I'm quoted in an article in yesterday's Orlando Sentinel about the rise of alternative Halloween celebrations among evangelical Christians. (Interestingly, Mark Pinsky cut out the really 
controversial thing I said, which is that these "fall harvest festivals" are completely and delightfully pagan. Everything comes full circle, doesn't it? All Hallow's Eve meets Oktoberfest.)
Speaking of Mark Pinsky, if you haven't yet read his new book A Jew Among 
the Evangelicals, be sure to pick up a copy. Amidst all of the snarky books out this election season about American evangelicals, his stands out for its respectful tone and determination to view evangelicalism as a diverse, complex religious movement. It can also be really funny, despite the somber and dull cover. (Don't judge the book by its cover.)
And also on the topic of Mark's books . . . those of you who are fans of The Simpsons will be 
happy to hear that his book The Gospel According to the Simpsons is getting a second edition in the spring, with lots of new material and an afterword that traces how Groening's treatment of religion has influenced other animated shows like South Park and The Family Guy. The second edition is timed to coincide with the 400th episode of the series (400! Impossible) and the new Simpsons feature film that comes out next July. (You can try to get info at foxmovies.com, but the movie link doesn't seem to be working. Homer must have crashed the power plant again.)
Halloween
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