Holy Hills of the Ozarks: Religion and Tourism in Branson, Missouri

Description

“Confronts readers with the implications of a popular tourist destination founded on the values and sentiments of American evangelical Protestantism.” —Thomas S. Bremer, Journal of the American Academy of Religion Over the past century, Branson, Missouri, has attracted tens of millions of tourists. Nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, it offers a rare and refreshing combination of natural beauty and family-friendly recreation—from scenic lakes and rolling hills to theme parks and variety shows. It has boasted of big-name celebrities, like Wayne Newton, Andy Williams, and Petula Clark, as well as family entertainers like Mickey Gilley, the Shanghai Magic Troupe, Jim Stafford, and Yakov Smirnoff. But there is more to Branson’s fame than just recreation. As Aaron K. Ketchell discovers, a popular variant of Christianity underscores all Branson’s tourist attractions and fortifies every consumer success. In this lively and engaging study, Ketchell explores Branson’s unique blend of religion and recreation. He explains how the city became a mecca of conservative Christianity—a place for a “spiritual vacation”—and how, through conscious effort, its residents and businesses continuously reinforce its inextricable connection with the divine. Ketchell combines the study of lived religion, popular culture, evangelicalism, and contemporary American history to present an accurate and honest account of a distinctly American phenomenon. “As Ketchell brilliantly argues, Branson entrepreneurs wove Christian sentiment ‘into a fabric of nostalgia, premodern longing, and whitewashed rusticity.’” —Matthew Avery Sutton, The Christian Century “At a time when Jim Wallis and other observers have forecast the end of the prominence of right-wing-religion on the U.S. political stage, this book will cause many readers to question that prediction.” —David Stricklin, The Journal of Southern History

Get the book

Amazon.com

Search the book

eBay.com

Search the book

Other editions

• 

  Holy Hills of the Ozarks: Religion and Tourism in Branson,...

  • 2007-09-20
  • 300 pages
  • Paperback
  • JHU Press

Similar books

• 

  An American Carpenter's Story: One baby boomers life changing spiritual journey

  By William Darroch

  After just a year or so, my father saw several lots for sale in the small village of Timberlake, Ohio, just thirty minutes from Cleveland.

• 

  Fear of the Other: No Fear in Love

  By Bishop William H. Willimon

  “Barack Obama,” “Hillary Clinton,” “Britney Spears,” and “Justin Timberlake” found their places somewhat to the left of the really, really good “Teresa” and ...

• 

  Running With The Horses: Living The Gospel

  By William Mitchell

  ... Gregory Pritchard, Robert Clarke and Donald Wester of philosophy; from the religion faculty, James Timberlake, Rowena Strickland, Dan Holcomb, ...

• 

  Darkness is as Light

  By EDITH ADHIAMBO, ANDREA BAILEY, CHRISTINA BAKER

  walked over the frost-brittled grass, my long skirt swishing it dryly. I'd come to weep below the willows, to let the sound of the stream carry my lament ...

• 

  Women in New Religions

  By Laura Vance

  Frost, Gavin, and Yvonne Frost. The Good Witch's Bible. 7th ed. ... Gordon, Lynn D., ed. Gender and Higher Education in the Progressive Era.

• 

  The Making of a Mature Disciple

  By Kenneth S. Todd

  Kenneth S. Todd. Reasons. to. Obey. God. Let's discuss four reasons why we should obey God. The first two deal with how we personally deal with God.

• 

  Being God's Man by Pursuing Friendships

  By Stephen Arterburn, Kenneth L. Luck, Todd Wendorff

  God's word is clear about the importance of godly friendships. This edition shows men how valuable those friendships are to spiritual growth.

• 

  English Ministry Crisis in Chinese Canadian Churches: Towards the Retention of English-Speaking Adults from Chinese Canadian Churches through Associated Parallel...

  By Matthew Richard Sheldon Todd

  In 2011, Thom S. Rainer published some research project results in a volume ... projecting the top challenging issue they deal with in bicultural settings ...

• 

  Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-Profit

  By John Pearson

  " Based on Pearson's 48-hour Management Buckets Workshop Experience, Mastering the Management Buckets offers detailed implementation tools, including 99 practical takeaways that a leader could implement immediately, plus nine management ...

• 

  Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-Profit

  By John Pearson

  " Based on Pearson's 48-hour Management Buckets Workshop Experience, Mastering the Management Buckets offers detailed implementation tools, including 99 practical takeaways that a leader could implement immediately, plus nine management ...