American Televangelism and Participatory Cultures

Denis J. Bekkering received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Waterloo. He has previously published work in Culture and Religion, Studies in Religion, and the Journal of Religion and Popular Culture.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. Robert Tilton, Ironic Fans, and Fake Religions.- 3. A Fan Club, a Fart Tape, and a Tabloid Scandal.- 4. From the Margins to the Mainstream: Recreational Christianity and a Viral Rebranding.- 5. Tammy Faye Bakker, Campy Fandom, and Ludicrous Tragedy.- 6. The Eyes of Tammy Faye and a Complicated Rebranding.- 7. Conclusion.

“Denis J. Bekkering’s American Televangelism & Participatory Cultures is a solid addition to religion and popular culture studies. … Religion and popular culture scholars can find value in Bekkering’s methodologies, his use of the Internet and YouTube as an archive for starting research, and his concept of recreational Christianity as an interpretive framework.” (David Feltmate, Reading Religion, January 28, 2020)