Gods and Rollercoasters

This worldwide study examines how religion gets into theme parks - as mission, as an aspect of culture, as fable, and by chance. Gods and Rollercoasters analyses religion in theme parks, looking at how it relates to modernism, popular culture, right-wing politics, nationalism, and the rise of the global middle class. Crispin Paine argues that religion has discovered a major new means of expression through theme parks. From the reconstruction of Biblical Jerusalem at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, through the world of Chinese mythology at Haw Par Villa in Singapore, to the great temple/theme park Akshardham in New Delhi, this book shows how people are encountering and experiencing religion in the context of fun, thrills and leisure time. Drawing on examples from six of the seven continents, and exploring religious traditions including Christianity, Daoism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, Gods and Rollercoasters provides a significant contribution to the study of religion, sociology, anthropology, and popular culture.

Crispin Paine is an editor of Material Religion: the Journal of Objects, Art and Religion.

List of figures Preface Acknowledgements 1 Introduction 2 Seven Religion Parks 3 Nostalgia, Religion and Politics 4 The Motive for Religion in Theme Parks 5 Religion and Escape to the Exotic 6 Theme Parks as Sacred Places 7 Authenticity, Heritage and Religion 8 Some Theme Park Themes 9 Religion and the Imagineers' Pallet 10 The Religion Park Business Conclusion: The Visitors Notes Bibliography Index