Richard Quebedeaus, well known as a keen observer of the trends in American religion, has now written a probind, insightful volume on the relationship between celebrity-dom and religious authority. Quebedeaux relates the American love of charisma and our need for heroes to the success of the "electronic church." He also analyzes the impact of the religious personality cults on American culture. He offers insight into such critical issues as: *What forms will authority take in a culture where formal/traditional structures have failed? *Where are the roots of America's love of charisma and "instantism"? *By what authority do sports heroes, movie stars, political figures, TV evangelists, and musicians insturct the masses of religious people? *Why do celebrities appear to be the new spiritual leaders in America? Popular religion in America is strongly influenced by the mass media, which confirm and strengthen the values the viewing, listening, and reading public already hold dear. Quebedeaux examines the role of celebrities in communicating packaged, how-to religion to bored and anxiety-ridden people: he shows how their personal appeal convinces the public that what is being offered will change their lives and make them happy and successful. Considering historical, sociological, and biblical perspectives, this cutting-edge work examines the nature of true religious authority, the decline of respect for rationally cordered authority, and the present "reign of superficiality" in modern American religion. BY WHAT AUTHORITY is a thorough study of the thought and actions of popular religious leaders in America and the historical traditions out of which they have arisn, in order to get at the real significance of "popular religion." Quebedeaus concludes with a vigorous counterproposal to recover biblically accurate, honest, reliable religious authority in the world today. This description may be from another edition of this product.