Remsberg, Rich. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2000. 263
+ xi pp. $55.00 US (HC). $34.95 US (PB). ISBN 0-252-02521-0 (HC);
0-252-06943-9 (PB).
[1] In Riders for God, documentary photographer Rich Remsberg
juxtaposes two extremes - the outlaw biker world with born-again,
spirit-filled Christianity. Just as different as night and day, Remsberg's
black and white photographs capture a prolific number of thematic
dualities exposed when these two worlds collide: good and evil, pure
and soiled, free and captured, peace and torment, worldly and eternal,
and addicted and clean. The attentive reader and astute observer follows
Remsberg's unearthing of a Christian motorcycle gang's story to gradually
discover that the biker ambit and born-again Christian realm are seemingly
compatible.
[2] Trained as a photojournalist, Remsberg admits before beginning
this project that he knew little about the biker world and even less
about religion. Nevertheless, his purpose of social documentary photography
melded the two into a fascinating illustration of religious conviction
and biker culture. The book's contents are divided into broad themes
- worship, the word, fellowship, the world, and redemption. Within
each of these divisions, Remsberg transcribes first-person motorcycle
gang member interviews to comprise the text for Riders for God,
thus connecting the reader with the photographs.
[3] The unlikely setting is southern Indiana where a former outlaw
biker, convict, and drug-addict turned born-again Christian founded
the outreach biker ministry called the Unchained Gang. The included
testimonies reveal personal stories of conviction and institutional-church
ties to the Ellettsville House of Prayer. Difficulty arises when the
reader attempts to place categorical labels on the members and movement,
because outlaw bikers, like born-again Christians, are people living
on the margins of society refusing to be part of the status quo. All
are rebels who challenge conventional standards. Yet, at the same
time, bikers and born-again Christians are very much a part of popular,
consumer culture. Violence, passion, love and hate are all human characteristics,
along with the need for adventure, money, and fulfillment. Broadly
speaking, the Unchained Gang and House of Prayer have been influenced
by Pentecostal, fundamentalist, spirit-led, and Jesus movement religiosity.
Avoiding religious community categories, members place more importance
on faith, evangelizing, and missionary work at prisons, jails, bike
rallies, and unconventional settings.
[4] The gripping narratives of people such as Pastor Larry, Chico,
Randy, Shalom, and Nancy reveal patterns of rage, drug-addiction,
abuse, self-worthlessness, sickness, base existence, eventual forgiveness,
redemption, and the necessity to remain "on fire" by demonstrating
an unshakeable faith in God. The vignettes shatter the stereotypes
of simple, uneducated bikers and inexperienced, emotional Christians.
Although the narratives are raw, confusing, and incongruous at times,
the exposed complexities of these individuals' lives, ideology, and
faith are demonstrative of the equally non-simplistic life they lead.
[5] Remsberg discreetly connects the voices in his book, but the
reader must raise supplementary significant questions and observations
in order contextualize the history, religion, and social milieux of
the stories. The reader is uncertain why Remsberg raises the questions
he does, except for his own curiosity and his desire to understand
the definitional meaning of spiritual rhetoric spoken by the interviewees.
It is not until the afterword by Colleen McDannell, material Christianity
specialist and professor of religious studies at the University of
Utah, that the Unchained Gang is situated within American religious
history. By so doing, McDannell is able to help outsider "better
understand the values, beliefs and practices of these Christians"
(256).
[6] Nonetheless, many of the psychological themes are left unexplained.
The reader becomes closely involved with interviewees' histories in
Vietnam, cases of sexual and physical abuse, and the psychology of
addiction. Given many of their records, non-Christian bikers' unscrupulous
behaviors are not excused, but are easy to explain. Each interviewee
must come to grips with a haunting past, the experience of forgiveness,
and a brighter future.
[7] Riders for God is not a sociological survey, religious
history, or congruent story. Instead, it is an entertaining read filled
with engaging individual narratives and intimate photographs from
which the reader must extrapolate interpretations, relationships,
and further questions. Riders for God is recommended for scholars
of religion, journalists, or anyone with a curiosity to ride the unpredictable
roads along with Remsberg into the inconspicuous world of Christian
motorcycle gangs.
Howell Williams, Florida State University
Hlw02c@fsu.edu
