Finding Religion Across America

(CBS)  Photographer Sam Fentress always keeps his eyes on the road — actually the side of the road, looking for a particular slice of Americana: Those ubiquitous roadside tributes and testimonials to Jesus.

"It's more prevalent in the South and Midwest, I think," Fentress told CBS News correspondent Jerry Bowen on Sunday Morning. "It's more prevalent in inner cities than in suburbs. When you find the upscale malls, this stuff is usually not around. I haven't found [any] in Beverly Hills here."

We brought Fentress back to Los Angeles to South Central where years ago the "Shout" sign at a now-abandoned storefront church grabbed his attention. North of Cincinnati, it was a quarter horse atop a silo, and in the Washington D.C. suburbs, a beauty shop.

Fentress has been traveling across the United States in search of religious signs for a quarter of a century. He's taken thousands of photographs from along the highways, inner cities and American farmland.

His project has culminated in "Bible Road: Signs of Faith in the American Landscape," a book of his photography.

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Photos: "Bible Road: Signs of Faith in the American Landscape"

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Some are simple messages on cinder block. Others fuse folk art and faith. For example, he took one photo of Jesus knocking on a door in the shape of a heart.

"It was in a small town called Fertile, Mo. I went up and talked to the lady who had put it up and she said that she did it so that if somebody was coming around the curb on that country road on a Saturday night and they were drunk, they might look at that sign and think, 'What, what's what? I, I maybe oughta change my life.'"

He received his bachelor's degree from Princeton and his M.F.A. from the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1979, he was awarded an Emerging Artist Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. A Detroit native, he was a lapsed Methodist who found religion. As he traveled America photographing architecture (his real job), he developed a passion for these roadside/street side testimonials. While he rarely met the people behind the messages, he thinks of them as rebels with a cause.

"I think a lot of the pictures are perhaps making up in the public landscape for what they might not be hearing from the pulpit, perhaps," Fentress said. "I think that there's a certain, 'I'm gonna take this into my own hands' aspect for some of the people who put these messages out there."

And the message is in the eye of the beholder — a slice of America at 60 miles an hour, or perhaps something far deeper.

[bmsbms29]

I am sorry for those who say they do not believe in God and I pray that your eyes of understanding will be opened to the Truth and the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.

I think the Christian signs are nice and they do reach a lot of people - often the 'unreachable'

So if just 1 person a year accepts Jesus Christ as their Personal Saviour because of one or more of these signs -

then I have thankful they are there & I am thankful that God has led these people to put out these Christian signs.

[bsrooney]

We should be sensitive to religious beliefs. Please tell stop Nancy Pelosi to stop going to Islamic countries with her obviously enlarged breasts protruding out at Islamic leaders- men that have their women covered in Burkas as part of their religious beliefs. It is dangerous to flaunt the large breast values of San Francisco to people that want to kill us for what they consider lack of moral values such as empahsized in California and some other States.

[feelfree1]

*******!!!

It's stinkingprick/arse008 as far as the eye can see, on this thread!

[tuckerndfw]

Rick,

In other words, you are claiming you are not ignorant?

We can add "arrogant" and/or "delusional" to the list of things you have demonstrated yourself to be.

And, having said that, I am not interested in your proselytizing, so I'll leave you to your preaching.

Perhaps you can convince some half-wit you speak for a God that only exists in your own mind.

[tuckerndfw]

The reason you are an athiest is because (God does not exist in fact)


Posted by singinrick at 06:51 PM : Apr 08, 2007

I have posted the comment about my grandfather exactly twice. And, both times in response to your comments.

My own beliefs are irrelevant to the fact that God (supernatural Supreme Being) does not exist in fact.

Or, that the bible is a nonsensical book of mythology.

Your beliefs or faith will not alter those facts.

If having faith in a mythological superhero makes the person a better person, that is a good thing and something I support.

But, it appears it does you little or no good.

[tuckerndfw]

Rick,

My grandfather was a Baptist preacher and I regularly attended Christian churches for over thirty years.

I am far more knowledge about the bible, history, Christianity and other related subjects than you.

I say that because you have demonstrated your gross ignorance of those topics.

Presumably, based on your comments, "having Jesus in your heart" (or other bumper sticker slogans) is a substitute for education or genuine, fact based knowledge.

And, I am an atheist because I did study the related issues and came to that conclusion based on the recorded facts (while dismissing the fairy tales and myths).

It is literally a fact that no "God" (Supreme Being of the supernatural kind) exists in fact. And no amount of "belief" or "faith" will alter that fact.

[tuckerndfw]

Rick,

You are finally on topic with the headline story.

But, you are still ignorant.

I do believe it was you who claimed that Jesus "willingly offered his life" as a sacrifice for "sin."

"Willingly offering your life" can be summed up in one word: "suicide."

That's why they call military missions with the chance of a high casualty rate "suicide missions."

According to the vast majority of Christian cults, Jesus (God) committed suicide.

An idea that is ridiculous on the face of it. And, if was true, would mean that God "sinned" and by that act was an unworthy "sacrifice" for "sin."

The bible is nonsense.

Stating you are ignorant is not an ad hominem attack ("insult"), it is a statement about your demonstrated lack of knowledge. Everyone, including me, is ignorant about something, most of us, including me, many things.

But, you are ignorant about topics on which you attempt to pontificate, including religion.

[tuckerndfw]

Rick,

Easter is based on Passover.

Passover is a celebration of the wholesale slaughter of first born Egyptian males, human & animal.

Glossing it over as a story about some superhero committing suicide does not alter the fact that Easter is a celebration of the wanton slaughter of innocents.

It is a myth, but that does not alter the fact that anyone who celebrates Easter or Passover is literally rejoicing in the slaughter of innocents.

An event unworthy of recognition as a "holiday" or reason to celebrate.

I prefer the pagan version that celebrates fertility. Seems far more civilized than celebrating wholesale slaughter of innocents.

[tuckerndfw]

What a pointless story and discussion.

Why don't we discuss who is the greater superhero?

If myths and fairy tales (the bible) are going to be discussed as if they were factual, why exclude Batman & Superman? (or any other comic book superhero)

The subject of the headline story should find a more productive use of his time. He could spend the rest of his life in Texas if he is wanting to record all the religious signage.

[dickmullin]

I loved the story of the clever photographs of religious signs. We had a local one here in Maryland during the 1970s. Johnny's Chicken Restaurant had one of those "Do-it-Yourself" signs with removable letters to announce SPECIALS, but Johnny always kept "Jesus Saves" across the top of the sign. Then one week he posted the announcement : Buying Silver Coins underneath -- so the whole thing read as "Jesus saves Buying silver coins" Too bad you missed that one!