Why am I passionate about this?
I grew up religious but loving scary thingsāhorror movies, scary comic books, Dark Shadows, and The Twilight Zone. Even the music of Alice Cooper. While Iām no longer religious, I have a doctorate in religious studies and I still have a fascination with media that cause fear. I also write horror stories. Beyond Holy Horror I have written two more books on religion and horror and I read every book about this odd combination as soon as I can get my hands on it. I believe you should never judge people by their tastes in mediaāthey can be decent folk even if they like horror.
Steve's book list on bringing horror and religion into conversation
Why did Steve love this book?
Thinking of this book still leaves me with a warm, fuzzy feeling. I canāt say precisely why, but this book by a Jesuit monk discussing horror struck me as intelligent and deeply personal.
Conversant with many kinds of scary stories associated with religion, this is the most academic book on my list. The fact that Edward Ingebretsen discusses Stephen King really gives readers something to think about. This isnāt the only book to discuss Stephen King and religionāDouglas Cowan also wrote a book about thisābut it does so in a way that brings some āaha momentsā to your reading.
2 authors picked Maps of Heaven, Maps of Hell as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
From its beginnings in Puritan sermonising to its prominent place in contemporary genre film and fiction, this book traces the use of terror in the American popular imagination. Entering American culture partly by way of religious sanction, it remains an important heart and mind shaping tool.