What do you think?
Rate this book
Toying with God: The World of Religious Games and Dolls
Maybe you have seen the board games. Christianity has The Board Game; Journeys of Paul, Armor of God and Divinity (the only game to have the imprimatur of the Catholic Church). Islam and Judaism have Race to the Kabah, Mecca to Medina, Exodus, and Kosherland. Buddhism has Karma Chakra and BuddhaWheel. And then there are the dollsplush and plastic talking Bible dolls, Christian action figures, and talking Muslim dolls that teach Arabic. Have we humans blended fun with spirituality for good or for ill? And what does all of this say about our insatiable need for fun? Written with verve and a healthy dollop of humor, Toying with God examines the sometimes zany world of religious games and dolls, from pre-history to today. Packed with examples that propel the narrative (and add immeasurably to readers knowledge of religious trivia), this is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of popular culture and spirituality.
- GenresReligion
210 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Read
March 31, 2011"An intriguing look at the world of religious toys and games. Ably demonstrating the ubiquity of these objects and the manner in which they have been integrated into a wide variety of religious cultures, this book is an excellent example of how material culture is full of religious belief and practice."
--Douglas E. Cowan
"Noting how religion has become a commodity in modern Western society, Norris and Bado-Fralick here analyze the world of religious games and toys and the efforts by religions to market their own values within a competitive consumer culture. There is really nothing like this very thoroughly researched work."
--John Lyden
--Douglas E. Cowan
"Noting how religion has become a commodity in modern Western society, Norris and Bado-Fralick here analyze the world of religious games and toys and the efforts by religions to market their own values within a competitive consumer culture. There is really nothing like this very thoroughly researched work."
--John Lyden
Displaying 1 of 1 review