Christian entertainment enters the mainstream
By Dahleen Glanton
Chicago Tribune

ORLANDO, Fla. — In a small theme park not far from the Magic Kingdom, Jesus is the star attraction.

Each afternoon at 4:30, barring heavy rain or lightning, an actor portraying Jesus stumbles along a path to the top of a makeshift mountain where Roman soldiers nail his tortured body to a cross. A chorus of professional singers tells the story of the Crucifixion as the audience watches in awe, tears flowing.

"I've always said we should have someone standing at the exit with a box of tissue," said Dan Hayden, executive director of the Holy Land Experience, an attraction that draws more than 200,000 people a year, mostly Christians who want a trip back in time to biblical days.

The theme park — providing a daylong dose of sermons, music and theatrics designed to reinforce evangelical teachings — is one of the most obvious signals that Christian entertainment has entered the mainstream. the rest