Elvis Presley was christian, and became bit interfaith over his life - wearing the Star of David, the Egyptian symbol of life and embraced spirituality - many of these symbols appear on his gravestone. he was quoted as saying he did not want to miss out on heaven for a technicality.
note: I am an atheist....
in 2007 I met Joe Esposito & Jerry Schilling at an Elvis convention in Cloverdale BC Canada.
I had just read a sci fi book, Armageddon the Musical
In which Earth was a tv show for aliens, and there had been a nuclear war resulting in bad ratings.
the aliens decide to go back in time to delay that war, by convincing Elvis to run for president. Instead, he is brought into the future earth, where he has become a religion,
so after the Elvis convention Q&A i asked Joe if he thought Elvis would be a religion in the future... I asked more anthropologically
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49613.Armageddon
But Joe reacted to the question instantly. He screamed at me.. like red and then purple in the face screamed at me, lost his voice then waved Jerry over to keep screaming at me....
more detailed version here:
https://ourdailyelvis.wordpress.com/201 ... his-mafia/
the event gave me a lot of insight into the Memphis Mafia group dynamics...and how dedicated they were to Elvis
now, the case for elvis being the basis of a religion:
I think that we are seeing a new religion emerging. Elvisism, Elvites, Presletarianism – something based around Elvis Presley.
The reason that I believe this is the many religious aspects of the Elvis story.
born in humble circumstances and poverty, risen to the top of society and dramatically changed it.
sole survivor of a twin birth that his father later claimed to recalling a strange light in the sky on the night of his birth
escaped death again at age 5 from a tornado that ripped through Tupelo.
He lived in Memphis along a mighty river and became known as The King, giving Pharaoh associations.
He recorded his first music on Sun Records – and most religions have sun gods, gods of light
He ushered in a great cultural change – broke racial barriers while heightening the generational gap and put overt sex at the cultural forefront
His personal image was one of racial tolerance, generosity/charity
The kisses, scarves and other items given out to the crowds during concerts is like having a blessing bestowed upon you
He was surrounded by a core group of disciples (Memphis Mafia) who have split into camps and written conflicting books after Elvis’ death
there are stories of him having visions, laying on hands healing,
there’s been after death sightings of him in person, or just his image appearing as people see Jesus, Virgin Mary, and other religious figures in wood grain or mineral patterns, or on toasted bread products….
Elvis’ image is reproduced in religious type paintings
Impersonators or Tribute Artists are priests – even having special garments – Elvis’ stage wear and movie costumes.
people make pilgrimages to Graceland – especially for the winter holiday (Jan 8) and the end of summer (Aug 16) holidays – which is already a weeklong festival
The annual candlelight vigil are exhibiting a form of worship and ritual. As is the annual lighting of the Graceland holiday lights.
people have special areas in their homes of their Elvis collections, serving as altar areas or even rooms in their homes which act as temples.
what other religious elements do you see in the Elvis story, that future generations will reinterpret?
https://dykewriter.wordpress.com/2015/0 ... eytarians/
books that consider the religion of and about elvis question
At one end, the claim that Elvis is the actual offspring representative of a deity (not the Abrahamic one) and Elvis as proof of no supernatural deities at the other.
Elvis’ religion to Elvis as religion – spawning so many imitators and innovators
I remember reading that in the USA in one tax year. there were 85,000 people who’s sole or main income was Elvis Impersonating.
Sam Harris on belief:
"If you wake up tomorrow morning thinking that saying a few Latin words over your pancakes is going to turn them into the body of Elvis Presley, you have lost your mind. But if you think the same thing about a cracker and the body of Jesus, you're just a Catholic".
The above quote from the below video which is from a debate between Harris and William Lane Craig at the University of Notre Dame. The motion of the debate was in regards to Craig's idea of Divine Command Theory.