A Bunch Of Cults: New Pop Religions

I found this (see below). Which made me wonder, have any pop movements or figures in music become a religion...besides Elvis? If so, please name and frame/shame. If not, which current artists would lend themselves to a new common belief system or seem redolent of an old one? Have fun!

> > You've all seen the "W.W.J.D." bracelets and T-shirts that remind > > teens and adults alike about a good rule of thumb for living a holy > > life -- it reminds them to always ask the question, "What Would > > Journey Do?". Many, however, ask themselves these questions: Does > > Journey know about my battles with the enemy of my soul? Do they > > under- stand the fierce temptations that challenge me? Do they have > > any clue what I am going through?the sorrow, the sadness, the > > depression that overflow my cup? I've been betrayed by a friend, a > > lover, someone very dear? Does Journey understand? > > > > I am here today to tell you that Journey DOES understand. Because, my > > friend, Journey has been there before. > > > > SITUATION ONE: > > > > Gregg and Heather have a picture-perfect marriage. The two are young > > and wildly successful?Heather is a bank-credit analyst, Gregg a top > > loafer salesman at a department store. But Heather's job requires her > > to work long hours, and Gregg often feels neglected. If she really > > loves me, he wonders, why is she away from home so much? > > > > It's the quintessential modern struggle: a two-income family, > > overworked, always pressed for time. You may wonder how Journey, who > > walked the Earth so long ago, could relate to a problem like this. > > But did you know that Journey faced precisely this same dilemma > > nearly twenty years ago? > > > > In Frontiers 5, 0:48, they tell the story of a musician, always on > > the road, and the woman he's left behind: "They say that the road > > ain't no place to start a family. But right down the line, it's been > > you and me. And lovin' a music man ain't always what it's supposed to > > be. Oh girl, you stand by me. I'm forever yours, faithfully." > > Faithfully. It's clear that Journey intends a double meaning to this > > term: faithfulness to the absent spouse, yes, but also faith in > > Journey and their power to heal broken relationships. > > > > Devotional meditation: How secure is my faith in Journey? When is it > > strong? When does it falter? > > > > SITUATION TWO: > > > > Alice loves her boyfriend, Sam, deeply. They've shared long > > conversations, walks on the beach, romantic dinners by candlelight. > > But now Sam is pressuring her to have sexual relations with him, and > > Alice doesn't know what to do. She doesn't feel comfortable having > > sex before marriage, and someone has told her that Journey thinks > > it's wrong. > > > > At many points in the Albums, Journey speaks out strenuously on this > > subject. And their message is always the same: "Any way you want it > > that's the way you need it." False prophets who tell you otherwise > > are leading you astray. Do not pay them heed. The most striking > > passage on the topic comes from Departure 1, 0:50: "I was alone?I > > never knew?what good love could do. Then we touched, and we sang, > > about the lovin' things! All night, all night, oh, every nightl'' > > > > Devotional meditation: Do I love to move? Do I love to groove? Do I > > love the lovin' things? > > > > SITUATION THREE: > > > > Martin has reached the end of his rope. His happy marriage, his > > beautiful family, his thriving bakery? None of it means anything to > > him. At night he finds himself awake, alone, wondering: if all life > > ends in death, then what's the point of going on with it? > > > > Journey was no stranger to existential hunger. Escape 1, 2:02, > > perhaps captures this hunger best of all: "Workin' hard to get my > > fill, everybody wants a thrill. Payin' anything to roll the dice, > > just one more time. Some will win, some will lose, some were born to > > sing the blues. Oh, the movie never ends: it goes on, and on, and on, > > and on." > > > > In the face of such sorrow and hopelessness, does Journey go on to > > say that we should give up the fight? NO! Instead, we are told to not > > stop believing. To hold on to that feeling. May the streetlight > > person in each of us have the courage to listen. > > > > Devotional meditation: Have I ever stopped believing? In life, in > > love, in Journey? When weighed down by the cares of the world, have I > > let go of that feeling? Have I taken a midnight train going anywhere? > > > > >