News
Peter Gardella publishes new book
American Angels explores nation's fascination
10.31.2007
Peter Gardella, Professor of World Religions at Manhattanville College, recently had his third book, American Angels, published. “I’m excited,” says Gardella, who likens publishing a book to giving birth.
Gardella, who has been teaching at Manhattanville since 1983, explains how the book found him. “The University of Kansas press was looking for somebody, a religious studies scholar, who would do a book on American angels because they’ve been so important in our culture.” In American Angels, he explores the history of angels in America, from Spanish Colonialism and Puritan sermons to the modern angel craze.
The book starts with Care Bears, ends with superheroes and even mentions the War on Terror. “Care Bears are angels,” Gardella stresses. “That’s in the first chapter. Superman is an angel. He appears to people the way a guardian angel does.”
The 320 page study argues that angels are becoming more physical, more familiar, and more multicultural than ever before. Perceived as servants of man rather than agents of God, this view of angels has helped codify our sense of national uniqueness and righteousness.
You can find the book, American Angels, on Amazon or in a bookstore near you. Gardella currently teaches the Preceptorial, the survey course on World Religions and a seminar on The End of the World at Manhattanville.