Christian Rock

The world of Christian rock is so big these days that if you're in it sometimes you can hardly see out, and if you don't know it, you don't know a big chunk of this country.

P.O.D., Newsboys, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay — these groups and a pile of others are selling more than jazz, classical and New Age genres combined. Their world is a parallel universe where the sound is the same but the love in the lyrics is all about Jesus, and hate goes to the Devil.

Andrew Beaujon is a Spin magazine music writer who spent a year in the Christian rock world and its widening spillover. He's back with his story.

Hear about the huge reach and culture of Christian rock.

Guests:

Andrew Beaujon, music writer and author of "Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside The Phenomenon of Christian Rock"

Randall Balmer, professor of religion at Barnard College, editor at large of Christianity Today, and author of the forthcoming book "Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America: An Evangelical's Lament"