Maybe you have seen the board games. Christianity has
Vatican: The Board Game
;
Journeys of Paul
,
Armor of God
and
Divinity
(the only game to have the imprimatur of the Catholic Church). Islam and Judaism have
Race to the Kabah, Mecca to Medina
Exodus
, and
Kosherland
. Buddhism has
Karma Chakra
BuddhaWheel
. And then there are the dolls—plush and plastic talking Bible dolls, Christian action figures, and talking Muslim dolls that teach Arabic.
Have we humans blended fun with spirituality for good or for ill? And what does all of this say about our insatiable need for fun?
Written with verve and a healthy dollop of humor,
Toying with God
examines the sometimes zany world of religious games and dolls, from pre-history to today. Packed with examples that propel the narrative (and add immeasurably to readers' knowledge of religious trivia), this is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of popular culture and spirituality.