America's Dark Theologian
The Religious Imagination of Stephen King
by Douglas E. Cowan
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Pub Date Jun 12 2018 | Archive Date Aug 01 2018
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Description
Illuminating the religious and existential themes in Stephen King’s horror stories
Who are we? Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? For answers to these questions, people often look to religion. But religion is not the only place seekers turn. Myths, legends, and other stories have given us alternative ways to address the fundamental quandaries of existence. Horror stories, in particular, with their focus on questions of violence and mortality, speak urgently to the primal fears embedded in such existential mysteries. With more than fifty novels to his name, and hundreds of millions of copies sold, few writers have spent more time contemplating those fears than Stephen King. Yet despite being one of the most widely read authors of all time, King is woefully understudied. America’s Dark Theologian is the first in-depth investigation into how King treats religion in his horror fiction.
Considering works such as Carrie, The Dead Zone, Misery, The Shining, and many more, Douglas Cowan explores the religious imagery, themes, characters, and, most importantly, questions that haunt Stephen King’s horror stories. Religion and its trappings are found throughout King’s fiction, but what Cowan reveals is a writer skeptical of the certainty of religious belief. Describing himself as a “fallen away” Methodist, King is less concerned with providing answers to our questions, than constantly challenging both those who claim to have answers and the answers they proclaim. Whether he is pondering the existence of other worlds, exploring the origins of religious belief and how it is passed on, probing the nature of the religious experience, or contemplating the existence of God, King invites us to question everything we think we know.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781479894734 |
| PRICE | $30.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 272 |
Links
Featured Reviews
Mike D, Reviewer
Great read for Stephen King super-fans and mere dabblers alike. Academic, but still very readable, America's Dark Theologian discusses the religious themes in Stephen King's works from a unique and thought provoking perspective.
Cowan's extensive experience discussing the intersections of pop culture and religion are displayed throughout Dark Theologian very the beginning. For example, he eschews no more than a cursory discussion of King's most overtly religious novel, The Stand. This is because most of the religious interpretations of King's work are wrapped up in that particular novel and it is actually quite an outlier when looking for religious subtexts. Cowan also deals with another major hurdle in the beginning of his book, "how exactly can this be considered theology?" Well, Cowan invests a bit of time up front discussing a much broader definition of theology that extends far beyond Sunday morning services, bible studies, and houses of worship. In fact, there is an everyday theology that even atheists and agnostics engage in that Cowan is keen to probe and becomes the fascinating focus of this book.
It is great to see King getting the academic attention his work deserves!
Eva L, Educator
This is a fascinating examination of the theological perspectives of King's work. A story teller like non other, King has returned again and again to fundamental questions of existence that have plagued humans for time immemorial. As a fan of King and also a Christian I found this book thought provoking and compellingly written.
Steven M, Reviewer
Having been a fan of Stephen King since my early teens, I jumped at the chance to review this book for Netgalley. Mr Cowan delves into Mr Kings extensive back catalogue and delivers an excellent, thought provoking book, that explores the religious themes within some of the authors most famous novels. From Carrie to The Stand and Salem’s Lot to Pet Sematary, it’s clear that Mr Cowan has extensively researched the subject matter. Discussing why we love horror and dark things that go bump in the night, to the religion that finds itself between the pages of most of Stephen Kings novel, the author gives a wider appreciation of this master storyteller.
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