In this book, Berkley Center Senior Fellow Paul Elie examines how belief takes shape in unpredictable, often provocative ways. This book tells the story of a group of artists who, in the 1980s, used their work to explore questions of faith, meaning, and morality. During this period, both the Catholic Church under Pope John Paul II and American politics saw a renewed emphasis on traditional values. But the wider culture was torn over issues like sexuality, belief, and personal freedom. In the middle of these tensions, a number of musicians, writers, filmmakers, and artists—many of whom had religious upbringings—began creating work that touched on spiritual themes in new and sometimes controversial ways. The book was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in May 2025.
Opens in a new window