, Allah, Jesus, Mohammad, Mary and all the rest of those holy folks. Some expressions are meant to lampoon or criticize religion (baby Jesus-shaped butt plug, anyone?) Some are cheesy, sincere, God-lovin' or godawful. The bottom line is that it's all on the religious fringe-- a reflection of way popular culture infuses religion with a sense of timeliness, new-ness, "now"-ness.

We're here to scope out all those funny little intersections of religion and pop culture. And while some of these posts might be a bit Christianity-heavy (since it's the dominant religious culture in the U.S), any and all creative expressions of spirituality are fair game.

Got a suggestion? Throw it out there to bubblegumandbibles@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!!