A Good Read: 'The Last TV Evangelist'

There's a new book out that may provide some of the most compelling reading in years for those who are interesting in spirituality, pop culture, and faith-based television.

"The Last TV Evangelist" is authored by Phil Cooke, a veteran producer who has appeared on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, and the Fox News Network. His work has been profiled in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal.

His 2008 book, "Branding Faith," has influenced the way many non-profit and religious organizations use the media to tell their story. He's lectured at Yale and UCLA. His Christian media influence has been extensive and he raises some compelling points in his book.

Mr. Cooke claims that "religious radio and TV has built massive networks, launched global organizations, and generated billions of dollars in donations," and that "it has allowed Christianity to reach more people in this century alone than the rest of history combined.

But he also claims that "sex and money scandals, political controversies, and the prosperity gospel have taken their toll on the perception of Christians in the culture."

I don't think those are revolutionary points, but I do think the prospect of notifying the mainstream media--and the public--of this obvious fact could be a breakthrough in terms of many peoples' perception of God as translated through media outlets.