A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles M. Schulz (Great Comics Artists Series) - Softcover

Stephen J. Lind (author)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1496814673 ISBN 13: 9781496814678

Publisher: University Press of Mississippi, 2017

Synopsis

The first spiritual biography of a misunderstood believer, the renowned creator of Peanuts. Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip franchise, the most successful of all time, forever changed the industry. For more than half a century, the endearing, witty insights brought to life by Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and Lucy have caused newspaper readers and television viewers across the globe to laugh, sigh, gasp, and ponder. A Charlie Brown Religion explores one of the most provocative topics Schulz broached in his heartwarming work - religion.

About this title

Review:

"It's been a big year for Charlie Brown and the rest of the cast of the beloved cartoon strip Peanuts.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the comic strip with a new Peanuts movie coming out Nov. 6. That very same week, a book called A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles M. Schulz is also set to release.

Author Stephen J. Lind focuses on one of the most intriguing topics Charles Schulz approached in his work: religion.

'The book is an opportunity to explore just what was Charles Schulz's faith like and just how often did he put it in Peanuts, and how did he get away with it?' Lind said.

Schulz has been labeled as both an atheist and a fundamentalist, but Lind said Schulz really was neither.

'He had a really deep personal faith, but one of the things that I've really enjoyed doing in the book is working through what are the complexities of this very personal studied believer?' Lind said."

--CBNNews.com

"I don't think anyone has written about my dad and truly captured the essence of his character as completely and thoroughly as Stephen Lind has in this book. His research is commendable and his ability to stay away from 'judgment' and just present the facts in an engaging and sensitive way allowed who my dad was to shine through with brilliance."

--Meredith Schulz Hodges, daughter of Charles M. Schulz

"Throughout my entire life, I have seen my dad's faith in action. I love that the world will now have a book testifying of Dad's interest in the life of Jesus Christ. Stephen Lind's book, A Charlie Brown Religion, will lead you through Dad's life of faith and love for the Scriptures. Who is Jesus to Charles M. Schulz? After reading this book, you will know."

--Amy Schulz Johnson, daughter of Charles M. Schulz

"Schulz's views on religion, the manner in which religion functions within the strip itself, and Schulz's widely publicized crisis of faith are important and widely discussed topics that deserve exactly the sort of serious and well-informed treatment found in this book. Schulz is one of the most important American comics creators, but surprisingly little has been written on him. This is an impressive and welcome contribution to comics studies and in particular to the study of Charles M. Schulz and his beloved Peanuts. The book is very well researched, and it clears up numerous confusions with respect to Schulz's religious views and how they interacted with his important artistic work."

--Roy T. Cook, professor of philosophy at University of Minnesota

About the Author:

Stephen J. Lind, Lexington, Virginia, is an assistant professor of business communication at Washington and Lee University. His work has appeared in scholarly journals such as ImageTexT, Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, and Journal of Communication and Religion.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1496814673
• ISBN 13: 9781496814678
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 308