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- ISBN 0-06-066724-9 >$11.95 Richard Quebedeaux, well known as a keen observer of the trends in American religion, has now written a probing, 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 st.ructures 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 instruct the masses of religious people? • Why do celebrities appear to be the new spiritual leaders in America? Popular religion in America is strongly in fluenced by the mass media, which confirm and strengthen the values the viewing, listen ing, 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 <;utting-edge work examines the nature of true religious authority, the decline of respect for rationally ordered authority, and the present "reign of super ficiality" 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 arisen, in order to get at the real significance of "popular religion." (continued on back flap) 11114981 (continued from front flap) Quebedeaux concludes with a vigorous counterproposal to recover biblically accurate, honest, reliable religious authority in the world today. By What Authority is a breakthrough book of sweeping implication; it is must reading for everyone concerned with one of the most sig nificant-yet least understood-cultural phe nomena in America today. Richard Quebedeaux holds degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles, Harvard Divinity School, and Oxford Univer sity. He is a well-known lecturer, ecumenical consultant, and the author of The Young Evangelicals, The New Charismatics, and The Worldly Evangelicals. Jacket design by Pat Yoehl By What Authority BY THE SAME AUTHOR The Young Evangelicals (1974) The New Charisma tics (1976) The Worldly Evangelicals (1978) I Found It! (1979) By What Authority The Rise of Personality Cults in American Christianity * RICHARD QUEBEDEAUX � 1817 Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco Cambridge, Hagerstown, New York, Philadelphia London , Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Sydney BY WHAT AUTHORITY: The Rise of Personality Cults in American Christianity. Copyright © 1 982 by Richard Quebedeaux. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America . No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. , 10 East 5 3 rd Street, New York, NY 1 0022. Published simultaneously in Canada by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Limited, Toronto. FIRST EDITION Designer: Jim Mennick Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Quebedeaux, Richard. B Y WHAT AUTHORITY. Bibliography: p. 1 92 Includes index. 1 . United States-Church history-2oth century. 2. Authority ( Religion). 3· Mass media in religion-United States. 4· Fame-Moral and religious aspects. 5· Christian sects-United States. I. Title. 8 1 -4743 1 262'. 8 B R526 . Q4 1 98 1 AACR2 ISBN o-o6-o66724-9 82 83 84 8 5 86 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 For Mike Mickler and Andy Wilson. Contents PREFACE l Xl Popular Religion in America Part One: The Rise of the Religious Personality Cult 2 3 4 Celebrity Leaders in the History of American Christianity: 1 86 5- 1 960 Celebrity Leaders in the History of American Christianity: 1 96o--Present New Christian Values 1 9 45 76 Part Two: Authority in Modern American Religion 5 6 7 The Nature of Religious Authority and How It Works The Decline of Authority in the West The Problem of "Homelessness" and Its Solution NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX 103 1 3 8 1 56 1 87 1 92 1 97