Theology and Semiotics of Contemporary Rock Music: Semiotic Analysis of the Themes of Awakening in Selected Songs of the Contemporary Music Group Creed

The rock band Creed has been a popular culture icon that treads the fine line of popular music and religion in subtle manners. Yet the religious overtones contained in a number of their songs are hard to ignore which then leads to the question on the relevance and authenticity of their religious message against a theological backdrop. This book highlights the analysis of three of their songs through the semiotics of Roland Barthes in its relevance to John Wesley?s theology of Awakening. It is found out that some meaningful and relevant theological implications could be derived from a wider focus on the song as a whole artistic production and not from a mere isolation of lyrics for critical literary analysis. Music practitioners, educators, students and church workers that delve into the realm of popular music in worship would find this book enlightening in its presentation of a unique perspective towards rock music with religious implications.