The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture began its life in 2002 not as a loud manifesto but as a quiet academic experiment. At a time when religious studies were often confined to ancient texts or theological dogma, a small group of scholars decided to look at the world around them. They asked a question that seemed radical to some: what does the average person actually believe when they are not in a church, mosque, or synagogue? The answer lay in the movies they watched, the music they listened to, and the television shows they binged. This journal was the first to systematically map that terrain, creating a space where the sacred and the profane could meet on equal footing. It was established to bridge the gap between high theology and the low culture of the everyday, proving that a superhero movie could be just as spiritually significant as a sermon.
The Editors Who Listen
The direction of the journal has been steered by two distinct voices who bring different academic backgrounds to the table. Jennifer E. Porter, an associate professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, brings a focus on the intersection of gender, media, and spirituality. Her work often explores how women navigate religious spaces within popular culture, revealing the hidden power dynamics in everything from reality television to fan fiction. Working alongside her is David Feltmate, an associate professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, who brings a deep understanding of the American South and its unique relationship with faith and media. Together, they curate a triannual publication that feels less like a dry academic ledger and more like a cultural conversation. Their editorial choices ensure that the journal does not merely describe religious phenomena but actively interprets how they shape human identity in the modern age.The Index of Ideas
For a journal to have impact, it must be found by those who need it, and the Journal of Religion and Popular Culture has ensured its presence in the most critical databases of the modern world. It is abstracted and indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, a cornerstone for theological research, ensuring that its findings reach traditional religious scholars who might otherwise ignore pop culture. The journal also appears in the EBSCO databases and ProQuest databases, making it accessible to students and researchers across the globe who are looking for interdisciplinary studies. Its inclusion in the MLA International Bibliography signals to literary scholars that the text is a valid object of study, while its presence in Scopus guarantees visibility within the broader scientific community. This widespread indexing allows the journal to function as a hub, connecting theologians, media critics, and sociologists in a shared digital space.