Throughout the past two decades the Chicken Soup for the Soul series has taken the Nation by storm. It started as a compilation 101 feel-good stories and now has flourished into over 150 different books in 44 different languages. It gained success through word of mouth rather than through the media or celebrity endorsement. It especially gained a lot of notice and use throughout the American Christian community. I can remember on several occasions in Young Women’s or in Sunday school reading stories from Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul in order for our leaders to demonstrate to us what acts of kindness and charity are.
I feel that originally these stories and books were geared towards Christian faiths, especially because some of the first books published following the original were Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul and Christian Soup for the Christian Teen Soul. This perhaps could have been a marketing plan considering the majority of the first book’s audience was Christian or perhaps the stories only seemed “fit” for the predominant religion of the U.S. As I first thought of this book in regards to writing this blog, I automatically thought that it was a perfect example of how the U.S. is ignorant to other religions of the world, in that writing a book about morally uplifting stories and of acts of kindness could only apply and reach out to those of Christian faith. I was, in fact, wrong.
In looking at the official Chicken Soup for the Soul website, I found that these books have reached out to many different situations, race, and some other religions:
Just a few of the books within the series:
- Soup for the Jewish Soul
- Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul
- Chicken Soup for the African American Soul
- Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul
- Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawaii
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dog Lovers.
This list goes on and on with stories and situations that any one person could relate to. The series of books does not have very much variety for religions in that there is only Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul and Chicken Soup for the Catholic Soul (which really is not that diverse), but the messages are still the same of charity, love and kindness, which all seem to be underlying themes in every religion. It is the classic battle of Good vs. Evil and with the faith to have Good and God prevail.
And so, do these stories blend the line between different religions and faith through being morally uplifting? Do these books serve as a tool for unity? Is there any other example of outreach from one faith to another through literature?
Here is a video of one of the stories from the book (the video is a bit cheesy but it will make you feel good!):
While I think that Chicken Soup for the (Christen, teenage, Jewish, Dog Lover…) Soul is a good uplifting series I think that they may have made commercialization more important than the actual message that they are presenting. When the first book came out it was about helping people by sharing stories from individuals that one could relate to, now it is all about making money. On their website they are selling books, pet food, puzzle books, games, greeting cards, gift packs, calendars, clothing, scrollers, and bibles. There is a newsroom, online club, newsletter, invitations to join them on facebook and twitter. I think that the focus is no longer on helping people but more on making money.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that I still do think that this series can uplift those who are looking to have it be that way. It can bring people together and can create unity and friendship with individuals that you otherwise would not be able to relate to. I think that it is a good thing but I think that if the creators would bring the focus back to helping others it would be more successful.
I think that at the end this comes to show that we are in essence very similar. Though many religions disagree in doctrine and have different backgrounds, most of them have standards that praise good works and a good relationship with God. What is interesting is that so many times we tend to highlight the negative or different instead of looking at the positive and similar. If that is not the case the how is posible the same concept (book) has been aplied to so many different religious denominations
ReplyDeleteChicken Soup for the... Soul is indeed an uplifting book for any kind of person to read. I think it is a unity tool between people of different faiths because morals is one thing that all religions can agree upon. Like prayer, one of the few religious practices to be commonly accepted, morals is another commonly accepted aspect of religion. The specific moral may differ, but in general they are meant to create a better person. I think most religions can agree that they want their followers to improve themselves and become a better person.
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