In the 1970s, you couldn’t miss them — “I Love Jesus” bumper stickers, T-shirts and buttons were everywhere. Hastings College senior history major Emma Morelli explained why during a presentation at Academic Showcase in April.
Academic Showcase is a day when Hastings College students present research of their choosing to peers, faculty and community.
Her talk, “Getting Stoked on Jesus: The Commodification of the Jesus People Movement in the 1970s,” traced the movement’s rise and eventual fade. It started as an anti-materialistic lifestyle — much like the 1960s hippie movement — but with a focus on faith.
As the movement grew, underground Christian newspapers and bookstores began selling Jesus-themed merchandise. These “Jesus Freaks” used pins and posters to share their message, gaining so much traction that “Time” magazine featured the movement as a cover story.
Morelli, who is from Thornton, Colorado, and graduated in May, explained that the movement eventually slowed as members grew up. As they married and had children, the anti-materialistic lifestyle became harder to maintain. Internal divisions and the rise of fringe cults also created instability.
Morelli’s interest in the topic began while researching how film depicts Jesus. That research led her to “The Jesus Trip” by Lowell D. Streiker.
“I’m glad I took this path,” Morelli said. “The religious movements of the 1970s are fascinating.”
She said she hopes her audience walked away with a broader understanding of history as more than just a series of dates. Her presentation emphasized the people behind the Jesus People Movement rather than a specific timeline.
“It’s about people,” she said. “People make history.”