The Gospel according to Twilight: Women, Sex, and God

by Elaine A. Heath

Overview

The Twilight saga has become one of the most successful fiction series ever written, with more than one hundred million copies in print and several blockbuster films. Despite the tremendous commercial success Twilight has generated, few readers have analyzed its theological teachings or the messages Stephenie Meyer might be sending to women and teenage girls. This book offers both a feminist critique of Twilight and a theological review of the stories' ideas about salvation, heaven and hell, power, reconciliation, resurrection, and organized religion.

Elaine Heath writes in an accessible voice, calling attention to both the "good news" of Twilight's theology and the "bad news" of its gender stereotypes and depictions of violence against women.

The book includes questions for youth and adult groups or for classroom discussions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664236786
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	09/12/2011
Series:	The Gospel according to...
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Elaine A. Heath is Associate Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is the author of We Were the Least of These: Reading the Bible with Survivors of Sexual Abuse and The Mystic Way of Evangelism: A Contemplative Vision for Christian Outreach. An active participant in Emergent Village and the emerging church conversation, she is the cofounder of New Day, a new monastic community in Dallas, Texas. She is an ordained Methodist minister.

Editorial Reviews

"Heath's The Gospel according to Twilight is riveting. Her conversational style will draw fans who are dying for intelligent discussion of this beloved series, and newcomers hoping for an astute yet accessible overview of the major questions about gender and theology relevant to Twilight." Donna Freitas, author of Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance, and Religion on America's College Campuses

"Twilight is so popular because it gets at deep questions about what it means to be female. Join Heath for a fascinating conversation about vampires and the pressing questions of feminist theology!" Beth Felker Jones, Wheaton College, and author of Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga

"Heath, a theologian, evangelism professor, pastor, and self-described 'lover of good stories,' does the Twilight saga justice at the same time that she critiques its glamorization of gender stereotypes with their potential for violence and abuse. To top it all off, Heath writes with an elegance and edge that make her book as much of a page turner as the series on which it is based." Alyce M. McKenzie, Perkins School of Theology

"Heath's balanced approach to theology and gender in the Twilight Saga is enlightening and highly readable. A must read for lovers of Twilight and for anyone who has wondered about the worldview underlying the stories." Susannah Clements, Regent University, and author of The Vampire Defanged: How the Embodiment of Evil Became a Romantic Hero

"Clearly, Heath has done her homework. Her weaving of gospel themes within the Twilight story itself is inspiring and gives further insight to both the books and to a contemporary understanding of the gospel itself. An engaging, creative read that is timely for those looking to connect their faith to popular culture." Ryan K. Bolger, Fuller Theological Seminary

"The paradoxical nature of the Twilight saga is helpfully explored in Elaine Heath's winsome addition to the best-selling 'Gospel according to…' series. Here is a good read for fans and inquirers alike." Robert K. Johnston, Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue

"Eager to understand the Twilight phenomenon? Heath offers a generous appreciation of its vision of a peaceable kingdom where vampires, werewolves, and humans cooperate. For Twi-hard fans, Elaine Heath also offers a constructive critique of the gender roles and violence looming beneath Twilight's shimmering surfaces. The Gospel according to Twilight is smart, accessible, and insightful." Craig Detweiler, Pepperdine University, and editor of Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God

From the Publisher