DOC Gray Sabbath: Jesus People USA; the Evangelical Left; and the Evolution of Christian Rock by Shawn Young in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Customerawesome...great service and fast shipping. this author is fantastic!!!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Highly recommended for anyone who lived through the Jesus Movement or wonders what it was like.By Jill StevensIf you were part of the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 70s or were aware of it; then you’re probably familiar with Chicago’s Jesus People USA or JPUSA. They were one of the first Christian communities borne out of that movement and they are still in existence today.The wisely titled GRAY SABBATH (or the aging of those who were part of the Jesus Movement) takes an in-depth look at JPUSA and their Cornerstone music and arts festival; the evangelical left; and the evolution of Christian rock. This is an exhaustive; scholarly work that doesn’t skip lightly over the time period. It digs deep and analyzes what it finds and includes some rare and terrific photographs.Through extensive interviews; we learn that life in a community as large as JPUSA is “like being married to 500 people” and if you wanted to date or marry someone; you “must seek permission from family heads.” The rigorous checks and balances were put in place because there was no real road map for the community leaders to follow. “It wasn't as though there were plenty of people to ask. Christian community among evangelicals is almost unheard of; and was even more so in the mid-seventies.”For those who chose to live at JPUSA; “the understanding was that you would stay there for the rest of your life. That wasn’t always preached in so many words; but it was clearly the subtext. And to leave was to break your commitment to your brothers and sisters; like a giant divorce.”GRAY SABBATH doesn’t just peek behind the curtain of JPUSA; it yanks down the drapes so we see for ourselves what daily life is like for the men; women and children who inhabit the Friendly Towers.Some of the founding members still remain in the community; others have left and no longer consider themselves Christians; while some have left yet remain in contact with their former family. It was interesting and surprising to learn that only fifteen percent of those raised in JPUSA remain; and of all adult members; twenty-three percent have left the community over the years.The allegations of physical abuse; sexual assault; and excessive authoritarian control are all addressed in a balanced and well-documented manner.For those curious about the impact of the Cornerstone festival; Chapter 6: The Christian Woodstock; makes for a fascinating and informative read; and the author’s passion for music is clearly evident.The author writes; “Though powerful in content and scope; evangelical Christianity appears to walk with a limp” and GRAY SABBATH attempts to diagnose the cause for that injury. His honest and respectful examination of JPUSA and its use as a microcosm for the post-modern church makes for an excellent resource and is highly recommend to anyone who lived through the Jesus Movement or wonders what it was like.Gray Sabbath: Jesus People USA; the Evangelical Left; and the Evolution of Christian Rock1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I first heard Rez Band In the 1980s. From ...By MattI first heard Rez Band In the 1980s. From there I learned about and attended their annual music festival called Cornerstone. I also heard that the members of Rez Band lived in a commune called Jesus People USA (JPUSA). The nature of JPUSA and their commune was a mystery to me. Gray Sabbath opens the doors of JPUSA's fascinating way of life by tracing JPUSA's historical roots and providing an objective and honest view of both the benefits and the challenges of communal living. Gray Sabbath examines how JPUSA relates to it's home town of Chicago and to American culture in general. While most Christian communes that formed around the same time as JPUSA have disbanded; a number of factors unique to JPUSA has allowed it to survive to this day. Gray Sabbath examines those factors and looks ahead critically with the question of whether JPUSA can thrive into the future.